Finland’s train control system and a large part of its railway safety technology is in need of modernisation. The current technology is becoming outdated, and the Digirail project is already working on the upgrade. The Tampere–Pori/Rauma track section will be the first to be incorporated within the new train control system in 2029. The goal is for the new system to cover the entire Finnish railway network by 2040.
When modernising a system serving the entire national railway network, decisions will also need to be made regarding how the system will be maintained and upgraded in the future, how many companies will be able to contribute their expertise and solutions, and what costs the system will incur during operation.
Systematic modernisation makes it possible to handle the procurement process in a controlled manner before the outdated technology begins to dictate the decisions. This allows for the planning and competitive bidding of procurements in advance, rather than having to make decisions in a hurry when spare parts or expertise are running low.
Railway systems remain in service for decades. During that time, the technology must be maintained, updated and replaced. Spare parts and expertise must be available, cybersecurity must be ensured and new and old systems must work together. This is what life cycle management means in practice. The decisions made now will determine how easily and at what cost these needs can be met in the future.
Cost-effectiveness is achieved, first and foremost, through what is purchased. The Digirail project makes the greatest possible use of solutions already available on the European market. It is not always practical to develop everything separately in Finland. Thanks to common European solutions and standards, Finland also benefits from development work carried out elsewhere in Europe and does not have to bear the costs of development on its own.
For the same reason, it is important that the future railway system not rely on a single supplier. Digirail uses standardised EULYNX interfaces – that is, mutually agreed-upon methods by which the various components of the system interact with one another. This allows different companies to offer different parts of the system. It increases the range of suppliers to choose from, and ensures competition in the future as well.
This is of great importance throughout the system’s life cycle. When a component eventually needs to be updated or reaches the end of its service life, the goal is to be able to replace the necessary component without having to replace the entire system at the same time. This way, the current technical solutions also leave options open for future purchases.
Costs are also managed through integrated solutions. A common basic solution will be defined for the entire railway system in Finland to the greatest extent possible, one that can be used on different track sections. Since there is no need to redesign the same elements for each track section, unnecessary customisation can be avoided. At the same time, the experience gained from the first implementations can be applied to subsequent ones.
Another aspect of cost-effectiveness is how the procurement process is handled. Key systems are procured to meet the needs of the entire country, rather than putting the same systems up for competitive bidding again for every track section separately. Procurement packages and their timing are planned so that the market has the opportunity to prepare for upcoming competitive bidding processes and to ensure the widest possible range of bids.
Predictability is important in this process. When there is open communication about upcoming procurement phases and a dialogue with suppliers well in advance, companies are able to plan their own operations, develop their expertise and prepare for the competitive bidding processes. At the same time, it is possible to identify early on what kinds of solutions are available on the market and how procurement packages should be structured.
The cost-effectiveness of the Digirail project thus stems from a number of mutually supportive choices. We will make use of existing European solutions, keep the market open to multiple suppliers, avoid unnecessary customisation and plan procurements in a forward-looking manner to meet the needs of the entire reform.
The Digirail project is not just about acquiring new technology to meet today’s needs. A system is now being built that the Finnish railways will use and upgrade for decades to come. That is why good procurement is not just about a successful competitive bidding process. It keeps options open and costs under control, also in the future.
Esa Sirkiä
Divisional Director, Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency
Juha Lehtola
Project Manager, Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency