The Digirail project involves the modernisation and renovation of the train control system. The Tampere–Pori/Rauma track section has been selected as the pilot section, and it is a key part of the overall project and scheduled to open to traffic in September 2029. The track section will provide valuable information for planning the long-term cost-effectiveness and rational implementation of Digirail throughout Finland.
Steady progress is being made toward the new European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) on the Tampere–Pori/Rauma track section. This is Finland’s first commercial track section where the Centralized Security System (CSS), Object Controllers (OC), and remote control system are being upgraded. The systems are currently being tested as part of the overall project.
Several new technologies and systems will also be introduced on this track section: the radio-network-based ETCS Level 2 system (European Train Control System), the EULYNX interface, and HTD functionality, which allow for more accurate train positioning and increased track capacity without the need for additional physical signals.
“These system upgrades will lay the groundwork for the rail transport of the future, where trains can run more safely, more frequently and more efficiently.” “Testing has progressed as planned, and we are now moving more actively into the phase where we can verify the interoperability of the various systems in practice,” says Project Manager Aapo Tiilikainen.
Integration testing will begin in the spring
During the autumn, several key tests were conducted to verify the system’s compliance with requirements and to ensure progress toward the next phases. The testing included both factory tests and laboratory and integration tests in Finland and Madrid, Spain. In addition, the EULYNX laboratory, which was established at the Rail Training Centre (RTC), made it possible to test the interoperability of the systems.
Testing is currently underway at RTC, where the factory testing of a generic object controller is in progress. Testing began in week 6 with preparatory phases, and will continue through April. The testing will ensure that the OC system meets the requirements set for it.
In April, we will move on to integration testing between the CSS and OC systems. The goal is to ensure seamless interoperability between systems and compliance with EULYNX requirements. Previous test results also provide a solid foundation for the success of this phase.
Toward implementation
“The testing has also identified areas for improvement, particularly in the specification of interface requirements.” “The lessons learned from these projects are key as we move forward with Digirail on the next track sections,” says Tiilikainen.
The goal is to have the system suppliers’ FAT tests for the Release 1 entity (Rauma-Kokemäki) completed by April, and have the balises both installed and encoded. In May, the track section should be equipped with the basic ETCS functionalities.
The main objective of testing is to prepare for the introduction of the ETCS system in operative traffic and to validate the development work carried out in the Digirail project. At the same time, we are continuously gathering insights and refining our operations to ensure successful progress toward a nationwide ETCS implementation across Finland.