Impact of ERTMS and ATO on the Norwegian Railway Network

Widespread adoption of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and Automatic Train Operation (ATO) are widely considered the ’next step’ technologies in optimising railway capacity to enable trains to run more frequently and/or at higher speeds on the line.

In collaboration with WSP and Bane NOR, trenolab conducted a comprehensive analysis to assess the impact of Automatic Train Operation (ATO) with different Grades of Automation (GoA) on the Norwegian Railway Network, in conjunction with the ERTMS signalling system.

trenolab developed the simulation model, derived from the R2023 train model and aligned with Bane NOR schematic plans, which served as the foundation of the investigation. The study focused on testing three different ETCS L2 scenarios, each featuring varying levels of ATO automation (GoA 2-4). This research aimed to provide valuable insights into how the integration of ATO and ERTMS could improve the efficiency and performance of the Norwegian railway system.