Akash Kumar Gupta (200031101611005)

By embracing digitalisation in all spheres of its operations — such

as asset management, signalling, manufacturing and passenger information system — the
Railways is on track to improving its revenues and passenger experience

Indian Railways is the third largest railway network in the world by size, and is continuously
undergoing changes. One area of importance is to improve the network capacity and utilisation,
faster services, and safe running . It is the most commnly used and cost effective modes of
travel and carring goods over long as well as short distance. Complex signalling system are
utillised if there are multiple route networks .

Well this seems everything nice bt here comes some harsh realtiy and darkest part of our rail
transport that INDIAN RAILWAYS had worst punctuality in recent three years and 30% of ran
late in 2017-18 according to official data. From April 2017-March 2018, the punctuality of mail
and express trains was 71.39 per cent, down from 76.69 per cent in 2016-17, which is a
deterioration of 5.30 per cent.

And when Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India looked into the reasons for this
delay, it found some serious flaws in government’s Rs 1 lakh crore station redevelopment plans.
There isn't enough space for trains on stations which is the main cause of delays, and little is
being done to change that.According to CAG, another important reason for delays is fewer
washing pit lines and stabling lines. After that CAG seleceted some 15 stations in 10 zonal
railways which falling under heavy passenger traffic.On the selected 15 stations, out of 164
platforms, 100 platforms have the capacity to handle trains with 24 or more coaches. Due to
absence of adequate capacity of platforms, trains with higher number of coaches had to be
handled on platforms of shorter lengths, which led to inconvenience to passengers in boarding
and de-boarding trains.

Lack of basic infrastructure

The CAG report points that one of the most important reasons for train delays was the lack of
basic infrastructure which leads to detention of trains before they reach the station.
Due to non-availability of path (platform/line), the trains have to wait at outer signal or the
adjacent station until the platform is vacated by preoccupied trains. CAG observed significant
detentions to trains at the selected stations. Passenger trains were detained for more than 15
minutes per train at all the selected stations except Howrah, Bhopal, Itarsi and Ahmedabad. At
these stations, the trains were detained between 15 and 25 minutes per train.

Not enough washing pit lines and stabling lines

CAG found that washing and stabling lines at the stations were not big enough to handle trains.
They lack capacity to handle bigger trains with 24 or more coaches. In some cases, washing and
stabling lines were so few that it affected the punctuality directly.Washing pit lines are washing
lines with open dumping pits at the base throughout the track. It is used for all types of cleaning
and maintenance to prepare the compartment for the next journey. Every train is required to be
cleaned before it starts its next journey.Stabling lines are running lines where empty trains are
stabled on arrival and await their turn to be shunted away to the washing lines and from there
to the carriage and wagon examination pit lines.

Out of 79 pit lines and 63 stabling lines, only 35 pit lines and 20 stabling lines have the capacity
to handle trains with 24 or more coaches. This increased the time taken for maintenance of
trains and impacted punctuality.

Here's what CAG suggests

The comprehensive report by CAG gives a number of suggestions to the railway ministry. One of
them is creation of a master plan for stations with heavy passenger traffic to identify constraints
of station line capacity and devise measures to be taken to address these constraints on
priority.It also suggested that the modernisation/redevelopment of stations should address
infrastructural constraints and works such as construction of additional platforms, stabling and
washing pit lines, remodelling of yards etc. should also be included in the scope of
modernisation/redevelopment of stations.Before taking up modernisation of stations and
constructing new buildings, the possibility of further expansion of the stations by adding more
platforms needs to be considered, the CAG suggests.

And now the current scenario has changed as we are living in the 21st century that is fully
digitalised so the transport paradigm with the focus shifting from infrastructure to service and
from ready-made to tailored solutions. Underling the importance of evolving with technology,
the Railway Minister recently said that technology is the only input which can significantly
impact the future of the Railways. Further, with metro rails resuming operations in a graded
manner, digital technologies help in demand management, social distancing, and providing real-
time information for authorities and passengers.

