The high expectations that have been placed in interoperability have brought about fundamental changes in the way in which new rail vehicles are developed. The introduction of product platforms is more than just a good idea: there is no alternative to it. The difficulty resides in detecting future trends and fast-moving changes in adequate time and in feeding them into the development process. In many cases, the real interest is not in brand-new technologies but in simple solutions to facilitate an efficient commercial operation. Until such time as the specifications for the interoperability of conventional railways and the new European train systems are available, there is a need for manufacturers, operators and the authorities to work constructively and pragmatically together. By focusing on the central commercial objectives, it ought to be possible to achieve significant progress even in the interim until such time as the final objective of a uniform European railway system is reached.
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