AZD PRAHA SRO

Their core work

AZD Praha is a Czech railway signalling and control systems manufacturer that develops and deploys train control, interlocking, and automation technologies for rail networks. In H2020, they contributed to the Shift2Rail programme across the full X2Rail project series (1 through 5), working on European Train Control System (ETCS) components, automatic train operation (ATO), moving block signalling, and on-board train integrity systems. Their work spans from core signalling hardware and software to cybersecurity for rail communications and formal verification methods for safety-critical systems. They are an industrial implementer — translating research into prototypes and demonstrators ready for real-world rail deployment.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), AZD focused on foundational railway signalling technologies — GNSS-based train positioning (STARS), ETCS/ERTMS integration, and initial ATO and moving block R&D within X2Rail-1. By the later period (2019–2023), their work shifted decisively toward building demonstrators and prototypes, with cybersecurity, zero on-site testing, and system architecture becoming prominent themes across X2Rail-3 through X2Rail-5 and LINX4RAIL. This trajectory shows a classic move from research and specification to implementation and validation — they progressed from defining what next-generation signalling should look like to actually building and testing it.

AZD is moving toward deployment-ready autonomous rail technologies, making them a strong partner for projects that need to bridge the gap between lab results and operational rail environments.

How they like to work

AZD consistently operates as a participant, never coordinating — across all 9 projects they joined large Shift2Rail consortia as an industrial contributor. With 112 unique partners across 17 countries, they have built an exceptionally wide network within the European rail research ecosystem, mostly through the X2Rail series which involved many of the same core partners repeatedly. This pattern indicates a reliable, experienced consortium member that rail-sector coordinators can count on for sustained multi-year engagement without management overhead.

AZD has collaborated with 112 unique partners across 17 countries, almost entirely within the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking framework. This gives them direct working relationships with most major European rail signalling companies, infrastructure managers, and research organizations.

What sets them apart

AZD Praha is one of very few Central European railway signalling manufacturers with deep, continuous involvement in the full Shift2Rail X2Rail programme from start to finish (X2Rail-1 through X2Rail-5). This gives them hands-on experience with the entire next-generation European rail signalling stack — from ATO and moving block to cybersecurity and virtual coupling. For consortium builders, they offer something rare: an industrial company that can both develop safety-critical rail software and build physical prototypes, bridging the gap between research institutes and large rail OEMs.

Highlights from their portfolio

• X2RAIL-2
  Their largest funded project (EUR 1,058,116), covering the broadest scope — satellite positioning, on-board train integrity, formal methods, and traffic management evolution.
• TAURO
  Their newest project focused specifically on autonomous rail operation, including environment perception for automation and remote driving — signalling AZD's push toward full rail autonomy.
• X2Rail-5
  Capstone of the X2Rail series, focused on integrated technology demonstrators combining moving block, fail-safe positioning, and cybersecurity into testable prototypes.