Railway signalling systems

CCS (Control, Command and Signalling) relates to the structures and equipment onboard and on-tracks that ensure that trains are operated and moved safely, that rail traffic is managed, and that distance is maintained between trains.

The upgrade of existing signalling systems to more advanced technologies like ETCS (European Train Control System) requires changes not only on multiple rail lines but also the retrofitting of rolling stock vehicles to accommodate so-called on-board units (OBUs). Handling the high complexity of these projects can be challenging for rail transportation companies, vehicle owners, and the supply industry.

To help achieve this, TÜV SÜD offers a wide range of validation, assessment, and certification services for rail control, command, and signalling systems and components.

The progress of industrial digitalisation is increasingly influencing the railway sector, with a focus on control-command and signalling subsystems. In addition, there is increasing automation and standardisation of products, such as the European Train Control System (ETCS), the migration of GSM-R to the 5G Future Railways Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), and Automatic Train Operation (ATO). Such processes safeguard the future viability of the railways. The resulting new requirements and the concept of migration present new challenges for railway companies.

To manage these and other complexities, you can enlist support services from TÜV SÜD as an independent third-party. When we support you with the validation and assessment of railway signalling systems and technologies, you effectively ensure and document your systems compliance with safety requirements.

Our services support you to meet all required safety, performance, quality, and interoperability objectives in your railway project.

TÜV SÜD has nearly half a century of experience in the rail sector. A comprehensive provider of rail services, we are respected worldwide as a railway safety assessor. German and other European and international authorities recognise many of our experts as assessors. Our regulatory expertise covers a deep understanding of Our regulatory expertise covers a deep understanding of the relevant rail standards.

We cover all areas of rail signalling (e.g. interlocking systems, CBTC systems, human-machine interface systems, axle counting systems, ATP systems) and all train types (high-speed, conventional, tramways, light rail systems, metros). Our expertise focuses on validation, independent safety assessment, certification and training. We cover all state-of-the-art technologies that are used in signalling systems for rail infrastructure, from relay-driven systems to fully software-controlled systems (microcomputer, FPGA) and standard industrial programmable logic controllers (PLC).

With long-standing experience and extensive qualifications in the rail sector, TÜV SÜD is your partner for all aspects of signalling systems for railway infrastructures. We provide specialist support at all levels from system components to complex large-scale infrastructure projects, with an extensive pool of experienced and highly qualified experts and tailored tools. TÜV SÜD provides services based on accreditations as Notified Body, as Assessment Body, and in several European countries as Designated Body. Our services include:

Validation – TÜV SÜD offers you independent (safety) validation of generic products and applications as well as specific applications at software and system level.

Testing – We focus on plan verification and acceptance testing of rail signalling, telecommunications and electrotechnical systems. With our global expert network, we can offer you all these services worldwide.

Assessment – As type A inspection body according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020 TÜV SÜD provides safety assessments of generic products, generic applications and specific applications as independent safety assessor (ISA) in accordance with European standards (EN) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards as well as all relevant specifications for trackside and on-board equipment.

Independent quality and safety management audits – The assessment of cybersecurity (IT security) according to the standards IEC 62443 for generic products (GP), generic applications (GA) and specific applications (SA) is also part of the services we provide.

Certification – As an accredited certification body (according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065) we can certify your product to the relevant sector-specific safety standards: Certification with the TÜV SÜD-Mark, e.g.; in accordance with the EN 5012x standard series and/or the corresponding IEC standards.

EC Conformity Assessment and EC Verification – TÜV SÜD conducts conformity assessments of interoperability constituents and EC verifications of the control-command and signalling (CCS) subsystems of the rail system in accordance with currently valid EU Council Directives, both as accredited Notified Body and as an associated partner of EISENBAHN-CERT (EBC).

Training – Our experienced specialists conduct training for a wide range of technical equipment, focusing on signalling and safety systems (e.g. basics of railway signalling, ETCS, Security and CENELEC / IEC standards).

ETCS retrofitting

The EU directive on the interoperability of the trans-European rail system serves as the foundation for equipping lines and rolling stock. In addition to multiple rail lines, train vehicles must also be fitted with or updated to accommodate so-called on-board units (OBUs) for an area rollout of the European Train Control System. This retrofitting of projects can be complex and challenging for rail transportation companies, vehicle owners, and the supply industry.

Good monitoring is important and enables timely identification of deviations to initiate relevant countermeasures early in the project. This helps to ensure the content of the project, to improve the quality and usability of the solution, and to avoid time and cost overruns. TÜV SÜD assists in the management of these challenging retrofit projects.

The paperwork generated for the TÜV SÜD train control system evaluation forms another crucial cornerstone for the vehicle's successful clearance. We are on the mission to prepare efficient rail vehicle registration.

We carry out appropriate assessments based on the national and European requirements of components and vehicles (subsystem level), thereby acting as a Notified Body (NoBo), Designated Body (DeBo), and Assessment Body (AsBo).

In ETCS on-board, we are familiar with the phases and project structure of upgrade and retrofit projects. We can assist you with activities that have proven critical to success of various ETCS vehicle equipment projects and help you to keep them in focus.

GSM-R retrofitting

The Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway (GSM-R) is an international wireless communications standard that provides internal railway communication. It is used for track-to-train communication in ETCS Level 2 and 3 operations, and for spoken communication between train drivers and rail traffic control centres. However, as the GSM-R is prone to interference, the Federal Government funds the replacement of existing GSM-R radio modules with interference-resistant devices, as well as the installation of suitable filters.

Train operators, manufacturers, and rail transport companies must ensure that upgraded GSM-R radio modules achieve interference-resistance compliant with the ETSI TS 102 933-1 standard or with Regulation (EU) 2016/919. This concerns the technical specification for interoperability related to the “control-command and signalling (CCS)” subsystems of the railway system within the European Union. Our experts assess your modernised or new systems to ensure that your vehicles are interoperable and can run safely without restrictions.

Working across various projects around the world, our global network of experts possesses a vast amount of experience in evaluating equipped vehicles with a voice radio. Most of these vehicles have been multi-system locomotives, but also multiple units, including double-decker trains. Within our projects, we have not only provided services as a NoBo for CCS and Locomotives and Passengers (LOC&PAS), but also as a DeBo and AsBo.