Rail

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We are helping to make rail transport safe, efficient and competitive and to drive forward the European harmonisation of rail networks.

Rail transport is of particular importance due to climate change and the high utilisation of roads and urban areas. At the Institute of Transportation Systems, we are helping to make rail transport safe, efficient and competitive and to drive forward the European harmonisation of rail networks.

For this, we develop innovative technologies, methods and concepts for the railway in the context of railway automation. We consider the entire railway system in the link between infrastructure - vehicle - operation with people at the centre. We support the introduction of digital control and safety technology by developing test strategies and methodologies as well as automation solutions for test execution.

Digitalisation and automation also pose new challenges for those responsible for operations. The aim of our research is to provide them with optimum support in mastering new tasks by designing their workplaces, work organisation and human-technology interfaces in a way that is tailored to users and requirements. In the RailSET, our driver's cab simulator, for example, train drivers can test new assistance and information systems at a very early stage of development and thus be involved in research and development projects at an early stage.

An important aspect of reliable railway operations is a resilient, highly available infrastructure. Here, our scientists are researching methods for continuous condition monitoring as a prerequisite for predictive maintenance. We are also investigating how capacity on lines and in nodes can be improved through greater operational resilience and appropriate infrastructure design.

Our laboratories and simulators are a unique selling point in European railway research. They support the work and enable experimental validation of the research results. Our RailSiTe® railway laboratory is regularly used by the railway industry for tests and is accredited for conformity tests of components for ETCS (European Train Control System) and EULYNX components.

Our departments on the subject of rail

Digitalized Rail Transport and Operations

In the department Digitalized Rail Transport and Operations, we develop and evaluate innovative technologies for a future-proof rail system – digital, robust, economical and sustainable. The railway network in Germany and Europe is facing major challenges: It needs to accommodate more traffic [...]

Railway Technologies

The department Railway Technologies develops and researches technologies for automated train operation – both on the vehicle and infrastructure side. The focus is on key areas such as sensor technology, remote operation, control and safety technology, human factors as well as testing and test environments. We always keep an eye on the issue of [...]

Current projects

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