The European Commission adopted an Implementing Regulation laying down requirements for the interoperability of data sharing in rail transport.
It establishes a technical specification for interoperability (TSI) relating to the telematics subsystem (‘TSI Telematics’), which will benefit passengers and businesses alike.
The TSI Telematics supports non-discriminatory and transparent data sharing in the rail sector, based on the EU rules set out in Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 (Data Act). For that purpose, it sets out business-to-business obligations to share data, as well as rights to access and use data.
It specifies the data format to be used, based on a common ontology (the ‘ERA Ontology’), as well as requirements in terms of data quality, cybersecurity and data use for the safety of operations and future digital operational communications.
With requirements for the deployment of common European “one-stop shops” for digital capacity and traffic management, this TSI is also a key technical enabler for the implementation of the recently agreed rules for improved management and increased use of Europe’s railway infrastructure capacity.
This act also specifies the role of the European Union Agency for Railways as the systems authority for the digitalisation of communications in the rail sector and sets out a compliance framework with clear deadlines.
Passenger information and ticketing data
Promoting innovative and open-source services for passengers based on data made available publicly and free of charge via the national access points [1], this TSI requires access to data for journey planning and passenger information in accordance with EU standards. Such data include timetables, connection times, conditions of carriage, station accessibility, real-time and forecast train positions, train composition and historical records.
Based on the timeline set out in the European rules on railway infrastructure capacity for the working timetable, and in this TSI on ticketing data, tickets should be made available up to five months in advance.
It also specifies harmonised requirements for connection times between transport nodes and transport services, tickets and multi-operator booking systems based on EU standards, preparing the ground for future Commission initiatives on single digital booking and ticketing and related passenger rights.
Freight services
Enabling digital capacity and traffic management from first to last mile, this TSI fully integrates the intermodal transport ecosystem into rail processes and enables the digital connection of multimodal freight terminals to the hinterland. Digital functions for tracking and tracing trains are extended, for example, to movements of block trains in rail freight service facilities.
Encouraging paperless freight transport and aligning with Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 (eFTI), this TSI also sets out requirements for the electronic consignment note (eCN) to replace paper-based documents.
More information
[1] National access points (NAPs) established by member states pursuant to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1926 on EU-wide multimodal travel information services (MMTIS).
