Railway OT cybersecurity with a focus on AI tools for assurance

Speaker: Dan Basher
Dan will present on railway OT cybersecurity, with a particular focus on the application of AI tools to assurance activities.

Biography
Dan Basher is the Chief Technology Officer of Digital Transit Limited. He leads the development of AI-powered compliance and assurance tools, including CyRail and CLAIM, supporting railway RAMS and OT cybersecurity assurance. Working with a multidisciplinary team specialising in safety-critical software and operational technology cybersecurity, Dan has delivered professional training on railway OT cybersecurity standards for the past three years. His work focuses on the practical application of artificial intelligence to compliance challenges in Critical National Infrastructure.

Part 1
Dan will outline the forthcoming railway OT cybersecurity standard IEC 63452, providing an overview of its intent, scope, and application. This will be illustrated through its application to a simplified Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.

Part 2
Can large language models genuinely support RAMS and OT cybersecurity assurance, or do they introduce new risks in safety-critical contexts? This part of the session examines why general-purpose, off-the-shelf AI tools are not suitable for regulated assurance activities, and introduces a purpose-built alternative designed specifically for railway compliance.

The session will explore the practical challenges of applying AI to standards such as EN 50126 and the emerging IEC 63452, explain the technical principles behind developing compliant AI tooling, and clarify what “AI assurance” means in practice. A live demonstration of the CLAIM AI Assurance tool will be included, with an opportunity for attendees to interact with the tool and provide feedback on its real-world applicability.

Whether sceptical about the role of AI in safety-critical engineering or interested in its potential, this session offers a candid and technically grounded discussion of what works, what does not, and where the technology is realistically heading.

Meeting format

This will be an online only presentation only via Microsoft Teams.

There is no requirement to have a Teams account or software installed on your device. Simply join as a guest via your web browser if you do not have a Teams account.

Joining instructions containing the Teams link and pass code will be emailed directly to those who have registered to attend via EventBrite (@ 2 days, 2 hours,10 mins & 0 mins before start - If you have registered and not received the email, please check your Spam/Junk folder for messages from noreply@event.eventbrite.com). Please contact irsemnw@gmail.com for assistance if needed.