Siemens Mobility and Rostocker Straßenbahn AG (RSAG) have started trial operations of Siemens’ Signaling X platform in Rostock, marking its first deployment in German urban public transport.
The pilot covers the tunnel section beneath Rostock Central Station, which is used by tram lines 2, 3, 5 and 6. The system is based on Siemens Mobility’s DS3 safety platform and uses standard commercial IT hardware rather than proprietary signalling hardware.
Signaling X separates the safety-critical signalling software from the underlying hardware. This allows the software to run on commercially available servers and is intended to make infrastructure upgrades, maintenance and spare parts management more flexible.
The DS3 platform provides a redundant environment for safety-critical applications and supports operation to CENELEC Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL 4) requirements. The Rostock deployment is also intended to demonstrate the architecture in an operational urban rail environment, including the cybersecurity requirements associated with critical infrastructure.
The trial follows testing of Signaling X at the Singapore Rail Test Center in 2025. The Rostock project moves the technology into a live urban transit setting.
Marc Ludwig, CEO Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, said:Today marks a milestone in the digitalisation of rail transport. With Signaling X, we are opening a new chapter in rail signalling. For the first time, we are deploying our new generation of software-defined signalling technology in a real-world urban operational environment. This creates the foundation for faster innovation cycles, simpler system modernisation, and even more efficient long-term operations. The pragmatic, professional, and forward-looking collaboration with Rostocker Straßenbahn AG was key to this success.
The pilot is intended to provide a basis for further development of software-defined signalling and digital interlocking systems for rail infrastructure.
