What Rail Power Systems does

Rail Power Systems GmbH (RPS) is a Munich-based general contractor specializing in railway electrification and traction power supply systems for rail infrastructure worldwide. Founded in November 2015 as the successor to Balfour Beatty Rail GmbH's electrification business unit — and tracing its engineering lineage through AEG (1889), Brown Boveri, Adtranz, and Balfour Beatty — the company inherited 135+ years of accumulated catenary and traction power expertise. It has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tianjin Keyvia Electric Co., Ltd. (listed on Shenzhen and Shanghai stock exchanges) since August 2016, with a pre-existing joint venture (TJBB, 2009) supporting DC switchgear business in China.

The company's core offering is the proprietary TracFeed® product family, which spans three contact-line architectures (ALU3000 for high-speed lines exceeding 330 km/h, ALU2000 for speeds up to 230 km/h, and OSS overhead conductor rail for space-constrained applications), AC and DC traction power substations (TAA 15 kV air-insulated and TAS Rx 25 kV solid-insulated switchgear, TRx diode rectifiers, TDx DC panels), protection and control technology (DCP3, VLD2, RCM, OLSP), supporting components (STR section insulators, ISO composite insulators, NSV tensioning devices, MTS mast disconnectors, SFA remote motor drives), and emerging products such as the TracFeed BCS BEMU charging station and the ALU2000+ multi-system pantograph system. Validated simulation software (CATMOS, OSSCAT) supports design and commissioning. RPS operates 11 locations across Germany including manufacturing sites in Mannheim and Munich-Neuaubing, an in-house training center in Staßfurt, and a construction-yard/logistics footprint.

RPS generates revenue through a mix of professional services (general-contractor project execution including planning, installation, commissioning, and lifecycle maintenance with a 24/7 hotline), hardware sales of the TracFeed® portfolio, and engineering/design services. Distribution is predominantly direct enterprise sales via dedicated teams for contact lines, traction power supply, and electrotechnical equipment, supplemented by local channel partners in export markets. The customer base is concentrated in national railway operators and public-transport companies (Deutsche Bahn subsidiaries, TCDD, Chinese Ministry of Railways, Hessische Landesbahn, Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe), with certified deployments in 12+ countries across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Name

Rail Power Systems

Legal name

Rail Power Systems GmbH

Website

https://rail-ps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Rail Power Systems GmbH is a Munich-based general contractor that designs, manufactures, and installs proprietary TracFeed® railway electrification and traction power supply systems for national rail operators and public-transport companies across Europe, Asia, and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railway Electrification Infrastructure

NAICS

Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882), Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Rail Electrification & Traction Power Infrastructure (OHL/Third Rail, Substations) (TLAJADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rail SCADA & Power/Electrification Control (Traction Power, Substations, OCS) (TLAJAEAF), Rail Electrification Systems Construction (OCS/OHL, Third Rail) (IMAFAFAB), Protection, Control & SCADA/Automation Installation (Relay Panels, RTUs) (IMAFAHAF), Rail Signaling & Train Control Infrastructure (Interlockings, ETCS/CBTC Wayside) (TLAJADAB), Low-Voltage Switchboards & Panelboards (LV distribution panels, MCCs, switchboards) (IMAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Railway electrification systems
• Contact line systems
• Traction power supply
• Catenary infrastructure
• Rail electrification contractor

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Railway Infrastructure Projects: General contractor services for railway electrification including planning, implementation, commissioning and maintenance of contact lines and traction power supply systems for domestic and international infrastructure projects
2. Systems and Products: Sale of proprietary TracFeed® product family including contact line systems (ALU3000, ALU2000, OSS), traction power supply components, and electrotechnical equipment
3. System Design and Engineering Services: Consulting and engineering services including system design, simulations, RAMS engineering, EMC analysis, grounding measurements and training
4. Maintenance and Service: Ongoing maintenance services including inspection, repair, and 24/7 hotline support for railway energy systems

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rail Power Systems is a general contractor that plans, designs, manufactures, installs, commissions and maintains railway electrification and power supply systems. Its core commercial offering centers on the proprietary TracFeed® product family — including high-speed contact line systems (ALU3000, ALU2000), overhead conductor rails (OSS), AC and DC traction power supply substations, protection/control technology, and simulation software — delivered together with engineering services, installation and 24/7 maintenance.

