Atkins is helping to deliver the most important combined upgrade in passenger and freight train services in Europe. The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is being implemented across 3200km of track on the Danish rail network.

The project promises a radical improvement in safety, performance and capacity, and opens up the possibility of running non-stop trains across all borders. ERTMS will see on-board computers fitted to every train which receive and relay information via trackside radio beacons that communicate with a central control. This improves timetable reliability and offers capacity improvements as services can be run closer together. Safety is also a key feature as ERTMS includes an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system which applies a train’s brakes automatically if there is danger of a potential collision. Atkins’ teams of specialists are steering the project through its early stages, which includes preparing tender documents for the supply of on-board train equipment and signalling infrastructure.

• Signalling & telecoms

Link to this project: