German Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder has launched the ERTMS Coordination Office to drive the digitalisation of the railway system, both in terms of the digital modernization of railway infrastructure and the equipping of trains with digital technology. This is because “Germany has fallen behind, but these delays are now being addressed decisively.”
The ERTMS Coordination Office will ensure the coordination of all necessary measures and the implementation of projects to ensure success. It serves as the central point of contact for the entire rail sector on matters related to ERTMS and ETCS and coordinates the financing of the modernization process for existing trains to integrate the new technology.
“Through this coordination body, the Federal Ministry of Transport is actively accelerating the digitization of the railways. Together with our partners, we will ensure that the necessary measures are implemented quickly and that the German rail network is prepared for the demands of the future,” said Patrick Schnieder on the occasion of the announcement of the establishment of this body.
The digitization of the railways will increase the capacity of the existing network in the medium term, as trains will be able to run at shorter intervals without the need to build new lines. At the same time, it will improve punctuality and reliability through real-time communication between trains and control centers.
The decision to establish this coordinating body was made on April 17 during the “Roundtable on Digitalization,” at the initiative of the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV).
Structure of the ERTMS Coordination Office
The central decision-making body of the structure is a coordination committee, which includes, with voting rights, representatives of the federal states, the contracting authorities (represented by BSN—Bundesverband SchienenNahverkehr, a German organization representing the public authorities responsible for organizing regional passenger rail transport). The office also includes the associations of railway companies provided for in the federal law on railway infrastructure development, represented by:
- DB InfraGO;
- VDV (Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen – Association of German Transport Companies);
- mofair (Mobilität für alle im Wettbewerb) – whose primary role is to promote competition in the rail market, particularly in relation to the national operator Deutsche Bahn; and
- DIE GÜTERBAHNEN (Die Güterbahnen – Network of European Railways) – a German organization representing private freight rail operators.
The Federal Ministry of Transport chairs the coordination committee.
The coordination office will initially operate within PD – Berater der öffentlichen Hand GmbH, a German consulting firm specializing in supporting public institutions, under the coordination of the Federal Ministry of Transport, and will begin operations immediately.
By June 30, 2027, its organizational structure will be evaluated.
Share on:
