13/05/2026
Challenge Days of the Rail Data Transfer Challenge in Minden 🚆
The next phase of our Rail Data Transfer Challenge is underway in Minden: Three international teams are testing their solutions under real-world railway conditions.
Together with DB InfraGO / Deutsche Bahn, we are addressing a key question: How can up to 10 TB of measurement data be transferred from our measurement trains within just 7 hours in the future?
As modern measurement trains generate increasing volumes of sensor, infrastructure, point cloud, track geometry, and video data, the need for fast processing and transmission continues to grow.
To evaluate different technological approaches in depth, we invited international companies to submit their solutions. From a total of 19 applications, five teams were selected after an intensive evaluation and pre-selection phase to join the virtual concept stage. Following an comprehensive concept phase and final pitches, three finalists are now on site in Minden, testing their solutions under real-world conditions:
In A Blink
Eric Garzon and Réal Barrière travelled all the way from Canada to Minden to present their “Virtual Fibre Optics” technology — an optical wireless communication solution enabling vehicle-to-infrastructure data transfers at speeds of up to 5 Gbps, supporting the rapid and cybersecure transmission of large volumes of video and vehicle data within seconds.
Boldyn Networks
Ruediger Hnyk, Claus Keuker and Danish Raza are testing their private 5G-based approach in Minden. The goal is to transfer large amounts of data quickly, reliably and in an automated manner between train and infrastructure — even under realistic railway operating conditions. For the tests, a dedicated temporary 5G network was even set up on site.
A consortium of Eviden and Westermo Data Communications
Gunnar Preissler, ABDUL RAHMAN, Aymeric Delise, Markus Kröhl, Darren McNamara and Eric Skoog are testing an approach based on robust industrial networking and WLAN communication technologies in Minden. The goal is to ensure reliable and stable transmission of large volumes of measurement and sensor data between train and infrastructure — even under demanding infrastructural conditions.
The on-site tests are supported by our colleagues and experts Sittipan Reinold, Matthias Stauske, Jan Philipp Rauprich, Fabian Hauswald, Bjoern Kracker, Alexander Bentkus, Viviane Elhaus, and Sören Daehn.
At the end of next week, one winning team will be selected to start a 100-day proof of concept together with DB InfraGO and us.
For us, the challenge highlights one thing above all:
Innovation happens when different perspectives, technologies, and partners come together — and work jointly on real-world challenges.
We’re excited to see the results of the coming days!
