The forum offered a shared space to explore how open architectures, AI, and formal methods are shaping the future of rail control. Through expert presentations and real-world case studies, attendees gained practical insights into how collaboration, innovation, and transparency can help reduce cost, increase safety, and enable interoperability.

Thank you to all participants, speakers, and partners who contributed to making SDAF 2025 a valuable and forward-looking gathering. Below is a summary of the presentations delivered throughout the day.

“The Open Signaling Initiative”

Jesper Carlström, COO & Open Signaling Lead, Prover

Jesper introduced the Open Signaling Initiative, highlighting the shift toward modular, open, and interoperable systems. By using COTS hardware, open interfaces, and loosely coupled components, the initiative aims to reduce vendor lock-in and enable sustainable, step-by-step modernization.

“A journey without an end”

Kristina Löwenberg, Signaling strategist

Andreas Mårtensson, Ass. signaling safety manager, signaling specialist, Stockholm Public Transport

Kristina and Andreas shared Region Stockholm’s digital journey in signaling, highlighting the need to retain legacy knowledge, build in-house competence, and use formal methods to ensure safety and traceability. They emphasized the importance of organizational readiness, gradual change without traffic disruption, and the long-term value of owning both data and understanding, avoiding vendor lock-in.

“Reuse by design: Faster, Leaner, Safer”

Fredrik Bergström, CEO, Cactus Rail

Fredrik presented Cactus Rail’s approach to automation, focusing on modular digital solutions designed to lower lifecycle costs. He emphasized the importance of cross-supply chain collaboration to deliver signaling solutions that are scalable, safe, and efficient.

“From industry to railways: how Schneider Electric can enable safe and open signaling”

Juan Manuel Martin, Global Solution Architect Railways, Schneider Electric

Juan explained how their Modicon M580 Safety PLC and EcoStruxure platform can be leveraged in railways. He connected decades of industrial safety experience to railway signaling, showing compliance with EULYNX and multiple SIL certifications.

“ERTMS Data & Verification in Switzerland”

Henrik Roslund, Senior Consultant ERTMS/ETCS, MIRSE, TÜV SÜD

Henrik discussed the data and verification challenges in Switzerland’s ETCS Level 2 deployment. He highlighted issues around syntax and data quality, and how automation and formal verification are critical to scaling and streamlining future ERTMS projects.

“Introducing EULYNX Kernels”

Robert Schmid, Founder, Systems Lab 21

Robert presented EULYNX Kernels, a standardized software component used for subsystem integration and compliance. He demonstrated how kernels enable formal behavior modeling, automated testing, and faster development of interoperable signaling systems.

“Scaling Safety: AI and Formal Methods for Rail Control”

Fei Niu, AI & Innovation Lead, Prover

Fei explained how AI can be used to speed up verification and testing in signaling design. The session showcased how combining AI with formal methods reduces project risk, improves safety assurance, and helps bring automation into practice through tools like Prover Studio.

Want to revisit SDAF 2025? Watch the full recording

Whether you missed a session or want to dive deeper into the presentations, the full recording of the Signaling Design Automation Forum 2025 is now available here.

Inlägget SDA Forum 2025 – Driving the future of signaling dök först upp på Prover - Engineering a Safer World.

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Purpose and goals

The main objective of the initiative, called MBATS (Modellbaserat arbetssätt för trafikstyrning/Model-Based Approach for Traffic Control Systems), is to enable a step-by-step digital transformation of traffic control systems by introducing a cross-functional platform and working method based on modeling techniques.

By using digital twins and formal modeling techniques, the aim is to:

• improve decision-making through system-wide simulations
• increase control over cost, performance, and time during system updates
• reduce reliance on outdated, text-based, and manual processes
• create a long-term platform for safe and scalable innovation

The approach helps ensure changes can be introduced gradually, without disrupting existing infrastructure or operations. Simulations and scenario analysis enable testing of solutions before deployment, increasing confidence and lowering operational risks.

