companies, as well as for terminal and harbor operators. In all, 630 reading points will exist along tracks throughout Sweden. To date, the organization has RFID-tagged more than 800 vehicles.
The project managers took a global approach, since rail traffic in Europe is international; approximately 60 percent of all wagons come from other European cities. The RFID solution is based on GS1's Electronic Product Code (EPC) standards for tags, readers and sharing information. The organization believes the solution will be used to track and trace wagons not only in Sweden but also throughout Europe.
The end goal is to build a data-collection network that will be employed by train operators, logistics companies, transport firms and customers to manage everything from maintenance to cargo transport. In addition, more effective operations promise to lower the carbon footprint for rail transportation. "The technology will play a key role in taking railways into the 21st century," says Lennart Andersson, the Swedish Transport Administration's RFID project manager.