About Eyal Trichter

Eyal is a seasoned tech executive with over 20 years of experience in R&D, project management, and business development. As CEO of Trilogical, he leads innovation in data-driven solutions for critical sectors including rail, defense, aviation, and logistics. Known for translating complex needs into practical, high-impact technologies, Eyal has driven the development of advanced monitoring and predictive maintenance platforms—especially in the rail industry. His hands-on leadership continues to position Trilogical as a trusted innovation partner.

About Trilogical Technologies

Trilogical is an Israeli company providing advanced telematics and remote monitoring solutions for the rail, defense, aviation, and logistics sectors. Specializing in real-time diagnostics and predictive maintenance, the company enables wireless data exchange between locomotives and wagons through its mesh-based “virtual digital coupling” system. Trilogical’s technologies are known for their reliability, low energy use, and strong cybersecurity, with deployments across Europe, Africa, Asia, the U.S., and Israel.

www.trilogical.com

Key Takeaways

• Tech Transfer: Trilogical brings innovations from aviation and defense into the rail sector.
• vDAC Solution: Their Virtual Digital Automatic Coupling enables wireless, energy-efficient communication between wagons and locomotives using mesh technology.
• Resilient Design: Works even if some wagons are unequipped or offline; auto-configures in real time.
• Focus on Data: Main value lies in diagnostics, monitoring, and operational insights—not mechanical coupling.
• Proven Deployment: Solutions are already live in Africa, Israel, Europe, and the U.S.
• Cybersecurity Risk: Hacking wagon sensors could disrupt operations—cyber protection is essential and still underestimated.
• Sustainability Impact: Digital tools help shift freight from road to rail and reduce emissions.
• Innovation Bottlenecks: Regulation, limited budgets, and conservative mindsets slow progress—even in Europe.
• AI & Edge Computing: Central to predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and smart diagnostics.
• 2050 Vision: A green, autonomous, fully connected rail system, integrated into the wider mobility network.

Sebastian Sperker

www.railup.club

sebastian@railup.club

About Erez Abittan

Erez leads Palantir Technologies’ commercial transportation sector. He collaborates closely with Palantir’s clients across industries to transform business through the strategic use of data and AI in transportation operations. He holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the École Supérieure d’Électricité in France. Erez is based in New York City.

About Palantir

Palantir is a leading AI software company specializing in data integration technology that empowers organizations across the military, Fortune 500 companies, transportation, energy, and healthcare sectors to seamlessly embed artificial intelligence into their operations.

www.palantir.com

Key Takeaways

• Palantir helps organizations make data-driven decisions by integrating and refining scattered, siloed data.
• Originally developed for defense, Palantir now supports many industries, including rail, with similar data challenges.
• The company’s platforms, Foundry and AIP, power operations in rail through advanced analytics and AI tools.
• Human-machine collaboration is central: AI supports, but doesn’t replace, human decision-making.
• In rail, the real value of AI lies in optimizing asset usage and improving operational efficiency—not just saving time.
• Real-world examples include dynamic scheduling for track maintenance and smart wheel change planning.
• Palantir enables cross-company collaboration with tools like Foundry Peering, which allows selective data sharing between partners.
• Innovation culture differs: the U.S. is faster and more experimental (“fail fast”), while Europe tends to be more cautious.
• Palantir’s culture emphasizes mission-driven thinking, autonomy, and flat hierarchies—people are expected to think deeply and act independently.
• Hiring focuses on how candidates think, not just what they've done, leading to a highly capable and adaptable workforce.

Sebastian Sperker

sebastian@railup.club

www.railup.club

About Mario Mikuschek

Mario is a Senior Manager at Accenture with over ten years of experience in strategy, consulting, and digital transformation. He has led numerous international projects in areas such as IoT, supply chain, data & analytics, and asset management. As co-founder and co-lead of Accenture’s Railway Center of Excellence, he plays a key role in shaping the future of rail through digital innovation. His background also includes managing aerospace projects and providing strategic guidance across the transport industry.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company with around 801,000 employees in over 120 countries. The company helps businesses, governments, and organizations build their digital core, optimize operations, and drive sustainable growth. With strong expertise in cloud, data, and AI, and deep industry and consulting experience, Accenture delivers services across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X, and Song. Its mission is to create 360° value for clients, partners, employees, and society at large.

www.accenture.com

About Accenture Railway Center of Excellence

Launched in 2023, Accenture’s Railway Center of Excellence (CoE) combines deep rail expertise with advanced digital capabilities. With over 150 experts supporting more than 20 clients across 20+ countries, the CoE focuses on making rail transport in Europe future-ready. Key focus areas include digital customer interfaces, automated rail operations, resource and planning optimization, and connectivity and standards (e.g., FRMCS, ETCS). The CoE’s mission is to shape a sustainable, efficient, and connected future of mobility.

My Key Takeaways

• Slow ETCS Rollout in Europe – High retrofit costs and lack of coordination hinder progress.
• Diesel Dilemma – Retrofitting diesel engines for ETCS is crucial but often neglected.
• Fragmented Implementation – Different ETCS rollout speeds across countries block cross-border rail operations.
• Middle East as a Role Model – Saudi Arabia leads with ETCS Level 2, thanks to a greenfield approach.
• GCC Railway – Aims to connect Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman via a 2,177 km rail network.
• Saudi Mega Projects – Saudi Arabia is also advancing major projects like NEOM, where rail mobility plays a key role.
• ATO Emerging – Automation is growing, with successful pilots such as Hamburg’s digital S-Bahn.
• Shifting Roles – Automation is reshaping responsibilities between infrastructure managers and railway undertakings. These new roles will significantly impact the entire ecosystem.
• Use Existing Tech – Technologies like cloud, AI, and analytics should be applied effectively, not reinvented.
• Future Vision – Mario calls for faster digital rollout, a shift to green mobility, and the creation of a unified European rail system.

Sebastian Sperker

sebastian@railup.club

www.railup.club