How IoT is Transforming the Railways?

Dinesh Thakur

24 Apr 2024

Railway has been the backbone of transport for a number of years connecting people, goods and economies across vast distances. At the same time, legacy railway systems have failed to catch up with modern technologies and faced many  challenges including maintenance delays, safety issues, and operational inefficiencies. As these issues arise, the IoT comes to the rescue and offers unprecedented opportunities to modernize and optimize railway operations.

The Internet of Things is a network of devices (from tiny sensors to "smart" machines) that are equipped with the sensors, software, and network connectivity required to collect and share data. When it comes to the railway industry, IoT technologies are the key to unlocking new potentials and changing the face of every aspect of it, ranging from track maintenance to passenger experience.

In this article, we will focus on the influence of IoT on rail transportation through discussing their applications in safety enhancement, maintenance optimization, asset management improvement and passenger experience upgrade.

IoT in Railways Market Size

• The Internet of Things (IoT) in Railways market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1%, reaching $50.58 billion by the end of 2030. As the modern railway industry increasingly uses internet-connected technologies to improve safety, efficiency, and the passenger experience, the demand for IoT in the railways market is expected to grow significantly.
• Leading players in the smart railways industry include Alstom, Cisco, Wabtec, ABB, IBM, Hitachi, Huawei, Indra Sistemas, Siemens, and Honeywell.
• In July 2023, over 4,000 European organizations focused on IoT. The Internet of Things received over nine billion USD during the period under consideration.
• By 2030, the global IoT market is expected to have quadrupled its revenue from 336 billion USD in 2024 to over 621 billion USD. The number of IoT devices is expected to triple globally during this time.

IoT Use Cases in Railways

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming the railway industry in many ways. Here are some of the many ways:

1. Predictive Maintenance

Internet of Things-powered railways use sensors on trains and tracks to measure vibration, speed, and temperature. This data allows predictive maintenance scheduling to identify issues before they cause delays or derailments. IoT-integrated maintenance practices reduce downtime and repair costs, improving operational efficiency.

2. Asset Tracking

The railway network handles a diverse range of assets daily, from equipment and tracks to passenger luggage. To ensure optimal safety and efficiency, it's essential to have real-time information on all assets. By harnessing the power of computer vision and IoT, companies can streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and reduce the dwell time of stationary locomotives.

3. Controlled Air Quality

With the help of IoT, railway operators can improve environmental awareness, passenger safety, and sustainable transportation by installing IoT-based air quality monitoring systems.

For instance, air quality sensors could be next to the tracks measuring train emissions. The sensors would pass that information, either over the terrestrial or satellite network, to the environmental agency monitoring air quality or the train operators to report and analyze the environmental impact.

4. Safety Sensors

The top priority for operators is ensuring the safety of railway personnel and passengers. Installing safety sensors throughout the entire railway is a crucial step that railway operators can take to enhance the safety of rail travel for all passengers.

Safety sensors on train parts like brakes and wheels can alert operators of problems. Computer vision solutions can enable platforms and trains to have automated and safe screen door systems. These systems can also detect when passengers fall.

5. Enhanced Safety

Safety is paramount in rail operations, and the IoT helps achieve this. Internet-connected systems can monitor tracks, switches, and signals for proper operation. Real-time alerts allow operators to react quickly and avoid accidents. In addition, the Internet of Things can help trains follow safety regulations like speed limits, reducing accidents.

6. Passenger Flow

Analytical tools allow operators to track trains across networks. The Internet of Things (IoT) helps some businesses track passengers, including those waiting at stations and in coaches, and when they peak. With this data, train schedules can better reflect commuter habits. Weather prediction models can help IoT operators choose weather-appropriate routes.

7. Automation

An advanced automation system is being developed to monitor train schedules, collect fares, and track passenger counts in real time, aiming to deliver exceptional service. On the other hand, improving coordination between different locations and systems due to the connectivity between railway infrastructure, board trains, and operations makes achieving minimal supervision possible.

8. Monitored Ambient Conditions

The railway network earns more from customers spending at cafes, bookstores, and other businesses as they spend more time at stations.

The Internet of Things (IoT) holds the key to providing comfort. With interconnected IoT sensors, appliances like heaters, fans, lights, and air conditioners can efficiently work together to maintain temperature and humidity, and their sensors can quickly fix any issues.

