Any regular rail commuter will likely have gripes about the UK’s rail networks, usually centred on cancelled services, over-priced fares, and cramped carriages. Those complaints may fall to a distant collective second place if one communications expert is to be believed, as the future of rail disruption could come from hackers.
An upgrade to the country’s current signalling systems is currently being tested in parts of the country now. Dubbed the European Rail Traffic Management System, it will take over some of the busiest intercity routes by 2020 and eventually be used nationwide. However, Professor David Stupples, who specialises in research and development of networked electronic and radio systems at City University London, believes the new system could be wide open to virtual attack.
By: Matt Kamen,
