A train of thought: IoT and the railways

Railways have always been about connections. Connecting towns and cities, passengers and places, freight and factories. Increasingly, there’s another kind of connection helping to keep the world’s rail networks moving: IoT.

Connected devices are giving operators a clearer picture of what’s happening across increasingly complex rail networks, from tracks and stations to rolling stock and supporting infrastructure. Sensors can monitor the condition of assets in remote locations, onboard systems can provide a constant stream of operational information, and equipment that was once largely standalone can now communicate with centralized management systems.

Ahead of InnoTrans 2026 we spoke to Alejandro Lovera, IMI Market Manager for Saft, to get a sense of how IoT applications are keeping
the rail industry on track.

Connecting the railway

Some of IoT’s key applications lie along the rails themselves.

Trackside infrastructure encompasses everything from signalling and points to crossings and communications equipment, with much
of it spread across large geographical areas. Connecting those assets means operators can remotely monitor parameters such as
temperature, vibration, electrical performance and equipment condition.

That means, instead of relying solely on scheduled physical inspections, operators can gain greater visibility of how assets are behaving
in real-time. Unusual readings can provide an early indication that something needs attention and help maintenance teams prioritize
where and when intervention may be required.

Mr. Lovera sees automation and communication becoming ever more important as rail evolves.

“There’s more and more automation in terms of communication and operation on the track itself,” he says. “As trains become faster and
networks more sophisticated, the infrastructure supporting them has to keep pace.”

The potential uses extend well beyond the track itself. Connected sensors can monitor bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure;
environmental sensors can identify changing weather conditions; and tracking technologies can help operators keep tabs on rolling
stock, freight and other assets.

Even train stations are becoming connected environments, with IoT technology supporting applications including passenger flow
monitoring, smart lighting, and environmental controls.

All aboard!

A similar transformation is happening onboard trains.

Doors, lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), passenger information systems and numerous other auxiliary systems
all generate data that gives operators a more complete picture of a train’s condition and performance.

Power sources are becoming part of that connected ecosystem too. Batteries with a Battery Management System (BMS) create the
opportunity to collect information about battery condition and communicate it to other systems.

Mr. Lovera describes that as monitoring rather than predictive maintenance, but knowing the status of the battery is important to make sure it can perform as required. For an industry where reliability really matters, that visibility can be extremely valuable.

“Reliability is quite a huge topic for the rail industry,” says Mr. Lovera, “because we are dealing with huge downtime costs and, above all else, safety for passengers. The risks of a failed component are significant, so being able to trust your battery’s performance is paramount.”

Reliable power remains a challenge for the industry because rail can be a particularly unforgiving environment for IoT devices. Equipment may need to contend with vibration, temperature extremes and long periods in the field, while trackside devices may be installed in locations that are difficult or disruptive to access.

A connected sensor designed to provide an early warning is only useful if it continues communicating when it’s needed most. That means the battery powering it must be capable of withstanding those demanding conditions.

“That’s why we always talk about the importance of quality and safety,” says Mr. Lovera. "Different chemistries and technologies offer different trade-offs in terms of power, energy and operational requirements, but safety must always come first. We’ve been working in the rail industry for more than a century, and our starting point is the same today as it was then: build systems people can trust.”

Saft's longstanding relationship with the rail industry is entering an exciting new phase as lithium-ion technology gains wider adoption across the sector. There’ll be some exciting launches planned for InnoTrans (including an innovative Li-ion solution for high-speed rail) so if you're going, be sure to pop by and say hello to the team!).

Full steam ahead for connected systems

Perhaps the most interesting development isn’t any single IoT application, but what happens when they begin working together.

Connected track infrastructure generates a constant flow of information. Trains report on onboard systems, batteries communicate their condition, and depots monitor equipment and assets. Bringing those data streams together gives operators the foundations for a far richer picture of what’s happening across the railway network.

That transformation is already underway, and there is still plenty of track ahead.

The rail industry has always been synonymous with innovation, and Mr. Lovera describes the sector as currently being in an “exploring phase” as it adopts new technologies for traction, passenger services, and more besides.

What unites many of those developments is a growing appetite for connectivity, automation and better information.

Rail has spent nearly two centuries finding new ways to move people and goods from A to B. IoT is helping make that journey smarter, more reliable and better connected, ensuring the rail industry keeps moving in the right direction.