
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales has won a new contract to implement Certificate Authority/Public Key Infrastructure across Network Rail's estate.
The contract to design, build, test and deliver Enterprise CA/PKI also includes a discovery phase, now completed, which has identified new systems and capability that could grow over time.
The contract includes a three-year support period with the option of two 12-month extensions, giving the potential to develop the service further.
A newly awarded contract places Thales at the centre of digital trust for Network Rail Telecom (NRT), providing an enhanced cyber security posture across the entire Network Rail Enterprise.
This will allow NRT to assign and centrally manage digital certificates and authentication to services across the entire Network Rail operation.
Building on last year's contract to introduce Online Key Management System (OKMS) on the East Coast Main Line (ECML), with the East Coast Digital Programme, Thales has won a new contract to implement Certificate Authority/ Public Key Infrastructure across Network Rail's estate.
The introduction of the European Train Control System (ETCS) on the ECML is driving the introduction of new Digital Signalling by Network Rail. Our OKMS is the enabling technology that ensures signalling data communications to trains are resilient and secure. ETCS continuously calculates a safe maximum speed for each train, with in-cab signaling for the driver, and on-board systems that take control if permissible speed is exceeded. The new Enterprise CA/PKI system supports OKMS by authenticating the origin of these ETCS signaling data communication messages. - Guy Cleall, Thales's Customer Account Manager for CA/PKI
NRTs Enterprise CA/PKI is a powerful cyber-security system that introduces greater digital trust through authentication, encryption and certification, protecting Network Rail's wider infrastructure, including Information Technology (IT), software, the Internet of Things (IOT), security cameras, station information boards, as well as securing Operational Technology (OT) assets.
The contract to design, build, test and deliver Enterprise CA/PKI also includes a discovery phase, now completed, which has identified new systems and capability that could grow over time. Enterprise CA/PKI will also need to accommodate the additional services and organisations that will be introduced when Great British Railway, a new, state-owned public body, currently planned to commence transitioning from 2024 to oversee all UK rail transport operations, is formed. The contract includes a three-year support period with the option of two 12-month extensions, giving the potential to develop the service further.
Also within the contract is the responsibility to periodically generate and protect Network Rail's CA/PKI root keys. The root key certificate (a string of alpha-numeric characters) is important because this master key certificate verifies all the certificates below it. The security of the root certificate determines the security of the entire Network Rail Enterprise CA/PKI system. Thales is entrusted to securely store Network Rails root CAs within its List X facility, which is a commercial site used to securely hold UK government information.
The introduction of CA/PKI will introduce greater levels of digital trust as the railway system transitions from trackside signaling to on-board digital systems. It will also give greater control to Network Rail for managing its own IT, IOT and OT assets, being able to determine the lifecycles of devices, such as laptops and mobile phones, through its own certification process, rather than relying on external agencies.
The Enterprise CA/PKI that Thales is providing underpins OKMS operation and looks after digital trust across the Network Rail enterprise. It's a game-changer for them and a good place to be for Thales. We're building a very good relationship with Network Rail but now we have to deliver, and deliver well, and as a result I hope we can go further together. - Guy Cleall, Thales's Customer Account Manager for CA/PKI
Enterprise CA/PKI is due to be delivered in early 2023, in time for the roll-out of OKMS later next year.
Documents
PR_20220830_Thales delivering digital trust for safety-critical systems on UK rail network.pdf
Contact
Thales, Media Relations Ground Transportation
+33 (0)6 25 15 72 93 chrystelle.dugimont@thalesgroup.com
12 Sep 2022
KT SAT and Thales Alenia Space sign contract for KOREASAT 6A communications satellite
Read more
08 Sep 2022
Thales to expand its presence in North America by adding hundreds of new employees
Read more
08 Sep 2022
Emirates A350 fleet to fly with Thales' AVANT Up
Read more
More from Thales
30/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
52% report AI security spending is displacing tr...
30/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Cannes, June 30th, 2025 - Thales Alenia Space, t...
27/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales, a global high-tech leader, and Kongsberg...
26/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Madrid, June 26, 2025 - The European Space Agenc...
24/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
New capability gives instant visibility to detec...
24/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
First unified, single-pane-of-glass platform to ...
24/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The American Airlines 787-9 takes flight with Th...
20/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
At the Paris Air Show, in the presence of the Fr...
19/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales, a global technology leader for the Defen...
12/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales has secured the top spot in the 2025 rank...
12/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales strengthens its European leadership in re...
11/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
In response to the increasing frequency and inte...
10/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA...
05/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Vietnam has been building a national framework t...
04/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The new lab, dedicated to development of Infligh...
03/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Payment systems must evolve beyond traditional c...
02/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales's global acceleration in trusted AI e...
02/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Cyshield, a leading digital solutions company, s...
22/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
As a strategic partner in helping Malaysia achie...
21/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
As part of the Tawazun Economic Program, Thales ...
20/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
73% are investing in AI-specific security tools ...
19/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The unique, sea-proven Pathmaster solution will ...
19/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales, Radiall and FoxConn announce they have i...
15/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales fully supports the success of Vipps, Norw...
15/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services SMATS...
15/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales, a global leader in high-power lasers, will inaugurate GenF on Thursday 15 May 2025 in Le Barp (Bordeaux). GenF aims to t...
13/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
On the occasion of DEFEA, Greece's premier defence exhibition, Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defe...
13/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
After the success of the deployment in Brest in ...
13/05/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales unveils its new multi-mission Primary Sur...
30/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales has secured a major contract to modernise...
29/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
In a world where identity fraud represents a critical vulnerability for citizens and societies, Thales is leading the transforma...
25/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Enhancing Data Protection and Governance Service...
24/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Order intake: 3.8 billion, down -25% (-27% on an organic basis1)
Sales: 5.0 billion, up 12.2% ( 9.9% on an organic basis)
A...
23/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Enables Michelin to focus on development of its ...
22/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The Technologies for Existing and Future Main Ba...
17/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thursday, 17 April 2025 - The next step has now been taken in the Franco-German armaments project Main Ground Combat System (MGC...
16/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
In order to enhance satellite performance and mi...
14/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales has been selected by NATO to deliver phas...
08/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales
Thales subsidiary, Thales Defense &...
08/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales revolutionizes inflight TV with 360Stream...
07/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (F r...
07/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales is a global leader in inertial navigation...
03/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies...
03/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The new flight training centre features Thales...
02/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Strengthening Europe's critical navigation infrastructure thanks to EGNOS satellite-based augmentation system Cannes, April ...
01/04/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and...
31/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Presented for the first time at SOFINS1, PANORAMIC is a lightweight, compact night vision goggle equipped with four light intens...