For theRailways, the rapid digitalisation is marked by the fourth industrial revolution — Railway
4.0. It enhances railway infrastructure, services, systems, signalling and rolling stock while
improving the operational efficiency of the assets. They are being re-imagined, designed,
delivered and operated using technology that brings stakeholders into collaborative
partnerships, thus changing the face of the Railways.Designing of coaches, signalling and traffic
management, freight management, train services, workforce and customer management are
some of the key areas of digitalisation in the rail sector.

INFRASTRUCTURE
Right-of-way
Railway tracks are laid upon land owned or leased by the railway company. Owing to the
desirability of maintaining modest grades, rails will often be laid in circuitous routes in hilly or
mountainous terrain. Route length and grade requirements can be reduced by the use of
alternating cuttings, bridges and tunnels – all of which can greatly increase the capital
expenditures required to develop a right-of-way, while significantly reducing operating costs and
allowing higher speeds on longer radius curves. In densely urbanized areas, railways are
sometimes laid in tunnels to minimize the effects on existing properties.

Rolling Stock(Designing of coach)

Most of the rail coaches run through traditional manufacturing processes that lead to high inventory cost
with parts being produced and stored before being assembled. With digitalisation, the costly traditional
manufacturing is being rapidly optimised and enhanced by platform-based 3D technologies.With the
rolling stock manufacturers using virtual 3D platform and technology to incorporate subsystems,
components and assembly information, the coach designs are accurately modelled, simulated, analysed
and improved in the virtual world, to correct the faults and inefficiencies in order to avoid costly
mistakes.Additive manufacturing is evolving as a game changer in the Railways like in other sectors. The
Railways recently started using ‘Make in India’ 3D printer to design and print coach components in-house
as per requirement.

The Railway Minister also recently announced the plan to redesign passenger coaches as per
international standards to make them safer, comfortable and faster. The 3D design platforms and
passenger experience solutions are also revolutionising the rail sector by incorporating integrated
electronics, reconfiguring seating and standing areas or adding styling through the cabin that reflects the
local aesthetic or identity.
Signalling system
The technological advancements are enhancing the railway infrastructure capacity by converting to
electrified routes with advanced signalling. This modernisation of signalling system includes
implementation of European Train Control System (ETCS) that adheres if the speed limit of the train is
compatible with the permitted speed allowed by signalling, thus improving safety and punctuality.

With the plans to modernise 8,000 railway stations, the government is also leveraging the Building
Information Modelling (BIM) process for designing and installing railway-signalling systems. The 3D
technologies helps to visualise infrastructure life-cycle and solve problems by eliminating various issues
because of the mistakes caused by poor communication of data.The infrastructure 3D model technology
also recognises the oncoming train and its speed, records data image and helps with 3D visualisation of
railway track with all assets, train driver simulations and digital track capturing.Additionally, the new
policy framework by the government has proposed to use public-private partnership (PPP) to unleash
faster development signalling systems in the country.

Workforce management
The staff in the Indian rail network are using various innovative technological solutions to improve
efficiency, ranging from customer service to maintenance and repair work. Having a workforce
management platform helps the staff to plan and schedule processes in a planner software for control
over the entire workforce process such as capacity planning, daily task scheduling, real-time
rescheduling, routes, employee availability and competing time slots.The software platforms allow the
operators to see all scenarios and decision consequences in real time and then take an informed action.
It also enables the train planners with a dynamic decision support tool to see all scenarios and decision
consequences in real time, to help make customer-centric decisions and improve service reliability.

Train service efficiency

Different trains running on a network have different priorities, speed restrictions and stoppages.
Considering these constraints, track speeds, and requirements, the train schedules are being made to
increase the network utilisation. This, when performed with network optimisation, increases the number
of trains that can run on the same network, thereby increasing the revenues to the Railways.

Fleet planning
Having the right fleet with wagons, coaches at the right place and at the right time can increase the
revenue to the Railways. Reducing empty kilometres by proper planning can reduce the time and cost
spent. This requires an intelligent planning platform that can incorporate all the constraints and produce
the best plans based on KPIs.Disruption handling is an essential part of an intelligent planning platform
to handle unexpected disruptive events such as non-availability of loading cranes, late arrival of inter-
modal transport units. Delaying the entire train will mean a hold-up for the other load orders and result
in many unhappy customers. An intelligent planning system aids as a decision support system, one that
provides an overview of all possible solutions and their influence on KPIs.

