Belgium authorises first locomotive with The Signalling Company's software-defined safety platform
- Matus Cigan
- Sep 14
- 2 min read
The Signalling Company (TSC), a Škoda Group affiliate, has achieved another major milestone in its cooperation with Lineas, Europe’s largest private rail freight operator. The Belgian authorities have granted operational authorisation for the first HLD77 locomotive equipped with TSC’s modular software-defined safety platform. Initially running the national safety application, TBL1+, the platform turns the HLD77 into a software upgradeable vehicle with optimised operational and maintenance costs.
This approval represents the first homologation of a locomotive using the RailOS® operating system and safe computer iEVC® – a universal platform designed to host multiple signalling and other applications. In practice, it means that future upgrades, such as ETCS, can be installed quickly and cost-effectively, allowing the fleet to operate seamlessly not only in Belgium but also internationally, in neighbouring markets such as Germany and The Netherlands.
“The authorisation of the HLD77 marks the realisation of a vision that we have shared with Lineas from day one and which was subsequently embraced by Škoda Group. Software-defined signalling can be more than a dream. It's here, its now, it’s real, and we invite everyone to come and witness it in action. It is also the first step in a sequence that will lead to equipping the HLD77 fleet with multiple signalling applications, including ETCS, enabling international mobility,” noted Alexandre Bétis, Managing Director of The Signalling Company.
This authorisation confirms that the universal platform developed within Škoda Group meets the strictest European safety requirements. Safety is at the very core of the system. The modular, software-defined architecture ensures reliable protection of locomotives, drivers and cargo under the toughest operating conditions. At the same time, the platform is exceptionally compact, energy-efficient and easy to retrofit, making it ideal for fleet modernisation.
TSC’s innovative technology supports ETCS as well as multiple national safety applications within a single system. The company’s portfolio is continually expanding with ETCS certification expected soon and development of the PZB Application for Germany and other markets already well advanced.
François Alban, COO, stated: “We are delighted to bring the HLD77 into service with The Signalling Company's system on board. The ability to run the fleet with multiple national safety systems and ETCS on a single platform allows us to be flexible in deploying our locomotives in different countries. TSC’s platform breaks with the traditional cost-paradigm for on-board safety systems. I’m happy to see innovation at an affordable price, which is an important step for Lineas and the sector as a whole.”
Authorisation of the HLD77 is the result of a rigorous validation and verification programme managed by TSC’s Brussels-based delivery team. It represents another significant step on the company’s journey to bring affordable, flexible, and future-proof signalling solutions to European rail operators.
Stanislas Pinte, co-founder of The Signalling Company, expressed his pride explaining that: “It’s another fantastic step on a journey that started with an idea in 2019! We are looking forward to upgrading the system for Lineas in the coming months and liberating the HLD77 fleet to run on international lines.”
Image source: lineas.net
