AKN Tenders UHF RFID Train Identification for Seven Hamburg S-Bahn Stations
28 RFID readers are intended to automatically identify trains and provide their vehicle identification numbers to the rail infrastructure. The request for proposals also includes the expansion of video-based train dispatch on the future S5 line between Hamburg and Kaltenkirchen.
AKN Eisenbahn GmbH has published a public request for proposals for the technical equipment of seven stations along the future S5 S-Bahn line. The project calls for 28 UHF RFID readers for the automatic identification of rail vehicles, as well as additional cameras, network components, and technology for train dispatch. The deadline for submitting bids is November 2, 2026.
The contract is part of the technical preparations for S-Bahn operations between Hamburg and Kaltenkirchen. RFID technology enables incoming trains to be detected contactlessly and their identifiers to be transmitted to connected systems.
Automatic Train Identification with UHF RFID
For vehicle identification, the AKN specifies UHF RFID in accordance with ISO/IEC 18000-63 (EPC Gen2). Stationary readers capture the identifier of an RFID transponder on the rail vehicle as soon as it enters their detection range. A direct line of sight between the reader and the transponder is not required for this.
The AKN plans to install four RFID readers at each of seven stations. Detection is thus concentrated in the station areas where trains stop and are processed.
The automatically captured vehicle identifiers can be used to identify a train and to assign operational information. The selection of vehicle-specific system functions is another possible use case.
Industrial RFID Technology for Rail Operations
The specifications call for compact UHF RFID readers with an integrated antenna and a theoretical read range of at least four meters. AKN cites the FEIG ID MRU400iX or an equivalent device as a reference product.
The hardware must be suitable for continuous outdoor use. Requirements include IP65 and IP67 protection ratings, an operating temperature range from −40 °C to over +60 °C, and power supply via Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+).
The RFID readers will be installed on masts made of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) and integrated into the existing network infrastructure via Ethernet. For the encrypted transmission of vehicle identifiers, they must support a communication interface from Funkwerk. The German company develops communication, information, and security systems for rail transport.
Additional requirements pertain to electromagnetic compatibility, network integration, and cybersecurity.
Video-Based Train Dispatch with SAT
In addition to RFID vehicle identification, the request for proposals includes the expansion of a system for self-dispatch by the train operator (SAT).
In this process, the driver monitors passenger boarding and alighting and handles the train’s check-in process themselves. Platform cameras also capture doors and areas that are not directly visible from the driver’s cab. Depending on the SAT system, the camera images are displayed on monitors in the driver’s cab or on the platform.
AKN is putting out a request for proposals for additional camera locations, a video management system, and the necessary network and power supply technology.
RFID vehicle identification could play an important role here: It enables the automatic detection of an incoming train and the transmission of its identifier to the technical infrastructure. This information can generally be used to assign the appropriate camera images or other system functions to a vehicle.
Whether AKN will actually use the RFID identifiers for the automatic selection of SAT camera images or for other operational applications is not explicitly described in the procurement documents evaluated so far.
Technical Equipment for the Future S5
The request for proposals is part of the comprehensive S5 infrastructure project, which aims to upgrade the approximately 30-kilometer-long rail line between Hamburg-Eidelstedt and Kaltenkirchen for electric S-Bahn operation. In addition to overhead lines, platform modifications, and track and signal box work, the overall project also includes the modernization of the technical station infrastructure.
This includes the installation and integration of RFID, video, and communications technology, which is now being put out to bid. The new systems are intended to enable automatic vehicle identification and video-assisted train dispatch at the stations.
According to current plans, the extended S5 line is scheduled to begin operations in December 2028.
Public RFP due by November 2, 2026
The contract covers the delivery, installation, integration, and commissioning of RFID, video, and communications technology. The planned execution period runs from February 1, 2027, to April 30, 2028. The services will be awarded as a single package; a separate RFID lot is not planned.
The deadline for submitting bids is November 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The tender bears the award number E-26-7000044436 and the EU publication number 660942-2026.
The tender demonstrates how UHF RFID is used in modern rail infrastructure: Automatic vehicle identification provides real-time information about which train is at a station. Through integration into existing communication and operating systems, this data can be used for vehicle-related processes—from assigning technical information to potentially supporting video-based train dispatch.
The call for bids is published in the official EU notice TED 660942-2026. The procurement documents and electronic bid submission are available via the ELViS subreport procurement platform.