Press kit
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of your infrastructure
Visit us at Thales booth 7B100
Press contacts Victoire Le Barazer Tel. +33 6 77 04 87 54 victoire.lebarazer@thalesgroup.com
| Vanessa Saidi Tel.+ 971 50 557 08 05 vanessa.saidi@thalesgroup.com
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www.thalesgroup.com/transportation/
Content
Executive summary 3
Thales 4
Thales in the Middle East 5
A global public transport offering 8
World-class rail signalling solutions 8
Integrated communication and supervision systems 10
Fare collection: pioneering multi-modal, multi-operator systems 10
References 11
Dubai Metro, a particularly important project for Thales 11
Turnkey solutions 11
Signalling 11
Integrated fare collection 11
Supervision 11
Telecommunications 12
Revenue management 12
Press releases 13
Transport: Thales' CBTC technology celebrates 25 years
and remains at the cutting edge of innovation 13
Transport: Thales is strengthening its international presence 15
Thales provides a transportation system to the Mecca’s Metro in time for the Hajj pilgrimage 18
Biographies 19
Jean-Pierre Forestier 19
Gabriel Colceag 19
Vice President, Urban Rail Signalling, Transport Systems Division 19
Executive summary |
No other company in the world offers such an extensive portfolio of advanced electronic solutions for ground transportation. These include signalling, supervision, communications, passenger information, security and fare collection systems. The primary role is to enhance the safety, capacity and operational efficiency of transport networks.
Thales also has a unique ability to integrate and create intelligent linkages between different control systems contributing to seamless end-to-end transport service. Connecting systems unlocks potential and adds operational value: Thales customers can deliver energy savings, enhanced security, better passenger information and much more responsive operations in this way.
In tandem with this, Thales provides long-term services and customer care. By offering both solutions and services, Thales allows the customer to get the most out of their infrastructure. And by making public transport safer, more comfortable and easier to use, we play a decisive part in attracting and retaining passengers.
Face to the new market trends
Customers face a number of new market trends. Energy management is becoming important and it is requested in an increasing number of invitations to tender. Customers need to reduce overall energy consumption – to move the largest number of passengers with the least amount of electricity. They also need to control peak electricity demand, because many operators pay additional charges for exceeding pre-set thresholds.
The need for interoperability and intermodality – the freedom for operators to run different types of trains on the same infrastructure – is also very important. It means to eliminate the barriers that exist between metro and main line operations in cities. Harmonised signalling and train control is going to play a decisive role in achieving this.
Mobility is a fundamental need everywhere but that does not mean that all markets are the same. In emerging economies, for example, the priority is extending urban mobility and Thales is primarily engaged in greenfield projects. New operators need to know that they will get the most out of their investment in new physical assets, and they are able to guarantee this by investing in electronic infrastructure.
In mature markets, by contrast, the challenge is essentially one of renewal and modernisation to get the very best performance out of existing networks. This means providing enhanced capacity, improved journey time capability and the ability to manage and control energy use. And there is a fundamental need to deliver new signalling with minimal disruption to the operational railway.
| Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transport markets. In 2010, the company generated revenues of €13.1 billion with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.
Thales in the Middle East
More than 30 years of presence, partnership and successes
With 30 years of presence and partnership in the Middle East and the Gulf countries, Thales has developed outstanding relations with the countries of the region and is a reliable partner for local companies.
Thales’s Middle East regional HQ is located in Dubai. Beyond the provision of systems and equipment that enhance customers security and defence capabilities, Thales is keen to develop a progressive and close cooperation in technology, industry and training.
In 2010, the Middle East accounted for approx.10% of the Group’s total revenues.
Thales in the United Arab Emirates
Addressing both defence and civil markets, Thales has built on a long-standing presence in the United Arab Emirates, dating back more than 30 years.
With over 500 people employed in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the UAE are the cornerstone of Thales in the Middle East.
In the defence market, Thales has supplied tactical radios (PR4G), ground-to-air communication systems (GATR), air defence systems (Crotale), on-board electronic systems for the Mirage 2000-9 Fighter, Multi-role Tanker Transport Aircraft (MRTT) and Maritime Patrol Aircraft. .
