The rail system is a complex system of systems that is entering the era of total automation thanks to wireless sensors and advanced communication, localization and perception systems that transfer the control functions of the human driver to computers. Information must be shared between the various stakeholders in the system: Infrastructure manager, train manager, maintenance manager, timetable manager, customer manager, etc. Consequently, wireless communications are widely deployed for train operation and will carry mission critical information. The question of safety demonstration and then dependability analysis of a wireless link is an open topic. In general, a so called “safety layer” is designed to cope with the wireless communications impairments. In particular the Euroradio philosophy will be recalled as an example of safety layer for train-to-ground communication. This protocol is not suitable for decentralized communications such as train-to-train or device-to device communications and new systems should be developed. The presentation will give an overview of the current deployment of wireless communication systems in the rail domain (train-ground, intra-train, inter-train) for train operation and the on-going developments at European level. Challenges to be solved will be highlighted and possible methodologies for dependability analysis will be presented.