CAF SIGNALLING S.L

Their core work

CAF Signalling is the signalling and train control division of the Spanish CAF Group, specializing in railway signalling systems including ETCS, CBTC, and automatic train operation (ATO). They develop safety-critical onboard and trackside equipment for rail traffic management, moving block systems, and communication-based train control. Their H2020 work focuses on next-generation signalling architectures under the Shift2Rail programme, contributing to prototyping, formal verification, and cybersecurity of automated rail systems. They bring industrial-grade engineering of mixed-criticality embedded platforms to European rail modernization efforts.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), CAF Signalling focused on foundational signalling R&D — control systems, IP communication, moving block concepts, and CBTC/ETCS architectures, largely through the first X2Rail projects. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward demonstrators, prototypes, safety certification, and cybersecurity, indicating a transition from research concepts to deployment-ready solutions. Simultaneously, they expanded into general-purpose safety-critical computing platforms (SELENE, UP2DATE, FRACTAL), broadening their capability beyond rail-specific systems.

CAF Signalling is moving from research-phase signalling concepts toward industrialized, cyber-secure, safety-certified autonomous rail systems — making them an increasingly valuable partner for deployment-stage projects.

How they like to work

CAF Signalling operates exclusively as a participant or third party — never as coordinator — which is typical for a large industrial partner contributing domain expertise to research-driven consortia. With 187 unique partners across 21 countries, they are deeply embedded in the European rail research ecosystem, particularly within the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking. Their consistent presence across sequential project phases (X2Rail-1 through X2Rail-5, LINX4RAIL 1-2) shows they are a reliable, long-term consortium member rather than a one-off contributor.

With 187 unique consortium partners across 21 countries, CAF Signalling has one of the broadest collaboration networks in European rail signalling research. Their network is heavily anchored in the Shift2Rail ecosystem, connecting them to major European rail operators, infrastructure managers, and signalling competitors alike.

What sets them apart

CAF Signalling occupies a rare position as both a commercial railway signalling manufacturer and an active contributor to safety-critical computing research. While most rail signalling companies focus narrowly on transport projects, CAF Signalling also invests in cross-domain embedded platform R&D (SELENE, FRACTAL, UP2DATE), giving them early access to next-generation hardware architectures. For consortium builders, they bring the combination of real rail deployment experience with formal methods and safety certification expertise that few partners can match.

Highlights from their portfolio

• X2Rail-1
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 1.2M) and the foundational project that launched CAF Signalling's deep involvement in the Shift2Rail advanced signalling programme.
• X2Rail-5
  Capstone of the X2Rail series (EUR 861K), integrating moving block, fail-safe positioning, cybersecurity, and demonstrator/prototype delivery — representing the maturation of five years of signalling R&D.
• SELENE
  Demonstrates CAF Signalling's expansion beyond rail into general-purpose high-performance safety-critical computing platforms, signaling cross-sector ambitions.