COMMISSION DECISION
of 6 November 2012
amending Decision 2012/88/EU on the technical specifications for interoperability relating to the control-command and signalling subsystems of the trans-European rail system
(notified under document C(2012) 7325)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2012/696/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive 2008/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community (1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
On 16 April 2012 the European Railway Agency issued its recommendation ERA/REC/03-2012/ERTMS. This Decision is based on that recommendation.
(2)
The development of additional functionalities for the European Rail Traffic Management System/European Train Control System (‘ERTMS/ETCS’), with a view to facilitating the swift deployment of ETCS on existing conventional lines, was requested by the sector and defined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2008 by the European Commission and sector Associations. This Decision should include these additional functionalities in a new baseline of the specifications called ‘Baseline 3’, which applicants may apply in full instead of the ERTMS/ETCS specifications set out in Commission Decision 2012/88/EU of 25 January 2012 on the technical specification for interoperability relating to the control-command and signalling subsystems of the trans-European rail system (2) (last release of the Baseline 2, also known as 2.3.0d). An essential feature of Baseline 3 is that trains equipped with Baseline 3-compliant ERTMS/ETCS should be able to run on Baseline 2-compliant ERTMS/ETCS lines without any additional technical or operational restrictions caused by ERTMS/ETCS. It should also be possible to configure Baseline 3 on lines to ensure compatibility with trains equipped with Baseline 2-compliant ERTMS/ETCS (use of version 2.3.0d functions only). Baseline 3 also closes the ERTMS/ETCS open points such as braking curves and ergonomic aspects of DMI.
(3)
It is recognised that the specifications of Baseline 2 have been stable since the adoption of Commission Decision 2008/386/EC of 23 April 2008 modifying Annex A to Decision 2006/679/EC concerning the technical specification for interoperability relating to the control-command and signalling subsystem of the trans-European conventional rail system and Annex A to Decision 2006/860/EC concerning the technical specification for interoperability relating to the control-command and signalling subsystem of the trans-European high-speed rail system (3). It should therefore be possible to continue using them. Nevertheless, for the on-board ERTMS/ETCS, the revised test specifications (referred to in Index 37b and 37c of Table A2 in Annex A) shall be applied. Moreover, as Baseline 3 closes a number of open points, the implementation of Baseline 2 for these points should be based on the relevant Baseline 3 specifications referred to in Annex A.
(4)
The European Railway Agency has revised the ERTMS specifications for the Global System for Mobile Communications Railway (GSM-R) (referred to in index 32, 33, 34 and 65 of Table A2 in Annex A). The revised specifications do not alter the requirements, but provide a clear and unambiguous classification of the existing mandatory requirements in the documents of the European Integrated Radio Enhanced Network (EIRENE), thus facilitating certification, conformity and verification processes.
(5)
Regarding specifications indicated as ‘reserved’ in Table A2 of Annex A, the Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission, the European Railway Agency and the European rail sector associations concerning the strengthening of cooperation for the management of ERTMS signed on 16 April 2012 contains provisions, including the definition of a timetable by the European Railway Agency, to ensure that test specifications are validated and those ‘reserved’ specifications are provided in due time.
(6)
Decision 2012/88/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.
(7)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established in accordance with Article 29(1) of Directive 2008/57/EC.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Decision 2012/88/EU is amended as follows:
(1)
Article 6 is deleted.
(2)
The following Article is inserted:
‘Article 6a
When implementing the TSI set out in Annex III to this Decision, one of the two sets of specifications listed in table A-2 of Annex A shall be applied. Baseline 3 specifications shall be maintained in order to ensure that trains equipped with Baseline 3-compliant ERTMS/ETCS can run on Baseline 2-compliant ERTMS/ETCS lines without any additional technical or operational restrictions.’
(3)
Annex A is replaced by Annex I to this Decision.
(4)
Annex G is replaced by Annex II to this Decision
Article 2
This Decision shall apply from 1 January 2013.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 6 November 2012.