Product overview

Rail Power Systems is an engineering-driven technology company and general contractor for railway infrastructure, offering a comprehensive portfolio of contact line systems, traction power supply equipment, and electrotechnical systems. The core product family is the TracFeed series, which includes contact line systems (ALU3000 for high-speed rail exceeding 330 km/h, ALU2000 for speeds up to 230 km/h, and OSS overhead conductor rails for space-constrained environments), traction power supply systems (AC substations with TAA and TAS Rx switchgear, DC substations with TRx rectifiers and TDx switchgear panels), and protection/control technology (DCP3 multifunctional devices, VLD2 voltage limiters, RCM monitoring systems). The portfolio also includes supporting components such as section insulators (STR), composite insulators (ISO), tensioning devices (NSV), mast disconnectors (MTS), remote motor drives (SFA), and push-pull cables (DZK). Additionally, BEMU charging stations support battery electric rail vehicles. Services include system design, simulation (CATMOS and OSSCAT software), installation, commissioning, and maintenance across the entire product lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TracFeed: Product brand for contact line systems, traction power supply products, and components including ALU3000, ALU2000, OSS, and various sub-components
• TracFeed CATMOS
• TracFeed OSSCAT

Products and services

• TracFeed® ALU3000 Contact Line System Proprietary high-speed catenary (overhead contact line) system engineered for mainline railways operating at speeds above 330 km/h. Sold as a complete system to national railway operators and infrastructure project developers for high-speed line electrification projects.
• TracFeed® ALU2000 Contact Line System Catenary system for freight and passenger transport at speeds up to 230 km/h, with standardized aluminum components designed for maximum mast spacing and uninterrupted current collection. Sold to railway operators and infrastructure project developers for mainline and regional electrification.
• TracFeed® ALU2000+ Contact Line System New variant of the ALU2000 catenary engineered for multi-system current collector operation, allowing trains to operate across different electrification systems without switching. Targeted at cross-border and mixed-fleet mainline railway operators.
• TracFeed® OSS Overhead Conductor Rail System Overhead conductor rail (rigid bar) system for speeds up to 250 km/h with significantly lower construction height than conventional catenary, used where space is constrained such as in tunnels and on bridges. Certified for EU, Switzerland and UK markets; targeted at railway operators, public transport authorities and tunnel/depot project developers.
• TracFeed® AC Traction Power Supply Systems Complete AC traction power supply packages including air-insulated 15 kV / 16.7 Hz switchgear (TracFeed TAA) and solid-insulated 25 kV / 50–60 Hz switchgear (TracFeed TAS Rx), plus substations, switching stations, converters and protection/control systems for 16.7 Hz, 50 Hz and 60 Hz railway networks. Delivered to railway operators and grid operators for mainline electrification.
• TracFeed® DC Traction Power Supply Systems Complete DC traction power supply packages including diode rectifiers (TracFeed TRx, six- or twelve-pulse), 750 V DC switchgear panels (TracFeed TDx), the DCP3 multifunctional protection/control device, and the VLD2 voltage limiting device. Sold to public transport authorities, metro operators and urban tram networks.
• TracFeed® BEMU Charging Station (BCS) Charging station for accumulator-powered (battery-electric) traction units such as BEMUs, allowing transit-grade trains to recharge at terminal stations and depots. Sold to public transport authorities and mainline operators transitioning to battery traction.
• TracFeed® DZK Push-Pull Cable Push-pull cable component for railway catenary switching linkages, offering a flexible, low-maintenance alternative to conventional rigid linkages and validated for over 50,000 switching cycles. Sold to railway operators and infrastructure contractors building or refurbishing contact line systems.
• TracFeed® Protection, Control and Monitoring Systems Secondary technology systems for railway protection, control and management, including the TracFeed OLSP overhead line voltage testing device, TracFeed RCM return cable monitoring system, and related SCM monitoring equipment. Sold as part of traction power supply packages and as standalone upgrades to operators.
• TracFeed® CATMOS and OSSCAT Simulation Software CATMOS is a validated simulation program for dynamic interaction between overhead catenary and pantograph, and OSSCAT provides static and dynamic simulation for overhead conductor rail / pantograph interaction. Used internally for system design and offered as engineering services to railway operators and consulting engineers.
• Railway Electrification System Design and Engineering Services System design, simulations, RAMS engineering, EMC analysis, grounding measurements, training and consulting for railway electrification projects from planning through commissioning. Sold to national railway operators, public transport authorities and infrastructure project developers on a project basis.
• Railway Electrification Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance Services General contractor services for railway electrification including planning, integration, implementation, commissioning, inspection, repair and 24/7 hotline maintenance of contact lines and traction power supply systems for domestic and international infrastructure projects. Sold to railway operators and infrastructure project owners as part of long-term framework agreements or one-off projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• TracFeed® ALU3000 operates at speeds exceeding 330 km/h on high-speed lines in multiple countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tianjin Keyvia Electric Co., Ltd (Keyvia) - Joint Venture TJBBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Joint venture established in 2009 between RPS and Keyvia for switchgear systems for DC railways for the Chinese market. The JV has been operating successfully for joint project execution in China.
• VDB (Verband der Bahnindustrie in Deutschland e.V.)minorOthersIndustry association uniting railway industry expertise and serving as a knowledgeable political dialogue partner.
• Rail.S e.V.minorOthersIndustry association with over 100 members from industry and science, serving as a significant exchange and networking platform for the railway industry.
• VDV (Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen)minorOthersAssociation of German transport companies encompassing around 700 companies in public passenger transport and rail freight transport.
• BVMB (Bundesvereinigung mittelständischer Bauunternehmen)minorOthersFederal association advocating for sufficient infrastructure investments and fair competitive conditions.
• DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.)minorOthersGerman Institute for Standardization creating trust through reliable standards and specifications. RPS experts actively contribute to various committees.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Mobility: Global rail infrastructure incumbent offering overhead contact lines, traction power supply, signalling, and rolling stock as part of an integrated portfolio. Directly competes with RPS on catenary and substation tenders, particularly for DB and high-speed projects in Europe and Asia.
• Alstom: Integrated rail solutions provider offering electrification (catenary, substations), signalling, services, and rolling stock. Competes with RPS for full turnkey electrification packages and on DC traction power supply for metros and trams.
• Balfour Beatty Rail: Predecessor owner of RPS's electrification business unit (divested 2015) and still active in rail installation and civils in the UK and US. While not a direct electrification competitor today, it shares institutional heritage and competes for DB and Network Rail project scopes.
• ABB: Major electrical equipment supplier with a legacy rail-electrification portfolio (now substantially within Hitachi Energy). Competes with RPS on substations, rectifiers (analogous to TracFeed TRx), and power electronics for both rail and adjacent transmission applications.

