A Life-Cycle Approach to Safety in Maglev Derived Railway Technologies

The developments in European railway systems nowadays require a careful analysis of how safety, technological innovation, and interoperability can coexist. In this context, Maglev Derived Systems (MDS) represent a frontier of research that combines the principle of magnetic levitation and linear motor propulsion with traditional railway infrastructure, generating hybrid solutions with high performance potential accompanied by increasing technical complexity. The aim of this study is to propose a renewed approach to risk analysis and management for MDS, capable of overcoming the limitations arising for innovative solutions constraining consolidated models in the railway sector. The work adopts a flexible methodological approach, integrating European standards with dynamic analytical tools and a systemic lifecycle perspective for the applied emerging technologies.