QUIETERRAIL D4.1 List of use cases and optimisation criteria QUIETERRAIL aims to support the development of quieter...
Deliverables: Results Published in June 2026
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Simplifying Regional Rail Control with an Integrated Interlocking and Radio System
The challenge
Across Europe, railway networks combine high-capacity mainlines with a large number of regional lines operating under different technical and operational conditions. Ensuring consistency and interoperability across these environments is a key focus area. Europe’s Rail (EU-RAIL) contributes to this transition through an integrated control platform.
The solution
A safety-certified integrated Interlocking (IxL)/Radio Block Center (RBC) platform has been demonstrated to enable movement authority issuance and remote control within a unified framework, with a specific focus on Group 2 (G2) regional lines*. These lines often face budget constraints and rely on legacy systems, requiring solutions that ensure high safety while reducing lifecycle costs.
The integrated IxL/RBC architecture centralises signalling functions within a single Operational Control Centre (OCC), combining movement authority management, route setting, train detection and remote operations.
It supports radio‑based supervision through continuous train-to-RBC communication, simplifying and enabling more scalable and cost-efficient deployment.
Designed with a modular architecture, the solution supports different levels of automation, digital supervision features, and flexible integration with existing infrastructure components, including level‑crossing control systems, remote diagnostic tools and energy‑autonomous field devices. This modularity allows the solution to be adapted to the varying degrees of complexity found across European regional networks, ensuring interoperability and long‑term upgradability.
In addition, the IxL/RBC solution is designed to become a key enabler for digitalised, customer‑oriented regional operations. Its cloud‑ready architecture also allows future migration toward virtualised interlocking environments, further reducing total cost of ownership and enabling centralised fleet and infrastructure management.
Readiness for Industrialisation and Deployment
What it does
The next industrialisation phase focuses on extended pilot deployments, integration with low‑cost onboard positioning sources and progressive alignment with evolving EU‑Rail reference architectures for signalling and remote‑operation concepts.
Maturity level
TRL 5 .
Key finding
Up to 40% CAPEX/OPEX reduction can be achieved across wayside, Radio Block Center (RBC) and interlocking by consolidating functions in a Operational Control Center.
Expected benefits
- Adaptability to network complexity: Support for varying levels of operational and technical complexity across European regional networks, ensuring interoperability and long-term upgradability.
- Lower total cost of ownership: Reduction of lifecycle costs through cloud-ready architecture.
- Simplified deployment and maintenance: Streamlined integration and operational management enabled by modular design and centralised architecture.
- Centralised operational environment: Consolidation of signalling and train control functions within a single Operational Control Centre (OCC).
Who benefits
Infrastructure Managers
Railway operators
Suppliers
Final users
Conclusion
This integrated IxL/RBC approach enables more consistent and scalable regional railway systems, acting as a key enabler for digitalised, customer-oriented regional operations.
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.