CBTC Train Control Software

Overview

As a VATC software engineer at Alstom (former Bombardier), I developed safety-critical onboard software for Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) systems deployed across multiple international rail projects in India, Malaysia and the US. The work spans both metro and APM systems, covering the full safety lifecycle from requirements through commissioning.

Safety Lifecycle & Standards

All development follows EN 50128 (software for railway control), and EN 50129 (safety-related electronic systems), IEEE1474 (CBTC). I execute the full V-model lifecycle: software design, implementation, and verification & validation (V&V), safety assessment until deployment.

On-Site Commissioning & Debugging

A significant portion of the role involves on-site work during system integration and commissioning phases. I develop diagnostic tools and log analysis scripts to parse real-time train control data and correlate events across distributed subsystems.

This includes debugging under operational pressure — working with trackside teams, signaling engineers, and railway operators to resolve issues during test runs and revenue service preparation.

Multi-Project Coordination

I coordinate software delivery across multiple concurrent projects, each with different track configurations, operational rules, and regulatory requirements. This involves managing software baselines, variant configurations, and ensuring that safety evidence packages (Safety Cases) are tailored to each project while maintaining a common certified core.

Technical Stack

Languages: C, Shell Script

Tools: IBM DOORS/RQM/Synergy, Jenkins (CI), Git (Gerrit/GitLab)

Standards: EN 50128, EN 50129, IEEE 1474.1, MISRA C (compliance)

Process: SIL-4/SIL-0 software.