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August 2025
Compiled by Michael Popke
The rail industry relies on legacy infrastructure built decades before the emergence of modern cyberthreats. As digitalization, automation and information technology/operational technology (OT) convergence accelerate, new vulnerabilities can leave critical rail systems exposed, putting both uptime and public safety at risk.
Traditional security tools, including many secure remote access solutions, cannot meet the unique demands of OT, Cyolo officials said.
Founded to help close this gap, Cyolo enables organizations to connect third-party vendors and employees to OT assets and cyber-physical systems (CPS) in a way that’s secure, safe and simple. The Cyolo PRO (Privileged Remote Operations) solution is designed to deliver secure, identity-based access to OT/CPS without network or infrastructure changes.
Purpose-built for critical industries such as rail, Cyolo PRO supports both connected and air-gapped environments with a fast, lightweight deployment that avoids downtime.
With Cyolo, rail operators can maximize uptime and accelerate remote maintenance, troubleshooting and vendor support with zero-trust access to OT assets; improve security with MFA-protected access to legacy OT systems (including those lacking native support for modern authentication); and comply with TSA cybersecurity directives and other regulations that require access control, MFA, auditing and more company officials said.
For example, a “major European rail operator” uses Cyolo PRO to enable secure vendor access to tunnel ventilation, fire suppression and signaling systems, company officials said.
Cyolo aims to empower rail organizations to maintain smooth, resilient operations with a range of modern security measures that minimize disruptions and ensure continuous service across critical systems.
Cargo theft in rail yards has surged in recent years, with well-documented incidents exposing vulnerabilities in rail operations nationwide. To help railroads protect rolling stock, critical infrastructure and stations, ALCEA — which is part of ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions — delivers a range of end-to-end security systems.
Powered by ABLOY technology, the solutions combine mechanical strength with digital intelligence, ALCEA officials said.
For rolling stock, advanced electronic locks secure carriages and locomotives, improving passenger and cargo protection while meeting rail industry standards. Every door becomes a controlled access point, integrated with PROTEC² CLIQ® — a wireless key and access management system.
CLIQ provides real-time audit trails and remote key management to ensure only authorized personnel gain entry. If keys are lost, their access rights are revoked.
Essential communication and power systems along tracks often sit exposed in cabinets vulnerable to vandalism and weather extremes. ABLOY’s Super Weather Proof padlocks and cabinet locks meet IP68 standards and are designed to safeguard these assets reliably, even under storm-driven saltwater, desert dust or freezing temperatures, company officials said.
In rail stations that are evolving into multi-use centers, ABLOY Electric Locks protect restricted areas, helping to ensure smooth, secure operations.
Designed for Class I and passenger railroads, Duos Technologies’ patented Railcar Inspection Portal (RIP®) is now available as a cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS). The advanced system captures ultra-high-resolution, 360-degree images of rail cars moving at speeds up to 125 mph, powering fast, AI-assisted inspections.
At the heart of the RIP is Centraco®, a user-friendly interface that enables remote, detailed inspection and analysis of rail-car components.
Powered by Duos’ AI Detection Suite, the system automatically flags anomalies, mechanical defects and security threats, including illegal rider detection, which is an increasing concern for border and national security agencies, company officials said. The system also offers a historical image archive for trend analysis and documentation.
By delivering actionable insights in real time, the RIP helps rail operators reduce manual inspections, mitigate safety risks and maintain regulatory compliance, company officials said.
With SaaS delivery, stakeholders such as rail-car owners, shippers and manufacturers can access live inspection data from anywhere without upfront hardware costs or long deployment times.
Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, offers a comprehensive suite of rail technologies designed to enhance safety, operational efficiency and asset protection across the rail industry. The offerings span both digital and physical security domains, integrating advanced monitoring, automation and cybersecurity solutions.
On the digital front, Progress Rail emphasizes cybersecurity and data protection through the ART onboard and offboard platform. The platform aligns with industry-standard security practices to enable agile deployment to locomotives and provide rapid customer value without compromising network and data integrity, company officials said.
Onboard features include secure boot, encrypted communication and storage, trusted platform module and certificate management; cloud features encompass identity and access management, mutual authentication, data encryption, API security, disaster recovery and backups.
These tools integrate seamlessly with existing enterprise systems, enabling predictive maintenance and real-time diagnostics while safeguarding sensitive operational data, company officials said.
For physical security, Progress Rail provides CCTV and surveillance systems as part of the PowerView® Suite, which includes locomotive event recorders and remote monitoring tools.
The systems help rail operators monitor onboard activity, track fuel usage and ensure compliance with safety protocols. Other features include over-the-air software updates for locomotive components (including the control system), increased automation levels via Talos, PowerView event recorder and machine vision capabilities, Nitro ETA train adherence, and improved predictive maintenance and remote diagnostics through Uptime.
Wabtec offers comprehensive rail security solutions that combine advanced video surveillance, robust cybersecurity, real-time passenger information and alerting systems to ensure passenger safety and operational resilience.
As rail networks become more digital, Wabtec’s unified approach protects both physical and cyber infrastructure, company officials said.
At the core of Wabtec’s security offering is the XEBRA™ onboard video recorder, capable of handling 40 full high-definition streams and 32 terabytes of storage. It supports real-time and recorded surveillance inside train cars, enabling operators to detect threats and respond to emergencies with the intuitive X-TRACK™ Suite.
The system is interoperable with various video management system platforms to provide flexibility and scalability.
To enhance situational awareness, Wabtec’s RailVox™ intercom connects passengers with operators and control centers. Paired with iSmart Displays and the RailVox public address system, it delivers real-time instructions and travel updates.
The public address system now supports Auracast™, the next-generation Bluetooth audio standard that broadcasts announcements directly to hearing aids and other assistive devices, improving accessibility for passengers with hearing loss.
Also: All new passenger information and CCTV systems are developed in compliance with IEC 62443-4-1 and the latest NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 to ensure strong protection against evolving cyber threats while maintaining data integrity and system resilience.
With global engineering hubs, Wabtec delivers durable, low-maintenance security solutions designed for seamless integration into today’s secure, sustainable rail networks, company officials said.
Michael Popke is a Madison, Wisconsin-based freelance writer. Email comments or questions to prograil@tradepress.com.
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