At the TRAKO trade fair in Gdańsk, The Signalling Company (TSC), an affiliate of the Škoda Group, officially presented its European Train Control System (ETCS) solution, marking a significant step into the train safety market.
The new system is built on the Universal Digital Rail Platform iEVC-RailOS, which combines modular, compact on-board hardware with software-defined signalling applications. ETCS is the second certified protection system on the platform, following the Belgian TBL1+ system.
“The Everest of the safety world”
Alexandre Bétis, Managing Director of TSC, described the achievement as a milestone for the company:
“ETCS Certification is the Everest of the safety world. I want to take this moment of great pride to thank our incredible team. Without their phenomenal dedication none of this would have been possible. When Stan [Stanislas Pinte, TSC co-founder] and I set out on this journey we came to appreciate how much the industry was willing us to succeed. This is the moment we begin to repay the steadfast faith that Lineas, Škoda Group, and others have placed in us.”
A key step for Škoda Group
The certification strengthens Škoda Group’s ability to deliver complete rail solutions, spanning vehicle manufacturing, traction systems, and now digital safety technologies.
Zdeněk Sváta, Member of the Board of Directors of Škoda Group, said:
“Developing our own ETCS is a key milestone for Škoda Group. It enables us to offer customers a complete solution – from vehicle manufacturing and traction drives to cutting-edge digital safety systems. We will start using our own TSC supplied ETCS in the new generation of single-deck electric trains. This will help us significantly simplify integration, due to low weight and small size, and reduce operational costs. What makes our signalling solution exceptional is its highly modular architecture which allows us to easily support future upgrade and add new functions and evolving requirements.”
Backing from Operators
TSC’s development of ETCS has been supported by operators including Lineas, which highlighted the importance of a cost-effective signalling solution.
Bruno Vanlede, Head of Rail Fleet Management at Lineas, commented:
“Our seed investment in TSC was driven by our need for a more financially sustainable ETCS solution to further improve the safety of our operations and continue supporting the modal shift. It was clear to us from the start that TSC’s vision was aligned with ours, and they had the technology keys to make it happen. We are delighted for the team and this Belgian success story.”
Building the first fully software-defined signalling platform
Work on the ETCS solution began in 2019, with the aim of creating the world’s first fully software-defined signalling platform. The system was designed for compactness, energy efficiency, and ease of installation, making it suitable for both new and retrofitted rolling stock.
Achieving ETCS certification required extensive testing and compliance with strict European safety standards, confirming the technical maturity and reliability of the platform.
iEVC-RailOS: A universal digital rail platform
The iEVC-RailOS architecture is designed to host both ETCS and national signalling systems, offering operators a unified, scalable solution.
Key advantages include:
- Compact installation requiring minimal vehicle modifications
- Cost-efficient retrofitting of existing fleets
- Flexibility for future upgrades and evolving regulatory requirements
The ETCS certification builds on the successful approval of the Belgian TBL1+ system, which was certified in May 2025 on a Lineas HLD77 locomotive.
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