The 46th railML® Conference, hosted today by Správa železnic in Prague, marked a milestone with the official launch of railML® 3.3. The conference embraced a hybrid format, with over 50 attendees physically present and over 50 participants joining online, fostering global collaboration and inclusivity. This event brought together railway industry professionals, tech innovators, and academics to explore the latest in rail data interoperability.

Správa železnic opened the event with a collaborative tone for discussions on railML’s role in railway standards. A highlight was railML.org Governance Coordinator Vasco Paul Kolmorgen’s announcement of railML® 3.3 which signified a major step forward in data exchange, standardisation and interoperability.

Key Contributions in railML® 3.3

railML® 3.3 supports infrastructure, timetabling, interlocking and vehicle data - crucial for international rail data needs. Based on RailTopoModel® 1.5 (RTM), it enhances data exchange capabilities. Mr.Kolmorgen explained that the new version addresses key areas in rail data operations with enhanced flexibility for network managers. Acknowledging the collaborative efforts behind railML 3.3, he highlighted the contributions of railML coordinators Milan Wölke, Christian Rahmig, Dr. Larissa Zhuchyi, Dr. Jörg von Lingen, and Thomas Nygreen who worked on contributing to infrastructure, timetable, interlocking systems and ontology for efficient rail operations.

Insights from railML Partners

Miloš Futera from Správa železnic presented the railML 3 use in the Czech railway network, focusing on the Network statement data export via Dypod software tool. This is an interactive infrastructure map that provides users with detailed data on line layouts and specifications. ProB software, the validation tool for ensuring interlocking railML data quality across networks, was presented by HHU Düsseldorf.

Adam Hlubuček from Czech Technical University showcased the Multipurpose Railway Infrastructure Model (MRIM), an advanced data model based on RTM principles. Developed at the Railway Laboratory, MRIM supports applications ranging from ETCS simulations to digital mapping for autonomous trains in the Czech Republic.

Additionally, other insights were shared regarding railML’s practical impact: Dirk Bräuer from iRFP discussed advances in vehicle modeling with braking system support, while Thomas Kabisch from Stadler Rail illustrated railML’s role in passenger information and driver assistance. These practical examples show how railML is playing a pivotal role in railway data exchange applications.

IDX4rail ontology

Dr. Larisa Zhuchyi presented the use of ontology in IDX4rail project, designed to enable seamless data integration across railway and tram systems using railML. IDX4rail translates complex infrastructure data into a unified format, bridging disparate railway databases. Dr. Zhuchyi highlighted that the ontology would improve data quality and standardization, allowing systems from different regions and operators to communicate effectively. For more details, please visit the official website: idx4rail.de.

railVIVID – A fresh start

Margo Vyskarka, a trainee from the USUST university at railML.org introduced railVIVID 2, a major update to railML’s visualisation and validation tool. railVIVID 2 provides users with enhanced visualization capabilities for railML data, enabling easier interpretation of complex infrastructure and operational information. She outlined the tool’s fresh start, which includes options for web or desktop implementation, making it adaptable for different user environments. She also suggested some surveys to collect the feedback to meet the railML community needs for the development of railVIVID.

railML Polls

There were also some polls to gather feedback from railML community. They highlighted key priorities for future development. Most participants showed interest in a change management approach for railML 3, gave feedback on railVIVID preferences and visualization specifications. There was also significant interest in specific ontology use cases and mixed adoption of UUIDs which provided a clear direction for advancing railML standards. You will find the seults below in the photos.

Overall, railML® 3.3 release showcased the innovation and collaboration within the railML community, offering stronger support for infrastructure data, timetable, rollingstock and interlocking data. The upcoming 47th conference is scheduled virtually in June 2025. The registration will be open for all members of the railML community from February 2025. We look forward to seeing everyone again at the next conference!

Download of presentations

You can download the presentations from the conference page when logged in: 46th railML conference. Everyone from the community is welcome to contribute their feedback or comments contacting our schema coordinators per e-mail.