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ERTMS is ready today. The common specifications SRS 2.2.2- are now approved and available. There are ERTMS/ETCS commercial projects in ten countries already, and more to come. All the ongoing projects are based on the SRS 2.2.2. 2. Can you upgrade from one ERTMS level to another ? Yes - Where ERTMS/ETCS is already installed, say level 1, to upgrade to level 2 mainly involves the addition of the radio network as the balises are already installed. Similarly, an upgrade to level 3 means that the functions for train integrity needs to be incorporated on-board. 3. Will a train equipped with ERTMS in one country be able to run on any track equipped with ERTMS worldwide ? Yes - because ERTMS specifications have been agreed by all suppliers and railway companies. Therefore, all ERTMS trains and tracksides equipment are interoperable. 4. Will I be able to buy a product, say Eurobalises, from any supplier or more than one supplier ? Yes, because they have the same specifications to achieve interoperability. This was proved by the EMSET and Vienna-Budapest trials where trains equipped with one supplier were able to read Eurobalises from more than one supplier. 5. Can I run an ERTMS equipped train on my current network ? Yes, using a Specific Transmission Module (STM), the existing installed bases like KVB, TBL, INDUSI, LZB etc. can be read by the ERTMS equipped train. 6. How do I cope with national specific requirements with a standard European product ? The ERTMS specifications have accounted for these and for example with the Eurobalise, specific channels are reserved for national specific use. 7. Can I increase the number of trains on my line ? Yes, with ERTMS level 2 and 3. Level 2 offers the possibility to introduce higher-speed services and to increase the number of connections. Level 3 enables moving block operation and a further increase the number of trains on the line, allowing better rolling stock and fixed asset utilisation. 8. Will ERTMS reduce journey times ? Yes, ERTMS is designed for operation up to 500 km/h, the current maximum speed achieved by trains being about 350 km/h. 9. Will it reduce my operational costs ? Yes, with level 2 and 3, there is a reduction or elimination of traditional trackside signaling equipment and an increase of on-board intelligence. ERTMS will reduce maintenance costs as the major cost drivers are wayside equipment. 10. Will ERTMS be accepted as a standard globally ? There is interest from a number of countries for ERTMS, including Australia, China, India, North America and South Africa.
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