The Digirail project will bring a major change in the railway sector, requiring a new level of expertise from all actors in the sector. The new European Train Control System (ETCS) will be introduced in Finland for the first commercial track section (EKA) on the Tampere-Pori/Rauma line, which will be the first contact with the new system for many railway professionals. Digirail wants to make sure everyone is included on the journey.
“ETCS is not only a technological reform, but also a change in operating methods and life-cycle management. Digirail emphasises community, continuous learning and a culture of experimentation in order to implement change smoothly and effectively,” Digirail project experts Jari Ruotsalainen and Jaana Koivuniemi stated in their presentation.
Training needs and competence development
In 2023, Digirail carried out an EKA training needs analysis, which charted the current competence needed for professional tasks and assessed the future competence needs arising from the ETCS change. The professional groups identified as the most significant with regard to the change were traffic management, the operators and the safety equipment maintenance operators.
In 2024, Digirail explored different training models and engaged in dialogue with sector organisations. Training models for EKA have been agreed with traffic management, train drivers and safety equipment maintenance.
“Some organisations are able and willing to train their staff themselves, as long as the instructors and work coaches in the organisation have gained the necessary knowledge and skills during the instructor training. Some organisations need more support and assistance in training their staff,” Jari and Jaana explain.
Diverse training solutions
Digirail coordinates the EKA training as a whole. Training is provided, for example, by training and educational institutions approved by the authorities, by the EKA equipment suppliers and possibly also by Digirail experts. The training courses aim for diversity and inclusive methods, which can include independent studies in an online environment, traditional classroom teaching and practical exercises.
Monitoring and development
In 2025, Digirail will finalise the implementation and monitoring models for training. An ongoing dialogue with sector organisations and public authorities is essential, and feedback will be collected from the design phase all the way to the post-implementation phase. In addition to the quality of the training, an assessment will be made of whether the training provided provides sufficient skills to operate on the ETCS track.