Long-term effects include:

• reduced climate impact through the reuse of existing systems
• increased rail network capacity by 20–30% through smarter analysis
• shorter lead times and reduced lifecycle costs
• enhanced collaboration across departments and suppliers
• stronger strategic control of technical assets and investments

The initiative will integrate existing modules and services from the Public Transport Administration’s IT environment to ensure compatibility and scalability. The value to the organization is stipulated through automated services to different users. New work methods are introduced step by step, together with user involvement and recollection of the challenges it entails.

Solution

The core is the introduction of new work methods and a user-friendly environment that enables structured system design, simulation, validation, and continuous improvement throughout the lifecycle of traffic control systems.

The platform supports multiple use cases: from early-stage analysis and investment planning, to operations, maintenance, and future upgrades. A major advantage is the ability to test and verify changes digitally, before they impact passengers or operations.

Background and Prover’s contribution

The innovative builds on the earlier DigiTS project, where Prover and the Public Transport Administration mapped out 20 years of digital transformation across Stockholm’s rail and metro network. The MBATS project is part of the Smart Built Environment program and directly supports its mission to accelerate the digital transformation of the built environment, with a focus on sustainable and interoperable infrastructure.

Prover leads the MBATS project and contributes with its expertise in traffic control systems, digital twin technologies, and formal methods. Prover will deliver several advanced modeling tools and the digital twin platform that is used in the solution.

These tools enable formal, traceable, and repeatable modeling of rail systems. Prover’s solutions help ensure that new configurations meet functional and safety requirements before anything is deployed.

Conclusion

Now, MBATS will integrate digital twins, rail system models, and data flows into a unified digital platform. This model-based approach allows changes to be tested and analyzed before implementation, significantly reducing lead times, costs, and risks while improving safety and system robustness.

By introducing a structured, model-based methodology for traffic control, MBATS lays the groundwork for a smarter, more sustainable, and more reliable transportation infrastructure. The results of the project will be shared with national and international stakeholders and contribute to broader industry learning and innovation.

Timeline and partners

Project start: 2025
Duration: 2 years
Partners: Region Stockholm Public Transport Administration and Prover
Funding program: Smart Built Environment
Key goal: Get in control of existing and future traffic control system

Inlägget Prover and Region Stockholm lead model-based approach for traffic control systems dök först upp på Prover - Engineering a Safer World.

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We are proud to contribute to this large-scale initiative.

Prover is developing and verifying the railway signaling software of the PAVS system, which controls the signaling for the service track yards, in compliance with the EN 50716 standard and at SIL4 safety level.

Prover’s tools enable automation of the various processes involved in such a project and help prepare for future maintenance. Additionally, the creation of an instantiable application for all similar systems will facilitate reuse and help reduce time and costs on future projects.

The software will be deployed on a Safety Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), made possible by the compatibility of our tools with vendor environments. Testing will be carried out continuously at all levels, up to the operational site. Finally, formal verification of safety properties ensures the highest level of confidence.

We would like to thank our client, Eiffage Énergie Systèmes, for their trust in this railway infrastructure modernization project.

Prover accompagne EIFFAGE ÉNERGIE SYSTÈMES pour le projet Villeneuve Demain

Nous sommes fiers de contribuer à ce projet d’envergure. Prover développe et valide, selon la norme EN 50716, le logiciel de signalisation ferroviaire en niveau de sécurité SIL4 du PAVS, qui pilote la signalisation des installations des faisceaux de voies de service.

Les outils Prover permettent une automatisation des différents processus impliqués dans un tel projet, et préparent la maintenance future. De plus, la création d’une application instanciable sur tous les systèmes similaires facilitera la réutilisation et permettra de réduire le temps et les coûts sur les futurs projets.

Le logiciel sera porté sur un Automate Programmable de Sécurité (APS) grâce à la compatibilité de nos outils avec les environnements des fabricants. Les tests seront réalisés à tous les niveaux sans discontinuité, jusqu’au site opérationnel. Enfin, la vérification formelle des propriétés de sécurité assure une confiance maximale.

Merci à notre client Eiffage Énergie Systèmes pour sa confiance dans le cadre de ce projet de modernisation d’infrastructures ferroviaires.

