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trains

Siemens supplies 67 Inspiro driverless trains for Riyadh’s metro

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The BACS consortium led by Bechtel, along with local construction companies Almabani and Consolidated Contractors Company, and in collaboration with Siemens Mobility, have successfully delivered Riyadh Metro’s 64-kilometer Blue Line (line 1) and Red Line (line 2), equipped with 67 Siemens Mobility Inspiro trains for fully automated, driverless operations.

This marks a significant achievement in the development of public transportation in the capital city, providing residents and visitors with a fast, safe, and eco-friendly mass transit system.

The passenger operations on the network´s Blue Line starts December 1st with Red Line officially commence passenger operations on December 15. [Read more…] about Siemens supplies 67 Inspiro driverless trains for Riyadh’s metro

Alstom celebrates launch of Riyadh Metro network, featuring its driverless Innovia trains

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Alstom, a global transportation engineering company, is celebrating the launch of the Riyadh Metro network, a key milestone of the ambitious plans outlined by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) to improve mobility and enhance quality of life in the capital city.

This 176km network, encompassing six lines, 85 state-of-the-art stations, and seven depots, “sets a new global standard for urban mobility”, says Alstom, which supplied 47 Innovia metro trains for the project.

The Riyadh Metro is poised to transform public transportation, easing congestion, and improving air quality. It directly supports the Kingdom’s goals for sustainable urban development and economic diversification.

Projected to serve a maximum capacity of 3.6 million daily passengers, the Riyadh Metro network will in its whole significantly reduce reliance on private vehicles, cutting internal fuel consumption by up to 1 million gallons annually and reducing greenhouse gas emission by up to 3105 tons of VOC, 217 tons of PM, 3990 tons of NOx, 12.5 Mn tons of CO2.

Andrew DeLeone, region President for Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia at Alstom, says: “The opening of the Riyadh Metro by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) marks a significant milestone in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

“By leveraging innovative technology and sustainable practices, we are reshaping urban mobility together with RCRC and empowering communities while fostering economic growth.

“Alstom is humbled to play a major role in this transformation, contributing to a brighter and more interconnected future for the Kingdom and beyond.”

The metro will operate in phases, with the Yellow line (Line 4), and the Purple line (Line 6) – commencing passenger operations on December 1st, followed by the Green line (Line 5) on December 15th and the Orange line (Line 3) on January 5th.

Alstom’s contribution includes 47 Innovia metro trains for the Orange line and 69 Metropolis metro trains for the Yellow, Green, and Purple lines custom-designed for Riyadh’s specific needs, offering superior performance and efficiency.

The metro utilises Alstom’s advanced Urbalis CBTC signalling system for safe and efficient operations. HESOP regenerative braking technology recovers braking energy, reducing operational costs and lowering power consumption.

The milestone marks Alstom’s 100th line launch into commercial service with a comprehensive turnkey scope, showcasing its global expertise.

This integrated system represents the largest single-phase, turnkey urban metro project ever undertaken in the rail industry, and Alstom’s most extensive turnkey urban project to date.

Mohamed Khalil, managing director of Middle East regional headquarters, says: “The Riyadh Metro is not just a transportation system; it is a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s forward-thinking vision and its commitment to sustainable growth.

“Alstom is immensely proud to have partnered in this groundbreaking journey, delivering a world-class metro that will reshape urban mobility and contribute to a brighter future for Riyadh.”

Alstom is also providing comprehensive maintenance services for the Orange, Yellow, Green and Purple lines.

This includes the maintenance of trains, fixed installations such as tracks and signalling systems, communication networks, passenger information systems, and power supply, ensuring long-term system reliability.

From the 2014 groundbreaking to today’s full network launch, Alstom is proud to have consistently delivered world-class expertise.

Alstom starts production of driverless trains for metro network in India

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Alstom, a French multinational train manufacturer, has started the production of its driverless Metropolis trainsets for the Chennai Metro Phase II from its manufacturing facility in Sricity.

This order aims to deliver 36 metro trainsets, each comprising of three cars, and capable of operating at a top speed of 80 kmph. These trains are designed to run on the 26 km corridor, a segment of Phase II linking Poonamallee Bypass to Light House via 28 stations (18 elevated and 10 underground).

