Introducing Cisco Rail CBTC and Safety Solution

This is the final installment of the CBTC blog series. Over the past three posts, I have discussed the key trends and challenges facing metro operators, the adoption of CBTC and its benefits, as well as the implementation challenges. In this post, we will uncover the complete Cisco Rail CBTC and Safety Solution.

Standard based, redundant, and modular architecture

A Data Communication System (DCS) is essential for supporting communication between different CBTC subsystems. It should facilitate bidirectional data transfer with adequate bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and minimal packet drop rate. The DCS must ensure reliable train-to-ground wireless communication for vital applications like CBTC. Redundancy is incorporated at every level of the network architecture, which is designed with hierarchy and modularity in mind. The networking solutions required for CBTC are categorized into five modules: onboard, wayside wireless, wayside access, backbone, and core networks.

Unmatched product portfolio

The Cisco Rail CBTC and Safety Solution is comprised of advanced industrial IoT networking equipment designed to withstand harsh industry environments. It includes Cisco Catalyst IE3x00 Rugged Series, Cisco Catalyst IE3400 Heavy Duty Series, Cisco Catalyst IE9300 Rugged Series, Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (Cisco URWB) radios, Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series, Cisco Catalyst IR8100 Heavy Duty Series, Cisco Catalyst IR8300 Rugged Series, Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series, and Cisco NCS 540 Series.

Greater security

In compliance with TSA cybersecurity directives and EU NIS2 regulation, the Cisco Rail CBTC and Safety Solution utilizes the Cisco Industrial Automation (IA) Security Design Guide 2.0 to implement zero trust network access (ZTNA) and a defense-in-depth approach to secure rail transit systems.

Simplified management

Given the complex nature of rail transit systems, network management solutions are required to simplify operations and provide cybersecurity capabilities. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Solution, Cisco Catalyst Center, Cisco Crosswork Network Controller (CNC) automation suite, and Cisco Industrial Wireless Service are key components for managing rail networks effectively.