In 2027, Finland’s first commercial track section equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) will be introduced between Tampere-Pori and Rauma. This is a major shift for the railway sector, as ETCS is a new experience for many actors in the sector. In order for the change to be successful, the operations personnel need comprehensive training in the new system.
The training team of the Digirail project has examined the methods for training the different professional groups for the commissioning of ETCS In April 2024, the training team invited representatives of the sector organisations to four workshops (for Traffic control, Transport operators and equipment holders, Commissioners and Maintenance operators). The goal of the workshops was to gather the views and needs of the different organisations so that the training models would serve the diverse skills needs of the sector in the best possible way.
Prior to the workshops, the first versions of the training plans for the different sectors were compiled, to function as the basis for discussions in the workshops. The workshop attendees were provided with materials in advance to help them orient themselves to the workshops beforehand.
The spring workshops featured the following training model options:
- Model for training internal instructors
- Model with external instructors
- Model for digimasters training (for small organisations)
- Hybrid model
- Self-training model
- Option to suggest another training model
Decisions have already been made on the training models for those handling commissioning, the traffic control personnel and the drivers of the trains. The decision on the training model for maintenance operators will be made during the first quarter of 2025.
The training models for traffic control and drivers completed in December 2024
For traffic control, the training method selected was the model for training internal instructors. This means that individuals in the organisation will complete the training provided by the Digirail project and then transfer the accumulated knowledge to their organisation.The training of the drivers will be carried out as a hybrid model. In this model, we can combine training provided by instructors within the organisation and training organised by the learning network of the railway sectors and partly also by training provided by external instructors. Traficom is responsible for supervising the training for drivers, and training facilities approved by Traficom are in charge of the training.
“During the workshops, different professional groups will assess which models are best suited for them. Based on these advance choices, we decided to continue with the traffic control model for training internal instructors and the hybrid model for training drivers,” says Jari Ruotsalainen, Team Leader for the Sector Training Team.
Information exchange as an important part of training
The workshops also resulted in a proposal for a shared training module for traffic control and the drivers. The shared training module could enhance the exchange of information between the professional groups already during the training phase. Although this training module was excluded from the final presentation at this point, its implementation will be re-examined at the beginning of 2025.
The planning of the training as a whole will also take into account the requirements set by the authorities. This will ensure that the content and implementation of the training will meet all safety and eligibility requirements.