On 1 January 2025, the European Train Control System (ETCS) was launched on the main Czech railway lines. This project, which is being introduced on 622 kilometres of lines this year alone, will revolutionise the safety and fluidity of rail transport. PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL, part of the PKP CARGO Group, is prepared for the new system and the challenges associated with its introduction.
With the growing demand for passenger and freight transport, rail systems across Europe face a number of challenges. Increasing traffic, the need to reduce exhaust emissions and noise, the need to improve energy efficiency and infrastructure management, and safety are just some of the issues that require innovative technological solutions. The European Train Control System (ETCS) is the answer to these challenges.
ETCS is an advanced system that acts as an ‚autopilot‘ for locomotives, controlling the speed of trains and monitoring the movement of other trainsets on the route. The system automatically intervenes in the event of an emergency, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring safer and smoother transport. As a result, trains can run at shorter intervals and adapt more dynamically to changing track conditions. This in turn translates into transport time savings and better use of the railway infrastructure.
The system is part of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), which is widely implemented in the European Union to ensure full interoperability of rail transport. This means that trains will be able to move freely on the tracks of different EU Member States without having to stop at borders or change locomotives or drivers. ERTMS has also gained acceptance outside the EU and is used in Switzerland, Mexico and Ukraine, among others. In Poland, around 40% of railway lines are to be equipped with the European Train Control System. To start with, ETCS is to be introduced at the level of limited supervision. This is a simplified, limited but also cheaper control system.
Work to implement the system at PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL has taken almost three years.
For a start, in January this year, the system will be launched on the lines:
- Česká Třebová – Přerov
- Břeclav – Přerov – Bohumín
- Česká Třebová – Adamov, Modřice – Břeclav, Hustopeče u Brna – Šakvice
- Prague Běchovice – Česká Třebová
The Czech Republic became the first European country to introduce ETCS on such a large scale. Work has been ongoing since 2017. PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL, as one of the leaders in the field of rail transport, has been actively involved in this process.
Thanks to close cooperation between PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL and PKP CARGO S.A., we have prepared our locomotive fleet and staff for the operation of the new system. The locomotives have been equipped with the necessary modules and the staff has undergone specialised training.
Łukasz Grzesło
Chairman of the Board of PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL
Since the beginning of the year, seven stress tests have been carried out in the Czech Republic to verify the correct functioning of the ETCS system and to identify potential problems. During these tests, a total of 796 traction vehicle journeys were carried out under ETCS supervision. The system worked correctly in 97.36% of cases, which means that on average only three out of 100 trains experienced a connection failure and subsequent automatic braking.
The introduction of ETCS is only the beginning of a new era in rail transport. PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL Group is implementing other innovative projects, such as digital automatic coupling (DAC), which will enable unattended coupling of locomotives and wagons. These investments are making rail transport more efficient, safer and environmentally friendly.
With the support of PKP S.A., we will continue to develop modern solutions for the European transport market. This approach allows us to optimise processes and strengthen the Group’s position on the European market, while increasing the competence of the entire organisation in the field of innovative railway technologies.
Łukasz Grzesło
Chairman of the Management Board of PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL
PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL, a member of the PKP CARGO Group, is one of the most important companies providing rail freight transport services in Europe. It offers comprehensive solutions to large industrial enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe, especially for the transport of heavy goods such as coal, steel, building materials or products of the automotive, food and chemical industries.
Its key services include long-distance rail transport, intermodal transport, rail freight forwarding, operation of sidings, construction of rail facilities and track services, rental, repair and overhaul of rail cars, repair and maintenance of locomotives. The heart of the business beats in the Czech Republic, whose ideal logistics location PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL takes advantage of. It operates throughout Europe, providing comprehensive transport, logistics and freight forwarding services in a variety of sectors and industries using major European ports and terminals.
PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL has an extensive fleet of more than 130 locomotives and 2,800 wagons, which it uses for its own use and leases to third parties. In the Czech Republic, it has its own open intermodal transshipment facility in Paskov, operates 55 railway sidings, owns more than 330 km of traction and employs approximately 1,450 people.
The key companies of the PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL Group include PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL a.s., PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL HU Zrt., PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL SK a.s., PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL SI d.o.o. and AWT ROSCO a.s.
In addition to freight transport, the PKP CARGO INTERNATIONAL Group, through its company AWT Rekultivace a.s., has extensive experience in reclamation, earthmoving, construction and waste management.
Source: PKP CARGO Group press release
