The EC Directive 96/48/EC on High Speed Rail Interoperability requires Member States to operate compatible signalling systems. Signalling suppliers from across Europe have worked together to produce ERTMS - the European Rail Traffic Management System. ERTMS combines automatic train protection and train control through ETCS (European Train Control System) with the possibility of enhanced network capacity through more efficient traffic management.

Following the Uff/Cullen report into train protection, a pan industry ERTMS Programme Board (EPB) was established to provide an industry response. The Board was initially co-chaired by SRA and Railway Safety, with representation from Railtrack, ATOC, FOCs, ROSCOs and RIA. The ERTMS Project Team (EPT) was formed to investigate implementation strategies for the system with seconded representation from across the breadth of the industry.

RIA formed a special interest group to input into the findings of EPT, and to inform EPB discussion. That group, known as RIASIG, mirrors the European Unisig group by involving all 6 ETCS suppliers.

The final report of EPT was completed in May of 2002. RIA issued a Press Release welcoming the report.

After the publication of the final report, the implementation of ERTMS in the UK transferred to SNEP - the Single National ERTMS Programme, later simply NEP. NEP encompassed the work achieved by EPT as well as that from West Coast TCS. NEP published annual reports between 2003 and 2005, which can also be found on the SRA website.

In June 2005, the management of the programme passed to Network Rail, heading up a cross-industry team under the sponsorship of DfT Rail.

For more information on ERTMS and RIASIG contact David Wells at RIA. For more general information about ERTMS, visit www.ertms.com .