08/12/2026 -
Schweinfurt, [date] – As part of the central procurement process of ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways), GPSoverIP GmbH has been awarded the contract to equip an initial, defined portion of the vehicle fleet with its advanced rail telematics. This takes the existing collaboration to a new technological level.
What it's about: targeted analysis of vehicle data
At the heart of the project is a solution configured specifically for the vehicle classes in use. It captures and processes vehicle, operating and consumption data in order to analyse energy consumption, driving behaviour and the technical condition of the vehicles in detail.
✅ This makes it possible to identify potential savings, optimise operating processes and plan maintenance work earlier and in a more targeted way.
✅ The solution thus combines energy efficiency with condition-based and predictive maintenance.
The technical foundation
The technical foundation is a further generation of the rail telematics developed by GPSoverIP. In the version designed for ÖBB, data from MVB- and CAN-based vehicle systems in particular is captured, time-synchronised, transmitted in a standardised format and made available centrally for further analysis. At the same time, the technology used is part of a much broader, modular multi-protocol platform.
🔌 Access to the vehicle's communication systems is galvanically isolated and non-reactive. The existing vehicle communication is only read, without actively interfering with the bus systems or their communication processes.
⚙️ Inside, a high-performance, multi-tier computing architecture is at work, made up of interconnected processing units, each specialised for different tasks. Working in parallel, they handle the continuous capture, protocol interpretation, plausibility checking, timestamping, buffering and encrypted transmission of the data.
⏱️ Data is not merely captured at specific points or at fixed intervals. Within the connected and configured bus systems, the transmitted telegrams and data records can be captured continuously and processed in near real time. This creates a high-resolution, temporally consistent picture of the relevant vehicle communication.
📊 Using modern edge computing methods, information from different bus systems, sensors and other sources is combined directly within the telematics unit. This allows correlations between driving state, energy consumption, position, load and technical anomalies to be identified at an early stage.
📍 Another element of the technological approach is high-precision satellite-based positioning. In combination with suitable correction data and additional vehicle sensors, accuracy down to the centimetre range can be achieved. Technical events can thus be precisely assigned to specific track sections and compared with one another by location.
📡 Data communication is also specifically designed for fast-moving vehicles and changing network conditions. The system continuously assesses the available connection quality, adapts transmission to the current network situation and, in the event of interruptions, first stores data securely in the vehicle. This keeps data transmission complete and reliable even at high speeds and with fluctuating network coverage.
Part of a growing platform
GPSoverIP's multi-protocol platform is under active development. The company recently received a funding approval from the Free State of Bavaria for this purpose. The aim is to expand the existing technological foundations into an even more comprehensive architecture that brings together different protocols, vehicle generations, sensor systems and drive types in a single platform.
In addition to classic CAN systems, the technological approach also covers high-performance standards such as CAN FD as well as railway interfaces and protocols such as MVB, VDV 300 and VDV 300-A1. Electrical measurements, motion data and external sensors can also be integrated. In future, this will make it possible to analyse not only vehicles and individual components, but also technical conditions along the infrastructure.
🚋 Depending on the application, technically secured diagnostic, switching and control functions can also be implemented. The modular design allows use in a wide range of rail vehicles – from electric or conventionally powered regional and long-distance trains to trams as well as freight, work and maintenance vehicles.
A word from management
"With the ÖBB contract, we are bringing a further generation of our rail telematics into a concrete fleet application. This is not just about capturing individual vehicle data, but about a technology platform that combines different protocols, high-performance data processing, precise positioning and modern communication methods. On this basis, we are continuously developing the system architecture further and creating new opportunities for energy efficiency, condition analysis and predictive maintenance in rail transport."
– André Jurleit, Managing Director of GPSoverIP GmbH
Experience from ongoing operations
GPSoverIP already has many years of practical experience in rail transport. Among other deployments, an earlier system generation is in use at DB Regio. The insights gained there are feeding into the development of the new platform. On this basis, a fundamentally advanced system generation is being created that combines non-reactive multi-protocol data acquisition, powerful processor architectures, high-precision positioning and high-performance data communication.
