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This presentation covers: A description of modern train control systems, how they are designed and secured and how they can be broken.

Speaker

Mark Lodge CEng CITP FBCS

Agenda

6:00pm - Refreshments and networking
6:30pm - Presentation – Mark Lodge
7:30pm - Q&A
9:00pm - Close

Synopsis

This presentation by Mark Lodge , Doctoral Researcher, BCRRE, University of Birmingham will introduce the Train Control and Monitoring System (TCMS) and the IEC 61375 international standard that specifies its design. We will look in detail at one such implementation – the Ethernet Train Backbone – taken from a train currently in service. We will learn how the TCMS’s adherence to this standard meant it was vulnerable to the injection of spoofed packets, and why these packets were then accepted by the Train Management Computer (TMC). At best, an attack of this type could give rise to confusion and cause the driver to stop the train; at worst, it may lead an operational incident that affects the safety of its passengers.

What will this presentation cover?

  • What are modern train control systems?
  • ⁠How they are designed and secured?
  • ⁠How they can be broken, and how they might change in the future.

Who is this event aimed at?

BCS members, University students, local business people and the general public interested in understanding cyber security, operational technology, IP networking and transportation.

About the speaker

Mark Lodge CEng CITP FBCS, Doctoral Researcher, BCRRE, University of Birmingham

Mark Lodge is a technical cyber security specialist with 25 years' experience in the research and development, engineering, financial services, law enforcement, defence and security sectors. He is currently a doctoral researcher at the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE), University of Birmingham. His research interests include cyber security and its application to industrial control systems in the railways, particularly rolling-stock.

Marks skills and interests cover all aspects of cyber security and include network architecture and design, secure systems implementation and information security management. On a technical level, Mark specialises in Linux, FreeBSD, MikroTik, networking and internet engineering.

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For overseas delegates who wish to attend the event, please note that BCS does not issue invitation letters.

This event is brought to you by: Hereford and Worcester branch in collaboration with BIPC Worcestershire and The University of Worcester

Modern train control systems: what they are and how they are cyber secured
Date and time
Thursday 11 July, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location
The Hive
The Butts
Worcester
WR1 3PD
Price
Free