Rail interoperability
Modal shift
Rail Interoperability
Advancing Operational Interoperability in African Rail Corridors
Improves rail interoperability in Southern Africa through a clearer hierarchy of interoperability, a joint operational planning centre and a digital coordination tool.
Project ID: TRiP 2.1
Lead: Durham University
Partners: University of Birmingham, TAZARA, Southern African Railway Association (SARA)
Workstream: WS2: Interoperability modelling & standards
At a glance
Region Southern Africa (TAZARA & Nacala corridors)
Duration May 2026 – March 2027
Refining the Hierarchy of Interoperability
Joint Operational Planning Centre framework
A coordination tool for rail interoperability
How can a digital coordination tool improve cross-border planning among rail operators on the TAZARA and Nacala corridors?
Research activities
Validate and refine the Hierarchy of Interoperability
Joint Operational Planning Centre
Corridor operational simulator
Conceptual demonstrator
Train-based track monitoring
Planned research outputs
Final report
Peer-reviewed publication
Policy proposal to SARA
Concept note for a corridor coordination tool
Corridor simulator
Relevance & uptake
Advice to TAZARA and SARA · SARA Joint Operational Planning Centre · pilot of a digital coordination tool
Implemented by
Durham University
Meet us at
Conference participation [tbc]