OREANDA-NEWS.  Thales and Alstom were awarded a contract worth €330 million by MTR Corporation, the operator of Hong Kong’s metro network, to resignal and upgrade the signalling systems of seven metro lines. A maintenance option is also included in the contract. This extensive project will equip seven MTR lines with the latest Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) technology, safely adding capacity, reliability and maintainability on the existing infrastructure system.

Thales and Alstom will be responsible for the replacement of the existing signalling system including Automatic Train Supervision (ATS), interlocking, and Automatic Train Control (ATC) in the control centre, trains and stations. Thales will provide the advanced SelTrac® CBTC system. The project implementation will be carried out by a dedicated Alstom Thales joint project team. Thales, the consortium leader, has the technical leadership and Alstom will ensure the overall project management, as well as the supply of the remote trackside equipment controllers to deliver seamless interface with the existing field elements. 

CBTC is the latest generation of technology for metro and suburban rail networks. It gives operators precise control in the movement of their trains, allowing them to run on the line at higher frequencies and speeds in total safety - with or without drivers. CBTC can largely improve capacity, efficiency, reliability, safety of metro lines and reduce operating costs for operators.

“Being awarded with a project of such magnitude showcases our customers’ trust in Alstom advanced technologies and solutions. With their combined technical strengths, rich experiences and dedicated commitments, Thales and Alstom are fully confident to provide MTR with the most secure, efficient and reliable signalling and infrastructure systems”, said Pascal Cl?r?, Senior Vice President, Transport Information Solutions, Alstom Transport.

 “Hong Kong metro is one of the major reference worldwide and a long term customer for Thales. We are very proud with winning with Alstom the largest resignalling contract ever awarded. Joining our combined experience and expertise, Thales and Alstom will contribute to enhance a mass transit system that is vital to Hong Kong success”, said Jean-Pierre Forestier, Thales Executive Vice-President, Transportation Systems.

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 93,000 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of over €20 billion and booked €21.5 billion in orders in 2013/14.

About Alstom in Hong Kong

Alstom has been present in Hong Kong for 40 years and is a long-term dedicated partner of the city’s rail transport development. Since its first metro contract awarded in Hong Kong in 1975, Alstom has supplied the city with over 1,100 mass transit rail cars, provided infrastructure systems to 2 metro lines and signalling systems to 7 metro lines, such as the West Island Line (WIL), Kwun Tung Line (KTL) and South Island Line - East (SIL(E)). Alstom was also contracted to refurbish about 350 metro cars for Hong Kong’s Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC).

Thales is a global technology leader in the Aerospace, Transportation, Defence & Security markets. In 2013, the company generated revenues of €14.2 billion with 65,000 employees in 56 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers and local partners.

About Thales in Hong Kong

With more than 15 years' development in Hong Kong, Thales employs about 300 people, which includes 70% of local engineers. Thales provides state-of-the-art solutions for Hong Kong’s infrastructures in ground transportation, civil aviation, security and communications.

In the ground transportation domain, Thales is recognized as world-class system integrator serving the Hong Kong operator MTR. Thales has delivered seven signalling projects for MTR including SCL line’s (Shatin to Central Link) won in 2013, MOL (Ma On Shan Line), WRL (the West Rail Line).