TÜV Rheinland Korea Grants SIL4 Certification to Hyundai Rotem’s IP-Based Electronic Interlocking Railway Signaling System

TÜV Rheinland Korea Grants SIL4 Certification to Hyundai Rotem’s IP-Based Electronic Interlocking Railway Signaling System

(IN BRIEF) TÜV Rheinland Korea has granted SIL4 certification to Hyundai Rotem’s IP-based Electronic Interlocking System after completing an Independent Safety Assessment in accordance with National Railway Authority signaling standards and relevant international safety requirements. SIL4 represents the highest safety integrity level used for railway signaling systems, confirming that the technology meets strict development, validation and safety standards. The assessment examined the system’s architecture, hardware, software and IP-based communication framework, as well as its ability to maintain safe operations during fault conditions. TÜV Rheinland also evaluated how the system integrates with other railway infrastructure components such as onboard signaling systems, Radio Block Centers and traffic control systems. The certification establishes a foundation for deploying the technology in domestic and international railway markets while reinforcing ongoing cooperation between TÜV Rheinland and Hyundai Rotem in railway signaling safety.

(PRESS RELEASE) COLOGNE, 13-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — TÜV Rheinland Korea has awarded SIL4 certification to Hyundai Rotem’s IP-based Electronic Interlocking System following the completion of an Independent Safety Assessment conducted in accordance with the National Railway Authority signaling standard KRSA T 2023 4004 and applicable European and international railway safety standards. The certification confirms that the system meets the highest safety integrity requirements defined for railway signaling technology.

The Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL4) rating represents the most stringent classification used for safety-critical railway control systems. Achieving this level indicates that the signaling solution has undergone structured development, rigorous validation and independent verification by an accredited certification authority.

Electronic interlocking systems play a central role in railway infrastructure safety. They manage the logic that governs route settings and signal operations, ensuring that trains cannot be directed onto conflicting tracks or unsafe paths. Because of this function, their reliability and safety performance are critical factors in maintaining efficient and secure railway operations.

Hyundai Rotem’s newly assessed system is based on IP-based communication architecture and builds on the company’s experience in developing conventional interlocking technologies. The platform was designed in alignment with National Railway Authority standards and incorporates features aimed at improving operational efficiency while enabling scalable deployment across different railway networks.

As part of the certification process, TÜV Rheinland carried out an extensive Independent Safety Assessment (ISA). The evaluation reviewed whether the system’s architecture, hardware components and software implementation meet the required safety criteria. Particular attention was given to the use of IP-based communications within the signaling environment.

The assessment examined the safety logic governing the interlocking system, including the integrity of input and output processing and the system’s response mechanisms in the event of faults or abnormal conditions. These safety mechanisms are essential to ensuring that signaling systems maintain safe operations even in unexpected circumstances.

The evaluation also included verification of system interfaces. TÜV Rheinland assessed how the interlocking system integrates with other railway signaling components, including onboard signaling systems, trackside infrastructure and traffic control technologies. Interfaces with elements such as the Radio Block Center, the interlocking equipment itself and centralized traffic control systems were examined to confirm that safety requirements were consistently applied across all system boundaries.

Following the completion of the Independent Safety Assessment, TÜV Rheinland confirmed that the system’s design, architecture and configuration meet the safety requirements necessary to achieve SIL4 certification.

TÜV Rheinland Korea and Hyundai Rotem plan to continue their collaboration across both onboard and wayside railway signaling technologies. Both organizations emphasize the importance of railway safety as a key factor in maintaining public trust in rail transport and enabling the continued development of sustainable mobility solutions.

With its experience in the certification of rolling stock and railway signaling systems, TÜV Rheinland continues to support manufacturers seeking safety validation and international market access. Through independent testing and certification activities, the organization contributes to the development of reliable railway technologies designed to protect passengers, operators and the wider community.

Media Contact:

DaUn Jeong
Local Officer, Marketing and Communications
TÜV Rheinland Korea
Mobile: +82 10 6878 5423
Email: daun.jeong@tuv.com

SOURCE: TÜV Rheinland