French multinational Alstom and SMRT Trains, with support from Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA), have signed an agreement to ensure the continued reliability and availability of the driverless train control system installed by Alstom on Singapore’s 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 term.
SMRT Trains is part of SMRT Corporation Ltd, which manages and operates train services on Singapore’s North-South Line, the East-West Line, the Circle Line, the new Thomson East-Coast Line and the Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit.
Under this agreement, Alstom will provide spare parts, repairs, obsolescence management and technical support for the CCL system until the year 2035. A Singapore-based team of Alstom experts will work closely alongside SMRT Trains’ CCL team to maintain the availability and security of the train control system.
Guillaume Denis, vice-president of Alstom Digital Mobility in Asia Pacific, declared that this long-term contract will “strengthen Alstom’s service portfolio in the Asia-Pacific region” and while the local team presence will “enhance the localization of key competencies in Singapore”.
Alstom is a major supplier of integrated metro systems, digital train control systems, rolling stock, infrastructure and services for Singapore’s train lines. It designed and built the CCL system in a consortium with local companies. Alstom is currently supplying the signaling system and 23 Metropolis trains (69 metro cars) for the CCL Stage 6, which should be completed by 2025.
(Sources: The Business Times; Alstom)