The production was commenced at a commemorative ceremony led by leaders from Chennai Metro Rail, and Alstom India. [Read more…] about Alstom starts production of driverless trains for metro network in India

Alstom wins €156 million contract for driverless metro trains in Italy

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Alstom, a large transportation vehicles manufacturer, has won a €156 million contract from the Italian city of Turin to supply its latest generation of fully driverless metro trains.

Turin’s transportation infrastructure agency, Infra.To, actually placed the order. Infra.To is owned by the city of Turin and is one of Europe’s largest public companies.

The contract is for the supply of Alstom’s latest generation of fully driverless train-to-train CBTC system for line 1 of Turin Metro along with four new Metropolis trains. The contract includes an option for 12 more Metropolis trains. [Read more…] about Alstom wins €156 million contract for driverless metro trains in Italy

Automated transport ‘could propel development forward’, say World Bank analysts

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Automated transportation and mobility systems – such as autonomous cars, driverless trains, elevators, escalators and moving walkways – “could propel development forward” for the global economy, according to World Bank analysts.

Writing on the World Bank blog, Michael Lokshin, lead economist, Europe and Central Asia, and David Newsom, retired World Bank senior IT manager, say that although the vast majority of new transportation ideas do not succeed, innovation should nonetheless be encouraged.

“Despite impressive technological strides, attempts to automate transport operations are usually met with reactions that can range from mild skepticism to downright hostility,” say Lokshin and Newsom in their article. [Read more…] about Automated transport ‘could propel development forward’, say World Bank analysts

Alstom to test fully driverless trains in Germany

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Rolling stock manufacturer Alstom is to trial what could be described as “fully driverless trains” in Germany. 

The company has going ahead with a test project to implement Automatic Train Operation technology in the daily passenger operation of regional trains.

The project will begin in 2021 in partnership with the Regional Association of the greater area of Braunschweig, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin). [Read more…] about Alstom to test fully driverless trains in Germany

Automatic Passenger Counters for Improving Public Transport

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Fleet companies that operate cabs, buses, and coaches and companies that manage public trains and trams need to keep data on the number of passengers boarding and alighting for accountability. Earlier, manual counting was the only way to record such data.

But today, technology has really changed how things are done. These public transport vehicles are fitted with automatic passenger counting (APC) devices that will actually transmit the tally in real time to a remote location.

The availability of such technology is a big invention in the public transport sector that has brought numerous positive changes. Let us dive deeper into how the sector has changed through using APC devices. [Read more…] about Automatic Passenger Counters for Improving Public Transport

Alstom considers the implications of its first order for battery trains

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In February 2020, Alstom received an order for 11 battery powered regional trains for the Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen in Germany.

These are the first battery trains to be ordered from Alstom.

Offering both hydrogen and battery is an important milestone for the Alstom, as it expands its role in the emission-free mobility market. [Read more…] about Alstom considers the implications of its first order for battery trains

Alstom wins €350 million contract to supply driverless trains and digital signalling system

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Alstom is to supply driverless trains and digital signalling system for Sydney Metro extension to City and Southwest.

The Northwest Rapid Transit Consortium (NRT) reached the contractual close for the extension to the existing NRT Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract on Sydney Metro.

The contract, which was awarded in 2014, has been extended to deliver a seamless customer experience on the new metro, with NRT to operate and maintain the full metro line from Rouse Hill to Bankstown – in total 66 kilometres of rail and 31 metro stations by 2024. [Read more…] about Alstom wins €350 million contract to supply driverless trains and digital signalling system

Capturing Improved Productivity: Tugger Train Automation

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By Andy Legut, FlexQube

Too often automation and robotics are characterized by sensors driving Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

There are ways to efficiently automate material flow and lean manufacturing principles today. It starts with automating into a fork truck free environment.

Ultimately the reason for automation is to capture improved productivity. Cesar Jimenez, a Toyota Material Handling, USA employee shared that a forklift can only carry up to two loads at a time.

[Read more…] about Capturing Improved Productivity: Tugger Train Automation