The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is a single European signalling and speed control system that ensures interoperability of the national railway systems, reducing the purchasing and maintenance costs of the signalling systems as well as increasing the speed of trains, the capacity of infrastructure and the level of safety in rail transport.

ERTMS comprises of the European Train Control System (ETCS), i.e. a cab-signalling system that incorporates automatic train protection, the Global System for Mobile communications for Railways (GSM-R) and operating rules.

Technical specifications and Application Guide for ETCS, ATO and RMR are published in the Control Command and Signalling (CCS) Technical Specification for Interoperability (TSI).

GSM-R provides voice communication for train drivers and signallers and provides data communication for ETCS. ERTMS and GSM-R rules are published in the Operation and Traffic Management TSI.

ERA plays the role of system design authority for ERTMS. In that respect, it must establish a transparent process to manage, with the contribution of the sector’s representatives, any system changes.