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EU-Rail at InnoTrans 2026 — Highlights of the Day 1 (22 September)
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A Standardised Onboard-to-Cloud Architecture for Smarter Railway Communication
The challenge
Many railway communication systems are still based on legacy, point-to-point technologies that limit interoperability and increase integration complexity. As digital services evolve, there is a growing need for more flexible and standardised architectures.
The solution
In response, EU-RAIL has introduced a federated, Internet Protocol (IP)-based onboard-to-cloud integration approach.
The architecture is built around a modular onboard application serving as the single integration point between the train and external digital systems. It connects to a Federated Data Space (FDS) through the EU‑RAIL Data Intelligence Hub (DIH), hosted in the cloud, enabling secure and standardised data exchange while allowing new digital services to be added without modifying the communication layer.
Communication relies on open IP protocols over Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) radio technologies (G2 Lines*), including public 4G/5G and satellite networks, with the IP connectivity terminating in the cloud environment where the FDS is deployed. This replaces proprietary point‑to‑point railway links with a cost‑effective, scalable architecture suitable for low‑density regional lines, while maintaining a clear separation between safety‑related and non‑safety‑related data flows.
Faster onboarding of new digital services is enabled through generic communication backbone supporting multiple data sets under a single, maintainable architecture.
Readiness for Industrialisation and Deployment
Prototype with initial operational integration achieved: the on-board module has performed HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)-based exchanges with the Federated Data Space via DIH, exchanging basic data and retrieving data from an external source.
Maturity level
TRL 5 (Next steps focus on scaling in demo settings and incremental development).)
Key finding
CAPEX/OPEX reduction up to 40% by leveraging COTS radios and unified train‑to‑cloud interfaces.
Expected benefits
- Simplified Integration: By adopting a unified IP‑based communication layer that interfaces directly with cloud‑hosted services, the solution removes the need for specialised gateways or custom hardware, simplifying integration and reducing lifecycle costs.
- Faster Deployment Across Fleets: Onboard subsystems publish and consume data through the same interface, accelerating deployment across diverse rolling stock fleets.
- Interoperability and Alignment: The architecture supports secure access control and semantic interoperability.
- Advanced Cloud Capabilities: The cloud‑native integration with the Federated Data Space allows operators and infrastructure managers to leverage cloud‑based analytics, predictive maintenance and multimodal integration, preparing regional railways for future automation and digital services.
Who benefits
Infrastructure Managers
Railway operators
Suppliers
Final users
Conclusion
EU-RAIL’s federated, IP-based onboard-to-cloud architecture replaces legacy communication systems with a standardised approach, enabling streamlined communications, scalable data services and improved reliability across the railway ecosystem.
Learn more about the project
FP6-FuTure
This solution has been developed within the EU-Rail Flagship Project FP6-FutuRe, whose overall objectives are to ensure the long-term viability of the regional railway by reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO), while ensuring high service quality and operational reliability.