Brussels and Frankfurt now 26 minutes closer thanks to
Alstoms Atlas Level 2 ERTMS technology

Alstom also installed the Atlas system aboard four ICE3
trains in use on this line and will equip the fleets six
other trains, which will come into service in 2012. After
winning this contract in 2008, Alstom handled the new
signalling systems design, manufacture, installation,
testing and approval. Equipping this line and fleet presented a
true technical-integration challenge, given that the ICE3
trains were already fitted with nine national signalling
systems.



Thanks to Atlas, travel time between Brussels and Frankfurt has
been reduced by 26 minutes, which means that Cologne is only 1
hour, 51 minutes from Brussels and Frankfurt can be reached in
3 hours, 8 minutes. This system facilitates border crossings,
making it possible to increase the trains average
operational speed and the lines capacity without
compromising safety.



The Atlas solution has also been installed on the L4 high-speed
line linking Antwerp, Belgium with the Dutch border. This line
went into partial commercial service on 14 June using M6
regional trains (Alstom-Bombardier) equipped with Atlas
technology, a contract Alstom won in December 2003.



Alstoms installation of Atlas on these two lines
represents a further step toward European rail market
uniformity, which will facilitate border crossings, increase
the lines operational capacity, maximize traffic safety
and reduce travel time.


About ERTMS


This new contract boosts Alstom Transports leading
position in the operational deployment of interoperability in
Europe, the main market for ERTMS. With more than 749 trains in
commercial service under Atlas supervision and over 22 million
kilometres travelled, Alstom commands 90% of the market for
ERTMS signalling equipment aboard European trains. Alstom is
currently working on more than 20 ERTMS projects in 10 European
countries, including Italys Rome-Naples line, the first
very-high-speed line equipped with a Level 2 ERTMS system, and
Switzerlands Mattstetten-Rothrist line, which is used by
the largest equipped fleet.


Alstom press contact

Cécile Dodat - Tel.: +33 (0)1 57 06 91 48 +33 (0)6
72 59 83 70

Cecile.dodat@transport.alstom.com

www.transport.alstom.com