Applying common safety methods, aligning the rules for rolling stock and infrastructure and encouraging innovation are the three main recommendations made by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) in its reports published on Tuesday 2 July.
“Ensuring the safety and interoperability of our railways is not just a technical challenge, it is a political imperative for a unified, sustainable and seamless transport system”, emphasised Josef Doppelbauer, Executive Director of the ERA. “We must continue to foster a culture of safety and innovation, as our railways are vital arteries of European integration and green mobility”, he added.
In 2022, there was an increase in the number of serious accidents and casualties, returning to pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels. Although accidents involving five or more fatalities have become rare in recent years, five such accidents were recorded in 2022 and 2023. There are still major differences in safety levels between EU Member States.
The ERA believes that improving safety involves not only complying with the rules, but also promoting a positive safety culture. It also considers that rapidly implementing an EU-wide safety incidents reporting scheme would make it possible to improve areas where safety is stagnating, such as level crossings and rail worker safety.
Interoperability, i.e. the capability to operate on the rail network without any interruption at borders, could also improve. It has already improved, particularly with regard to aligning rules and procedures, but not enough in terms of rolling stock and infrastructure. Furthermore, railways haven’t increased their modal share in the transport mix over the last decade, despite being the most sustainable mode of transport (see EUROPE 13443/10).
Rail electrification, implementing the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and developing rail innovations such as alternative-technology-powered trains and further digitalisation will not only reduce rail’s environmental impact, but also actively contribute to Europe’s economic development.
Read the reports: https://aeur.eu/f/cww (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)