The Railway Infrastructure Administration is testing an innovative platform lighting control technology developed by the Czech company ZAT.

The Czech Republic ranks among the leading European countries in the field of smart solutions applied to railway infrastructure.
One interesting innovation in this area is the automatic lighting of platforms and station areas at railway stops and terminals within a precisely defined time interval before a train’s arrival. The Railway Infrastructure Administration is currently testing this system as part of a pilot project at the Horažďovice předměstí and Pačejov stations.

"The station lighting automatically turns on before the train arrives, so passengers never have to wait on an unlit platform. After the train departs, the lights automatically switch off with a time delay," says Milan Hucl, Director of the Smart Systems Division at ZAT, the company that developed and implemented the intelligent control system.

Currently, platform and station lighting is controlled manually, based on time schedules or twilight sensors. In some specific cases, this has led to unnecessary lighting or, conversely, a lack of lighting when needed.

"So far, we are satisfied with the new technology. If the pilot project proves successful, it has great potential for deployment at other railway stations across the Czech Republic. It is a cost-effective solution that increases passenger safety and comfort while optimizing electricity consumption," says Radek Makovec, Director of the Plzeň Regional Directorate of the Railway Infrastructure Administration, where the new system is being tested.

ZAT has been supplying control systems to the Czech railway sector for many years.
The current innovation lies in the integration of the Operational Management Information System (ISOŘ) with the DDTS system (Remote Diagnostics of Technological Systems), which has long been used by the Railway Infrastructure Administration.
"ISOŘ sends precise train location data to DDTS, which then controls the platform and station lighting accordingly," explains Milan Hucl.

ZAT provides comprehensive control and diagnostics solutions for transport infrastructure in railway, road, and urban transit systems.
At present, the company's control systems ensure the reliable and safe operation of half of the railway power dispatching centers in the Czech Republic.