Relay signaling migration

Solution for a controlled migration of relay-based interlocking systems to a modern solution based on open signaling.

Relay-based signaling is reaching the end of Its lifecycle

Relay-based signaling systems have long been the backbone of railway operations. While experts predict these systems will remain in use far beyond 2030, a growing challenge is emerging: relay expertise and spare parts are rapidly disappearing. Many organizations face a critical knowledge gap, with limited documentation and resources. This is one of the main drivers for the need to start planning a migration project. Without action, the risk of losing essential know-how increases over time.

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Why migrate to modern signaling solutions?

Aging relay-based systems come with growing challenges that make migration essential:

Loss of expertise & know-how – Skilled professionals are retiring, and resources are scarce.
Rising maintenance costs – Aging hardware requires frequent servicing, which increases operational expenses due to a lack of relay spare parts.
Compatibility concerns – Integration with modern industry standards is becoming increasingly complex.

What’s preventing migration?

Despite the need for modernization, several barriers and risks often delay migration projects:

Lack of documentation & knowledge – Understanding the existing system is a major hurdle.
Compliance challenges – The existing system does not comply with modern standards, and migration will force organizational process changes to comply.
Unexpected complexity and costs – Migration projects can become more complicated than anticipated, leading to budget overruns and delays.
User adaptation challenges – Implementing a new system requires operator training and change management.

Despite these obstacles, addressing them proactively with the right tools and methodologies can streamline the migration process. By leveraging automation, digital twins, and structured change management strategies, rail operators can overcome these barriers and transition to open signaling systems efficiently and securely.

What is the value of migration?

A migration to an open signaling system brings a number of benefits:

Operational efficiency – Reduces manual intervention, enables real-time diagnostics, and supports predictive maintenance to minimize downtime.
Scalability & adaptability – Open signaling solutions provide flexibility for future expansions and modifications.
Sustainability & environmental benefits – Digitalization decreases reliance on obsolete hardware, reduces waste, and promotes energy efficiency.
Regulatory compliance & safety enhancement – Ensures adherence to the latest safety standards, improving safety for passengers and freight.
Financial planning & risk mitigation – Phased migration controls costs, prevents budget overruns, and leverages automation for on-time project delivery.

A controlled, well-planned migration strategy minimizes operational disruptions and establishes a strong foundation for a safe, efficient, and cost-effective railway signaling transformation.

Case study

Succeed with smooth railway migration

Ensure a safe, efficient transition from legacy signaling systems to modern solutions using digital twins.

Read the case study

Overcome these challenges with our solution –
Relay signaling migration

The Relay Signaling Migration solution consists of:

Forward engineering to capture system knowledge in formal specifications
Develop a digital twin for the existing system and allow for the introduction of changes
Using tools to support transfer logic – either porting or generation of logic
A process with automation support for verification and validation.
Stepwise migration and upgrades.

The step-by-step process for migration of relay-based signaling systems

Step 1

Forward engineering of existing system

Step 2

Digital twins to replicate and make controlled changes

Step 3

Transfer logic to the new Open signaling platform and prove compliance

Prover Extractor, an advanced tool for reading and analyzing existing circuit diagrams, will be used to create a digital twin. This process allows for an exact replica of the relay interlockings, simplifying the digitalization and integration of these systems into a modern infrastructure.

Another crucial contribution is the automation of configuration and testing for the new platform is the use of Signaling Design Automation (SDA). The SDA solution from Prover leverages formal methods and advanced automation to ensure faster and more reliable signaling and control systems implementation with guaranteed safety.

On-demand webinar