‘ERTMS is essential to drive the future of rail forward in a sustainable and barrier-free manner throughout Europe.’
Marco Gerlach
Marco Gerlach
Member of Executive BoardHead of Project Engineering Department
- In-depth expert knowledge in the field of electronic interlocking
- Knowledge of the market spanning many manufacturers of control-command and signalling systems currently available
- Extensive operational experience in system selection and implementation
- Practical experience in the application EU Regulation 402/2013 for CSM
Contact Marco Gerlach at the Brunswick office
Marco Gerlach is a senior expert and head of the Project Engineering department at NEXTRAIL GmbH. With over 20 years of professional experience on the manufacturing side, he has extensive operational and technical expertise in the railway sector as a consultant – in particular in the field of electronic interlockings with a focus on the German railway construction and operating regulation (EBO), the German tram construction and operating regulation (BOStrab) and control-command and signalling systems (CCS).
Thanks to his many years of activity as a project manager, he has extensive knowledge when it comes to the professional management and collaboration of interdisciplinary teams.
Marco Gerlach graduated with a degree in industrial engineering from TU Braunschweig.
Contact Marco Gerlach at the Brunswick office
Personal project references for Marco Gerlach
High-speed section Wendlingen–Ulm, DB Netz AG Preparation of safety plan for the 60 km long high-speed section of the Stuttgart–Ulm railway project.
New electronic interlocking in Klettgau, DB Netz AG. Implementation of the CSM process for the new electronic interlocking in Klettgau
ETCS Swiss cross-border services, DB Netz AG. Creation of the CSM evaluation of speed restriction sections under signal-controlled ETCS Level 1 and preparation of the reliability testing plan for signal-controlled ETCS Level 1
ETCS Digital S-Bahn, S-Bahn Hamburg. World’s first implementation of ATO over ETCS with GoA 2
ETCS Digital S-Bahn, S-Bahn Hamburg. Creation of system definitions for the digital pilot project for ATO over ETCS including fully automatic shunting operation
High-speed section Wendlingen–Ulm, DB Netz AG Preparation of safety plan for the 60 km long high-speed section of the Stuttgart–Ulm railway project.
The challenging new line with 12 tunnels and 37 bridges was equipped for regular operation at 250 km/h with ETCS Level 2 without conventional signalling (ETCS L2oS). As part of equipping of the new line with ETCS Level 2 without conventional signalling, NEXTRAIL has taken over the tasks of the CSM assessment to adopt the requirements of BTSF 2.3 for operation without signals and has drawn up the safety plan for process conformity in accordance with DIN EN 50126.
New electronic interlocking in Klettgau, DB Netz AG. Implementation of the CSM process for the new electronic interlocking in Klettgau
The new interlockings at the Wilchingen-Hallau and Neunkirch stations are located on the main railway line Mannheim–Basle–Constance. Both stations were equipped with mechanical interlocking systems of the Bruchsal design (built in 1928), which were replaced by an electronic interlocking system. The scope of measures covered renovating the signalling of the outdoor and indoor facilities as well as signalling modifications to the electronic interlockings with adjustment ranges in Erzingen and Beringen, respectively. In addition, a permanent track change operation with a Zs6 signal was established between the operating sites. The scope of services included the implementation of the CSM-RA (system definition, system limits, coordination with the assessment body).
ETCS Swiss cross-border services, DB Netz AG. Creation of the CSM evaluation of speed restriction sections under signal-controlled ETCS Level 1 and preparation of the reliability testing plan for signal-controlled ETCS Level 1
An ETCS Level 1 limited supervision/signal-controlled ETCS Level 1 train control system was introduced on the Swiss cross-border lines (German railway lines on Swiss territory and the adjacent DB Netz AG lines in Germany). For the reliability testing of the signal-controlled ETCS Level 1 trackside train control system, NEXTRAIL has drawn up a reliability testing plan for the generic signal-controlled ECTS route installation sub-system.
ETCS Digital S-Bahn, S-Bahn Hamburg. World’s first implementation of ATO over ETCS with GoA 2
For the world’s first pilot project with ATO over ETCS Level 2 with GoA 2 in real operation, NEXTRAIL provided the safety and approval manager for the infrastructure division. As part of this project, the ATO over ETCS system with GoA 2 was approved for the first time, evaluated for safety and successfully put into operation. At the same time, it marks the world’s first implementation of the German regulation on granting operating authorisation for the railway system (EIGV) and the testing the German sectoral guideline for the authorisation assessment of signal, telecommunication and electrotechnical facilities.
ETCS Digital S-Bahn, S-Bahn Hamburg. Creation of system definitions for the digital pilot project for ATO over ETCS including fully automatic shunting operation
On the 21 S-Bahn line in Hamburg, trains will operate automatically for the first time on an S-Bahn network with ATO over ETCS in regular operation. NEXTRAIL was tasked with providing expert know-how to support the project in terms of the generic aspects of ETCS and ATO in the areas of system development and approval management, as well as in test and commissioning management. In addition, NEXTRAIL prepared the risk analyses according to CSM-RA, the evaluation of the ATO specification, the impact analysis, the system definition for the fully automatic shunting operations and the system definition for the AVVO test drives.
Focus of the service areas
System engineering
We support railway operators and manufacturers from the outset with system design, stakeholder analyses and gathering requirements.
