The EU wants to achieve technical harmonization in rail transport. To this end, there is ERTMS, the European Rail Traffic Management System. In simple terms, it is a common European system for train safety and traffic management.
The problem: The rollout is progressing only slowly. According to a new study by the EU Commission from October 1, 2026, only around 10 percent of the trans-European rail network is equipped with it.
The remaining rollout is estimated to cost 75 to 85 billion euros. According to the study, fragmented tendering practices are a major cost driver: national special requirements and legacy Class B systems that continue in parallel force suppliers to develop customer-specific rather than standardized solutions, which also leads to vendor lock-in and higher prices.
For freight transport, this is more than just a technical issue. Today, locomotives and rail operators must often take into account different systems, approvals, and equipment depending on the country. This makes cross-border rail transport expensive and complicated.
If ERTMS is rolled out cleanly and uniformly, it can help in the long term. In the short term, however, the rollout means investments, construction sites, retrofitting, and sometimes additional costs. The Commission recommends greater standardization, industrialized processes, phasing out legacy Class B systems, and streamlined approval procedures.
Operators with international transport operations in particular should therefore monitor when and which corridors are being converted. A European standard is only useful if it is not implemented in 15 national variations.