Direct peers

• Schaltbau: European specialist in DC switching technology, contactors, and rail safety/electrical components. Competes with RPS's TracFeed TDx DC switchgear panels and component portfolio for DC railways and tram networks.
• Furrer+Frey: Swiss specialist in overhead contact line systems for mainline railways, including the rigid overhead conductor rail used in tunnels (a direct competitor to RPS's TracFeed OSS). Operates in the same niche as RPS and supplies many of the same European national operators.
• Hitachi Energy (formerly Hitachi ABB Power Grids): Manufactures traction power substations, switchgear, transformers, and protection/control systems for railway electrification globally. Directly competes with RPS's TracFeed TAA/TAS Rx switchgear and TracFeed DCP3 protection devices across AC and DC rail networks.
• Vossloh: German rail infrastructure group active in rail fastening systems, switches, and rail services. While its core focus differs, Vossloh competes with RPS on integrated rail infrastructure contracts in DACH and increasingly on lifecycle services to DB and other operators.

Emerging players

• Knorr-Bremse: Global rail systems supplier expanding beyond braking into HVAC, doors, and increasingly rail electrical infrastructure. While primary focus is on-board systems, Knorr-Bremse is increasingly adjacent to RPS's portfolio through entry points in depots and station-side electrification.

Regional players

• Plasser & Theurer: Austrian-based global leader in track maintenance machinery and rail infrastructure services. While focused on track rather than overhead lines, Plasser & Theurer is a frequent JV or consortium partner/competitor on large rail-infrastructure contracts in DACH where RPS also bids.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• Xx.com/rail_ps

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rail Power Systems