In most productive sectors, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key in transforming processes and optimizing business resources, making them more agile and efficient. This path towards modernization revolutionizes our life habits, as well as the technology developed by companies, the security of data processing and user interaction.

The railway technology in the sector, full of engineering challenges, cannot be left behind. AI can have a positive impact on the analysis of inner sensors and infrastructure components to predict failures. This is known as predictive maintenance and optimizes train route scheduling, resource allocation, and improves communications.

Other aspects of AI’s potential in the onboard world are the identification of unwanted objects or unauthorized persons, track incidents and intrusion detection (security). On the user experience side, its advantages include voice applications and the customization of preferences.

How does this technology potential affect railway operators and shape user trips? 

The liberalization of the railway market opened the door to new operators and high-speed lines.  As a result, there was a record number of passengers in 2023 (more than 8.3 million up from 2022). In addition, according to the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC), train traffic per kilometer grew by more than 40% and ticket prices fell by 20%.

All this free competition has had an impact on users, their finances, the services they access and the profits of operators (who will earn more thanks to an increase in resources, thus allowing them to improve their services, user experience and the efficiency of their operations). This is where technology has a positive impact on our lives.

In the onboard world, managing critical train-to-ground communications is a constant challenge due to the need to process wireless technologies simultaneously, with high demand and availability. In addition, using an eSIM (virtual SIM) has become increasingly important in order to avoid physical manipulations and to program the card, change telecom operators and activate it remotely.

When it comes to cybersecurity, there is a demand for systems to detect unauthorized access to the network through what is known as IDS technologies. This functionality is capable of issuing alerts or logs preventing attacks. In addition, there are self-healing cyber techniques (such as XDR) that improve the average time needed to detect zero-day vulnerabilities and thus alert and react to such threats.  Since they are natively designed to work in an NGFW security environment, these new technologies may or may not work in an embedded form.

Edge computing is also on demand for railway scenarios, with more compact solutions and processors performing artificial intelligence (AI) tasks on the data received. These solutions can adopt different forms (sensors or cameras), but they allow the user to react to external stimuli in real time.

As we have seen, AI is a fundamental tool to generate a secure environment. Despite the progress made, there are implementation challenges based on the risks of investing in adequate infrastructure and management solutions for the cyber secure ecosystem, as well as ensuring passengers socially accept these changes. The annual impact in terms of cost reduction and generation of opportunities for transport operators and users is, so far, positive (and has been for the past few years).

Teldat‘s R&D and Product teams are constantly developing new technologies to launch cybersecurity platforms based on XDR technology and AI algorithms. Furthermore, Teldat has been awarded the “Cybersecurity made in Europe” seal by the “European Digital SME Alliance”.