In rail freight transport sector, there are some that “are talking about threats and others who are talking about opportunities. But threats bring challenges. When addressing a disruptive environment in rail freight, we can approach the Technical pillar of the 4th Railway Package and digitalisation. The Technical pillar boosts market access, productivity and performance as well as the innovation. In parallel, the digitalisation is a key element of freight transport development and it makes rail freight transport more attractive and reliable,” Maria Price, Head of European Policies and Public Affairs at UIP said, during Railway PRO Investment Summit, organized by Railway PRO, Club Feroviar and AIF, on 3-4 October in Bucharest.
The digitalisation must reflect Single European Railway Area (SERA) priorities that aims at removing administrative and technical barriers and developing simplified and common procedures and technologies at European level.
According to UIP, “the digitalisation should reflect the top priorities which are harmonized EU Vehicle Authorisation and Single Safety Certificate, vehicle registration, on schedule EU-wide implementation of standardised data exchange (TAF TSI), common guidelines for maintenance and harmonised safety framework.”
Because of digitalisation, people and companies have become more aware of the need for sharing of information and access to data.
The digitalisation will have a massively impact on rail freight transport development within the next years, but currently it is a new disruptive factor which freight wagon keepers must adapt to.
Comprehensive information about train runs, such as monitoring of energy consumption, infrastructure status and operated vehicles help the industry to constantly improve the competitive position of rail freight.
Railway undertakings require up-to-date information about operated vehicles to safely plan and operate train runs, and such information is used to increase vehicle availability and to optimise maintenance activities.
The Digital Agenda is among most important priorities under the Europe 2020 Strategy setting out the objectives as well as prerequisites for the growth of the European Union by 2020.
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