Independent Railway Consultancy · Est. 2002

Getting Railway Systems
Tested, Proven, and Into Service

Since 2002, Efios Rail has helped infrastructure managers and operators bring new trains, lines, and signalling through testing and into service. Test management, project management, and ERTMS advisory — from one senior consultant who has done it before.

Test Management
Project Management
ERTMS Advisory
Reference Projects Get in Touch

Clients & Collaborating Organisations

ProRail NS Ministry of Public Works (NL) Infrabel Siemens Ansaldo STS Thalys International Eurostar NS HiSpeed Lloyds Register Rail KEMA Gemeente Amsterdam
Core Capabilities

What Efios Rail Does

Whether you are proving a new train, delivering a multi-party programme, or planning an ERTMS transition: three services, each backed by twenty years of hands-on work for infrastructure managers, operators, and ministries.

Test Management

Planning and running the test campaigns that prove infrastructure and rolling stock are ready for service — from the master test plan through coordination and logistics to verified results.

  • Test campaign setup and planning
  • Test coordination and logistics
  • Results analysis and requirements verification
  • Infrastructure and rolling stock perspective
Test Management services

Project Management

Programme and project management for complex, multi-stakeholder railway programmes. Governance, planning, risk, procurement, and delivery management across infrastructure and operations.

  • Programme and portfolio management
  • Stakeholder and governance frameworks
  • Risk management and procurement support
  • Reporting and decision support
Project Management services

ERTMS Advisory

Strategic advisory, test management, and design thinking for ERTMS transitions and implementations. Covering Level 1 and Level 2, Dual Signalling, human factors, and national rollout programmes.

  • ERTMS strategic assessment
  • ERTMS test programme management
  • Human factors and simulation
  • Design thinking for operational challenges
ERTMS services
From HSL-Zuid verification in 2002 to the Amsterdam metro today: more than twenty years of getting complex railway systems tested, approved, and into service.
2002
Founded
20+
Client Organisations
NL · BE · EU
Geographic Scope
HSL · ERTMS · Metro
Key Programmes
Reference Projects

Selected Project Experience

From high-speed rail verification to metro signalling and ERTMS test management — a track record built across the Netherlands and beyond.

Metro Amsterdam CAF M7
Test Management

Metro Amsterdam – CAF M7 Signalling & Control

2020–2023

Supervised the Signalling and Control component of the new CAF M7 rolling stock for the Amsterdam metro network, including system integration and acceptance.

ERTMS Test Track Amersfoort
Project Management

ProRail – ERTMS Test Track Amersfoort

2019–2020

Project managed the specification, design, procurement and commissioning of a state-of-the-art test track facility as part of ProRail's innovation portfolio.

ERTMS Pilot Amsterdam-Utrecht
ERTMS

ERTMS Pilot Amsterdam–Utrecht

2013–2014

Managed the full testing programme and supervised commercial operation of the ERTMS L2 dual-signalling pilot on the Amsterdam–Utrecht corridor.

Fyra V250
Test Management

Fyra V250 – Test Programme Management

2009–2013

Led the complete test programme for the Fyra V250 high-speed train on behalf of NS International, covering domestic and international route preparation.

HSL-Zuid
Test Management

HSL-Zuid – V&V and Train-Track Integration

2002–2009

Verification and Validation of superstructure and infrastructure for the Ministry of Public Works, followed by train-track integration tests with multiple EVCs.

NS Human Factors Study
ERTMS · Human Factors

NS – QHSE Human Factors & DAS Study

2018–2019

Scientific research programme examining driver workload and safety implications of Driver Advisory Systems, using eye-tracking and simulation methodology.

View all Reference Projects
About Efios Rail

Senior-Level Railway Expertise Since 2002

Efios Rail is an independent consultancy founded and led by Erik van Bekkum. Since 2002, the company has supported infrastructure managers, train operators, ministries, and suppliers in the Netherlands, Belgium, and across Europe.

Our work spans conventional and high-speed rail, metro networks, and cross-border projects — always combining technical depth with structured programme discipline.

01 Test Management & V&V
02 Programme & Project Management
03 ERTMS Advisory & Implementation
Learn about Efios Rail
Erik van Bekkum
Founder & Principal Consultant

Erik van Bekkum

Every Efios Rail engagement is led personally by Erik van Bekkum — over twenty years of railway test management, programme delivery, and ERTMS experience, from HSL-Zuid verification to the Amsterdam metro. You work directly with the expert, not an account team.

More about Erik Start a conversation
Frequently Asked Questions

Working with Efios Rail

What services does Efios Rail provide?

Efios Rail provides three core services: test management for railway infrastructure and rolling stock, project and programme management for complex railway programmes, and ERTMS advisory covering strategy, testing and human factors. Alongside these, the Frontier Services practice applies AI and LLM agents, social network analysis and LoRaWAN sensing.

What does a railway test manager do?

A railway test manager designs and runs the testing programme that proves a railway system is safe and fit for service — from master test plans and test campaign logistics to results analysis and verification against requirements (V&V). Efios Rail has managed test programmes for high-speed lines, metro rolling stock and ERTMS implementations since 2002.

When do organisations need ERTMS advisory?

Typically at transitions: preparing a national rollout strategy, planning a Level 1 or Level 2 implementation, running dual-signalling pilots, or assessing human factors and driver workload. Efios Rail managed the ERTMS pilot on the Amsterdam–Utrecht corridor and the ProRail ERTMS test track at Amersfoort.

Where does Efios Rail operate?

Efios Rail is based in the Netherlands and works across Belgium and the rest of Europe. Clients and collaborating organisations include ProRail, NS, Infrabel, the Dutch Ministry of Public Works, Siemens and Gemeente Amsterdam.

How do I engage Efios Rail?

Send a message via the contact form or email info@efios.com. You deal directly with founder Erik van Bekkum — a short scoping conversation is usually enough to establish whether Efios Rail is the right fit for your programme.

Planning a Test Campaign or an ERTMS Transition?

Talk it through with someone who has run these programmes before. Your message goes directly to the founder — no sales team in between.

Contact Efios Rail View Reference Projects
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