Securing communications between digitalised train and signalling systems
Context and Challenges
The Cybels Key Management Centre for the European Train Control System (Cybels KMC4ETCS) is a key management system for the European Train Control Standard (ETCS) supporting railway operations. Cybels KMC4ETCS ensures secure offline and online communications within the railway infrastructure.
The ETCS rail signalling and train speed control system has been tested at European level since 2000 and is one of the major components of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). ETCS relies on Cybels KMC Rail, the cryptographic key management system developed by Thales to secure communications between digitalised train and signalling systems.
Solution
Thales has leveraged its expertise in rail signalling and train command and control systems to develop a key management platform specifically for the rail transport sector. Cybels KMC Rail is:
- Operational at national and transnational levels
- Compliant with UNISIG standards such as procedures, key types, and message formats
- Open to other standards and areas of application such as Urban Rail Signalling (URS)
Benefits
Cybels KMC Rail allows users to:
- Generate, distribute, prepare and batch import cryptographic keys
- Distribute keys offline via external storage devices and online via a secure Transport Layer Security (TLS) network
- Manage keys on an easy-to-use platform