Press release: railML.org and GS1 Germany & GS1 Switzerland
by Gulruh Farmonova (railML.org)
Focus on railway digitalisation: GS1 expert group meeting brings European railway sector together – talks with railML.org intensify
From 5 to 7 May 2025, the European rail industry met in Zurich for the 7th expert group meeting on ‘D-A-CH rail operators and their suppliers’. The event, organised by GS1 Switzerland in collaboration with GS1 Germany and GS1 Austria, brought together 57 participants from 26 rail organisations and four countries. GS1 France was represented for the first time, further strengthening cross-border dialogue. railML.org e.V., which is helping to shape developments in standardised data modelling in the railway sector, was also present.
The focus of the expert group meeting was on data exchange and the design of a uniform interface landscape in the railway sector. These topics are essential for seamless digital cooperation between operators, suppliers and service providers. In this context, the discussions between the railML initiative and GS1 also gained in importance.
‘Digital data exchange only works on the basis of jointly developed standards,’ emphasises Dr Uwe Rüdel, Head of Industry Engagement Technical Industries at GS1 Switzerland. ‘The expert group meeting impressively demonstrated how this exchange can succeed: all perspectives were discussed, from SMEs to established industry leaders. Our goal is a common ontology for digital asset management in the railway industry.’
Discussions between railML.org and GS1 are set to gather pace in order to identify synergies in life cycle and maintenance management. The aim is to identify practical use cases at an early stage and discuss them within the specialist community. A key component of these discussions is the GS1 EPCIS standard, which enables the cross-company exchange of event data. In the railway sector, this is particularly important for the life cycle management of components, the tracking of wagons and traction vehicles, and maintenance and repair management. An extension to the tram and light rail sector is planned for the end of 2026 through the mFUND project IDX4rail, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport.
railML.org and GS1 see great potential in working together to promote interoperability in the railway sector. Both sides are very interested in exploring the possibilities of a partnership. A first concrete sign of this is the participation of Thorsten Kirschner from GS1 Germany as a speaker at the IDX4rail practical workshop at the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) on 4 June 2025.
"I look forward to sharing the experience gained in the mainline sector with public transport companies. VDV Communication 1508 (Use of RFID to simplify operational processes) is a promising starting point for intensifying the exchange of information, as it refers to GS1 standards," explains Thorsten Kirschner, Global Lead - Centre of Excellence Rail and Senior Manager Industry Engagement at GS1 Germany.
railML.org GS1 Switzerland & GS1 Germany
orga@governance.railml.org info@gs1.ch
About GS1 D-A-CH
GS1 Switzerland, GS1 Germany and GS1 Austria work closely together in the D-A-CH region to support companies in the digital transformation of their supply and service processes. As part of the global, non-profit organisation GS1, they develop internationally recognised standards for the unique identification, capture and exchange of information.
In the rail sector, GS1 standards make an important contribution to greater transparency, efficiency and interoperability across company and national borders and along the entire value chain.
