The Smart Rail project outcomes have been implemented and tested in three so-called “Continuous Improvement Tracks” (CIT) during the project, focussing on different aspects of the SMART-RAIL concepts and furthermore aim to generate improvements on different corridors. CIT 3 targets the Rotterdam-Genoa corridor and deals with rail freight reliability in case of (unexpected) obstructions on the track. It specifically aims to increase the flexibility and reliability of rail freight transport within a multimodal transport system.
One solution, analysed and developed in this context is the implementation of a border dispatcher, to ensure and optimise smooth rail operations on the cross-border rail sections between the Netherlands (Betuweroute) and Germany (Oberhausen – Emmerich). These sections belong to the Rail Freight Corridors Rhine-Alpine (RFC1) and North Sea – Baltic (RFC8). The Betuweroute is a double track, electrified railway line between Rotterdam and Venlo dedicated for freight trains and equipped with ETCS level 2. It is fed by the Oberhausen – Emmerich line, which is also double track and electrified. The border station is located in Emmerich. The border dispatcher is a joint function of the respective infrastructure managers Prorail (NL) and DB Netz (DE) and is located in the Central Office for border traffic in Duisburg. The idea of the border dispatcher is to connect the respective IM operation centres in the best way, optimise the coordination of dispatching decisions with respect to the concerned cross-border sections and bundle the information flows between railway operators (RUs) and infrastructure managers (IMs) (see Figure). (Handbuch Dispositionskonzepte SGV, DB Netz AG, 11.12.2022)
IM-RU cooperation via cross-border dispatcher (“Grenzdisponent”) (https://rail-research.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180418_Final-Event-Vienna_WP3.pdf, Matic Prosen)
Meanwhile, there is also a border dispatcher on the Rail Freight Corridor North Sea - Baltic (RFC 8) for the Polish-German border route Frankfurt (Oder) - Rzepin. (Handbuch Dispositionskonzepte SGV, DB Netz AG, 11.12.2022) Even though the issue of developing and implementing a cross-border dispatching function cannot be considered as a groundbreaking technical innovation, developing solutions fostering cooperation seem to gain importance in view of multimodal and increasingly work-sharing transportation and logistics systems with multiple roles. A well-functioning of multimodal Logistics Networks can only be ensured if the operations of all unimodal networks and interfaces work themselves and especially across borders.
Expected impacts mainly concern: