Skip to main content

A sharp increase in train traffic is expected in Europe, partly due to economic growth and a shift from road traffic to rail. This increase in train traffic on our already full network, combined with rapidly changing market demands, requires a different and more dynamic capacity allocation process. ProRail is already preparing for this new process with the Time Table Redesign.

Digitalisation necessary

Crucial to these European ambitions for rail growth are digitisation and automation at the national and European levels. Examples include real-time data communication between the systems of transport operators and infrastructure managers, up-to-date insight into available capacity at a European level and the ability to create a real-time timetable for an international train. The digitisation of infrastructure data and making it available at the European level is essential in this regard. Currently, most players are still working from a national perspective; many people are needed to create timetables and response time is more often a matter of weeks rather than minutes. That’s really out of date.

Digital Capacity Management (DCM) is seen as the development direction to realise a fast and dynamic capacity allocation process within the growth ambitions. All parties involved can prepare for this in the coming years. ProRail is working on this ambition based on the assignment ‘digitalisation of the logistic chain’. European subsidy funds can be used for investments in the transport operators and infrastructure managers’ IT systems.

Timetable within half a minute

s DCM a long way off? Floris Visser, programme manager TTR, says, “DCM is a challenging ambition, which requires a lot of money and time. ProRail’s computer systems must be adapted or perhaps even replaced. It certainly won’t be easy. But on the other hand, we are already seeing good developments in Europe. In Germany and Switzerland, transporters can already use an app to request capacity for a train path from the infrastructure manager, who then delivers a timetable for that train within 30 seconds, without a planner being involved. We want that too.”

“The basis for this is ‘solvers’ who make the offer within the free capacity. We are investigating whether this technology is already a possibility at ProRail. We are aiming for a ‘smart’ system that makes its own real-time timetables unhindered by country or system boundaries. Remember that this technology already exists outside the rail sector. Take Google Maps as an example, which calculates a route within a few moments and always takes into account the current traffic situation.”

You might also be interested in

Photos Rail Cargo Awards

14 - 09 - 2023
The inspiring Locomotive Workshop in Rotterdam was the setting for the Rail Cargo Awards 2023. View the photos here. Once again this year, we awarded…

Report of World Port Days 2023 - rail excursion in collaboration with Bertschi, Locomotive Workshop, and In2Waste Solutions.

4 - 09 - 2023
During the World Port Days 2023, we organized 3 successful rail excursions, giving visitors the opportunity to discover the port from a railway perspective. We…

DB Cargo Netherlands is the first to initiate a trial of HVO as a sustainable alternative to conventional diesel.

21 - 08 - 2023
DB Cargo Netherlands is the first to initiate a trial of HVO as a sustainable alternative to conventional diesel for their rail freight train.

Poll

Poll 2: are being overtaken by other modalities

Stay informed?

Subscribe to the newsletter

Latest news

Report of World Port Days 2023 - rail excursion in collaboration with Bertschi, Locomotive Workshop, and In2Waste Solutions.

4 - 09 - 2023
During the World Port Days 2023, we organized 3 successful rail excursions, giving visitors the opportunity to discover the port from a railway perspective. We…

2023: European Year of Skills!

31 - 01 - 2023
Rail Cargo and The Future is Ours have adopted the European Year of Skills to promote working in the rail freight sector and create a…

State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen opened the Lage Weide rail terminal and launches first battery-powered locomotive with Strukton!

12 - 01 - 2023
State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen opened the Lage Weide rail terminal and launches first battery-powered locomotive with Strukton. Rail Utrecht.

Rail Cargo Ambassadors present final report on European Year of Youth

29 - 12 - 2022
Rail Cargo Ambassadors present final report on European Year of Youth.

European Commission approves €22,5 million subsidy to encourage modal shift from road to rail

21 - 12 - 2022
European Commission approves €22 million subsidy to encourage modal shift from road to rail

Contact us

Do you have questions about the initiative Rail Freight, The Future is Ours? Would you like to become an ambassador? Or are you considering transporting goods by rail? Then please contact us. Leave a message with your details and we will contact you within 2 working days.

Leave a Reply