Bane NOR (www.banenor.no) and Siemens Mobility recently opened Campus Nyland, a test, training and signalling simulation centre designed to help the rail network operator prepare for digitalisation, following Norway’s decision to become the first country to operate with a ‘single digital interlocking’ ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System).

This will be one of the country’s largest digitalisation projects; the first digital line — Nordlandsbanen — will
open in 2022.

The ‘intelligent infrastructure’ behind ERTMS will reduce operating costs and increase capacity throughout the network; it will also enhance safety, with real-time visibility of trains across the network.

When complete in 2034, the system will include 4,200km of track and more than 350 stations.

Michael Peter, Siemens Mobility CEO (www.siemens.com), said: “Norway is on track to become the first country to operate in the ‘one country, one interlocking’ architecture, which will put it at the forefront of digitalisation. Our ‘intelligent’ infrastructure will ensure that the system operates efficiently.

“The digital interlocking — with IP-controlled field components — and ERTMS are the backbone to greatly improving operations and maintenance.

"This architecture also opens the door for future developments — such as implementing driverless technologies and moving the interlocking to the cloud — making proprietary hardware and spare parts a relic of the past and data instantaneously available to transportation operators.”

Campus Nyland will be the base for more than 5,000 employees, who will learn the digital skills needed to ensure that ERTMS is successful when it goes operational.

These will include individuals from Bane NOR, train companies, maintenance companies and contractors.