PTC Communications: Cybersecurity Technology Review and Concept of Operations

Researchers sought to determine how to improve the confidentiality of information passing through the Positive Train Control network without significantly affecting network performance. Phase 1 of the project reviewed requirements and assessed existing technologies. Phase 2 focused on implementation, migration, and deployment challenges. A recommendation to consider widely available algorithms covered by recognized open standards resulted in a project decision to focus on the National Institute of Standards and Technology Lightweight Encryption Algorithms and the ELLI algorithm covered by ISO/IEC 29192-4. Phase 3 identified technology gaps and areas for further research outside the scope of the project. Phase 4, the focus of this report, pulls together the work from Phases 1-3 to propose solutions to improve confidentiality, including a concept of operations for each solution.

• Record URL:
  • https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/ptc-communications-cybersecurity-technology-review-and-concept-operations
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/72865
• Corporate Authors:

  Meteorcomm LLC

  1201 SW 7th Street
  Renton, WA  United States  98057

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Railroad Policy and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research, Development, and Technology
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Collins, Andy
  • 0000-0002-4925-8120
  • Stettner, Armando
  • 0000-0002-7350-036X
  • Evans, Neil
  • 0000-0002-4088-4416
  • Brog, Steven
  • 0000-0001-9902-646X
  • Mayer, Peter
  • 0000-0002-4454-4363
• Publication Date: 2023-8-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report; Technical Report
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 57p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; Communications; Computer security; Positive train control
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01902452
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FRA/ORD-23/39, DCN 00004816-A
• Contract Numbers: 693JJ620C000034
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 17 2023 5:01PM