Railway interoperability ensures that trains can run seamlessly on different rail networks, particularly those of different countries. The various technical standards and legal parameters are being harmonised internationally to make this possible.
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For Switzerland, as a small country in the heart of Europe, interoperability is important because it simplifies cross-border traffic and helps enforce the modal shift policy from road to rail.
European Union Agency for Railways
The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), based in the French city of Valenciennes, is responsible for unifying European rail transport and improving rail safety. It ensures that the different technical standards are unified and that regional safety regulations are replaced by a set of harmonised rules. As part of its implementation of the technical pillar of the EU's Fourth Railway Package, Switzerland is adopting the ERA's procedures and authorisation processes in a series of stages.
Technical pillar of the EU's Fourth Railway Package (FOT)
With the technical pillar of the Fourth Railway Package, the EU wants to create rapid and lasting harmonisation in international standard-gauge rail traffic.
The interoperability standards are to be applied consistently in participating countries. The existing national rules that evolved over time have to be phased out as part of an agreed implementation programme. In an era of rail innovation, the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) has been tasked with completely modernising European interoperability standards. The ERA continues to operate its One-Stop Shop (OSS) portal for vehicle authorisations and has been issuing cross-border authorisations since June 2019. The ERA works closely with national regulatory authorities in examining applications for authorisation. Switzerland is adopting the technical pillar of the Fourth Railway Package in a series of stages.
Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs)
The Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) define the standards set by the EU for cross-border rail services in Europe.
The individual TSIs relate to subsystems such as infrastructure, energy, control command and signalling (both trackside and on-board subsystems), operations and traffic management, maintenance and telematics applications. In order to facilitate cross-border traffic and promote the modal shift policy, Switzerland aims to adopt the TSI for the standard-gauge main line as far as possible. Switzerland notifies the EU of exceptions in the form of Notified National Technical Rules (NNTRs). The TSI requirements are reduced for the branch lines of the standard-gauge network and do not apply to narrow-gauge railways. The details are set out in the Railways Ordinance (RailO).
European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS)
The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) was introduced to establish an interoperable railway traffic management and control system on Europe's busiest lines and to facilitate cross-borders operation.
It is based on the European Train Control System (ETCS) and GSM-R radio (FRMCS in the future).
The whole Swiss standard-gauge network is equipped with ERTMS since 2018.
The current Swiss ERTMS strategy aims at migrating the whole network to cab signalling and FRMCS.
Rail freight corridors
The EU has defined a network of rail freight corridors. These will be prioritised for cross-border harmonisation of regulations (interoperability) and for modernisation (especially with the European Rail Traffic Management System ERTMS).
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Furthermore, the infrastructure managers are required to work closely with partners in neighbouring countries. This makes the rail freight corridors the driving force and backbone of an efficient European rail network for freight.
Of particular importance for Switzerland are the Rhine‒Alpine corridor between Rotterdam and Genoa (via Lötschberg‒Simplon and Gotthard‒Ceneri) and the North Sea‒Mediterranean corridor between Antwerp and Lyon or Basel.
Cross-border sections
Cross-border sections are the lines running from the last operating point (railway station, marshalling yard, changeover point) in Switzerland to the first operating point in the neighbouring country.
It is particularly important that these sections are interoperable so that trains can run internationally. Switzerland's cross-border sections are listed in Annex 8 to the Railways Ordinance (RailO).
Further Information
Legal basis
Documentation
Freight corridors (PDF, 235 kB, 12.07.2023)Rhine - Alpine and North Sea - Mediterranean (graphic)
