Obsolescence management: secure your fleets, optimize your costs

In the railway sector, rolling stock is designed to remain in service for 30 to 40 years. However, the electronic components installed within it have a much shorter lifespan, typically ranging from 5 to 10 years. This discrepancy in lifecycles makes obsolescence management a major challenge for operators and maintenance providers.

From parts availability and regulatory compliance to cost control: without proactive planning, obsolescence can quickly become a significant industrial risk.

Obsolescence: a multifaceted phenomenon‍

There are several types of obsolescence that impact the maintenance and longevity of rolling stock.

Technological obsolescence

This concerns electronic components and equipment: ‍

• Embedded systems (computers, PLCs),
• Signaling and command control,
• Passenger services (Wi-Fi, charging ports, information screens, etc.)

These technologies evolve rapidly, making certain equipment difficult to repair or source after only a few years. Indeed, when manufacturers end production of specific parts or discontinue entire product lines, those parts gradually become impossible to find. Repairing equipment or manufacturing an identical replacement can then prove impossible.

Beyond component obsolescence, one must also consider shifts in the technological ecosystem. The discontinuation of external services or infrastructure essential to a system's operation can render equipment obsolete, even if it remains perfectly maintainable. For example, the gradual phase-out of 2G and 3G mobile networks renders equipment that still relies on these technologies obsolete.

Regulatory obsolescence‍

Regulatory requirements are constantly evolving, both at the national and European levels:

• Interoperability (TSI, ERTMS standards)
• Cybersecurity
• Accessibility

These changes necessitate technical adaptations to maintain equipment compliance.

Ecological obsolescence

In the railway sector, environmental issues are becoming increasingly important. Certain components or technologies are gradually becoming incompatible with new environmental regulations, particularly due to:

• The use of substances that are now restricted or prohibited (REACH)
• The carbon footprint of manufacturing processes
• Recyclability requirements

Why plan ahead?

Electronic obsolescence is currently one of the main challenges for railway operators. However, it should not be viewed solely as a constraint; by identifying at-risk components early enough, it becomes possible to optimize decision-making, plan necessary actions, and avoid critical situations that could impact operations.

Proactive obsolescence management is a genuine opportunity to:

• Modernize fleets by integrating higher-performance technologies
• Reduce maintenance costs (avoiding emergency purchases at high prices)
• Improve equipment availability
• Anticipate technological transitions (e.g., migration to FRMCS)

Anticipate operational, industrial, and regulatory impacts:

• Secure equipment availability: avoid longer downtime, limit the increase in the rate of non-immediately repairable failures, and reduce dependence on critical, non-renewable stocks
• Control maintenance and operating costs
• Limit legal and operational risks
• Optimize investments by planning replacements
• Ensure long-term equipment repairability

The goal is not simply to react when a component encounters issues or disappears, but to anticipate market developments in order to make the right decisions at the right time.

MASTERIS support: our expertise at your service

To support you, MASTERIS offers a dedicated service package for managing electronic obsolescence in rolling stock, based on:

• 10 industrial technical centers specializing in the repair of electronic parts (circuit boards, batteries, electric or diesel motors) 
• Cutting-edge engineering backed by the expertise of 2,200 engineers

Our solutions:

Fleet audits:

Identify sensitive equipment, inventory components, and map obsolescence risks to prioritize actions.

Unbiased monitoring

Maintain continuous oversight of component lifecycles, manufacturer announcements, and market trends to turn reactive risks into a controlled roadmap.

Obsolescence resolution projects

Manage replacement projects from identification to implementation of actions for obsolete components, equipment, or systems, with the goal of preserving performance, safety, and operational continuity.

Parts supply / Group purchasing

Pool requirements across multiple stakeholders to secure supply chains and optimize costs for critical components.

Long-term strategic storage

Build secure stock levels to guarantee parts availability throughout the entire service life of rolling stock.

Regulatory monitoring

Anticipate legal and regulatory changes and their impacts to maintain equipment compliance and limit technical and financial risks (Discover our brochure dedicated to regulatory monitoring)

With its expertise in maintenance engineering and a comprehensive service offering, MASTERIS supports you in implementing anticipation strategies tailored to your technical, economic, and operational challenges.

📃 Discover our brochure dedicated to obsolescence management

📤 Contact our experts to assess your needs and build a custom roadmap

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