In the civil market, Thales’s recent successes include: Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE) and radars at Dubai airports, Air Traffic Management System at Abu Dhabi Airport, secure fare collection system, signalling and telecommunications for Dubai Metro, security and telecommunication systems for Borouge 2 petrochemical site.
Thales also provides the In-Flight Entertainment systems for the Airbus and Boeing fleet of Etihad Airways and has supplied thousands of electronic payment terminals to UAE banks.
In the space domain, Al Yah Satellite Company “Yahsat”, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, awarded in 2007 a contract to a joint team of Thales Alenia Space and Astrium to build their dual satellite communications system. Yahsat will provide customers with innovative solutions for broadcasting services, internet trunking via satellite, corporate data networks and backhauling services to telecom operators.
Partnering with local industry through joint ventures
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Thales Advanced Solutions (TAS) is a joint venture between Thales and C4 Advanced Solutions (C4AS), a subsidiary of Emirates Advanced Investments (EAI), which focuses on systems, product, software and solutions development mainly for cutting edge technologies related to Communications , Radar and other defense systems.
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Thalbat Advanced Technologies is a joint venture with Baynunah Aviation Technologies (BAT), in the field of defence, aiming at giving technical and technological support to the United Arab Emirates Air Force in the field of onboard electronics, in particular sensors and avionics systems.
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CERT Thales Institute (CTI) is a joint-venture training company between the Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) of the Higher Colleges of Technology and Thales. The CERT Thales Institute provides courses and programmes in five areas: Radiocommunications, Project and Maintenance Management, Multimedia Development and Electronic Documentation and Desktop Simulation.
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National Telesystems and Services (NTS)
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Gamco Thales Systems (GTS) is a joint venture company with a subsidiary of Mubadala (ADAT), dedicated to electronic systems maintenance.
Thales in Saudi Arabia
With an established presence in the Kingdom (over 900 employees) as well as a diversified portfolio of activities, Thales has built in the Kingdom a mature relationship based on a solid partnership country-wide.
In the Defence field, Thales’s commercial successes include major Shahine and Crotale contracts for Air Defence. In the Naval domain, Thales is prime-contractor for the Sawari-II contract (three frigates), which follows the successful Sawari-I program (four frigates), for which Thales now provides logistic support. In 2007, Thales was selected by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence to supply a major electronic protection system to the Saudi Air Force (worth €126 million), known as Al Madhallah (the Umbrella).
In the Aerospace and Space domains, a contract was awarded to Thales by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, for Navigation Aid Equipment. In the training field, Thales is also partnering with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation for the development of the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation in Jeddah. Under a contract worth 152 million riyals (approx. €30 million), Thales will organise training of instructors in air traffic control, maintenance of civil aviation electronics systems, fire safety and airport security, working in partnership with France’s National University of Civil Aviation (ENAC) for the air traffic control component. In April 2008, Thales and Advanced Electronics Company (AEC) signed an agreement to set up a joint venture in charge of developing simulators in Saudi Arabia, as well as providing the associated training and support services.
Another success was that of Thales Alenia Space, when it was selected in 2009 by Arabsat, alongside Astrium, to build and deliver in orbit two new satellites, Arabsat 5C and Arabsat 6B. Astrium will supply the platforms and integrate the satellites. Thales Alenia Space will design and build the communications payloads. In addition to this partnership on the fifth generation Arabsat satellites, Thales Alenia Space was also co-prime contractor with Astrium on the fourth generation (Arabsat 4A and 4B and BADR6). The company has already delivered to Arabsat since the 1980s, three first-generation satellites, two second-generation satellites, and one third-generation satellite.
Also very active in the Security and Transportation fields, Thales was chosen in 2005 to secure Mecca during the annual Hajj. Thales supplies an information system incorporating smart image analysis technology for guidance of pilgrims and protection against accidents caused by overcrowding. The integrated crisis management system allows for close monitoring and control of crowd movements, providing an early warning of any build-up.
In 2009, Thales was awarded a contract worth €103 million by China Railway Construction Corp. to supply, integrate and deploy its proven driverless train control and telecommunication systems for the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro project, the first for the Mecca region.
