Digital Wayside Infrastructure and Railway Signaling Control Platform

Knorr-Bremse is presenting its expanded portfolio of signaling and wayside technologies at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, Germany (Hall 1.2, Booth 250). The digital solutions focus on modernizing safety-critical track elements, including interlockings, switch controls, and railroad crossings, to improve the operational efficiency and capacity of existing rail networks.

Engineering Challenges in Railway Infrastructure Capacity
Shifting increasing traffic volumes to rail networks requires highly available and reliable infrastructure. Upgrading trackside equipment without entirely replacing existing physical components is a primary engineering challenge for operators seeking to modernize networks and prevent operational bottlenecks.

Digital Control Architecture of the ElectroLogIXS Platform
The core of the integrated wayside portfolio is the scalable ElectroLogIXS platform, which provides a unified hardware and software foundation for trackside equipment. For interlocking systems, which prevent conflicting train movements, the ElectroLogIXS Vital Logic Controller (VLC) manages high-precision train detection, train tracking, and route control. This architecture transforms traditional electromechanical interlockings into intelligent control centers. Furthermore, the ElectroLogIXS Object Controller monitors and operates peripheral track components, including switch actuators, track circuits, and axle counters, on a common digital platform. This system is complemented by LED Compact signals that offer broad interlocking compatibility and energy-efficient operation.

Predictive Maintenance and Real-Time Infrastructure Analytics
Modern signaling requires continuous data acquisition to identify risks prior to operational disruption. The Data Acquisition Unit (DAU) collects infrastructure data directly along the track, which is subsequently processed by the Wayside System Data Management Module (WSDMM). This data pipeline provides network operators with condition monitoring insights, enabling predictive maintenance and early malfunction detection. Additionally, the Rail TempEst technology measures rail temperatures in real time, issuing early warnings of potential material deformations caused by extreme thermal conditions. This allows operators to adjust train speeds and schedules to maintain stability.

Dr. Nicolas Lange, Executive Board Member of Knorr-Bremse AG responsible for Rail, states: “Through major projects in North America, Australia, and Europe, we are already demonstrating how we can make safety-critical track elements smarter and more efficient using electronics, signaling, and control solutions – without having to replace existing components.”

Additional Context
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement

Within the railway signaling and wayside control market, the Knorr-Bremse ElectroLogIXS platform competes with established digital interlocking architectures such as the Siemens Mobility Westrace system and the Alstom Smartlock platform. While conventional interlocking systems often require extensive relay logic or proprietary standalone controllers for each trackside element, object controllers like those in the ElectroLogIXS suite decentralize the command logic, allowing for distributed control over standard IP networks. This modular approach reduces trackside cabling and enables legacy infrastructure, such as older point machines and axle counters, to be integrated into modern predictive maintenance environments without requiring full physical replacement of the heavy trackside mechanics.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

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