Control Software Integration For Freight Hub Logistics

Kontron AIS and Cegelec Infra Technics sa./nv. have formed a consortium to upgrade the control systems at the Antwerp North marshalling yard in Belgium. This digital infrastructure project implements a modular software solution to manage automated train classification, improving process stability and equipment reliability for international rail transport.

Addressing Industrial Railway Challenges
Antwerp North serves as Europe's second-largest marshalling yard and a primary transshipment node connected to the Port of Antwerp. The Belgian infrastructure operator, Infrabel nv., initiated this modernization project to address the obsolescence of existing control frameworks. Replacing these legacy systems requires a cooperative approach to handle the integration complexity of large-scale track networks. The consortium was formed because deploying automated shunting controls across a high-traffic hub requires simultaneous expertise in industrial automation software and specialized electrical rail infrastructure.

System Architecture and Division of Responsibilities
The automation solution is based on YardLynx, a modular control software architecture developed by Kontron AIS. This platform is engineered to manage diverse train formation scenarios, processing real-time track data to direct rolling stock efficiently.

Responsibilities within the consortium are strictly delineated based on technical capability. Kontron AIS, operating as the software provider, is responsible for engineering and renewing the comprehensive route and brake control systems, as well as programming the digital control mechanisms for remote-operated shunting locomotives. Cegelec Infra Technics sa./nv. acts as the infrastructure and implementation partner, managing the physical engineering, electrical interfacing, and systemic deployment of these software frameworks into the yard's existing hardware environment.

Infrastructure Deployment and Track Integration
The joint solution is being deployed directly at the Antwerp rail facility, specifically targeting sorting subsystems B2 and C2. This integration encompasses a total of 96 classification tracks, requiring precise phasing and redundant communication architectures to maintain continuous freight operations during the transition. The engineering, testing, and system integration phases are scheduled for completion by the end of 2028, establishing a standardized operational baseline for high-volume track management.

Operational Impact on Freight Classification
Backed by a software contract valued in the double-digit millions, this deployment replaces aging components with a future-ready control architecture. By implementing standardized software protocols and modern interfacing, the new system ensures the long-term availability of spare parts and reduces maintenance-related track closures. The collaboration between software developers and infrastructure engineers results in a highly available, automated classification mechanism that directly increases the throughput capacity and operational safety of the freight hub.

Edited by Aishwarya Mambet, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.

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