European ERTMS Coordinator Matthias Ruete releases Third Work Plan

Europe moves from “why ERTMS®?” to “how fast can we deliver it?” Matthias Ruete, European ERTMS® Coordinator, has published his third Work Plan, setting a clear direction for the rollout of European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS®) across the EU.

The message is clear: ERTMS® is no longer just a technical upgrade. It is a cornerstone of Europe’s rail modernisation and digital transformation. With strong political backing, the focus now shifts to accelerating deployment.

The plan highlights key priorities:

  • Synchronising trackside and onboard implementation
  • Addressing high costs and administrative complexity
  • Strengthening EU-level governance and coordination
  • ERTMS® should be treated as a strategic European transformation project

It also calls for reinforced European oversight, a potential dedicated task force, continued public-private cooperation beyond EU-RAIL, and consideration of an EU deployment manager.

For more information you can access the report here.