Alstom has inaugurated its renovated and expanded test laboratory within its Digital & Integrated Systems (D&IS) organization in Bucharest. Supported by an investment of over 1 million euro, the new laboratory significantly strengthens Alstom’s capacity to develop, integrate, and validate advanced railway signaling and electrification solutions for projects in Romania and abroad. The investment includes the renovation and expansion of the facility known as the Field Integration and Validation Platform (FIVP)—a specialized engineering environment where signaling, electrification, and digital railway technology solutions are integrated, tested, and validated before being deployed on operational railway networks. The platform enables engineering teams to simulate real-world operating conditions, verify system performance, mitigate implementation risks, and ensure the highest levels of safety, reliability, and interoperability.
More than just a physical transformation, the newly renovated and expanded laboratory reflects Alstom’s vision for the future. It provides an enhanced environment for innovation, testing, and collaboration, as well as for the development of solutions that will support both the company’s clients and its own growth in the years to come. “At Alstom, innovation only gains meaning when it translates into safer and more reliable mobility for our customers and passengers. This investment in the Field Integration and Validation Platform (FIVP) demonstrates our long-term commitment to engineering excellence and highlights Romania’s role as a strategic center of expertise within Alstom. The expanded laboratory will enable our teams to develop and validate the next generation of signaling and electrification solutions, which will help shape the future of sustainable rail transport. Alstom underscores its leadership position in the Romanian market—in both rail signaling and electrification—supported by major national rail modernization projects,” stated Bogdan Cozoș, Managing Director for Digital and Integrated Systems (D&IS) at Alstom for Romania, Bulgaria, and the Republic of Moldova.
A strategic investment in engineering excellence
The expanded FIVP will allow Alstom engineers to test complete signaling solutions in an integrated environment, bringing together essential technologies—including ERTMS, interlocking systems, train control, and traffic management—as well as CBTC solutions for urban transport. Testing can be conducted at the level of the complete system, or at the level of individual subsystems and their interaction with trackside equipment. Consequently, engineering teams can validate how the various components of a signaling solution function together before deployment on the railway, ensuring the delivery of safe, reliable, and high-performance solutions for clients.
The expansion also represents a significant increase in testing capacity. The upgraded FIVP platform enables teams to conduct two full system tests or up to six subsystem tests in parallel—a significant improvement over the previous setup, where testing capacity was constrained by the available equipment and workstations. Beyond increasing capacity, the new environment will facilitate collaboration among specialists from various engineering disciplines and support the validation of complete solutions. The modernized laboratory will bolster Alstom’s projects in Romania, Europe, and other international markets, accelerating testing processes and further strengthening the engineering expertise of Alstom Romania.
This inauguration marks another major milestone in Alstom’s ongoing investment in Romania—a country where the company has played a pioneering role in the modernization of rail transport for over 30 years. Through state-of-the-art projects in digital rail control, signaling, and electrification, as well as rolling stock solutions and maintenance services, Alstom continues to contribute to a more sustainable and efficient transport system.
The new laboratory will be operated by Alstom Romania’s growing signaling engineering community, which comprises over 200 highly skilled and motivated engineers, software specialists, testers, and rail signaling experts. Their expertise supports both national and international projects, contributing to the development of advanced rail systems that enhance safety, reliability, capacity, and sustainability for rail operators and passengers worldwide. The modernized facility provides these teams with a modern, collaborative environment that will encourage knowledge sharing, attract new talent, and strengthen Romania’s role as one of Alstom’s key engineering hubs.