The ERTMS Benchmark study started in March 2008 to support the railway community to understand ERTMS cost drivers in order to lower the overall LCC ERTMS costs. It has raised high interest and expectations, it is, in fact, the unique economic study developed on ERTMS implementations based on actual cost figures given by railway members.
The lack of a uniform costing methodology is often considered a weakness of economic evaluations that hinders the interpretation and comparison of studies. Standardisation is therefore an important topic within the methodology of economic evaluations.
This is why, the Benchmark work group – made of UIC, CER and EIM members - has worked for about 1 year in order to:
• lay down the basis for a common methodology
• choose cost categories
• identify unit costs.
A reasonably big enough volume of implementation cost figures has been gathered from members – during this first round of 13 case study workshops - that will allow us to set a robust benchmark report in June/July next.
Welcomed by a large Greek delegation led by Mr G. Vetsis – Chief engineer, head of signalling and composed of Ms I. Petasi (OSE, Traction direction), and Messrs K. Chronakis (ERGOSE, electrical engineer), D. Pagkarliotas (EDISY electrical engineer) and E. Talamagas (ERGOSE, GSM-R expert), we spent two intensive days on analysing the “SKA/Thessaloniki/Promachonas” ERTMS/ETCS lev.1 - 545 km double track section from infrastructure point of view. From the rolling stock point of view, we analysed the costs of 8 types of DMU/EMU/Locos to be retrofitted, totalling 122 on board units.
The Greek delegation presented us their very ambitious programme on network expansion, rolling stock renewal and signalling & telecoms implementations (ETCS and GSM-R) 2013/2017.
They also pointed out that almost the entire Greek railway network is included in the TEN-T network: about 93%, which is quite an exception in Europe.
ERTMS costs are key factors in facilitating the migration and implementation throughout Europe.
The establishment of the Benchmark WG will strengthen the position of the railways vis-à-vis their industrial partners and sharing information at European level will give transparency to the market
The next and also the last of this first round of case studies, will be held in Bratislava with Slovak Railways, ŽSR and ZS Passenger/Cargo, on 25-26 May to analyse the Bratislava-Leopoldov ERTMS/ETCS lev.1 section, put in commercial operation in January 2009.
