Certifiable Localisation Unit with GNSS in the Railway Environment

According to the ERAccording to the ERA 2015 Report on ERTMS Longer Term Perspective, GNSS could prove a game changer for the European railway network by enabling a significant reduction of trackside equipment and by improving localisation performance. The conclusions of the STARS project have confirmed this potential. However, fusion with other sensors will be necessary to mitigate the known impact of local effects on GNSS performance.

Capitalising on the achievements of EC and GSA funded projects, collaborating railway companies, i.e. SBB, DB and SNCF, would like to propose the project CLUG. This project will perform a mission analysis/needs identification and a preliminary feasibility study of an on-board localisation unit with the following characteristics:

• failsafe on-board multi-sensor localisation unit consisting of a navigation core (IMU, tachometer, etc.) brought in reference using GNSS, track map and a minimal number of reference points;
• on-board continuous localisation system that provides location, speed and other dynamics of the train;
• operational and interoperable across the entire European rail network;
• compatible with the current ERTMS TSI or with its future evolutions.

To achieve its objectives,the CLUG's management and the design and development of the localization unit will follow agile processes taking into account former projects results – especially STARS – as well as observations resulting from new test campaigns.

The CLUG consortium comprises railway companies (SNCF, DB Netz and SBB), railway signaling industries (CAF and Siemens), navigation specialists (Airbus Defense & Space, Naventik, FDC), a research institute (ENAC) and a certification expert (Navcert).

Ultimately, this project is the key enabling technology for the future-proof development of train digitalisation and automation to respond to the increased mobility needs of all European citizen and goods by leveraging the train, a green safe and efficient means of transport."