en.Wedoany.com Reported - Kontron AIS, the software subsidiary of Austria's Kontron Group, has secured a contract to modernize the control and automation systems of the Antwerp North marshalling yard in Belgium. The project involves one of Europe's largest rail freight hubs. The contract was awarded following an international tender and will be executed by a consortium comprising Kontron AIS and Belgian company Cegelec Infra Technics, with the client being Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel.
According to the company, the value of Kontron AIS's contract is in the tens of millions of euros. The project aims to modernize key control components of the Antwerp North marshalling yard, which is directly connected to the Port of Antwerp. Antwerp North is the second largest railway marshalling yard in Europe, after the Maschen yard in Germany, and serves as a crucial hub for international freight. Its direct link to the Port of Antwerp makes it one of the most important transshipment points for goods in Europe.
The modernization focuses on the control and automation systems used for automatic train formation. Existing systems will be replaced with modern solutions designed for long-term operation and ensuring spare parts availability. As part of the project, Kontron AIS will carry out a comprehensive modernization of route control and braking systems, as well as controls for remotely operated shunting locomotives. Operational safety and system availability are priorities in software development.
The project will utilize YardLynx software developed by Kontron AIS, a modular control solution for marshalling yards and train formation yards, designed to meet various requirements in the operation of shunting and marshalling yard infrastructure. The modernization will include subsystems B2 and C2, which together comprise 96 classification tracks. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.
"The Antwerp contract is a significant milestone for our company. It demonstrates that we can compete internationally with our comprehensive software products and that we are recognized as a trusted technology partner for complex infrastructure projects," said Michael Jacob, CEO of Kontron AIS. Through this project, Kontron AIS is strengthening its position in the international market for railway infrastructure software solutions. The company specializes in industrial software and is part of the software division of the Kontron Group, a global provider of IoT technology. For Kontron, this contract underscores the growing importance of secure and reliable digital solutions in public transport systems and railway infrastructure.