A huge part of maximising utilisation comes from reducing maintenance time. Maintenance and cleaning
are critical and, in most cases, can’t be delayed. For instance, wagons that have been used to transport
diesel must be thoroughly cleaned before they can be used to transport petrol.In order to clean the
wagons efficiently, planners need an intelligent system that provides full visibility on which terminals,
employees and materials are available at the requested time slots. With such visibility, they will be able
to manage last-minute cleaning tasks while responding to urgent order bookings that come in
unexpectedly.

Customer-centricity
The Indian rail network is continuously enhancing the passenger experience through digital technologies.
The modern features such as facial recognition, emergency talk-back system, WiFi infotainment system,
automatic plug-door and step control have completely changed the passenger travel experience.One of
the steps undertaken to modernise the Railways is the use of solutions that enhance passenger
experience and offer the ability to propose custom-tailored coaches depending on train routes and
passenger tiering. These solutions allow a detailed exploration of the cabin, including a 360-degree view
of the rail coach and high-end visualisation provides the customers with a visual experience while
meeting their requirements.

The Railway Ministry recently launched a transparent reservation system wherein passengers can check
the real-time reservation status. Keeping in mind the current scenario, the contactless ticket checking
system by the Railways is helping passengers to check for availability of berth to passengers.Over the last
couple of years, technology and innovation have been changing the face of the Railways as it has
embraced digitalisation in all spheres of its operations such as asset management, train signalling,
manufacturing, passenger information system and coach factory automation. With the Railways’ digital
transformation, the industry will accelerate new railway intelligence thus enabling enhanced industry-
wide knowledge and business model innovation.

5 Top Rolling Stock Startups

Duragon Systems – Locomotive Diagnostics Modules
Rapid advancements in the technological properties of rolling stock, combined with the rising degree of
rail automation, attract attention to the questions of proper diagnostics of railway vehicles. Startups and
emerging companies focus on developing continuous monitoring devices and controllers for
locomotives, wagons, and railroad cars. Such solutions further present rail fleet owners with tools to
continuously maintain the health of their assets.Thailand-based startup Duragon Systems engineers an
embedded diagnostics unit for locomotives and on-board trains. It possesses the features of modularity,
high operational reliability, cloud connectivity, and isolated peripheral interfaces. The controller is train-
type-agnostic and is also compatible with diesel, hybrid, and electric engines.

Rail Propulsion System (RPS) – Zero-Emission Locomotives

With electric mobility on the rise globally, rail transportation is also gradually shifting from diesel to
electric power. Rail electrification potentially brings further economic and ecological benefits in terms of
reduced costs and lower carbon discharge. Startups are also taking the initiative to develop zero-
emission locomotives and usher in the future of clean rail transportation.The US-based startup Rail
Propulsion Systems creates a zero-emission booster locomotive, and its related energy storage systems,
for railway transport. RPS substitutes a diesel generator with a battery system, conversion mechanism,
and power electronics. This engineering provides opportunities to uplift performance and lowers the
emissions of current commuter trains.

HEMS Global – Diesel Reduction Systems

It remains a challenge to fully replace diesel-based locomotives with more environmentally-friendly
electric trains. This encourages startups to develop solutions that decrease harmful railroad emissions.
For example, diesel reduction systems aim at improving diesel efficiency by utilizing selective catalytic
reduction, hydrogen catalyzation, or other active emission control technologies.Australian startup HEMS
Global develops a diesel usage reduction system for locomotives, rail vehicles, and other types of
terrestrial transportation. The solution intends to substitute conventional hydrogen cylinders with
proprietary hydrogen-enriched syngas extraction systems. The catalytic properties of syngas allow it to
act in mixtures with traditional hydrocarbon fuels, but with the benefit of lower exhaust emissions.

