Pioneering original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are improving standards in automation and interoperability; inspired manufacturers are building better and safer trains, and Critical Software Technologies is developing the system solutions to help them achieve this. The company uses its experience with rail manufacturing software to help customers streamline their fleet efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and create a better end-customer experience.
Critical Software is involved with the development, testing, and certification of embedded systems within the context of CENELEC standards and safety integrity levels. Rolling stock, track-side equipment, condition-based maintenance solutions, state-of-the-art ERTMS, and CBTC technologies are some of the areas covered by Critical Software. Its clients include major railway manufacturers and operators across Europe, such as Alstom, Siemens, banedenmark, and PowerTech.
Critical Software is dedicated to furthering the evolution of the railway industry by promoting flexibility, reliability, and safety.
Bespoke software solutions for rail manufacturers and operators
Critical Software offers onboard and trackside software solutions for railway manufacturers and operators to help keep railways operating smoothly. From intelligent rolling stock management to cyber security for the ever-more complex software architectures on board trains, the company’s software solutions work to advance the digital transformation of the rail network. It works to optimises system architectures and help to define sub-system specifications quickly and effectively, placing particular importance on customer satisfaction throughout every step of the process.
Upgrading rolling stock for the future of the railway industry
Critical Software’s highly qualified engineers have extensive experience in upgrading legacy rolling stock, retrofitting European train control systems to ensure that they are fully operational, and reducing costs for clients. As more European countries begin to implement the standardised train control system, it becomes increasingly important for companies to keep up with the new developments within the railway industry.
Cyber security for rail systems
The growth of trackside and onboard software systems has presented a new challenge for the rail industry. As technology becomes more embedded in railway operations, new threats have begun to emerge. Critical Software is an expert in managing the threats posed by cyber attacks and has considerable experience in protecting the crucial systems that power rail networks across the world. Security by design is an important aspect of the company’s approach to safety and it works to integrate important concerns, such as cyber risk management and governance, into every aspect of the software development process.
User safety in rail software
For Critical Software, it is vital that its software complies with the most rigorous of standards, and maintaining this high standard of quality is an important part of the company’s work. To do this, Critical Software implements project gap analysis, as well as safety management and safety case preparation, into its work. This helps to ensure that all of the company’s software solutions operate according to the highest possible safety standards and continue to do so throughout the entire product lifecycle.
Rail software testing
All Critical Software products are thoroughly verified and validated by highly qualified engineers to ensure that all software systems operate exactly as specified. The company’s testing expertise covers TCMs software testing, which complies with CENELEC and EN 50128 standards, as well as human-machine interface testing, and in-vehicle testing. This helps to ensure that the operating environment is comprehensively safe for railway system operators, drivers, and passengers.
The future of rail signalling technologies
The gradual rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) across the continent has placed considerable demands on rail system developers and operators. Critical Software uses its knowledge and experience to help customers implement the latest technological solutions to future-proof the rail industry and keep everything operating smoothly.
AI and virtual reality for rail maintenance
Artificial intelligence (AI) is, and will continue to be, an ever-increasing presence in rail networks. Critical Software has helped clients to introduce AI and virtual reality into areas such as condition-based track and train maintenance. This provides users with a smarter way to monitor and manage complex rail infrastructure with ease.
Working with Critical Software allows rail manufacturers and network operators to enhance the way they approach infrastructure and rolling stock management. By using smart technologies that comply with international standards and prioritise safety, such as integrated signalling systems or intelligent trackside equipment, users can operate more effectively and efficiently.