Advancements and applications of digital twin in the railway industry: a literature review

The railway is the most used mode of transportation in the world, so digital transformations are needed to automate the operations in the railway sector. Digital twin (DT) technology has emerged as a key focus in the railway sector to accomplish this objective. The adoption of DT technology has become a transformative force within the railway industry, offering innovative solutions for enhancing operational efficiency, safety, and predictive maintenance. This paper comprehensively reviews existing literature, systematically examining the latest advancements in DT technology within the railway sector. It provides an overview of the evolution of the digital twin concept and outlines the implementation steps along with the current applications of DT in various aspects of railway subdomains. Furthermore, it examines unresolved issues, and opportunities associated with implementing DT in the railway sector. The findings demonstrate the growing relevance of DT technology in addressing the complexities of modern railway systems.