Open Source as the Key to Secure and High-Performance Software in the Railway Sector
The collaborative development of open-source software (OSS) is still relatively uncommon in the railway sector. Yet it not only strengthens technological sovereignty but also drives sustainable and cost-effective innovation. As part of the AutomatedTrain project, secure and high-performance computing platforms based on OSS have been evaluated.
The digitalisation and automation of the railway sector are becoming increasingly important. Skills shortages, rising transport demand and stringent requirements for safety and availability pose major challenges for infrastructure managers and railway undertakings. Software plays a pivotal role in addressing these challenges, particularly in safety-critical domains such as signalling and train control systems or automated driving functions. Against this backdrop, the use of open-source software (OSS) is attracting increasing attention.
As part of the AutomatedTrain collaborative project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, DB InfraGO AG is working together with partners from industry and academia to demonstrate the technical feasibility of fully automated shunting and stabling operations, as well as the automated start-up and shut-down of trains. One component of the project is the specification and prototype evaluation of a high-performance, modular and functionally safe computing platform, designed to support future data-intensive AI workloads, for example obstacle detection systems. The platform is intended to support both current and future data-intensive applications, including AI-based functionalities. A key architectural principle is the decoupling of hardware, operating systems and application logic through virtualisation and clearly defined interfaces. This approach separates life cycles, reduces the risk of obsolescence and enables innovations to be implemented more rapidly.
While OSS has been well established in conventional IT for many years, safety-critical Operational Technology (OT) environments have long been regarded as unsuitable for open-source solutions. Nevertheless, it is precisely in these environments that open source demonstrates its structural strengths. Transparency enables independent assessment, promotes collective learning and reduces dependence on proprietary black-box solutions. The key is not to view open source in isolation, but as an integral component of a comprehensive safety architecture.
Another major advantage lies in long-term maintainability. Historically evolved monolithic systems in the railway sector tightly couple software and hardware, making updates and technological advancement more difficult. Open software components, by contrast, enable a cleanly layered architecture and greater flexibility over the system lifecycle.
At the same time, it is clear that open source is a public good, but not a self-sustaining one. Maintenance, security updates, documentation and community engagement require continuous resources, clear responsibilities and robust governance structures. To address this, the OpenRail Association was established in 2024 as an open-source foundation dedicated specifically to the railway sector. Supported by organisations including DB, SNCF, SBB and UIC, it aims to strengthen collaboration across the European railway industry and to develop software components collaboratively.
The AutomatedTrain project demonstrates that open source is not only feasible but also highly beneficial in the safety-critical railway sector, provided that technical architecture, organisational structures and governance are aligned. When embedded appropriately, open source can make a significant contribution to a high-performance, resilient and future-proof railway system.
