Building a new network for Railway Stations
In an effort to mordernise and enhance the operational efficiency of railway stations, a new Optical Transport Network was built. The case study explores the reasons behind the project, the challenges faced , and the solutions implemented to achieve a state -of-the art network infrastructure.
Background: The railway stations were in dire need of network renewal. The existing infrastructure was outdated and lacked the capabilities to support the growing demands of modern railway operation. The new network aimed to address these issues by providing a robust and reliable solution.
Objective: The primary objectives of building the new network were:
1- To renew all stations with a new Optical Transport Network for 30 km at 10 GbE.
2 – To include mission – critical network active equipment and access control, physical security video surveillance, and emergency audio for passengers.
3 – To establish a new Operation Control Center (OCC) with SCADA ( Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition), a Building Management System (BMS), and video wall.
Challenges: The project faced several challenges, including:
1- Infrastructure Issues: The old equipment and lack of infrastructure capabilities to control the railway line were significant problems that needed to be addressed.
2 – Security and Surveillance: Ensuring the safety and security of passengers required the integration of advanced access control, physical security, and video surveillance systems.
3- Operational Control: The need for a new Operation Control Center with Scada , BMS, and a video wall to monitor and manage the railway operations effectively.
SOLUTIONS
In response to the complex demands of multi-station deployment, the following mission-critical systems were installed
1- Railway Safety Infrastructure Deployment: Smart Revive and SC4t deployed a 30 km optical transport network operating at 10GbE, delivering high-speed connectivity and resilient communication across 13 railway stations.
2- Mission – Critical Equipment : The network included mission-critical network active equipment , access control, physical security , video surveillance, and emergency audio systems to ensure the safety and security of passengers.
Active Equipment Infrastructure: Over 500 industrial-grade enclosures housing managed switches for railway platforms and energy SSE nodes
Video Surveillance: More than 500 IP cameras installed across stations for real-time monitoring and incident response
IoT Sensor Network: 700+ sensors connected via RS-485/Modbus and IP protocols, enabling environmental and safety telemetry
Centralized SCADA Integration: IoT gateways feed into a unified SCADA system for telemetry, remote control, and fault detection
Building Management System (BMS): Integrated fire alarms, access control, and emergency audio systems managed via a centralized OCC video wall.
