Focus needed to achieve FRMCS 1st Edition for TSI 2027

The Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) is a priority technology for the future railway system. The need for FRMCS implementation is not only driven by the impending obsolescence of the Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway (GSM-R) and its associated challenges from 2030 onwards, but also due to the significant opportunities FRMCS will provide to enable and support railways’ digitalisation. As such, there is a common acknowledgement throughout the sector on the importance of FRMCS and its timely introduction into the legal framework and migration into the European railway system.

The work towards the development of the FRMCS specifications, standards and migration planning is already well underway. While important milestones have been met, UNIFE believes the current discussions have highlighted the need to enhance the cooperation between all stakeholders from the beginning, strengthen the role of the ERA and urgently refocus the scope of discussions if the expected timelines for the FRMCS V2 and V3 specifications availability are to be achieved.

With this UNIFE Paper - Focus needed to achieve FRMCS 1st Edition for TSI 2027 - UNIFE would like to collectively reflect on the status of the work underway and calls for further discussion to align on how we can jointly improve the current way of working to ensure the satisfying finalisation of the FRMCS V2 and V3 specifications and inclusion in the TSI 2027.