Belgian HLD77: RailOS® Approval Fuels European Freight

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Introduction

The Signalling Company (TSC), a Škoda Group affiliate, has received operational authorization from Belgian authorities for the first HLD77 locomotive equipped with its modular software-defined safety platform. This project is in collaboration with Lineas, a major private rail freight operator in Europe.

Main Content

Operational Authorization

The Belgian authorities have authorized the first HLD77 locomotive to operate with a modular software-defined safety platform provided by The Signalling Company (TSC), a Škoda Group affiliate. The platform is part of a collaborative effort with Lineas, Europe’s largest private rail freight operator.

Platform Capabilities

Initially configured to run the national safety application, TBL1+, the platform transforms the HLD77 into a software-upgradeable vehicle. This upgrade enhances operational and maintenance cost efficiency. The approval signifies the first homologation of a locomotive utilizing the RailOS® operating system and the iEVC® safe computer, a platform designed to host various signalling and other applications.

Future Upgrades

This system enables future upgrades, such as ETCS, to be installed quickly and cost-effectively, facilitating seamless operation across Belgium and in neighboring markets, including Germany, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg. According to Alexandre Bétis, Managing Director of The Signalling Company, this authorization is a key step towards equipping the HLD77 fleet with multiple signalling applications, including ETCS, to enable international mobility.

Safety and Design

The authorization confirms that the platform developed by Škoda Group meets the strictest European safety requirements. The modular, software-defined architecture ensures the protection of locomotives, drivers, and cargo. The platform is designed to be compact, energy-efficient, and easy to retrofit, making it suitable for fleet modernization. TSC’s technology supports ETCS and various national safety applications within a single system.

Industry Impact

François Alban, COO of Lineas, noted that the system’s ability to run multiple national safety systems and ETCS on a single platform provides flexibility in deploying locomotives across different countries. The authorization of the HLD77 is the result of a validation and verification program managed by TSC’s Brussels-based team.

Conclusion

The Signalling Company (TSC), a Škoda Group affiliate, has received operational authorization from Belgian authorities for the first HLD77 locomotive equipped with its modular software-defined safety platform. This platform allows for future upgrades, such as ETCS, and supports operation in multiple countries. The authorization is the result of a validation and verification program managed by TSC’s Brussels-based team.

Company Summary

Lineas: Lineas is Europe’s largest private rail freight operator.

The Signalling Company (TSC): The Signalling Company (TSC) is a Škoda Group affiliate.

Technology

ETCS: European Train Control System.

iEVC®: safe computer.

PZB: Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung.

RailOS®: operating system.

TBL1+: national safety application.

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