FERRMED Study

A comprehensive “Global” Study was undertaken to define a high priority rail freight system and
to assess the feasibility of the implementation of FERRMED Standards in the FERRMED Great Axis Network. The
Study targets “to match Freight Supply and Demand during the period 2005 – 2025 in the FERRMED Great Axis
area of influence and to optimize traffic between the different modes of transportation with a view of taking
up to 30-35% of long distance inland traffic by rail by implementing FERRMED Standards and improving the

Study conducted under the assumption, defended by FERRMED, that the parallel lines (existing or under study) connecting the different nodes involved should be included in the corridors of the "Core Network", even if these "parallel" lines are in some points separated by a few tens of kilometers.

Study conducted from data resulting from the Supply/Demand, Technical, Socio-economic Global Study OF FERRMED Great Axis and its Area of Influence. The expected rail traffic and successive years of saturation in the Corridor lines have determined.

Own produced with the help of CENIT (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya).

Ongoing diffusion process.

It was presented in Brussels on October 27th 2009. Currently its Conclusions and Recommendations are in process of dissemination throughout Europe.

It defines the minimum design parameters that EU locomotives should meet in order to implement the FERRMED Standards, particularly long and heavy trains. The tools discussed are: power, pantograph, adhesion, coupling, traction, braking system, interoperability, ergonomics and safety, signage, noise and energy efficiency, among others.
Carried out by Alstom, Faiveley, Vossloh, Col·legi d'Enginyers Industrials de Catalunya, Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros Industriales de la Comunidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and the collaboration of APPLUS.