TransPod – Ultra-High-Speed Rolling Stock

Despite the economical and environmental issues, it is also vital to consider the demands for faster
transportation from rail travelers. Startups and emerging companies combine the key principles of
railways and aviation to introduce new types of ultra-high-speed rolling stock, in particular, hyperloop
trains.

Canadian startup TransPod addresses the challenges of smart city highway congestion and inter-city
railroad operation with its ultra-high-speed (up to 1000 km/h) hyperloop system. Fossil fuel-free, and
also driven by electrical magnetic propulsion, The Pod offers its passengers a sophisticated travel
environment with short waiting times and high-tech infrastructure.

Cylus – Cybersecurity For Rolling Stock

With more railways being digitally connected, the issues of cybersecurity become exceedingly relevant.
Rolling stock operators intend to obtain threat intelligence in order to enforce targeted security policies.
This is where startups and emerging companies enter the arena. They develop innovative cybersecurity
tools to keep cyber attacks under control.

Cylus is an Israeli startup that develops a railway-specific cybersecurity product for rolling stock,
CylusOne. The startup’s non-intrusive solution undertakes a patented security analysis of onboard
networks and topologies. This is later integrated with contemporary and legacy rolling stock. CylusOne
continuously monitors and detects cyber risks and attacks, as well as generates timely notifications with
pertinent response suggestions.

5 Top Railway Signaling Solutions

 GEAR International Holdings – Integrated Signaling
The rail sector continuously strives for punctuality, reliability, and higher rail transit capacities during
peak hours. Upgrades to signaling technology reduce technical errors, improve traffic information flows,
and further reinforces passenger confidence in rail transit. Rail startups develop smart signaling solutions
to help rail operators lower maintenance costs and optimize the use of signaling.

South African startup GEAR International Holdings offers integrated railway signaling solutions. The
system uses train location information for interlocking and enables communications-based train control
(CBTC). Moreover, the movement and interlocking of trains are integrated with wayside signaling control
systems. Moreover, the startup’s signaling solutions ensure safety, optimize train movement, and
maximize the use of platform availability.

Humatics – Rail Navigation System

Upgrading signaling equipment for a particular rail line consumes significant time due to the complexity
of installing the infrastructure. Quick and effective installation of signaling solutions helps cities
transform rail network performance and decrease maintenance costs. For this purpose, startups develop
automatic train control solutions that increase the reliability and safety of rail transport and, at the same
time, are easy to install and maintain.

The US-based startup Humatics offers an easy-to-install location system capable of identifying the exact
whereabouts of locomotives. The Humatics Rail Navigation System is powered by industrial ultra-
wideband (UWB) signaling and provides precise train positioning and train speed in real-time. These
solutions enable automatic train operations (ATO), and driver assistance as well as platooning, and
ensuring the safety of rail construction operations.

TekTracking – Mapping Solutions

Mapping the area along railway tracks helps operators understand and envision the design for signaling
systems. Mapping also allows rail construction companies to place the signaling equipment in a way that
maximizes the efficacy of signaling. Startups develop mapping solutions for railway signaling to enable
seamless communication and movement between trains in busy transit hubs.

TekTracking is a US-based startup offering video-based mapping solutions for the rail sector. The startup’s
process entails a linear asset inventory using video data processing and built-in calculations for signaling
design. As a result, the data helps rail operators implement effective rail communication through the
signaling equipment by optimizing train location.

Fidrox – Rail Signaling Devices

Railway signaling devices play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of train operations. Furthermore,
safety monitoring and regular maintenance of signaling equipment improve the overall reliability of
railway operations. Startups offer services in rail signaling design, installation, and maintenance to help
rail operators make transportation secure and reliable.

Indian startup Fidrox provides signaling system services for railway networks. The startup offers testing
and installation of railway signaling solutions, as well as utilizes intelligent video analytics and geospatial
solutions for signaling maintenance. The startup helps rail companies save time and costs on
maintenance, ensuring safe operation and reliability of signaling infrastructure.

STraffic – Automatic Train Operation

Inefficient train communication leads to mismanagement of train speed and lengthens distances
between trains due to rail safety measures. Through train-to-track communication, CBTC signaling
systems ensure operational safety and effective distance and speed monitoring for rail operators.
Startups and scaleups develop solutions to increase the efficiency of train
companies.

