Periodic Reporting for period 2 - FP5 – TRANS4M-R (Europe’s Rail Flagship Project 5 - Transforming Europe’s Rail Freight)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-01-01 al 2024-12-31
FP5-TRANS4M-R’s overall goal is to establish rail freight as backbone of the lowest emission and most resilient logistics chain in Europe, fulfilling the end customer requirements to their full satisfaction. Therefore, the project builds upon the goals and vision of the European Commission addressing the needs to significantly boost the rail freight transport through increased capacity, strengthened cross-border coordination and cooperation between rail infrastructure managers, better overall management of the rail network, and the deployment of new technologies such as digital coupling and automation. These goals set the foundation, frame, and ambition for the project.
Objective 1: Higher throughput and shorter transportation duration
Develop, validate, and demonstrate the FP5-TRANS4M-R technologies and thereby enabled train functions and operational procedures leading to:
- at least 40% decrease of train formation/decomposition time,
- train preparation time of at least 45%, while
- enabling freight train compositions up to 1500 meters
Objective 2: Maximize flexibility and reliability of rail freight services
Develop, validate, and demonstrate the FP5-TRANS4M-R digital rail freight services and software solutions significantly contributing to achieve in 2030 the MAWP objectives:
- Reduce average transportation time on reference corridor by 10-20%.
- Reduce operational dwell time at borders and other handover points by 50%.
- Reduce the number of additional operational stops (also limiting the energy consumption) by 20%.
- Reduce handling/response time for ad-hoc cross-border path requests by 70%.
- Reduce handling/response time for connected comprehensive intermodal offers by at least 50%.
- Reduced energy consumption and reduced footprint through less stops at borders by a minimum of 10%
Objective 3: Mitigating demographic change
With the demographic change not only the average age of employees is increasing but also less people are available for physically demanding work especially in yards, such as train preparation, coupling, uncoupling and further operational processes. FP5-TRANS4M-R provides the necessary technologies to automate/digitalise operational processes, but also instructions and guidelines to maximise the acceptance of the newly developed digital technologies.
Objective 1: Higher throughput and shorter transportation duration
Develop, validate, and demonstrate the FP5-TRANS4M-R technologies and thereby enabled train functions and operational procedures leading to:
- at least 40% decrease of train formation/decomposition time,
- train preparation time of at least 45%, while
- enabling freight train compositions up to 1500 meters
Objective 2: Maximize flexibility and reliability of rail freight services
Develop, validate, and demonstrate the FP5-TRANS4M-R digital rail freight services and software solutions significantly contributing to achieve in 2030 the MAWP objectives:
- Reduce average transportation time on reference corridor by 10-20%.
- Reduce operational dwell time at borders and other handover points by 50%.
- Reduce the number of additional operational stops (also limiting the energy consumption) by 20%.
- Reduce handling/response time for ad-hoc cross-border path requests by 70%.
- Reduce handling/response time for connected comprehensive intermodal offers by at least 50%.
- Reduced energy consumption and reduced footprint through less stops at borders by a minimum of 10%
Objective 3: Mitigating demographic change
With the demographic change not only the average age of employees is increasing but also less people are available for physically demanding work especially in yards, such as train preparation, coupling, uncoupling and further operational processes. FP5-TRANS4M-R provides the necessary technologies to automate/digitalise operational processes, but also instructions and guidelines to maximise the acceptance of the newly developed digital technologies.
In RP2, FP5-TRANS4M-R continued progressing. Key achievements towards the Full Digital Freight Train were a project decision on a DAC e-coupler design, the System Architecture finalization and the 2nd Swedish Demo Train start. In the cluster Seamless the functional and technical specifications had been established in the RP1. In RP2 the development work started on all topics.
