October 2024 marked a historic moment for the Digirail project when the construction of the first commercial track section (EKA) began between Lielahti and Pori/Rauma through a cable route contract. Starting the construction of the EKA track section symbolises the progress of the Digirail project from the drawing board to practical implementation. What happened in the EKA project in 2024? What will next year bring?
Planning of the construction of Digirail’s first commercial track section (EKA) began at the start of 2024. Throughout the year, the EKA project has reached significant milestones and brought about valuable lessons for future track sections to be built.
“The planning of the EKA track section has been a unique opportunity to prepare new railway engineering solutions. Planning forms a basis for us to strive forward during the construction work ahead. After all, Digirail project’s first track section is only the beginning for the implementation of a bigger vision. Alongside the construction of the system itself, the task in the EKA track project is to provide valuable information for planning Digirail’s long-term cost-effectiveness and a reasonable implementation for the whole of Finland,” says Aapo Tiilikainen, Project Manager at EKA.
The construction plan created a solid foundation for the implementation
Simulations were performed during construction planning to ensure the functionality of the preliminary design solutions and principles made in 2022. A new RATO22 guideline has been introduced to guide the implementation of ETCS planning. The practical design work has raised specific needs and questions which will help in the further development of the guideline. The goal is to take advantage of the lessons accumulated in EKA and to make improvements for future track sections as part of the implementation plan for the implementation phase.
Construction planning completed in November will provide a strong foundation for the implementation of the track section. In the design work, for example, the optimum placement of marker boards was examined, the sub-sections of railway operating locations and the utilisation of virtual sub-sections were assessed in order to achieve the most efficient transport capacity on the track section, and solutions were reviewed for connecting level crossings to ETCS (European Train Control System).
The planned purchases were completed
The EKA track section made several successful procurements in 2024. In April, Siemens Mobility Oy was selected to deliver the centralised Control Command and Signalling System (CSS). The key components in the procurement of safety equipment are a new interlocking and Radio Block Centre. They are the cornerstones of the system on top of which the Digirail functionalities can be built.
Mipro Oy, a Finnish company, was confirmed as the supplier of external controllers (OC) and the Centralised Traffic Control remote control system (CTC) at the end of the year. The external controller is an equipment used in railway systems for managing and controlling external equipment such as points, signals and other trackside equipment. Remote control systems are the systems that allow a traffic controller to control train traffic and shunting from a centralised traffic control point, as well as, for example, to secure trackwork.
The procurement for Digirail project is also very significant on a European scale. The Digirail project is the first in Europe to test the functionality of the EULYNX interface at this scale in practice.
The construction project is leading the way towards concrete implementation
The construction of the EKA track section began with a cable route contract on the track section between Tampere, Pori and Rauma in October 2024. The work on the site has, for example, included building an underpass pipe and installation foundations for battery containers, measuring the location of marker boards, and cleaning cable channels.
In 2025, construction will continue with the installation of external equipment and cabling work, installation of the safety equipment system and the construction of the remote control system. Laboratory testing is also scheduled to begin next year. Construction work will continue in 2026, when, among others, marker board and balise installations will move forward. The construction work is planned to be completed in 2026.
“Participants on the EKA project have worked closely with partners and experts to ensure that the construction of the first commercial track section is progressing on time and in line with the objectives. It is a pleasure to continue with this collaboration in the coming year,” says Tiilikainen.