RegOps for Railway Traffic Management Systems Development: A Multivocal Literature Review
Ochoa, Javier (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025061122542
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025061122542
Tiivistelmä
Railway Traffic Management Systems (TMS) are critical software platforms responsible for the safe and efficient operation of railway networks. Due to their safety-critical nature, their development must comply with rigorous standards such as EN 50716 (formerly EN 50128) and ISO 22163. Traditionally, these systems have relied on sequential development models like Waterfall, which limit adaptability and require extensive documentation. Conversely, Agile methods promote short development cycles and rapid feedback but remain difficult to apply in regulated environments due to the need for traceability, safety validation, and formal approvals.
Regulatory Operations (RegOps) offers a solution by integrating compliance into development workflows through automation techniques such as Policy-as-Code, continuous monitoring, and in-pipeline checks. While RegOps is increasingly used in sectors like healthcare and finance, its adoption in the railway domain remains limited.
This thesis applies a multivocal literature review (MLR) methodology, combining academic research and industry sources, to explore the potential of RegOps for railway TMS development. The study addresses two research questions: (1) What methods and best practices currently exist for applying RegOps in this context? (2) What are the key challenges and benefits of integrating RegOps with Agile methodologies?
The findings show that RegOps can enhance efficiency, reduce manual compliance tasks, and improve collaboration. However, adoption is hindered by organizational resistance, limited tool scalability, and a lack of shared implementation standards. A gap is also evident between theoretical approaches and practical applications.
To bridge this gap, the thesis introduces a conceptual RegOps framework, adapted from the Solita model and tailored to railway-specific needs. The framework aligns iterative development with regulatory checkpoints, supported by automation and defined team roles.
In conclusion, RegOps presents a viable pathway to enable Agile practices in regulated environ-ments like railway TMS. Continued research, pilot projects, and coordinated efforts between industry and regulators will be essential for broader adoption.
Regulatory Operations (RegOps) offers a solution by integrating compliance into development workflows through automation techniques such as Policy-as-Code, continuous monitoring, and in-pipeline checks. While RegOps is increasingly used in sectors like healthcare and finance, its adoption in the railway domain remains limited.
This thesis applies a multivocal literature review (MLR) methodology, combining academic research and industry sources, to explore the potential of RegOps for railway TMS development. The study addresses two research questions: (1) What methods and best practices currently exist for applying RegOps in this context? (2) What are the key challenges and benefits of integrating RegOps with Agile methodologies?
The findings show that RegOps can enhance efficiency, reduce manual compliance tasks, and improve collaboration. However, adoption is hindered by organizational resistance, limited tool scalability, and a lack of shared implementation standards. A gap is also evident between theoretical approaches and practical applications.
To bridge this gap, the thesis introduces a conceptual RegOps framework, adapted from the Solita model and tailored to railway-specific needs. The framework aligns iterative development with regulatory checkpoints, supported by automation and defined team roles.
In conclusion, RegOps presents a viable pathway to enable Agile practices in regulated environ-ments like railway TMS. Continued research, pilot projects, and coordinated efforts between industry and regulators will be essential for broader adoption.