Alstom and SMRT Trains sign services partnership for driverless train control system for the Circle Line in Singapore

6 May 2020 – Alstom and SMRT Trains, with support from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), have signed an agreement that will ensure the continued reliability and availability of the driverless train control system[1] installed by Alstom on the larger Circle Line (CCL) network. This long-term services support (LTSS) agreement is the first of its kind for a Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line, with a contract length of 16 years which also includes performance guarantees for the entire contracted term².

Leveraging Alstom’s long experience in train control solutions and maintenance, the programme will see Alstom provide spare parts, repairs, obsolescence management and technical support for the CCL system until the year 2035. During this period, a local team of Alstom experts will work closely alongside SMRT Trains’ CCL team to maintain the availability and security of the train control system. Such localisation of dedicated on-site resources, including the adoption of advanced diagnostic tools, offers operational flexibility and efficiency to ensure safe and reliable service for CCL commuters.

“We are proud to support our customers in Singapore where and when it matters most. With this LTSS contract we will strengthen Alstom’s service portfolio in the Asia Pacific region and enhance the localisation of key competencies in Singapore. It also reinforces the trust that SMRT Trains places in our technical, operational and maintenance expertise. We look forward to this long-term collaboration that will ultimately benefit passengers on the line,” said Guillaume Denis, Vice President of Alstom Digital Mobility in Asia Pacific.

Mr Lee Ling Wee, Chief Executive Officer, SMRT Trains, said: “This collaboration will allow SMRT to maintain the performance of Circle Line’s signalling system through long-term spare support, shorter repair turnaround time and access to Alstom’s technical expertise.”

Alstom’s Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) solution Urbalis first entered service on the CCL network in 2009, enabling the first automated operations of metro and suburban rail networks. It gives operators precise control of train movements, allowing more trains to run on the line at higher frequencies and speeds in total safety, with or without drivers.

Alstom has been present in Singapore for over 20 years and is a major supplier of integrated metro systems, digital train control systems, rolling stock, infrastructure and services for Singapore’s MRT lines. The CCL system itself was fully designed and built by Alstom in consortium with local companies. Alstom is currently supplying the signalling system and 23 Metropolis trains (69 metro cars) for the CCL Stage 6.

[1] Digital Train Control or Signalling entails the optical, acoustic or electronic signals that transmit information in the form of signal terms during railway operations.

2 Booked in Q4 of the 2019/20 fiscal year.