5 European rail signalling system
| (26704)
10908/05
COM(05) 298
+ ADD 1
| Commission Communication: Deployment of the European rail signalling system ERTMS/ETCS
Annex to the Commission communication on the deployment of the European rail signalling system ERTMS/ETCS
|
| Legal base | — |
| Department | Transport |
| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 16 March 2006
|
| Previous Committee Report | HC 34-ix (2005-06), para 5 (9 November 2005)
|
| To be discussed in Council | Not known
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Not cleared; further information awaited
|
Background
5.1 The High-Speed Rail Interoperability Directive, 96/48/EC,
and the Conventional Rail Interoperability Directive, 2001/16/EC,
will lead eventually to the introduction of the European Rail
Traffic Management System (ERTMS). ERTMS has two basic components:
- the European Train Control System (ETCS), which passes instructions
to a train driver on occupying the track ahead and on speed information,
whilst also constantly monitoring the driver's compliance with
these instructions; and
- the Global System for Mobile Communications —
Rail (GSM-R), a digital radio system based on standard GSM (mobile
phone) technology but using dedicated frequencies specific to
rail and certain advanced functions.
5.2 The High-Speed Rail Interoperability Directive
has required, since November 2002, ERTMS for any new high-speed
line in the trans-European rail network and for any signalling
system which is being renewed. Similar requirements under the
Conventional Rail Interoperability Directive are currently coming
into force.
5.3 In this Communication the Commission made a case
for shortening the period of migration to ERTMS to ten or 12 years
and that basing it on the creation of a number of major interoperable
international corridors would bring forward benefits from the
reduction in number of different signalling systems and from reduced
fixed installations as well as allowing enhancements in network
performance and safety. In March 2005 it signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Community of European Railways, the European
Infrastructure Managers and the Union of European Railway Industries
in order to facilitate such an accelerated strategy. The Commission
estimated that the cost of introducing ERTM in this accelerated
way would be about €5 billion (£3.415 billion) in the
period up until 2016. It suggested that a major part of the funding
it had proposed for the Trans-European Networks (TENs) for energy
and transport during the period 2007-13, including €20.35
billion (£13.9 billion) for transport, which the previous
Committee had kept under scrutiny,[11]
should be earmarked to support ERTMS deployment. Funds would only
be released for projects that included ERTMS and particular attention
would be given to priority cross-border projects agreed in April
2004.[12]
5.4 When we considered this document in November
2005 we recognised the potential for benefits to be had from ERTMS
and that these might be facilitated by an earlier general introduction
of the system and we agreed with the Government's apparent the
cautious approach to the Commission's proposals both as to the
need for a proper economic justification for ERTMS projects and
to the wider question of TENs financing. But before considering
the document further we asked:
- for confirmation that the Government
takes the view that an accelerated introduction of ERMTS is in
the UK interest; and
- to hear in due course further on the economic
justification for these proposals within the context of the outcome
of the consideration of the wider issue of finance for TENs projects.
Meanwhile we did not clear the document.[13]
The Minister's letter
5.5 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department
of Transport (Derek Twigg) writes now to tell us that his department
has a cross-industry report from Network Rail on the economics
of implementing the ERTMS across the UK network. The report:
- supports the long term objective
of transferring signalling from the lineside into the cab, as
offered by ERTMS and accepts that ERTMS does have a positive business
case in the long term;
- highlights the high up-front cost and very long
payback period and underlines that the safety benefits of ERTMS
have largely been delivered already by the Train Protection and
Warning System; and
- does not seek an immediate decision regarding
the scale and pace of UK implementation but will be used as an
input into the development of the long-term railway strategy.
5.6 The Minister says that ERTMS is already in operation
across mainland Europe — recently second-level systems (ceasing
dependence on line side signals) have been brought into operation
in Italy and Germany with other projects to follow in France,
Spain and Switzerland later this year. He comments that the Government
continues to support an accelerated introduction of ERTMS across
Europe as this should ensure that technical and operational European
developments needed to support UK implementation are achieved
in a timely manner, whilst also mitigating the high up-front cost
by encouraging take up of the technology.
5.7 As for the economic justification of the Commission's
proposals within the wider context of finance for TENs projects,
the Minister says addressing this still awaits finalisation of
the TENs budget. But he adds that the new European Railway Agency[14]
is taking a lead in bringing an appropriate level of economic
appraisal to the Commission's proposals for ERTMS generally, but
this will take some time to have an effect.
Conclusion
5.8 We are grateful for the Minister's clarification
of the Government's view that an accelerated introduction of ERMTS
is in the UK interest. But we will not consider this document
further until we hear more from the Minister about the economic
justification of the Commission's proposals after the TENs budget
for 2007-13 is agreed.
5.9 Meanwhile we do not clear the document.
11 See (25873) 11740/04: HC 42-xxxi (2003-04), para
6 (15 September 2004). Back
12
See (24941) 132297/03 (24970) 13244/03: HC 63-xxxvi (2002-03),
para 3 (5 November 2003) and Stg Co Deb, European Standing
Committee A, 11 November 2003, cols. 3-26. Back
13
See headnote. Back
14
See http://www.era.eu.int/. Back
| 
