Hybrid Virtualized Testing for Certification of EGNSS in Railway Train Positioning

VICE4RAIL aims to accelerate the adoption of EGNSS for deploying efficient, resilient, and competitive ERTMS solutions.

Focus is on the development of a certification and standardization process for the use of EGNSS, closing the gaps for rail safety critical applications and converging towards a pan-European EGNSS-based solution for ERTMS and its global roll-out.

The starting point is the use of EGNOS V2 and the Balise virtualisation – as indicated by the European Parliament directive on July 2021 – opening the way for further applications based on the absolute train positioning and EGNOS V3.

Two major developments will be undertaken: identification of suitable certification procedures compliant with the CENELEC norms and realization of a Hybrid Virtualized Testing Certification Environment based on the zero-on-site testing paradigm with the construction of a dedicated testing facility on a RFI’s railway lines where GNSS-based multisensor positioning solutions can be evaluated and certified in operational scenarios.

This unique testing environment will be connected with the ERTMS accredited laboratory of CEDEX to assess the end-to-end performance of the ERTMS chain with GNSS-based positioning devices in operational scenarios.

Behaviour of the system under GNSS signals that include faults very rare and difficult to experience field but with a potential high impact on safety, can be evaluated avoiding extensive and not exhaustive field tests.

VICE4RAIL will exploit the synergies with the Pilot Line Novara – Rho funded by RFI to integrate GNSS positioning into the ERTMS and the Shift2Rail GATE4Rail project that introduced the zero-on-field virtual testing for GNSS.

Furthermore, thanks to SNCF, CEDEX, RFI and SOGEI a liaison will be established with the Europe’s Rail R2DATO project to complement their on-going activities and sharing results and assets and with the RTCM SC 134 Special Committee that is completing the standardization process for GNSS receivers for rail.