By Thu Trà

SINGAPORE — Siemens Mobility has carried out the world’s first live demonstration of a metro system using its Signaling X technology at the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC), signalling a major step toward cloud-based train control for urban networks.

The demonstration, held in Singapore on Wednesday for global transit operators and media, showcased how safety-critical Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) functions can operate within a centralised, cloud-ready infrastructure, a signalling data centre.

Built on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and Siemens Mobility’s Distributed Smart Safe System (DS3) platform, Signaling X enables more trains to run safely at closer intervals.

The company said the technology could boost operational efficiency by up to 20 per cent and cut energy use by up to 30 per cent, helping operators shorten wait times and reduce their environmental footprint.

“Today marks a milestone in the digital transformation of mass transit as we unveil Signaling X in a live urban rail environment here in Singapore,” said CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility Marc Ludwig. "The system brings together multiple signalling systems on one platform, expanding capabilities through open interfaces.

"Our solution has already proven reliable in mainline rail applications, and today is the first live demonstration in a CBTC mass transit test setting.”

Ludwig added that MSI Global partnered with the company to present Signaling X in Singapore.

Siemens Mobility said that urban mobility is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by global megatrends – a shift particularly relevant for fast-growing markets such as Việt Nam.

As cities like Hà Nội and HCM City accelerate metro and urban rail projects, digital signalling and data-driven transport infrastructure will be key to achieving efficiency, safety and sustainability, it said.

According to the company, the world’s population is projected to reach 9.7 billion, with 68 per cent living in urban areas by 2050. At the same time, digitalisation is accelerating, with an estimated 9.6 billion IoT communication interfaces expected to be installed worldwide by 2032.

Environmental pressures are also intensifying, with transport responsible for 23 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Siemens Mobility said that only a strong, digitally enabled rail sector can meet growing mobility demand while supporting ambitious climate goals.

A step toward virtualised railway operations

Signaling X integrates interlocking, signalling and control functions within a single, cloud-ready platform. By hosting both safety-critical and non-safety systems such as timetable management and traffic optimisation on the same standardised IT infrastructure, the solution promises a leaner, more adaptable approach to rail management.

At the heart of the system is Siemens Mobility’s DS3 architecture, launched in 2020, which enables safety applications to run securely and redundantly on a scalable network.

Siemens Mobility said this architecture enhances cybersecurity, simplifies maintenance and provides a foundation for future expansion of digital rail services. Following its debut at InnoTrans 2024 and successful mainline deployments, Signaling X is now ready for the mass transit market.

Siemens Mobility said Signaling X is already in operation or being rolled out in several countries. The DS3 platform is in public operation for interlocking applications in Austria and is running in Barcelona, Spain. Ongoing deployments of Signaling X are also underway in Finland and other locations in Spain, demonstrating the technology’s expanding global footprint. — VNS