About ERTMS

ERTMS is a signalling system for the railway sector that shall be introduced in the member states of the European Union. The purpose of this signalling system is to manage the railway traffic in a secure way. It consists of two main parts; signalling installations and a train control system such as the national ATC which is in use today or the unique European ERTMS solution.

Reinvestment in signalling installations

Trafikverket is developing the new train control system and upgrading Sweden’s signalling installations such as the important interlocking components.

Easier approach with less interlockings

Interlockings in the signalling installations are old, sometimes even more than 50 years old and close to reach the end of their technical life span. There is a wide range of installations. Around 15 different types are built in different ways and with different components. At the end of our journey we will have only a few of standardised interlocking types and achieved the transition from relays and electromagnetic technique to a computerised IP-based one. Along with this transformation comes also a considerably reduced number of interlockings – 160 instead of 750 – which on top of all will be able thanks to digitisation to manage bigger operating areas.

Installations will be easier to control and they will facilitate the preventive maintenance work as well as traffic control.