On the safe track: A Made-in-India transformation
Siemens’ Direct Driving technology for Auto Block Signaling is redefining safety and efficiency for Indian Railways.
Signalling a rise in safety and reliability
Every day, across India, over 13,500 passenger trains carry millions of passengers, traversing the length and breadth of the country on a network that extends over 68,500 km of rail tracks. That is about 50% more than the circumference of Earth.
This is Indian Railways, operating the fourth-largest and one of the most complex rail networks in the world, with tracks that range across some of the highest altitudes and most remote locations. It is no exaggeration to say that Indian Railways is the transportation and logistics backbone of the nation, transporting a staggering 7 billion passengers and over 1.2 billion tonnes of freight every year.
Ensuring safety and reliability is top priority for the Indian Railways. This requires a robust rail signalling system that is engineered for absolute precision. Siemens is proud to be a partner in this journey, powering the Indian Railways’ digital transformation with its breakthrough Direct Driving Auto Block Signalling (ABS) technology. The next-gen solution is redefining how India approaches safety, reliability and operational efficiency on its high-density rail corridors.
Siemens’ intelligent signalling solution marks a paradigm shift from the conventional relay-dependent signalling system used by Indian Railways. The old system entails large relay rooms with costly equipment, extensive copper cabling, and heavy civil work. A single fault can bring traffic to a halt, requiring extensive time for fault detection and resolution.
Next-gen solution for India
In contrast, Direct Driving ABS is built on a lean, modular and future-ready architecture. Compact, tamper-proof, IP54-rated modular wayside cabinets are placed right next to the tracks, replacing bulky cabling and reducing dependency on relay rooms. The scalable modular structure accelerates deployment. Direct Driving delivers superior safety and quicker diagnostics capability. The result is a robust, service-friendly signalling ecosystem.
A breakthrough for Indian Railways
Siemens has long been a partner-in-progress for the Indian Railways. Only a few global OEMs possess a Direct Driving solution for ABS of this market. Currently, Siemens is implementing solution over massive 3200+ route KM block sections. In February 2026, WCR–Bhopal Division commissioned the 33 km Bina–Bhopal section with 2 block sections between Kurwai Kethora and Kalkhari using the Direct Driving Solution, further strengthening the rollout progress in the West Central region. Wayside systems have already been commissioned in Nishatpura and Makardhokda on the Central Railway, paving the way for a nationwide rollout.
The new signalling technology will support the railway’s march towards a modern network by meeting its objectives of safety, capacity optimisation and digital transformation. Along with safety, increasing track capacity without laying new lines is a high priority. Unlike the older double-distant signalling system, Direct Driving ABS enables more trains to run safely on the same track, improving reliability, punctuality and network efficiency.
By converging automation, integrated diagnostics and smart maintenance to the field, the new technology aligns with India’s vision for a world-class digital railway network.
Smart technology, measurable outcomes
The Direct Driving ABS system has replaced outdated relay-based logic with intelligent, modular systems that deliver several operational efficiencies:
Plug-and-play, integrated design
enabling faster installation with reduced civil, cabling, and relay costs
High reliability & safety
with lower failure rates and quicker fault detection and recovery
Smart wayside diagnostics
supporting predictive maintenance and improved network performance
Sustainable & energy-efficient
operations with solar-enabled deployment and extended lifecycle benefits
The next-gen system ensures safer journeys, timely arrivals and service reliability for passengers. For the railways, it will strengthen the network’s performance by providing higher safety integrity, maximum capacity utilisation, and future-ready signalling on India’s busiest routes.
Made for India, Made in India
Siemens’ proven innovation capabilities and India-focused engineering excellence underpin its enduring partnership with Indian Railways. The Direct Driving ABS system is not just designed for India, it is also ‘made in India’. Customised for Indian rail standards, its energy-efficient architecture is aligned with India’s Green Railway mission.
As India continues to modernise its railway infrastructure, Siemens’ Direct Driving ABS solution is laying the foundation for digital and sustainable rail mobility. By turning downtime into uptime and transforming legacy signalling into a future-ready system, Siemens is helping shape a safer and smarter tomorrow for Indian Railways.