Summary of WP progress:
WP1 oversaw project coordination, ensuring interaction between clusters and alignment with EU-Rail. It also facilitated techn. discussions, provided administrative support, and promoted project visibility through many D&C activities like the Midterm Plenary and the InnoTrans representation. Within WP2 “Operational procedures, functional requirements and system architecture” operational procedures are continuously updated until the project’s end. The FDFTO User requirements were finalized alongside the Reference Freight System Architecture. In WP3 this architecture was broken down to the Train level and specifications were finalized. Polarion is continuously used as central hub for FDFTO system engineering. The safety req. developed in D4.2 are currently assigned to subsystems and components. Within task 4.3 and 4.5 the subcontracted company PECS-WORK analysed the work done to identify gaps between existing results and needed information for the authorization process. Within WP5 “Subsystem Specification and Validation Test Procedures” the specifications for the DAC up to level 5 and train functions, power supply and yard management system have been developed. The adaption of finalized deliverables from RP1 based on alignment with CEN was a focus. In WP6 “Qualified Interoperable DAC Level 4” and WP7 “Qualified Interoperable DAC Level 5 ready” the common interoperable coupler is developed. The delivery and testing of couplers was continued focussing on the above-mentioned e-coupler assessment. A DAC solution for Locos as well as special wagons like T3000 will be developed within WP8. First prototypes of Hybrid DAC for locos have been shown at InnoTrans and installation tests were conducted. In WP9 “DAC energy supply & data, communication solution” the first specification of the energy and data on train level was finalized and submitted in D5.4. WP10 “Interoperable Train Functions” is working on the realization of the train functions following the specifications of D5.1. In WP12 “Yard Automation Concepts and Solutions” the Safety and Security Analysis for Automated Yard Operations was finalized. Based on that technical solutions are developed and will be demonstrated in WP20/21 in the next RPs. WP13 “System Integration Plan, Validation/Test Plan a. Demo Coordination” is planning the tests that are conducted in WP14 “Train Test Lab”. The Asset Component Plan was updated to enable testing in the Train Test Lab and running the Demo Trains. WP15-18 are the Demo Train WPs. Alongside the Swiss and the 1st Swedish Demo Train that has started in RP1 the 2nd Swedish Demo Train has started in RP2 as well. The other Demo Trains in Italy and Austria will start in RP3/4. In WP19 “LCC and Benefits Inputs for CBA” the e-coupler decision has been supported with a CBA. Analyses for the EDDP DAC Basic Package and installation costs were another focus in RP2.
WP22/23 focus on Innovative Freight Assets. Functional requirements and a concept definition for multimodal hydrogen transport containers and self-propelled freight wagons have been finalized in the RP. Implementation and testing of concepts has started and will continue in RP3/4.
In the Seamless work cluster, the specification phase has been finalized with the closure of WP25. Development work in WP26-32 has started to prepare for demonstrations in WP33/34.
In WP26 new planning functions for rail freight are being developed amongst others aiming at cross-border and last mile planning functionalities. In WP27 Dynamic Dispatching tools connected to TMS are in focus. In WP28 Monitoring/Prediction Systems for Intermodal Freight use cases are being worked on. In WP29, the Shift2Ril topic Intelligent Video Gates, will be further developed into Standardised European Railway Checkpoints to drive forward the digitalisation/automation of processes. WP30 analyses the topic of multi-licensed loco drivers. Based on numerous previous projects and initiatives development opportunities will be derived. In WP31 different modules are developed to simplify planning of multimodal services. In WP32 a platform of platform approach is pursued to simplify data exchange. This Conceptual Data Model being developed ensures seamless data availability and allows for seamless and harmonised data exchange. In WP33 and 34 solutions currently under development in WP26-32 will be demonstrated in the upcoming RPs.
Looking into the next RPs the project’s progress becomes visible. Specification topics are mostly closed, the focus is currently on solutions/components development. They are already tested (e. g. in suppliers’ lab environments and the Train Test Lab) and will be demonstrated eventually.
Summary of WP progress:
WP1 oversaw project coordination, ensuring interaction between clusters and alignment with EU-Rail. It also facilitated techn. discussions, provided administrative support, and promoted project visibility through many D&C activities like the Midterm Plenary and the InnoTrans representation. Within WP2 “Operational procedures, functional requirements and system architecture” operational procedures are continuously updated until the project’s end. The FDFTO User requirements were finalized alongside the Reference Freight System Architecture. In WP3 this architecture was broken down to the Train level and specifications were finalized. Polarion is continuously used as central hub for FDFTO system engineering. The safety req. developed in D4.2 are currently assigned to subsystems and components. Within task 4.3 and 4.5 the subcontracted company PECS-WORK analysed the work done to identify gaps between existing results and needed information for the authorization process. Within WP5 “Subsystem Specification and Validation Test Procedures” the specifications for the DAC up to level 5 and train functions, power supply and yard management system have been developed. The adaption of finalized deliverables from RP1 based on alignment with CEN was a focus. In WP6 “Qualified Interoperable DAC Level 4” and WP7 “Qualified Interoperable DAC Level 5 ready” the common interoperable coupler is developed. The delivery and testing of couplers was continued focussing on the above-mentioned e-coupler assessment. A DAC solution for Locos as well as special wagons like T3000 will be developed within WP8. First prototypes of Hybrid DAC for locos have been shown at InnoTrans and installation tests were conducted. In WP9 “DAC energy supply & data, communication solution” the first specification of the energy and data on train level was finalized and submitted in D5.4. WP10 “Interoperable Train Functions” is working on the realization of the train functions following the specifications of D5.1. In WP12 “Yard Automation Concepts and Solutions” the Safety and Security Analysis for Automated Yard Operations was finalized. Based on that technical solutions are developed and will be demonstrated in WP20/21 in the next RPs. WP13 “System Integration Plan, Validation/Test Plan a. Demo Coordination” is planning the tests that are conducted in WP14 “Train Test Lab”. The Asset Component Plan was updated to enable testing in the Train Test Lab and running the Demo Trains. WP15-18 are the Demo Train WPs. Alongside the Swiss and the 1st Swedish Demo Train that has started in RP1 the 2nd Swedish Demo Train has started in RP2 as well. The other Demo Trains in Italy and Austria will start in RP3/4. In WP19 “LCC and Benefits Inputs for CBA” the e-coupler decision has been supported with a CBA. Analyses for the EDDP DAC Basic Package and installation costs were another focus in RP2.
WP22/23 focus on Innovative Freight Assets. Functional requirements and a concept definition for multimodal hydrogen transport containers and self-propelled freight wagons have been finalized in the RP. Implementation and testing of concepts has started and will continue in RP3/4.
In the Seamless work cluster, the specification phase has been finalized with the closure of WP25. Development work in WP26-32 has started to prepare for demonstrations in WP33/34.
In WP26 new planning functions for rail freight are being developed amongst others aiming at cross-border and last mile planning functionalities. In WP27 Dynamic Dispatching tools connected to TMS are in focus. In WP28 Monitoring/Prediction Systems for Intermodal Freight use cases are being worked on. In WP29, the Shift2Ril topic Intelligent Video Gates, will be further developed into Standardised European Railway Checkpoints to drive forward the digitalisation/automation of processes. WP30 analyses the topic of multi-licensed loco drivers. Based on numerous previous projects and initiatives development opportunities will be derived. In WP31 different modules are developed to simplify planning of multimodal services. In WP32 a platform of platform approach is pursued to simplify data exchange. This Conceptual Data Model being developed ensures seamless data availability and allows for seamless and harmonised data exchange. In WP33 and 34 solutions currently under development in WP26-32 will be demonstrated in the upcoming RPs.
Looking into the next RPs the project’s progress becomes visible. Specification topics are mostly closed, the focus is currently on solutions/components development. They are already tested (e. g. in suppliers’ lab environments and the Train Test Lab) and will be demonstrated eventually.