RAILGAP · Project

Satellite-Based Train Positioning and Digital Track Maps from Commercial Operations

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Imagine every train already running on the tracks is quietly building a super-accurate GPS map of the entire rail network — no extra equipment bolted to the tracks, no special survey trains needed. RAILGAP figured out how to fuse satellite signals with onboard cameras, laser scanners, and motion sensors to pinpoint exactly where a train is, even under tree canopies or in cities where GPS gets shaky. The result is a reliable digital map of every track, built automatically from everyday train rides, that rail operators can use to run smarter, safer, greener train control systems.

By the numbers

consortium partners developing the system

European countries represented in consortium

project deliverables produced

demonstration deliverables (Measurement Infrastructure + Ground Truth)

industrial partners in the consortium

38%

industry participation ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Railway operators and infrastructure managers face two expensive bottlenecks in modernizing train control: they lack high-quality ground truth positioning data needed to develop and certify satellite-based signalling systems, and conventional track mapping requires costly dedicated survey operations with trackside equipment. These barriers are especially prohibitive for regional and local rail lines where budgets are tight but modernization is urgently needed.

The solution

What was built

RAILGAP produced a Measurement Infrastructure Demonstrator for collecting multi-sensor data (GNSS, IMU, Lidar, Camera) from trains in operation, and a Ground Truth Demonstrator that computes precise positioning reference data with graphical output. Across 13 deliverables, the project developed a complete methodology for building high-accuracy digital track maps from commercial train operations without any trackside infrastructure.

Audience

Who needs this

National railway infrastructure managers modernizing signalling systemsERTMS/ETCS signalling equipment manufacturers needing validation dataRegional rail operators seeking affordable train control modernizationRailway survey and mapping service providersGNSS receiver and multi-sensor fusion technology suppliers

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Railway infrastructure management

enterprise

Target: National or regional railway infrastructure managers

If you are a railway infrastructure manager struggling with expensive, labor-intensive track surveys and outdated digital maps — this project developed a method to generate high-accuracy ground truth data and digital maps directly from trains already in commercial service. It eliminates the need for dedicated survey runs and trackside measurement equipment, covering even challenging environments like urban areas and tree-covered sections across your 13-partner validated approach.

Rail signalling and train control systems

enterprise

Target: ERTMS/ETCS signalling system suppliers

If you are a signalling company developing next-generation satellite-based train control systems but lack the high-quality positioning reference data needed for verification and validation — this project built a Measurement Infrastructure Demonstrator and Ground Truth Demonstrator that provide exactly that data. The multi-sensor fusion of GNSS, IMU, Lidar and Camera delivers the accuracy and integrity required for safety-critical command and control certification.

Regional and local rail operations

mid-size

Target: Regional railway operators modernizing train control

If you are a regional rail operator looking to modernize your signalling with ERTMS but deterred by the cost of mapping infrastructure and installing trackside equipment — this project proved that mapping data can be collected from your own trains in daily service at minimal hardware cost. This makes satellite-based train control viable for regional and local lines where traditional approaches are too expensive to justify.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this mapping approach on our rail network?

The project specifically targets minimal hardware cost by using sensors mounted on trains already in commercial operation, removing any need for trackside infrastructure investment. Based on available project data, detailed per-km or per-train pricing is not published, but the core value proposition is eliminating dedicated survey runs and trackside equipment — two of the biggest cost drivers in conventional rail mapping.

Can this scale to a full national rail network?

The methodology is designed for scale: it relies on commercial trains collecting massive amounts of data during normal operations, meaning coverage grows automatically with traffic. The consortium of 13 partners across 5 countries, led by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (the Italian national rail infrastructure manager), validated the approach across diverse railway environments including urban areas and tree canopy sections.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can we license this technology?

The IP is distributed across a 13-partner consortium that includes 5 industrial companies, 3 research organizations, 2 universities, and 3 other entities from Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and Belgium. Licensing discussions would need to go through the consortium, with Rete Ferroviaria Italiana as coordinator. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction.

Does this meet European railway safety and signalling regulations?

RAILGAP was specifically designed to support the GSA roadmap for adopting EGNSS in train Command & Control Systems and ERTMS. The project built a Verification & Validation environment and a Ground Truth Demonstrator that generates output data meeting the high integrity requirements of safety-critical rail applications. The coordinator RFI has prior experience piloting GNSS-based ERTMS on the Novara-Rho line.

How mature is this technology — is it ready for deployment?

The project produced laboratory demonstrators for both the Measurement Infrastructure and the Ground Truth computation, as documented in 13 deliverables including 2 demonstration deliverables. As an Innovation Action under Horizon 2020, the work targets technology readiness levels suitable for near-deployment validation. The project closed in September 2024 after nearly 4 years of development.

How does this integrate with existing train control and signalling systems?

RAILGAP was built specifically to feed into ERTMS and Command & Control Systems using EGNSS positioning. The multi-sensor approach fuses Dual-Frequency Multi-Constellation GNSS with IMU, Lidar, and Camera data, designed to plug into the existing European rail signalling architecture rather than replace it.

Consortium

Who built it

The RAILGAP consortium is led by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana — Italy's national railway infrastructure manager and a major end-user of the technology, which gives the project immediate credibility and a clear deployment pathway. With 13 partners across 5 countries (Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy), the team balances 5 industrial companies with 3 research organizations and 2 universities, achieving a 38% industry ratio that signals practical orientation. The presence of 2 SMEs adds agility, while the mix of railway operators, satellite navigation experts, and engineering consultants covers the full value chain from sensor development to operational deployment. For a business considering this technology, the consortium structure means you would be working with organizations that both build and operate railway systems — not just academic researchers.

RETE FERROVIARIA ITALIANACoordinator · IT
INGENIERIA Y ECONOMIA DEL TRANSPORTE SME MP SAparticipant · ES
CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS Y EXPERIMENTACION DE OBRAS PUBLICASparticipant · ES
HITACHI RAIL STS SPAparticipant · IT
UNION DES INDUSTRIES FERROVIAIRES EUROPEENNES - UNIFEparticipant · BE
TRENITALIA SPAparticipant · IT
RINA CONSULTING SPAparticipant · IT
CONSORZIO UNIVERSITA INDUSTRIA - LABORATORI DI RADIOCOMUNICAZION Iparticipant · IT
DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EVparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI ROMA TREthirdparty · IT
ASSTRA - ASSOCIAZIONE TRASPORTIparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITE GUSTAVE EIFFELparticipant · FR
ADMINISTRADOR DE INFRAESTRUCTURAS FERROVIARIASparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Italy) — contact via SciTransfer for introduction to the project coordinator

Order a report on this consortium See RETE FERROVIARIA ITALIANA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how RAILGAP's satellite-based rail mapping can cut your track survey costs? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the consortium. Contact us for a one-page technology brief.

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