Inlägget Prover partners with EIFFAGE ÉNERGIE SYSTÈMES on the Villeneuve Demain project dök först upp på Prover - Engineering a Safer World.

We will participate in Train & Rail 2025 in Stockholm from May 6 to May 8, in booth A06:31.

At Train & Rail 2025, we look forward to engaging with industry professionals and discussing how formal methods and innovative solutions are shaping the future of railway signaling. Our team will be available to share insights, answer questions, and explore how we can help address your challenges in developing and verifying safety-critical signaling systems. As a leader in formal methods for railway signaling, we will showcase our latest solutions that are transforming the industry by enhancing safety, efficiency, and reliability.

Mingle event on Tuesday, May 6

We are also happy to co-host a mingle event on Tuesday, May 6, from 16.00 to 17.00, in partnership with Swedtrain and other member companies. This event will be a great opportunity to network with industry colleagues, share ideas, and discuss the future of railway technology in an informal setting. Sign up for the mingle here on Swedtrain’s website.

Join us at Train & Rail

Please meet us at our booth, which will be located at A06:31. We look forward to meeting you in Stockholm to explore the future of railway signaling together!

Train & Rail is the Nordic region’s largest meeting place for actors in the railway industry. The fair is organized every two years and brings together more than 3000 visitors and over 150 exhibitors. Here you will meet politicians at municipal, regional and national level with responsibility for rail, infrastructure and urban planning, government representatives, freight owners, transport buyers, traffic planners and much more. Train & rail will be held at Stockholmsmässan, Älvsjö, between May 6-8, 2025. Reference: Train & Rail

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As part of the project, Prover will deliver:

• Digital twins of existing vital relay interlockings across 62 stations on the red and blue lines of the metro network, enabling precise digital representation of older systems.
• PLC logic to ensure seamless communication and control between the new TMS and existing relay interlockings, guaranteeing smooth integration without operational disruptions.

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

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

A step toward the Metro of the future

By digitalizing older vital systems and enabling seamless integration with new technology, this project will provide Stockholm Metro with a robust and future-proof traffic management solution. Prover’s SDA solution reduces the time and cost required for TMS configuration and testing while maximizing safety and operational reliability.

“We are proud to be part of such a significant project for the Stockholm Metro. Our partnership with Cactus Rail demonstrates how our expertise in digitalization and automation contributes to delivering efficient and reliable solutions for railway systems. This is an important step toward a more modern and sustainable public transportation network”, says Anders Lindén, CEO Prover.

About Cactus Rail and the TMS project

Cactus Rail has a long history of delivering tailored traffic management solutions for railways and metro systems. The Stockholm Metro project involves a comprehensive upgrade of traffic management for the red and blue lines, covering 62 stations. The upgrade aims to improve punctuality, efficiency, and capacity across the metro network.

About Prover 

Prover is a global leader in formal methods and automated solutions for the design and verification of safety-critical railway systems. Through innovative tools and methods such as Prover Extractor and SDA, Prover helps its customers save time, reduce costs, and achieve the highest safety standards.

Inlägget Prover partners with Cactus Rail in groundbreaking TMS project for Stockholm Metro dök först upp på Prover - Engineering a Safer World.

We started with a brief introduction to railway fundamentals, after which students dived into practical examples. They started by setting up a new interlocking track layout, then proceeded to debug the generic application we provided, verifying the validity of safety requirements and functional tests. After this initial stage, students then created their own safety requirements and test cases. In the final stage, they added a manual release feature to their interlocking system, covering key elements like design, safety requirements, and testing.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the dedicated students of CentraleSupélec for their commitment and enthusiasm throughout the week. They impressed us with how quickly they got the hang of our tools, languages, and the railway field. Special thanks also to their teachers, in particular Idir Ait Sadoune, for trusting us again this year.

We hope to have the opportunity to see these talented students again in the railway industry or in the field of formal methods. We believe that opportunities to introduce these two fields to new students are essential. We are convinced that this new generation of talents can contribute to the development of these two exciting fields for engineering a safer world.

Inlägget CentraleSupélec students explore railway design and verification with Prover tools dök först upp på Prover - Engineering a Safer World.