Integrated Rail Systems Connect Vehicles and Infrastructure

Knorr-Bremse is bringing together vehicle systems, wayside infrastructure and digital technologies to demonstrate how data and control functions can connect different parts of railway operations. The portfolio addresses passenger rail, freight transport, metro and light rail applications, with a focus on braking, signaling, condition monitoring, energy management and lifecycle maintenance.

Integrated Architecture for Rail Operations
The technology portfolio is organized around three areas: On-Train systems for rail vehicles, Wayside systems for signaling and infrastructure, and X.Sectional technologies that provide electronics, software, communications, data analysis and lifecycle services across both environments.

The X.Sectional layer provides interfaces between vehicles, infrastructure and digital applications. Embedded electronic systems combine communication and control capabilities, while digital solutions use operational data for condition monitoring, maintenance planning and fleet management.

Railnova, for example, processes fleet data to support service, operations and maintenance planning and is deployed on approximately 3,000 locomotives and multiple units across Europe.

Electrified Braking and Freight Automation
On-train developments include a digital electromechanical brake based on brake-by-wire architecture. Electrification of the braking system enables braking commands, control functions and system data to be handled electronically rather than relying primarily on pneumatic transmission.

Knorr-Bremse is also developing its digital electropneumatic braking architecture and technologies for automated freight operations. Digital Automatic Coupling provides electrical power and wired data connections along a freight train, creating an infrastructure for automated processes and communication between vehicles.

Complementary radio-based systems can provide wagon and fleet functions without requiring the same wired architecture.

Digital Signaling and Infrastructure Monitoring
For wayside applications, the scalable ElectroLogIXS platform provides a common hardware and software foundation for interlocking, field equipment and level-crossing control.

Its Vital Logic Controller performs safety-critical train movement control, while a Data Acquisition Unit collects trackside operational information. A Wayside System Data Management Module analyzes this information to support infrastructure condition assessment, fault detection and predictive maintenance.

The architecture can also connect signals, switch drives and train detection equipment through object controllers, allowing existing railway infrastructure to be progressively integrated into digital signaling systems.

Technology Presentation at InnoTrans 2026
Knorr-Bremse will demonstrate these technologies at InnoTrans 2026, taking place from September 22–25, 2026, in Berlin, Germany. Its main 1,350-square-meter exhibition area in Hall 1.2, Stand 250 will combine On-Train, Wayside and X.Sectional systems.

A separate area in Hall 27, Stand 740 will focus on embedded electronic solutions. The exhibition will provide a system-level view of how vehicle equipment, signaling infrastructure and digital rail technologies can exchange information and support maintenance, availability and operational efficiency.

Edited by Sucithra Mani, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.knorr-bremse.com