Since 1.998, the “Centro de Investigación en Tecnologías Ferroviarias”, named as CITEF, works with the aim of achieve the Interoperability criteria and European standards demanded by the technology of our days. The centre was created with a non-profit-making sense, pursuing aims of general interest related to any railway area, within the private or public sector. With the referred issue, different knowledge areas can be described in the following terms:

• Track Platform, analysing vibration effects for maintenance purposes; modelling dynamics of rolling stock also tools oriented to study crash results for juridical uses.
• Power Supply, designing catenaries for high speed lines up to 350 Km/h. Modelling the magnetic and electrical disturbances due to the different currents for the overhead contact-lines.
• Signalling systems: interlocking, block and remote control centres; researching in tools for management and control traffic. Certification and validation systems to be installed according to Interoperability criteria and CENELC work groups.
• Sensor research in catenaries-pantograph contact or rail-track contact.
• Communications, working in GSM-R tools for management, measurements certification and validation systems to be used in railways.
• Simulation techniques for design, planning and teaching drivers and signalmen.
• Simulation of railways systems: on board equipment and trackside components.
• Automatic-testing unit for operational and functional requirements for on-board ERTMS/ETCS equipment according to the European Standards.Contact person: Prof Carlos Vera; cvera@etsii.upm.es