Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

E3: Transport Statistics

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The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) has 2 components: the European Train Control System (ETCS) and the Global System for Mobile communications — Railways (GSM-R). Their specification is defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/777 of 16 May 2019 on the common specifications for the register of railway infrastructure.

The ETCS is implemented on three (3) levels:

• Level 1 (track based level)  involves continuous supervision of train movement while a non-continuous communication between train and trackside (normally by means of Euro-balises). Lineside signals are necessary and train detection is performed by the trackside equipment out of the scope of ERTMS.
• Level 2 (radio signal) involves continuous supervision of train movement with continuous communication, which is provided by GSM-R, between both the train and trackside. Lineside signals are optional in this case, and train detection is performed by the trackside equipment out of the scope of ERTMS. 
• Level 3 (signal directly from train) is also a signaling system that provides continuous train supervision with continuous communication between the train and trackside. The main difference with level 2 is that the train location and integrity is managed within the scope of the ERTMS system, i.e. there is no need for lineside signals or train detection systems on the trackside other than Euro-balises. Train integrity is supervised by the train, i.e. the train supervises being complete and not having been accidentally split.

Length of tracks/lines equipped with ERTMS/ETCS refers to aggregated statistics available in the RINF. For each section of a railway line, a parameter is available for the description of the ETCS level available (levels 1-3). The aggregation is done for all levels of ETCS.

Rail transport

Not applicable

Length of tracks and railway lines in kilometers (km)

ERTMS/ETCS statistics - tracks and lines that are part of the railway system of each Member State, as covered by the application of the Interoperability Directive (Directive (EU) 2016/797). 

Member States of the European Union; EFTA states

Data collection started in 2019 (ongoing)

Not applicable

Microdata for individual sections of railway lines is collected with length in kilometers.

Calendar year

The data are retrieved from databases and registers maintained by ERA under the administrative agreement between Eurostat and European Agency for Railways.

The legal basis for the data collection:

Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union, Art.49

The aggregated data are shared with the DG MOVE for the purpose of transport statistics reporting (e.g. statistical pocket book).

All data collected are reported under EU reporting obligations. No confidentiality policy is applicable.

Not applicable

Data is released after consolidation and aggregation, typically in March of each year.

Not applicable

In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Dissemination format') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.

Annually

Not applicable

Not applicable

Quality assured datasets are available free of charge through Eurostat’s dissemination database, under the theme Transport. Aggregated annual data at national level are available in  the table Length of railway lines equipped with the railway traffic management system by type of signalling (source: ERA)  (rail_if_traff).

Not applicable

Not applicable

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/777 of 16 May 2019 on the common specifications for the register of railway infrastructure and repealing Implementing Decision 2014/880/EU 

RINF Application Guide V1.6.0

Not available

For each area, the quality is assured at the level of entry into database/register, by the data validation officer. As specified in the terms of use of RINF, ERA has no responsibility for or liability with regard to the information submitted and published in the database.

Internal and external quality assessment is carried out at least annually and/or ad-hoc, with the aim of data quality assurance.

Key users are: the European Commission, Directorate-General Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE); the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); the International Transport Forum (ITF). 

Not available

Dependent on the reporting of the competent national authority. In principle, the data shall be available for all EU member States as from 16.03.2019.

Common methodology is available, however accuracy of data could be impacted by human errors during parameters encoding.

Not applicable

Not applicable

10-12 months after the reference period (calendar year)

The punctuality generally varies from country to country and from area to area, depending on the maturity of reporting process (a common reporting deadline exists but is not always respected by all countries).

Geographical comparability is generally high. Common definitions and guidance for reporting process is available.

Comparability over time is generally high.

Not applicable, the datasets represent unique sets of data.

Not applicable 

Not available

N/A- RINF provides only a snapshot at the moment of extraction, but has no functionality to store and retrieve historical data/information.

N/A- RINF provides only a snapshot at the moment of extraction, but has no functionality to store and retrieve historical data/information.

ERTMS/ETCS statistics – At national level, data are queried in the respective database and national aggregates are made available.

Annual

As per applicable legislation

High-level data validation (e.g. on format, type etc.) is carried out by ERA while Member States remain responsible for the quality of the content. As specified in the terms of use of the RINF, ERA has no responsibility for or liability with regard to the information submitted and published in the database.

ERA compiles data.

Not applicable

Not available