Alstom starts production of trains for lines 8 and 9 in São Paulo

With a modern design, the new compositions in production at Alstom are lighter, with lower electricity consumption, large windows and aisles that offer freedom of movement between cars, which provides more comfort to passengers. Each train will have the capacity to transport up to 2,500 passengers.

“It is extremely important and satisfying for Alstom to be able to continue impacting people's lives positively. Projects such as the renovation of Lines 8 and 9 make us proud and reaffirms Alstom's mission to invest in the country and to know that the company contributes to the provision of safe, reliable and efficient public transport for passengers in São Paulo and its surroundings", says Pierre Bercaire, Director General of Alstom Brazil.

“The renewal of the fleet will be a legacy of the ViaMobilidade Lines 8 and 9 concessionaire for thousands of São Paulo residents, actually contributing to human mobility, improving the quality of life and expanding paths and choices”, adds Adriana Martins, Engineering Director at CCR Mobilidade .

Lines 8 and 9 of metropolitan trains carry more than a million passengers a day, according to data from before the coronavirus pandemic. Line 8, which connects Júlio Prestes to Amador Bueno, is 41.6 kilometers long and has 22 stations, serving the municipalities of São Paulo, Osasco, Carapicuíba, Barueri, Jandira and Itapevi. Line 9, on the other hand, connects Osasco to Grajaú, is 32 kilometers long and has 18 stations, serving the cities of São Paulo and Osasco.

Employment generation

In October 2021, Alstom signed a partnership with the National Service for Industrial Learning – SENAI Taubaté - to train future professionals who will work in the production of more than 170 trains, with more than 930 cars, at the Taubaté (SP) plant. About 700 jobs at the site will be filled gradually until the first quarter of 2023.

In all, 600 professionals are being trained by SENAI Taubaté – 500 of them will be gradually hired by Alstom Taubaté or by partner companies to work on projects that will be produced at the industrial unit. The other professionals (the other 100) may be hired later by the company itself or by any other company in the region. So far, 230 people have taken the course.

To deliver the projects, Alstom is investing around R$ 76 million in modernization and adaptations of its plant. Production of the new projects started in the first half of 2022.

Metropolis Trains for Diamond and Emerald Lines

ViaMobilidade Lines 8 and 9 will have 36 Alstom Metropolis trains. Made of stainless steel, one of the main gains is durability: the carshells last more than 40 years, in addition to being lighter compared to models made of carbon steel. In addition, they consume less energy and are therefore more energy efficient.

The trains will have doors and corridors that will offer excellent passenger exchange and freedom of movement, as well as reserved spaces for people with reduced mobility. The large windows and doors will provide a clear view of the outside, guaranteeing a smooth, safe and comfortable journey for passengers. The trains will also feature modern technologies: passenger counting, dynamic line maps, monitors and video surveillance, as well as fire detectors and fire extinguishers.

The new fleet will operate with Alstom's Automatic Train Control (ATC) solution, which is responsible for ensuring that the train runs within the safe speed limits established by the signaling equipment installed along the track. In addition, the system automatically controls the movement of trains, covering the automatic departure from stations, automatic maintenance of speed during the journey, automatic stopping at passenger platforms, automatic opening and closing of doors and automatic modification of trip performance according to parameters received from the control center.

Alstom Taubaté

Alstom's industrial unit in Taubaté (SP) was inaugurated in 2015 for the production of cars for the Rio de Janeiro tramway, which were manufactured in record time for the Summer Olympics in Brazil. The project was the second in the world to have a 100% catenary-free system.

After the conclusion of the VLT contract, the unit was responsible for the production of the NS16 cars for the Santiago Metro, in Chile. Now, with current investments and after the transfer of activities and a good part of the installation of the former Alstom Lapa unit, which was the first train factory in the history of the railway sector in Latin America, Alstom Taubaté now has the infrastructure for become a reference in the Latin American market, preparing for a prosperous future full of opportunities, both nationally and internationally.

Currently, Alstom Taubaté is responsible for the following projects:

• ViaMobilidade Lines 8 and 9: supply of 36 Metropolis trains, with 8 cars each.
• Line Universidades 6-Orange of São Paulo: supply of 22 Metropolis trains, with 6 cars each (contract with Acciona).
• Line 7 of Santiago Metro, in Chile: supply of 37 Metropolis trains, with 5 cars each.
• Line 5 of the Bucharest Metro, in Romania: supply of 13 Metropolis trains, with 78 cars in all.
• Wanda ZS Line, Taipei Metro, Taiwan: supply of 35 Metropolis trains, with 4 cars each.
• Second Phase of the Taipei Circular Line 2 in Taiwan: supply of 29 Metropolis trains, with 4 cars each.