Alstom adquire 100% da Signalling Solutions Ltd. (SSL)
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Alstom has signed an agreement to buy Balfour Beatty’s share of Signalling Solutions Ltd (SSL), a 50-50 joint-venture between Alstom and Balfour Beatty established in 2007 to provide advanced signalling solutions to the UK and Ireland’s rail sectors. Alstom thus becomes the sole owner of SSL.
Since its creation, SSL has expanded rapidly to become one of the major UK signalling players in the provision of train control solutions, offering a complete range of services from project design to full delivery. SSL employs 540 people in 4 main locations. This acquisition takes Alstom Transport’s workforce in the United Kingdom and Ireland to 2,500. The company will continue to trade as SSL for the foreseeable future.
“This acquisition is part of Alstom’s signalling growth strategy and enables the company to take full benefit from its worldwide resources and capabilities. SSL enriches Alstom’s portfolio, both from a geographical and product standpoints”, said Pascal Cléré, Senior Vice President of Alstom Transport signalling activity.
“Alstom will use this fantastic opportunity to strengthen its activities in UK- which include rolling stock, infrastructure, electrification and signalling – and contribute to build a better railway. The company is looking forward to further collaborating with Network Rail, Crossrail, HS2 and the British supply chain in delivering the state-of-the-art signalling technologies that will deliver the railway’s digital future,” said Terence Watson, President of Alstom UK.
In January 2012, SSL was chosen as preferred bidder in the major signalling framework agreement launched by Network Rail, the UK rail infrastructure owner. As part of this agreement, SSL is responsible for providing signalling renewals and enhancements as primary supplier in three of eight geographical regions in the country, and as the secondary supplier in four others. Network Rail also awarded SSL a framework agreement to design and develop European Train Control System (ETCS level 2) using Alstom’s proven Atlas ERTMS technology.
SSL successfully introduced Alstom’s Smartlock Interlocking platform to the UK, which has led to the introduction of other technologies, such as the Integr8 Modular signalling solution and Alstom’s Atlas 200 ERTMS system and Iconis Traffic Management Solution.