European rail associations are calling for a stronger EU-level governance model for ERTMS, arguing that deployment remains too slow and too fragmented to deliver the interoperability the sector has been promised.
According to the most recent figures cited by the associations AERRL, ALLRAIL and ERFA, only around 17% of the TEN-T Core Network is currently equipped with ERTMS, while just 19% of the existing fleet is fitted accordingly. More than three decades after the launch of the programme, the groups argue that progress remains too limited.
From the operators’ perspective, the problem is not only the pace of deployment, but also the wider operating environment. The associations point to unstable specifications, national divergences and a weak business case, which continue to complicate adoption for users of the system.
The three organisations are backing recommendations put forward by European ERTMS Coordinator Matthias Ruete, including the creation of a central coordination body within DG MOVE, an EU-level deployment manager, and the continuation of a dedicated public-private partnership for rail.
For the sector, the message is clear: without stronger coordination, technical harmonisation and predictable standards, ERTMS risks remaining a patchwork rather than becoming the backbone of a truly interoperable European rail network.
The associations also say that future debate should focus not only on rollout itself, but on operational rules, ETCS costs and the deployment challenges linked to FRMCS, all of which are expected to feature prominently at the Valenciennes conference.
From a freight and open-access perspective, the call reflects a broader frustration across the market: interoperability in Europe is still advancing more slowly than policy goals suggest, while users continue to bear the cost of fragmentation.
