OREANDA-NEWS. In its first transportation project in Vietnam, Thales has signed a contract to provide a complete telecommunications system for Line 3 of the Hanoi metro, the first of five lines planned for the Vietnamese capital. A French consortium including Alstom (leader), Colas Rail and Thales signed the contract, valued at 265 million euros, with Hanoi's Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) on 17 January 2017. 

Key Points

  • Thales wins its first transportation contract in Vietnam.
  • Thales will supply a complete telecommunications system for Line 3 of the Hanoi metro.
  • The 12.5 km line will play a crucial role in relieving congestion in the city and is due to enter service at the end of 2021.
Hanoi currently has 7.5 million inhabitants and its population is expected to grow to 8 million by 2020. With continuing urbanisation and a dramatic increase in road traffic (cars and motorcycle taxis), the city's metro project plays a crucial role in relieving congestion and improving road safety and public health. Under the urban transport master plan adopted by the city several years ago, five metro lines are due to be built by 2030.

Line 3 will run from the West of the city to the South. The 12.5 km line (8.5 km elevated and 4 km underground) will comprise 12 stations and is scheduled to enter service at the end of 2021.
Under the contract, consortium leader Alstom will supply rolling stock, signalling systems, power systems and depot infrastructure in partnership with Colas Rail.

Thales will provide all the train to track communication systems, as well as a line command & control centre for traffic management, energy distribution, video surveillance, passenger information and telephone services.