KeTech offers a flexible solution to passenger information – updating and redesigning systems to extend their life and avoid a full system replacement.
On-station and on-train Passenger Information Systems (PIS) sit at the intersection of customer experience and operations.
But according to Paul Warren, Sales Director at technology company KeTech, PIS obsolescence is often treated as an inevitability across fleets and networks in Australia.
“The only option provided by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) is often a full system replacement,” he said. “But increasingly, this response is being questioned.
“For example, according to the International Union of Railways, rail technologies must now be designed with ‘future-proofing’ in mind, precisely because of these long lifecycles.”
Warren said that unlike other forms of technology, railway systems are not designed for rapid replacement.
“Rolling stock and infrastructure often operate over 30-plus year lifecycles, while information systems evolve in cycles as short as five to 10 years – and passengers expect the technology to be updated more regularly than this.”
These three elements are tightly interconnected yet evolve on very different timelines.
“KeTech cannot influence the age of rolling stock or on-station equipment along with the pace of change in passenger expectations.
“However, we can design systems that evolve alongside them, or redesign existing systems to extend their life while upgrading capability, functionality, and performance to meet current operator and passenger needs.”
Trapped between spares and system replacements
Across Australia, the challenges posed by PIS obsolescence are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, as operators manage ageing fleets and wayside equipment alongside ongoing expectations for real-time, data-driven passenger information.
“Networks such as Transport for NSW, Sydney Trains, V/Line and Queensland Rail are all investing heavily in digital programs aimed at improving the quality, consistency and responsiveness of passenger information, often within the constraints of legacy onboard and station systems that were never designed for today’s levels of connectivity or integration,” said Warren.
“When OEMs shift their focus to next-generation technologies, legacy support quickly diminishes.
“Train operators are usually presented with two options: sourcing hard-to-find and expensive spare parts to patch the problem, or a costly full system replacement. For Australian train operators, managing complex networks, harsh environmental conditions, and strict accessibility compliance, neither option is ideal.”
A different approach
KeTech can offer the Australian market a third, more sustainable and cost-effective solution.
“We do not treat obsolescence as a trigger for replacement,” Warren explained. “We treat it as an opportunity for collaboration and engagement, to work out the most cost-effective, optimal design.
“Our approach is built around targeted re-design, extending the life of existing systems while upgrading capability where it is actually needed.”
This is delivered through a wrap-and-embrace model, where existing systems are assessed at component level, functional infrastructure is retained, and only obsolete elements are replaced.
New capability is then integrated around the existing architecture rather than imposed through system-wide substitution.
This is enabled through form-fit-function engineering, where physical compatibility, system integration, and functional performance are preserved while obsolete components are replaced with modern equivalents. It allows systems to be upgraded regardless of original supplier or age.
Warren added: “As the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and state governments continue to emphasise the drive towards sustainability and reduced emissions, the concept of extending the life of existing assets has never been more relevant.”
Unlocking digital capability
Warren said that crucially, this is not just a replacement; it is an upgrade.
“By combining KeTech’s expertise in both hardware and software engineering, we integrate these disciplines to deliver what we term a ‘better than new’ solution.
“KeTech’s hardware-software integration capability enables features such as real-time information – previously impossible on older systems. Operators can connect and centralise disparate legacy systems, allowing on-station and on-train information provision to be managed from the same single operator interface.”
Layered upgrades
Across Australia and globally, rail operators are moving toward real-time data, predictive disruption messaging, multi-modal integration and more dynamic passenger information systems.
Warren said these capabilities do not necessarily require full system replacement, but rather intelligent layers that can sit on existing infrastructure.
“By upgrading these layers rather than rebuilding entire systems, operators can deliver modern passenger experiences while extending the life of critical assets and reducing unnecessary cost and operational disruption,” he noted.
“The reality is that Australia’s rail networks are not failing because systems are old. They are being challenged because systems evolve at different speeds within the same operational environment.”
KeTech’s approach is simple, Warren said.
“Obsolescence does not have to mean replacement. It can mean extension, enhancement, and intelligent modernisation.
“And in a rail environment defined by long asset lifecycles, rising passenger expectations, increasing system complexity and restricted budgets, that distinction matters more than ever.”
