Think This is Just for Operators? Here’s Why Infrastructure Providers Need to Be Involved

The operator-led approach of this event focuses on ETCS business readiness from the operator’s perspective. As an infrastructure provider, you might initially wonder whether this event is relevant to you—but we assure you, it absolutely is.

Operators Are Looking for Solutions—This Event Brings Them to the Table

Operators have told us that many commercially organised and association-led ETCS/ERTMS/Signalling events have been too vendor-heavy, often overlooking the operator’s perspective. But this is a matter of rebalancing the conversation, not excluding infrastructure perspectives.

This agenda is designed to help operators achieve operational readiness—but infrastructure providers remain a crucial part of the dialogue.

ETCS Isn’t Just a Tech Upgrade—It’s an Industry-Wide Transformation

One of the most significant findings from our research—along with insights from our fleet maintenance event last November—was that insufficient proactive communication is slowing down ETCS operational implementation across the industry.

"Too many players are working in silos, and we need better coordination across all stakeholders." – Senior Rail Freight Engineering Director

For ETCS to succeed, operators must efficiently roll out the system while managing risk.

Collaboration, Not Isolation: Why ETCS Implementation Needs a United Approach

While this is an operator-led forum, we are actively featuring case studies and discussions that directly impact infrastructure providers, including:

• Control centre and train driver communication – Optimising interactions to support mixed-mode operations
•  The role of infrastructure providers in operational transitions – The ETCS rollout represents a massive cultural shift requiring deep collaboration

A Fundamental Shift in How Infrastructure & Operations Work Together

Operators understand the scale of the ETCS transition and are not underestimating the challenges.

This is why many of the sessions on driver training and control center communication will be directly relevant to infrastructure managers. These discussions will help ensure that:

 ✅ ETCS workflows are seamlessly integrated
✅ Signaling adjustments align with operational realities
✅ New procedures work across infrastructure & operations

Additionally, finance and budgeting discussions will be particularly relevant, as they impact both infrastructure providers and operators. Who pays for what? This is a key debate programmed into Day Two of the agenda.

ETCS Readiness: Addressing the Gaps Between Implementation & Execution

For ETCS to succeed, infrastructure providers need to be aligned with operators on:

 ✅ What gaps exist between infrastructure implementation and operational readiness?
✅ Which rules and procedures must be rewritten—and how can infrastructure providers 

      support this process?
✅ How can infrastructure managers better facilitate dual-mode operations?

Many of these issues require joint problem-solving, rather than working in isolation.

By attending this event, infrastructure providers will gain:

 ✅ A crucial understanding of operator needs and priorities
✅ Better planning insights for long-term investments
✅ A fresh, dynamic agenda that moves beyond outdated signaling conference discussions

One Rail Entity, One ETCS Strategy? What GBR Means for ETCS Deployment

For the UK rail industry, the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR) represents a major restructuring, bringing both infrastructure and operations under one entity.

📌 What does this mean for ETCS strategy?
📌 How will the ETCS deployment strategy align with GBR’s new operating philosophy?
📌 What funding models and regulatory frameworks will GBR introduce?

These are the strategic conversations operators want to have—particularly around standardization, interoperability, funding, and investment.

Why Infrastructure Providers Play a Vital Role at This Event

We want to ensure that infrastructure providers understand their role in these discussions and don’t misinterpret the operator-led focus.

Your participation is essential, both as speakers and attendees, because this agenda is ultimately designed to make ETCS work across the entire industry.

Join us to help shape the future of ETCS and ensure the industry is truly business-ready.