ŠKODA Group has formed a strategic partnership with Speno International to equip 15 of the Swiss supplier’s track maintenance machines with ETCS.
The partnership will focus on system integration engineering and authorisation of the onboard signalling technology on four vehicles within the next two years. Plans for equip a further 11 machines with ETCS onboard equipment are “in the pipeline,” according to Škoda.
The Czech company says the primary challenge for the project is to secure authorisation in 16 European countries, with each possessing its own set of National Technical Rules. (NNTR). As a result, work will initially focus on a comprehensive assessment of requirements and an analysis of the NNTR for each country.
Rolling stock manufacturer Škoda expanded its activities into the ETCS market following the acquisition of The Signalling Company earlier this year. The Signalling Company is already equipping 110 locomotives used by Belgian freight operator Lineas with ETCS, while Škoda has experience of ETCS onboard retrofit projects involving nearly 250 vehicles in the Czech Republic.
“With the acquisition of The Signalling Company earlier this year, we have expanded our portfolio to include ETCS technology and the expertise required for seamless integration into the vehicles,” says Mr Jan Harder, president of the west and north region at Škoda Group. “As Europe transitions to a unified system, we stand ready to leverage our knowledge and experience to contribute to this important evolution.”
