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Digitalisation in Freight traffic
Digitalisation: next steps in rail freight
The megatrend Digitalisation for a sustainable economy is part of the European Commission’s general digitalisation policy, which consists of three main pillars: revision of the TSI Telematics Subsets for business-to-business exchange of data (BtoB), implementation of the eFTI Regulation for freight transport information between business and administration (BtoA), and finally digitalisation of customs procedures based on the new EU Customs Code (NCTS5).
Digitalisation: next steps
Work on the digitalisation megatrend in freight traffic is strongly influenced by the digital transformation within the framework of the EU's new TSI on Telematics and the entry into force of the eFTI Regulation on electronic freight transport information (B2A), and by the implementation of the EU Commission's Digital Transport and Logistics Forum (DTLF) project. These new implementing regulations establish a new general regulatory framework for B2B data exchange, on which the future technical annexes and all TAF TSI = TSI telematics will be based. The implementing regulation thus alters the regulatory framework of the TSI on Telematics and should lead to an update of the TAF TSI (and TAP TSI) functions in all technical annexes, which have become the "TSI Telematics". In close cooperation with CER and the Joint Sector Group (JSG) (see also the related article in this CIT-News), the CIT GS is actively involved in the revision of the TAF TSI (and TAP TSI) at the interface with the CIM electronic consignment note.
Work on the implementation of the new EU Customs Code/NCTS 5 in CIT products and the modification of the CIM consignment note and the CIM Consignment Note Manual (GLV-CIM) will be key objectives during 2024 and the beginning of 2025. The work on the digital transformation of customs functionalities (B2C) will be undertaken in close collaboration with the CER Customs Working Group.
Implementation of eFTI and DTLF
The major factors with a bearing on work on the megatrend of freight digitalisation are the ongoing digitalisation at EU level with the entry into force of the EU eFTI Regulation on electronic freight transport information, and the implementation of the EU Digital Transport and Logistics Forum (DTLF) project. CIT is working very actively and closely with CER to identify the implications for CIT Members and to safeguard the use of data governance by railway undertakings. Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 (eFTI) was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 31 July 2020, L 249/33 ss., and entered into force on 21 August 2020. The scope of the regulation remains limited to the directives concerning dangerous goods, combined transport, and waste management. The eFTI regulation will be applicable from 21 August 2024. The CIT GS is also in contact with RailData and the JSG (Joint Sector Group) and is paying particular attention to the compatibility of the content of eFTI data with existing TAF data, because certain eFTI data structures, such as train ID, vehicle number (EVN) and loading unit (ILU) were primarily created for road transport.
New TSI Telematics (TSI TA)
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1693 was published on 8 September 2023 in the Official Journal of the European Union and amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/773 on the technical specification for interoperability relating to the operation and traffic management subsystem of the rail system within the European Union. This regulation on the information exchange between infrastructure managers and railway undertakings relating to train specifications and train operations as newly defined should be further implemented in the relevant provisions of TAF TSI and TAP TSI. CIT was actively involved in the revision of TAF TSI as concerned the interface with the electronic CIM consignment note (ECN), in close collaboration with CER and the Joint Sector Group (JSG).
These implementing regulations establish a new overall regulatory framework on which future technical appendices and all TAF TSI and TAP TSI will be based, in accordance with EU Directive 2016/797 (essential requirements of the telematics subsystem referred to in Appendix II to the Directive). Regulation 2023/1693 therefore changes the regulatory framework for the TSI Telematics and should lead to the updating of all technical appendices as concerns all functions in the TAF and TAP, now named TSI Telematics (TSI TA). As a reminder, the TAF and TAP TSIs set out the functional and technical standards for the efficient exchange of harmonised information between infrastructure managers, railway undertakings and other stakeholders. This is now addressed in Chapters 3 and 4 of the Appendix to the new draft Regulation 2023/1693 on a technical specification for interoperability relating to the telematics subsystem, known as the “Technical Appendix”, which is under discussion and has been frequently commented on by the Joint Sector Group in the various working and coordination groups mentioned above and was set to be voted on in the RISC 102 in June 2024.