LIVE IN BRUSSELS AND ONLINE 12 & 13 March 2026
Driver Training. New Operating Protocols. Retrofitting & Maintenance. Standardisation. Funding.
12 & 13 March 2026, Brussels
Driver Training. New Operating Protocols. Retrofitting & Maintenance. Standardisation. Funding.
12 & 13 March 2026, Brussels
For rail operators implementing Level 2 ETCS—or those assessing the business case for adoption, upgrading from Level 1, phased expansion to Level 3 hybrid, or initial investment—operational and business readiness remains a key challenge.
Particularly for rail operators specifically, who must navigate interactions with infrastructure providers and coordinate seamlessly with both passenger and freight users of the network.
Europe Has Proven ETCS Works—But Operating It In A Live Rail Environment Requires A Whole New Level Of Readiness & Coordination
Infrastructure providers and leading European projects in Switzerland and France have already proven that ETCS Level 2 implementation is achievable. However, while testing the system is one challenge, operating it in a live rail environment brings an entirely new level of complexity.
In the words of one operator
“"You can implement the system. You can test the system. But actually operating the system is often the biggest challenge—and that’s the reality many are still working to get right."
True operational readiness goes beyond technology deployment—it requires a deep understanding of standards, comprehensive driver training, and seamless integration of all system components to ensure reliable, efficient, and safe operations.
ETCS: The Ultimate Test in Change Management
On paper, this might sound straightforward, but in reality, operators have told us that the process is extraordinarily complex.
Consider this: You are taking an established rail company with decades of ingrained operating models and introducing a new system, all while keeping operations running smoothly and bringing the workforce along with you.
So, what’s the key to transforming operations without derailing daily performance?"
This is exactly what our conference addresses head-on, featuring:
✅ First-hand insights from modular ETCS training program (Day 1, 09:15)
✅ Best practices from UK Freight operators preparing for Level 2 transition(Day 1, 08:50)
✅ Operational rule rewriting strategies from European operators handling mixed traffic networks (Day 1, 11:15)
Over the past six weeks, Strategy Engineering Research Group has been in consultation with UK and passenger and freight operators, as well as multiple European operators at various stages of ETCS evaluation and implementation.
Many industry discussions and conferences have focused heavily on ETCS infrastructure challenges—rightly so, as issues like standardisation remain critical. However, what has often been neglected is the operator’s perspective.
This is why our agenda looks at the challenges primarily - but not exclusively - through the operator lens. Featuring:
✅ Sessions dedicated to aligning driver training across operators and control centres (Day 1, 09:35)
✅ Real-world perspectives on rewriting operational rules for ETCS success (Day 1, 11:15)
✅ Cross-border ETCS learnings from Italy-Austria and Germany-Netherlands freight
corridors (Day 1, 14:00)
Take driver training, for instance. Beyond the logistical hurdles of organising and scaling up training facilities, there is the fundamental challenge of ensuring that drivers and control room operators are truly ready.
Our agenda delivers practical solutions through:
✅ Simulation-based training insights from UK, Belgium & Germany (Day 1, 09:55)
✅ How European operators integrate modular training approaches (Day 1, 09:15)
✅ Ensuring ETCS training is adaptable as regulations evolve (Day 1, 10:35)
This is where a pan-European conference—bringing together operators from across the continent who are at a similar stage to UK train operating companies—can add real value. While there are pockets of ETCS implementation across Europe, and a clear acknowledgement that ETCS rollout must be completed by 2030-2035, operators have told us there is still a significant amount of work to do in preparing their organisations.
And that’s before we even touch on budgeting and funding, which is another major discussion in itself (we do cover funding in detail on day 2 of the agenda).
ETCS implementation cannot happen in isolation. It requires close cooperation between passenger, freight, and infrastructure providers. While this discussion is focused on the rail operator perspective, that does not mean we are excluding other key stakeholders. Instead, we are prioritizing the challenges faced by operators as they prepare for ETCS adoption.
Rewriting operational rules is not only necessary for drivers but also crucial for operator control offices and communication interactions with infrastructure-supporting operational staff.
Our conference tackles this through:
✅ A structured approach to rewriting degraded mode and fallback rules (Day 1, 11:35)
✅ How mixed-mode operations work in cross-border corridors (Day 1, 14:00)
✅ Lessons on implementing rule changes (Day 1, 16:30)
Lessons, Mistakes, and Best Practices—ETCS Knowledge Sharing at Scale
While the primary responsibility for this overhaul lies with train operating companies, this initiative aims to bring in expert insights from European operators and infrastructure providers. Their involvement will facilitate knowledge sharing and ensure a more comprehensive approach to implementation.
ETCS Communication: Everyone Speaking the Same Language
A critical aspect of this transition is the establishment of robust communication protocols. These must guarantee clear and efficient channels between operator control officers, infrastructure control centers, and training programs.
Our agenda brings solutions with:
✅ A session on aligning driver, signaller, and control center language(Day 1, 10:15)
✅ Insights from European freight operators on mixed-traffic coordination(Day 1, 14:20)
The development of these protocols must be collaborative, rather than occurring in silos, to build confidence in new technologies and ensure all staff fully understand the updated operational procedures and standards.
Retrofit Smart, Not Hard: The Key to ETCS Readiness
Business readiness will also require addressing the most effective methods for retrofitting rolling stock. Considerations must include cost-efficiency, reliability, and the impact on operational continuity.
Additionally, maintenance scheduling will need a fundamental reassessment. Coordination with infrastructure managers will be essential to ensure track availability aligns with maintenance windows—an aspect that will evolve significantly under ETCS.
This will be addressed through:
✅ Sessions on live ETCS data exchange between TOCs & infrastructure managers (Day 2, 15:10)
✅ Case studies on standardizing data-sharing protocols across Europe (Day 2, 16:15)
Real-Time Data Exchange: The Backbone of ETCS Operations
A crucial enabler underpinning these new operational rules is data sharing. The regular exchange of performance data between operators and infrastructure managers will be essential in identifying areas for improvement.
To comprehensively address these challenges, the agenda will focus on the following key areas:
• Driver training – Preparing drivers for the transition to new operational procedures.
• New operational rules – Ensuring alignment with ETCS and mixed-mode operations.
• Control offices and control centers – Enhancing coordination between operational teams.
• Support for operational staff and maintenance teams – Addressing training and integration needs.
• Timetabling – Adapting scheduling processes to align with infrastructure constraints.
• Emergency windows – Establishing standardized procedures for incident management.
In addition to driver training, this conversation also encompasses:
• Developing best practices and protocols that reduce risk resistance within the workforce
• Maintenance, Retrofitting, Safety Testing & Preparing For FRMCS
• Addressing human factors, which have historically been overlooked in ETCS discussions
Operators have repeatedly told us that no previous ETCS conference has properly tackled these issues—until now.
This event aims to bridge that gap, ensuring that operational readiness, workforce engagement, and practical implementation strategies are given the attention they deserve.
Final Thoughts
This event is more than just a discussion—it’s about finding practical solutions that operators can implement immediately. With a lineup of real-world case studies, cross-industry collaboration, and deep dives into operator challenges, we are ensuring that ETCS business and operational readiness becomes a reality, not just a goal.
Join us in making ETCS implementation a success across Europe.
