Hitachi Rail’s digital signalling in Germany

Hitachi Rail has successfully completed the digital interlocking (DSTW) project at Meitingen-Mertingen, an essential section of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor, crucial for both passenger and freight traffic. The upgrade involved replacing the existing signaling systems and signal boxes with Hitachi Rail’s DSTW technology based on NeuPro requirements, aiming to enhance safety, reliability, and comfort in railway operations.

This section, allowing trains to travel at speeds up to 200 km/h, is a vital part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) connecting Finland and Sweden in the north to Malta in the south. The work forms part of the broader "Digital Rail Germany" (DSD) initiative, a nationwide project designed to digitalize rail infrastructure, thus providing sustainable transport solutions and significantly increasing capacity and reliability over the long term. Currently, DB InfraGo AG operates around 2,600 signal boxes of various types and generations across the network.

Hitachi Rail’s DSTW technology offers a more advanced solution by reducing wayside technology, enabling remote operation, and enhancing compatibility with future technological developments. The system employs encrypted data connections to link state-of-the-art, secure computer systems with sensors and switches, ensuring that trains enter only free track sections. This digitalization makes the rail system much safer and more efficient without requiring the construction of additional rail kilometers.

The digitalization project at Meitingen-Mertingen, currently in its preproduction phase, marks a significant milestone for Digital Rail Germany. Hitachi Rail has been involved since 2021, initially supporting the monitoring of digital infrastructure through the "Maintenance Diagnosis Management" (MDM) system. This system improves monitoring, remote diagnosis, and maintenance by evaluating data from digital interfaces. Markus Fritz, COO of Hitachi Rail Germany, expressed pride in achieving this milestone, noting the successful integration of the digital track field via a rail-operated IP network with comprehensive cybersecurity measures.