Rail

Urbanisation, population growth, new technologies and an increasing demand for sustainability are all factors contributing to a new era of mobility. The European Union has positioned rail as the backbone for transporting people and goods. The EU Space Programme and its components support rail operations and increase passenger safety. Not only does EGNSS provide precise positioning and localisation, when augmented by EGNOS and possibly fused with other sensors, it has the potential to replace the expensive physical balises used to monitor train speed and streamline rail operations. EGNSS’ potential becomes even greater when its positioning is complemented by Earth Observation data. For example, railway operators can use Earth Observation data to monitor and prevent vegetation encroachment, landsides, and other risks that could endanger the safe operation of trains.

Rail In Action

A collage of four circular images showing a tram, highway traffic, boat, and bus, representing EU transportation with #EUSpace and a map of Europe in the background.

Connecting the transportation dots with EU Space

European GNSS and Copernicus Earth Observation data not only play a key role in individual modes of mobility, they are also essential to creating a truly intermodal transport system.

EUSPA signature with TAS

EUSPA Secures Continuity of EGNOS Services

EUSPA signed with Thales Alenia Space a contract named LIFEX 1 (Life Extension Phase 1), to ensure that EGNOS V2 continues to provide reliable, secure, and high-performance navigation services for Europe’s aviation, maritime, land transport, mapping and agricultural sectors beyond 2028.

Cover of the EGNOS Open Service Service Definition Document

Celebrating 15 Years of EGNOS Open Service (OS)

The 15th anniversary of the EGNOS Open Service (OS) highlights Europe’s leadership in developing a robust satellite navigation system that has become a global reference for other Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS).

Learn what sets the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) apart from other GNSS augmentation services.

Have you met HAS?

The Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) celebrates its successful first year setting this Galileo service apart from other GNSS augmentation services and is poised to meet the rising demand for high-precision global navigation services.

The Cassini Challenge is looking for innovative, space-based solutions and ideas ready to help solve some of today’s most pressing issues.

Challenge accepted

The CASSINI Challenges competition is looking for innovative, space-based solutions ready to help solve some of today’s most pressing issues.

2023 was an eventful year for EUSPA thanks to milestones such as the EU SST takeover or the implementation of Galileo HAS

The 12 Days of EU Space

It’s the last month of the year, which can only mean one thing: time for EUSPA’s annual recap.

EU Space Week, happening now in Seville, is putting the spotlight on Europe’s dynamic – and rapidly growing – space sector

EU Space Week kicks off in Seville

EU Space Week, happening now in Seville, is putting the spotlight on Europe’s dynamic – and rapidly growing – space sector, with over 3,000 participants both online and onsite.

Fast Facts

150,000
More than 150,000 freight wagons in Europe are equipped with Galileo/EGNOS receivers.
51%
is the share of European companies among global system integrators in railway signaling.
2.8
million wagons of the nearly 220,000 trains in the world dedicated to freight form the addressable market for GNSS applications.

Downloads

Rail R&D projects