European Cross-Border Information system for rail freight - CroBIT

CroBIT (Cross Border Information Technology) will deliver the IT-part to improve the European rail freight traffic. CroBIT is a 5th Framework Programme research and demonstration project under the supervision of the European Commission. CroBIT is able to connect all freight railways along any transport corridor. Participants deliver their information into the CroBIT-System. In return, the participants get added value information from others, about their wagons and consignments. CroBIT combines information about consignments, wagons and trains. Train movements are followed by each railways' internal operational systems. Each train consists of a locomotive and wagons. Wagons include consignments. CroBIT has been demonstrated in two ways: demonstration with real-world transports in Portugal and with virtual data and transports between Italy and Finland. Demonstration was completed in Spring 2005. Rail cargo operators stand to gain the most by using CroBIT. Also the policy and socio-economic impacts are positive. CroBIT will be a joint effort of pioneering railway and IT service companies that will maintain and operate the system on the basis of common agreement. The commercialisation of CroBIT, if successful, will eventually lead to a market-oriented service company "RISE" (Rail Information Service Europe). The earnings of RISE will be based on added value information services.