Increasing urbanisation, combined with the desire to reduce CO2 emissions, is leading public players to invest massively in rail transport.
To increase the capacity of existing lines, railway operators are modernising the signalling systems (CBTC, ERTMS, etc.) as a priority.
At the same time, manufacturers are experimenting with different solutions (batteries and hydrogen) to replace diesel engines and thus decarbonise non-electrified lines.
Market Trends
The world’s urban population is growing rapidly, concentrating 4.2 billion individuals in 2020 compared to 751 million in 1950 (UN number). Investments in the public transport sector are therefore increasing significantly in order to provide faster and more reliable intra-agglomeration and intercity transport solutions.
As a result of this demand, the annual growth of the world industrial rail market is estimated at 2.3% per year by 2025.
Challenges:
- Increase the capacity of existing lines (CBTC, ERTMS, capacity allocation systems, etc.)
- Offer new ranges of rolling stock that meet environmental requirements
- Improve competitiveness for th sector
The integration of digital technologies in the rail sector will make it possible to manage increasingly complex traffic flows, provide a multimodal transport offer and improve safety and passenger comfort. At the same time, advances in predictive maintenance will improve equipment uptime and reduce maintenance costs.
Challenges:
- Connect digital and IT skills (Big Data, Cloud, Cybersecurity, etc.) to the specificities of the rail sector and its regulations
- Ensure the security of critical data and systems, and improve the available data processing
- Integrate new transport solutions (electric bus, car sharing, etc.)
Massive urbanisation, the need for interoperability between the various European countries in order to respond to the opening of competition, and the electrification of rail lines for carbon-free transport all require huge investments in the renovation and creation of new rail infrastructures.
By 2030, over 123,000 km of the European rail network will be equipped with the ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) signalling system. In France, 46 billion euros will be invested over 10 years in order to modernise and ensure rail network safety.
Challenges:
- Ensure an increasingly stringent safety requirement
- Support the upgrading of the rail network (ERTMS)
- Anticipate technological obsolescence (e.g. GSM-R vs LTE/5G)
Functional areas
Signalling/Systems (ERTMS, CBTC, etc.)
Rolling stock
Infrastructures
Customer interface (digital services / customer relations)
OUR SUCCESS STORIES
To transport more travellers during peak times, the operator of a large international metropole entrusted our industrial customer with the automation of the busiest metro line in the network. ALTEN is helping to develop the key element: the CBTC signalling system.
Learn moreThe European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) must cover 50% of the European strategic network by 2023. Our customer has won several contracts within the framework of this major project and is supported by ALTEN with regard to the ramp-up of its ERTMS centre of excellence in Belgium.
Learn moreALTEN is assisting a major European rail operator (over 15,000 km of lines in operation) with the design of new electrified lines to anticipate the increase in traffic and development of the rolling stock. Our engineering teams are working, in particular, on the electrical sizing, design (studies, project management, etc.) and operational assistance and maintenance of fixed electric traction installations.
Learn moreOUR CLIENTS
Rail industry
Siemens Mobility, Alstom, Hitachi Rail, Wabtec Corporation, Stadler Rail…
Railway operators
SNCF Voyageurs, RATP
Infrastructure Managers
SNCF Réseau, RATP Infrastructures, Getlink
