In 2015 there were 325,806 passenger coaches worldwide and more than 81,956 Multiple passenger train Units (MU). Users of these coaches/units are increasingly demanding advanced travel information (location, train connections, time to destina¬tion), comfort (temperature, air quality, humidity) and infotainment (High-Quality (HQ) video and audio on demand), which is driving train operators and rail asset owners (subject to Quality of Service Agreements) to improve the quality of their services through the adoption of advanced Passenger Information Systems (PIS). However, these systems require broadband networking solutions that provide the necessary bandwidth and reliability, and current coaches do not have the necessary networking infrastructure for this. Hence, in order to meet the demands from customers, current trains require expensive “revamping” to include an adequate communication network. This situation presents indeed an opportunity for any technology capable of setting up a reliable networking infrastructure without requiring costly rewiring of aged trains. NET4TRAIN is the answer to those needs.
Following almost two years of research and development, prototyping on testing o NET4TRAIN technology, we reached a stage where it was absolutely essential to perform a technical, commercial and economic Feasibility Study of the project in order to analyze the possibility of industrially developing and commercializing NET4TRAIN. Having presented the Phase 1 of our project in December 2015 to the first SME Instrument programme, and having received the approval of this, we then performed a Feasibility Study between December 2015 and April 2016. This was led by our director Mr. Giuseppe Chili and was focused on a technical feasibility study, a business plan and a freedom to operate analysis.
