1. Harmonizing signage systems: an absolute necessity

Railroads are a relevant transport system for increasingly long distances. It has been built, and continues to be built, by linking several networks or sections of networks, enabling people and freight to be transported from one end to the other in increasingly efficient conditions in terms of time and safety.

From the earliest years of the railroads, the need to harmonize the technical characteristics of infrastructure and trains was felt. The most significant of these was track gauge, which, with the exception of a few countries, is the same throughout Europe.

A notable exception was that signalling was not harmonized, for one simple reason: each time a border was crossed, both locomotive and driver were changed. Indeed, the autonomy of steam locomotives did not allow them to cover long distances. The incursion of drivers and traction...