• Kombiverkehr KG and EDICT project partners link intermodal transport data with data of European rail operators

(Frankfurt/Main, 16. April 2024) As part of the EU's EDICT (Enhanced Data Interoperability for Combined Transport stakeholders) project, Kombiverkehr KG along with other project partners has put into operation a new data interface between the Train Information System (TIS) of European rail infrastructure operators and the CT4.0 data hub. This method now gives all users connected to CT4.0 access to operational data of the network operators such as train movement data, operational timetables, reasons for train delays, ETA reports and train departure notifications. The information will benefit both terminal operators and railway undertakings, for whose operations this data is essential, and CT operators and their freight customers. "For the moment just the data for selected routes are being sent. However, RailNetEurope (RNE) is currently developing a new technical connection to TIS. We will move over to this at a later date, before we will then be able to exchange data for all our routes," says Christoph Büchner, Manager IT at the Frankfurt-based intermodal transport company and responsible for implementation of the new technical solution in the project. The interface developed between the two central data hubs of the rail freight industry will link two major sources of information for intermodal transport for the first time. The CT4.0 platform now enables users to swap not only order data, but operational data too.

The EDICT project is financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and aims to improve the interoperability of data in Combined Transport (CT) in Europe. Coordinated by the CT industry association, the UIRR, and armed with a budget of 3.1 million euros for 24 months, the project seeks to remove barriers to interoperability for CT messages. The consortium has been developing business-oriented solutions for the integration of terminal operators, new monitoring systems to improve the quality and punctuality of CT trains and innovative data exchange methods since September 2022. The project builds on earlier success such as Digital Train 1.0 and 2.0 and is modelled on the work of the ELETA project. The overriding goal is to promote the exchange of data between terminals in accordance with the Technical Specification for Interoperability relating to Telematics Applications for Freight Services (TAF TSI) and in harmony with the requirements of Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) in rail transport.