Case Study: A Partnership to Improve Rail Health

By Contributed Article | September 29, 2026

A South Florida railway operator wanted to update crossing signals along its system. With the help of a connector supplier, they found a solution that went even further, improving system reliability, longevity, functionality, and safety, while saving money.

Article Contributed By Barry Nelson, WAGO

Connected technologies are transforming the railroad industry. From electrification and high-speed rail to intelligent transportation networks that increase safety, freight and passenger visibility, and scheduling efficiency, the infrastructure and equipment that shape rail transport and travel are undergoing technology updates and improvements. Railway operators are evaluating rails, cars, signaling equipment, and intersections at which railways intersect with other vehicle modes to maintain good health of the railway system. One way to do so is by implementing new connectivity solutions.

In 2020, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) decided to upgrade the crossing signals on the SFRTA corridor. Transdev, a global company dedicated to improving public transportation systems, was asked to find and test products that could improve this equipment. During a year-long process, Transdev had specific criteria in mind for the products they wanted to utilize for these projects. Not only were they looking for easy integration with their current system, but also modern, reliable, safe, and affordable technology that would adhere to all requirements across the railway industry. Their main goal was to provide the best performance while reducing the overall cost of maintaining the system.

One of the many issues facing TransDev was the need to upgrade surge protection at the signal locations, as well as a rugged Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and other automation products that could handle the extreme Florida weather. TransDev conducted research, development, and testing with several companies and their products. It was during this time that a local vendor brought in WAGO’s Railway Industry Managers, DJ Neimic and Brian Ley, as well as Regional Sales Manager Gabriel Fernandez to demonstrate their solution to replace the existing system.

“We listened intently to their team to understand their goals on the project, which included the capability to remotely monitor and enunciate issues – before they became failures,” Neimic stated. “They wanted to move from ‘being reactionary’ to ‘being proactive’ in their maintenance philosophy.” This meant implementing a health monitoring system (HMS) at all crossings. WAGO also believed that they could provide a better overall connection than just traditional AAR post and ring lug method.

“Transdev decided to try using some WAGO products in their signal house located in the railyard in Hialeah, Florida. This is where they build and test replacement gate mechanisms,” explained Ley. “As soon as they understood all the WAGO advantages – from ease of installation, reduced footprint, improved reliability and cost savings, they decided to develop their first application on the mainline.”

In the end, TransDev decided that WAGO had the products and solutions that would be the best fit. However, it wasn’t just the results that impressed TransDev, it was WAGO’s technical knowledge and customer service that proved to be second-to-none. “They were amazed with our outstanding help and support as a company,” Fernandez commented. “Not only with my day-to-day level of support but also with our railroad team knowledge and engagement with their application and development process. Our upper management was also key as they visited TransDev multiple times during this process.”

December 2020 was the starting point for TransDev’s first project with WAGO: the gate mech junction box assembly. Fernandez took the lead getting what TransDev was looking for. “I helped TransDev create this project in our online configurator and this was a key factor in the success of this project,” he said. “I ordered samples based on the initial design and those samples were delivered to TransDev a few days later.” This project was a great improvement for their crossing application, but WAGO wanted to create even more of a “wow” factor. The second version of the junction box assembly was an even bigger success since it dove deeper into each component and its use. The HMS was also improved upon, continuing to develop its system of reading and detecting any failures at a given site. WAGO worked hand-in-hand with TransDev to ensure these systems were properly installed as well as allowing application engineers to come in and help program the PLCs and I/O System which included the touch panels for the HMS. The improvements proved to be a tremendous success. Thanks to all the hard work on both sides, TransDev was able to procure SFRTA’s approval to implement these signal improvement projects along the entire rail corridor. Multiple sources of capital and funding for these On-Site Signal Improvement (OSSI) projects were given based on the technology put together by TransDev and WAGO. Marlon Soto, TransDev’s Senior Manager of Signals/Project Manager says they will continue to utilize WAGO products in their applications. Soto stated, “We are so satisfied with WAGO and have started to expand our use of their products.” This expansion includes offering innovative ways to ensure that products are available to TransDev as needed.

As for the future of the HMS and ensuring the security of the railways in the future, Soto is hoping that their system will catch on across Florida and eventually across the United States. “We want to use the model we created together as the standard and expand the railroad industry in their use of surge protection and health monitoring systems,” he said.

Visit WAGO online to learn more about railway solutions.