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Press Release24 September 2026Siemens MobilityBerlin
Siemens and Infrabel expand strategic partnership to strengthen digital rail operations in Belgium
Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility, and Benoît Gilson, CEO of Infrabel (from left to right), Photo source: Siemens Mobility
Siemens
Mobility, a leading provider of intelligent and sustainable rail solutions, and
Infrabel, Belgium's national railway infrastructure manager, have signed a
long-term framework agreement to modernize and maintain the country’s
Operational Control System (OCS) environment; these are the digital systems used to manage
rail traffic across Belgium. Over the next 11 years, the partners will ensure the
continuous evolution of signaling software and hardware for one of Europe’s
densest rail networks. This digital transformation will significantly enhance
network resilience and safety, ensuring a more reliable and efficient rail
service for passengers and freight while preparing the rail operational control
centers for the future. The framework agreement has a total order value of
approximately €215 million.
“Our long-standing
partnership with Infrabel is built on trust and a shared commitment to
advancing rail operations in Belgium. With this new 11-year framework agreement,
we are taking our collaboration to the next level by jointly modernizing the
digital foundation of Belgium´s rail operation control centers. Our digital
technology thrives to 100% system availability and introduces open interfaces
according to the newest standards,”
said Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens
Mobility. “By combining our global digitalization, software and
cybersecurity expertise with strong local teams in Brussels, we are helping Infrabel
to ensure that Belgium’s railway remains innovative, secure and operationally resilient
for decades to come.”
“This
contract goes far beyond software and technology. It is an investment in the
future of our railway, but also in Belgium’s industrial and economic ecosystem.
By partnering with Siemens, we are not only strengthening the safety,
reliability and performance of our network; we are also supporting economic
activity and jobs in Belgium, while contributing to the development of local
expertise in a highly strategic sector. This is how investment in rail
infrastructure creates value well beyond the tracks themselves,”
said
Benoit
Gilson, CEO of Infrabel.
The
long-term partnership will rely on local Siemens Mobility expertise in Belgium,
supporting highly skilled employment and helping to further develop the
country’s capabilities in digital rail systems, software engineering and
cybersecurity. This creates economic value that extends well beyond the railway
sector itself.
The framework agreement introduces a dynamic governance structure
centered around a four-year rolling roadmap. Through an annual alignment
process, Infrabel and Siemens Mobility can continuously synchronize strategic
priorities with resource allocation. This ensures that the partnership remains
flexible and can rapidly respond to evolving requirements over the 11-year
term.
A key pillar of the modernization is a rigorous focus on cybersecurity.
This includes the appointment of a dedicated security officer and a continuous
commitment to the fast-evolving landscape of rail-specific cyber security
standards like the IEC62443 standard and the ISO 27001 certification standard –
the internationally recognized standard for organizational information security
management. This ensures that the rail infrastructure is protected against
cyber threats.
The modernized OCS environment will be future-proof through an intuitive
user interface that enhances operational efficiency for control center
operators. This will enable continuous modernization of mission-critical
signaling software and operational hardware, while providing enhanced digital
resilience through next-generation signaling architecture.
The OCS environment supports the management of one of Europe's most
intensively used rail networks, handling thousands of passenger and freight
services every day. Reliable and secure operations control is essential for
maintaining punctuality, increasing capacity and network resilience across
Belgium's rail system.
For this press release
Siemens Mobility
is a separately managed company of Siemens AG. As a leader in intelligent transport solutions for more than 175 years, Siemens Mobility is constantly innovating its portfolio. Its core areas include rolling stock, rail automation and electrification, a comprehensive software portfolio, turnkey systems as well as related services. With digital products and solutions, and the use of industrial AI, Siemens Mobility is enabling mobility operators worldwide to make their infrastructure intelligent, increase value sustainably over the entire lifecycle, enhance passenger experience, and guarantee availability. In fiscal year 2025, which ended on September 30, 2025, Siemens Mobility posted revenue of €12.4 billion and employed around 43,400 people worldwide. Further information is available at:
www.siemens.com/mobility
Infrabel is Belgium’s national railway infrastructure manager. The company manages one of Europe’s busiest rail networks and employs around 9,600 people. Every day, Infrabel enables the safe and efficient movement of passenger and freight trains across Belgium. Through continuous investment in infrastructure, digitalisation and innovation, Infrabel supports sustainable mobility, economic growth and the competitiveness of Belgium. Further information is available at:
www.infrabel.be