STraffic is a South Korean scaleup developing train communication solutions, in particular, CBTC
solutions. The scaleup’s solution increases the precision of detecting and tracking train location to enable
the continuous flow of communication. The CBTC solution allows operators to optimize train efficiency
and increase the safety of rail operations.

5 Top Smart Railway Solutions Impacting The Industry

Primerail Infralabs – Design Innovations
Growing populations and rising congestion in urban centers have made traditional railway infrastructure,
which takes up a lot of space, difficult to implement. In densely populated urban locations, constructing
new metro rail lines costs too much in terms of land acquisition, inspection and leveling, and eventual
construction. These projects also take several years to complete, leaving urban cities in a state of
congestion for a prolonged period.

Indian startup Primerail Infralabs designs and develops novel urban transit solutions. Apart from
providing existing mainline railway, rapid transit, and urban transportation with services like surveys,
inspections, and design, they also develop radical solutions. PSC Plinths and Biebus are two of their
patent-pending systems that stand to benefit urban transportation by reducing the costs of laying tracks.

REDS – Safety & Efficiency Improvements

Energy efficiency has been a subject of focus for many industries that use relatively old technologies as
they look to improve their systems to utilize less energy. From air conditioners and refrigerators to trains
and other infrastructure, companies are working to increase efficiency by using innovative software
solutions that do not have a high-cost impact on operators and manufacturers.

Polish startup REDS develops software solutions to support railway operators to increase their safety,
punctuality, and energy efficiency. Their Eco Driving system enhances the energy efficiency of all rail
vehicles and helps optimize energy usage by automatically controlling the usage or suggesting actions
like slowing down, speeding up, maintaining a constant speed or controlling heating and cooling.
SIA KTN – Electrical Railway Points Heating
Railway tracks traverse through all kinds of terrain and weather conditions to help connect different
regions in a country or broader regions. Operating railways in such conditions pose a risk in terms of
delays or more serious accidents. Whether it is the blowing sand in the desert or snow at higher
altitudes, companies are developing innovative solutions to clear tracks and make train travel safer.

Latvian startup SIA KTN develops the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for
railway points heating. The fully automated point heating control system uses a series of models on
climate and weather conditions. It can assess the best cleaning technique required, blowing snow off the
track or electrical heating of ice on tracks. Their solution, which is still under testing and trials, allows
real-time monitoring of tracks in regions that are hard to access.

Rail-Veyor – Intelligent Material Handling

The operating costs involved in loading, transporting, and unloading materials from mining and other
industries continue to rise as road travel is often prone to delays, especially for hauling heavy materials.
Traditional truck hauling is expensive and contributes to the significant carbon footprint of such
industries. Advancements in freight technologies and the energy efficiency of railways have given rise to
innovative solutions for material handling.

Canadian scale-up Rail-Veyor develops its eponymous bulk material hauling solution using railway tracks
and intelligent design of tracks, loading and unloading systems, and freight locomotive. Once set up,
operators benefit from reduced operating costs for overall material handling. Watch the video on their
website to understand their solution in more detail!

Icer Rail – Friction Technology

Traditionally, railways have used cast iron brakes to keep trains immobile, slow them down and control
acceleration during downhill tracks. Braking with iron, cement, other alloys, and metals generates
extreme heat. This leads to wear and tear and increases the risk of accidents. Advancements in materials
research and development allow for different materials to manufacture brakes, which removes the
.
issues with current technologies Spanish scale-up Icer Rail, now a part of the Knorr-Bremse group,
develops organic brake blocks covering a range of friction coefficients like LL (very low), L (low), K (high),
and KK (very high) for locomotives, passenger coaches, freight wagons, and metros following
international railway standards. They also replace cast iron blocks for freight and supplementary brake
block for coaches, in compliance with the European Union for ‘rolling noise reduction’.

Smart Railway Market 2030

KEY BENEFITS OF SMART RAILWAY MARKET
· 1. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the smart railway market and offers current and
future trends to decipher the upcoming investment pockets in the market.