Benefits of IoT Applications in Railways

Here are the benefits of IoT applications in Railways:

• Real-Time Monitoring: IoT sensors, deployed on the railway track and in the trains, monitor critical parameters like track condition, speed, and train equipment health, among others. This real time monitoring assists operators to observe any errors or safety hazards and address them quickly.
• Predictive Analytics: Through the use of the data from the Internet of Things, the predictive analytics algorithms can foresee future risks and threats to security and personnel before they become emergencies. As an example, predictive avoidance algorithms may point out parts with high risk to fail caused by their performance, and then operators may take proactive steps to prevent their accidental failure.
• Surveillance Systems: IoT sensors, sensor cameras, and sensor-enhanced cable monitoring offer security services by ensuring round-the-clock surveillance of railway plants and structures. These technologies can detect trespassing, unauthorized access, and suspicious actions, which will help prevent vandalism, theft, and other security threats.
• Predictive Maintenance: With IoT, sensors embedded in rolling stock and infrastructure such as doors, railroads, and switches gather data on various performance indicators like vibration, temperature, and other metrics. This data is then analyzed to predict when maintenance interventions are needed, empowering operators to schedule maintenance proactively and significantly reducing the likelihood of breakdowns or failures.
• Resource Allocation: An IoT-based asset tracking and monitoring system allows railway operators to gain information on where and in what condition the railway-owned assets are. With this visibility, maintenance resources are efficiently allocated, meaning the critical components receive timely attention and minimize idle time and unnecessary inspections.
• Automation: IoT facilitates the automation of repetitive duties like ticketing, scheduling passengers information dissemination. Automated systems minimize manual processes, also suppressing human errors, and at the same time increase railway operations’ performance.

Next-Gen Technologies To Combine With IoT In Railway

Let's delve into the potential of the railway industry to embrace cutting-edge technology and harness the power of the Internet of Things (IoT). 

1. Automation and Connectivity

The key to enhancing the rail network's overall efficiency is the seamless integration of IoT with next-gen technologies like automation. This not only amplifies efficiency but also directly contributes to passenger satisfaction. Advanced automation systems, which monitor passenger numbers, collect fares, and manage train schedules in real-time, are the bedrock of this assurance. As a result, operational processes are streamlined, leading to an elevated passenger travel experience and reassuring the audience about the positive impact of technology.

2. Sensor Technology

Sensor technology is pivotal in network upkeep and safety in connected trains and the Internet of Things. By leveraging these sensors, businesses can detect when infrastructure and equipment are not functioning optimally. This early detection allows the maintenance crew to address issues before they escalate into disruptions or accidents. Sensor technology enables proactive and preventive railway system maintenance, significantly enhancing safety and reliability.

3. Cloud Computing

Cloud-based Internet of Things solutions store massive data sets safely and expandably for railway systems. Deploying servers to the cloud reduces hacking and failure risk. Since cloud computing and IoT have merged, companies can access their data anywhere. Scalability lets companies add storage as needed, making railway infrastructure more flexible and adaptable.

4. Data Analytics

The railway industry can gain operational insights from AI-powered data analytics. Rail operators analyze sensor data to identify usage and performance trends. Decision-makers can use this data to determine which routes are underutilized and may be closed or which services need more capacity during rush hour. Data analytics is essential for optimizing and streamlining railway operations to improve efficiency and responsiveness.

Examples Of IoT Applications In Railways

Here are some of the many examples of Iot applications in railways:

1. Network Rail’s Intelligent Infrastructure Programme

The program uses the Internet of Things to replace manual maintenance schedules and planning with a machine-based "predict and prevent" approach. It does this by collecting and analyzing data of Network Rail's assets across its 20,000-mile network. Thus, the company can track real-time asset location, performance, degradation, and failure points.

2. East Japan Railway Company

Schedule-based maintenance (SBM) was formerly the company's standard procedure for rail repair. By utilizing analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT), smart railways can track the system's current state in real time and generate usage patterns, replacing the previous method with a new "condition-based maintenance" mechanism.

3. VicTrack

With the help of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, the Victorian government set up VicTrack to remotely monitor priority bridges using IoT sensors. The method relies on Internet of Things (IoT) railway solutions to link sensors that quantify and estimate thermal response, corrosion, bending, vibration, structural strain, and loads; this in turn reduces disruptions.

How Can We Help With Our IoT Services?

At DITS, we are excited about the future where the Internet of Things (IoT) revolutionizes Industry 4.0 and smart cities, transforming the technology landscape. 

With the help of cutting-edge sensor technology and advanced data analytics, our team specializes in creating intelligent networks through our IoT development services. 

Get in touch with us today to discover the full range of our Internet of Things solutions.

FAQ

What is IoT in railways?

Internet of Things (IoT) in rail refers to the linking of sensors in rail cars, tracks, and platforms. Through the rail network's interconnected assets, companies can enhance customer experience and optimize maintenance operations, enabling real-time monitoring of the entire ecosystem.

What is the role of IoT in the railway industry?

The Internet of Things (IoT) has many rail industry applications, including— 

• Controlling security and safety concerns
• Monitoring the system
• Energy management for train operational cost control
• Tracking assets
• Predictive maintenance

How can IoT help railways?

The railway industry can greatly benefit from the implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT). It offers a wide range of practical uses, such as managing crowd control, minimizing downtime and delays, enhancing safety measures, and providing passengers with an improved overall experience. Exploring the intricacies of how the Internet of Things is revolutionizing railways, this technology is empowering the industry to enhance security, prioritize customer needs, and make accurate predictions with the help of interconnected sensors