Digitalisation of European Instructions
Reducing peak workload in railway traffic control
- 12 August 2026
- 5 min
In railway traffic control, telephone communication is a major driver of operational workload — especially during disruptions. The preparation, issuance and confirmation of European instructions are time‑critical processes that traditionally rely on verbal communication, increasing pressure on staff, the risk of misunderstandings and administrative overhead.
To tackle this, ProRail initiated the Digitalisation of European Instructions programme. Together with ProRail, ICT InTraffic delivered a solution that digitises large parts of this process — from preparation to issuance and archiving — while keeping dispatchers and drivers firmly in control.
Challenge
The challenge was substantial. European instructions are inherently chain‑crossing, involving both the infrastructure manager and multiple railway operators. At the same time, the solution needed to function within a complex technological landscape, spanning shore‑side systems, onboard communication and operational IT environments at traffic control centres.
Future proof, easy transition
From the start, it was developed at SIL‑1 level, ensuring compliance with safety requirements and providing a future‑proof foundation for further digitalisation. User interfaces were designed according to railway human‑factors principles and integrated into ProRail’s existing IT landscape.
The result is an integrated solution with shore‑side components for preparing, assigning and registering instructions, secure shore‑to‑board communication and a dedicated driver application. Rather than replacing existing operational procedures, the system supports them digitally by structuring information, guiding communication and ensuring consistent registration. The operational process remains familiar: dispatchers prepare instructions digitally, drivers receive notification on their board radio via GSM-R and open the instruction on a handled device. They then verbally read back and the dispatcher confirms as usual — now fully supported and recorded digitally. With a built-in paper-based fallback process, operations can continue uninterrupted and transition seamlessly back to the digital SOP once systems are restored.
Impact
The impact is clear. Call duration between dispatcher and driver has been reduced by up to 50%, significantly lowering peak workload. Digital preparation and registration reduce the risk of errors and eliminate manual scanning and archiving of paper forms. The initiative for the call is now in the Drivers hands, so he can choose a safe moment to call. Intensive collaboration with dispatchers and drivers ensured the solution fits real operational practice.
Safety implemented practically
ICT InTraffic was responsible for the SIL‑1 development of the shore‑side components, DevOps support during pilot and rollout, and the application of SafeScrum to combine agile delivery with safety assurance. Automated reporting supports SIL‑1 documentation across requirements, design, implementation and testing.
This reference shows how European rules can be transformed into a practical digital capability — improving efficiency, consistency and safety in railway operations.
Technical framework
The solution was developed for use in a complex, safety‑critical European railway environment and designed with long‑term digital transformation in mind. Shore‑side components were realised at SIL‑1, aligned with the CENELEC lifecycle standards EN 50126 and EN 50716, with system‑level consistency to EN 50129. The digital handling of European instructions aligns with TSI OPE and national implementations within ProRail’s Safety Management System (SMS), ensuring both regulatory compliance and operational robustness. Secure shore‑to‑train communication is supported via GSM‑R, while user interfaces follow recognised railway human‑factors and safety principles. Development combined SafeScrum with formal safety assurance, providing a scalable, compliant and future‑ready solution for multi‑actor railway operations across Europe.
The Digitalisation of European Instructions
Where digitalisation, deep rail domain expertise and demonstrable safety come together to improve daily rail operations.