· 2. Competitive analysis is conducted to formulate profitable strategies in the market

· 3. Current and future trends are charted to determine the overall attractiveness of the market

· 4. Market factors are expounded to determine the trends in various geographies

· 5. The potency of buyers and suppliers are evaluated to determine the present state of the
market. Company profiles of the leading market players are illustrated to provide a roadmap of
the market

· 6. Quantitative analysis of the current market and estimations through 2013-2020 to elicit
financial caliber of the market

· 7. Key application segments are identified based on the perceived potential of the market

· Drivers and opportunities are evaluated to pinpoint the factors responsible for the market
growth

· Top impacting factors are investigated to determine the attractiveness of the market.

Smart Railway Market Analysis by Solutions

A smart railway provides several solutions. The Passenger Information system provides real-time
passenger information. Information system, Rail Traffic Management System, Rail Operations
Management System, Advance Security Monitoring System, Rail Communication and Networking
System, Smart Ticketing System, Rail Analytics System are some additional solutions supplied by smart
railways. As smart railways offer various automated solutions such as traffic management, security
monitoring, communication and networking the solutions segment is the most attractive segment.

Smart Railway Market Analysis by Devices

Smart Railways provides various devices and components for security and network connectivity. The
devices used are Rail Sensors, Video Surveillance cameras, Smart cards, Multimedia displays, and
networking & connectivity devices. Video surveillance cameras are most commonly used for security
purposes. They generate the most revenue in the devices segment. Sensors are used to locate the train
and smart cards are used for entering and exiting the trains.

Smart Railway Market Analysis by Services

Presently, Professional, Integration, and cloud are some smart railway services used by the railway
industry. Cloud Services are widely used to maintain real-time information on passengers and in
automated rail ticket systems. Therefore, cloud services contribute the most revenue in the services
market of the smart railway.

Smart Railway Market Analysis by Geography

The smart railway market is evaluated based on the regions of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and
LAMEA. North America would be the segment which generates the most revenue followed by Europe
due to the adoption of novel technologies in developed countries. Asia-Pacific region would be the
fastest growing region as the adoption rate of new technologies is increasing in countries such as India,
China, Japan, etc.

Competitive Landscape
The players in the market are adopting the strategy of partnerships to expand their business, which will
encourage advancements in technology and improve their services. Some major players in the market
are Alcatel-Lucent International, ABB Ltd, Ansaldo STS, Alstom SA, Cisco Systems, Inc., Bombardier
Transportation, GE Transportation, CGI Group Inc., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Indra Sistemas, S.A.,
Hitachi Ltd., Computer Sciences Corp., ZTE Corporation, IBM Corporation and Siemens AG

HIGH-LEVEL ANALYSIS
Study of the market showcases the current market trends, market structures, driving factors, limitations
and opportunities of the smart railway market. Porter's Five Force Model helps in analyzing the market
forces, barriers, strengths, etc., of the global market. Bargaining power of the buyer is low as the product
is highly differentiated and threat of backward integration is low. The suppliers in this market are more
concentrated than buyers, due to which the bargaining power of suppliers is high. Threat of substitutes
in the global market is high as the switching costs are minimal. As smart railways is a novel concept,
threat of new entrants in the industry is high, while the moderate number of market players leads to
moderate intersegment rivalry in the market. Value chain analysis helps in analyzing the role of key
stakeholders in the supply chain of the market and would provide new entrants with knowledge about
the value chain of the existing market.

KEY DELIVERABLES
The global smart railway market is segmented based on the solutions it provides, devices, services and
geography.

MARKET BY SOLUTIONS
o Passenger Information system

o Freight Information system

o Rail Traffic Management System

o Rail Operations Management System

o Advance Security Monitoring System

o Rail Communication and Networking System

o Smart Ticketing System

o Rail Analytics System

MARKET BY DEVICES
o Rail Sensors

o Video Surveillance cameras

o Smart cards

o Multimedia displays

o Networking & Connectivity devices

MARKET BY SERVICES
o Professional services
o Integration services

o Cloud services