Siemens Mobility will install the first ETCS in Finland, a contract which is part of the DigiRail project implemented by the government and includes the renewal of the country’s train control system.
Under the contract, Siemens Mobility will install the European Train Control System Level 2 (ETCS L2) and the Hybrid Train Detection (HTD) for the first time in Finland on the 191-kilometer stretch between Lielahti and Rauma-Pori.
This marks another milestone in the implementation of Siemens Mobility’s latest interlocking and radio block center technology on the new DS3 platform, which is entirely based on commercial-off-the-shelf [COTS] hardware. The new train control system aims to increase the network’s capacity, improve punctuality, minimise disruptions, and enhance the safety of operation. It will pave the way for a more sustainable, efficient, and safe railway network and is expected to be in commercial service by 2027.
Construction is scheduled to commence in 2024, with testing and commissioning expected to be completed by 2027. Siemens Mobility was selected as the prime partner for this ETCS implementation under the DigiRail government project, working alongside Fintraffic Railway to shape the future of rail transport.
The first phase of Finland’s Digirail project, set to be implemented on the Lielahti – Rauma/Pori line, will cover 191 kilometers of track and introduce a modern radio-based ETCS, solely using virtual signals and including Hybrid Train Detection (HTD) based on virtual track sections. HTD enables a higher train density, thus creating higher capacity through virtual track sections. This groundbreaking initiative will make it the first commercial track in Finland to feature this advanced technology.
The project paves the way to introducing the ETCS in Finland to transform the rail transport through the upgrade of existing tracks and developing future sections in collaboration with suppliers. The ultimate goal is to revolutionise Finland’s transport system with a radio-based ETCS implementation without visible signals, closely integrated with the Future Railway Mobile Communication System [FRMCS] network.
In addition, Siemens Mobility partnered with Finnish rolling stock owner company Pääkaupunkiseudun Junakalusto Oy to conduct initial testing of ETCS in Finland as part of the Finnish DigiRail project. This collaboration equips two multiple-unit trainsets with Trainguard OBU and Automated Train Operation over ETCS, marking the first ETCS testing in Finland according to the latest European technical specification TSI 2023, aiming to enhance rail transport efficiency and economy by offering benefits such as energy savings, environmental protection, and increased route capacity.
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