In April 2009, Thales has signed its first main line contract in Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with Saudi BinLadin Group, worth 340 million euros. The North-South Railway project is major infrastructure project to connect Riyadh with the North of the country. Thales’s leading European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 will be implemented on the North-South Railway project, stretching across 2,400 Km.
Thales is also a leading player in radio and TV broadcasting equipment via its subsidiary Thales Security Solutions and Services KSA (T3S KSA). In 2006, the company was chosen to create the Fibre Optic backbone for Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), the operator of the second GSM network in Saudi Arabia, a contract worth €180 million.
In the area of information and communication systems security, Thales has been working for over ten years with Saudi Arabia’s Monetary Agency (SAMA) to secure the country’s electronic payment system.
Thales in the other Middle Eastern countries
Thales has been a long-standing and trusted partner of the Qatari armed forces. The Group supplied the electronic equipment of the Qatari Navy’s corvettes. Thales also provided tactical radios and networks (PR4G, UHF/VHF…), Air Defence Systems and On-board Electronic Systems (Mirage F1/200-5, Alphajet).
More recently, civil projects have become important, like air traffic equipment for the Doha New International Airport, secure identification systems and site security. In May 2010, Qatar Airways chose next generation Thales In-Flight Entertainment (TopSeries) and connectivity system for its fleet of 30 787 aircraft with 30 options. Earlier in 2009, Thales In-Flight Entertainment systems had been selected to equip Qatar Airways’ fleet of 30 Airbus single aisle aircraft.
Moreover, Qatar Airways selected Thales Training and Simulation for the supply of Full Flight Simulator (FFS).
Thales won contracts throughout the region for Air Traffic Control (Egypt, Iran), Communications (Egypt, Oman, Qatar, UAE), Radars and Air Defence systems (Egypt, Kuwait, UAE, Yemen), and Naval systems (Kuwait, Oman, Qatar). Thales also supplied radio and TV broadcasting equipment to a large number of countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and Oman.
In 2008, Thales Alenia Space has won contract with Nilesat, the Egyptian satellite company, to provide the Nilesat-201 broadcasting communication satellite and associated services and ground stations. Nilesat-201 will enable to provide digital Direct to the Home (DTH) TV and radio broadcasting services and high-speed data transmission services over North Africa, Middle East and Gulf area, starting in February 2010. In the past, Thales Alenia Space has provided Nilesat’s first two satellite payloads on board Nilesat-101 and Nilesat-102 satellites.
A global public transport offering |
Thales has more than 100 transport customers worldwide
Thales has 7,000 people specialised in transportation activities
Thales provides its services to main line railways and urban transport
Thales has a global market approach and a worldwide presence
Thales enjoys unique positioning in mission-critical turnkey systems strengthened by long-term partnerships
Thales has a comprehensive portfolio of solutions based on open architectures
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The ground transportation business is growing and represents one of the Group’s major areas of development. Thales has a unique leadership position in rail control systems with a comprehensive offering spanning two market segments: main line railways and urban transport. Thales capabilities cover:
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Rail signalling
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Integrated communication and supervision systems
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Fare-collection systems
Thales has a worldwide coverage with a network of centres of excellence: China, France and Canada (metro systems), Germany, Austria, France and Spain (main lines railways ), France and China (Fare-collection systems).
Our customers challenges are:
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Make public transport attractive for passengers
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Save on operational and maintenance costs
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Improve transport offer with limited investment
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Guarantee safety of train movements
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Reduce environmental impact
By providing systems and services enabling them to get the most out of their infrastructure, we help our customers to achieve their challenges.
World-class rail signalling solutions
Thales is the world’s second largest supplier of rail signalling critical systems. Its offering meets the requirements in particular of main line and urban rail operators, rail infrastructure managers, prime contractors and rolling stock OEM’s. Thales systems ensure automatic train speed and control, which brings enhanced performance and safety to customers and better return on investment for operators. This is one of the major challenges facing operators today given the exponential increase in traffic volumes. The automatic control systems developed by Thales allow operators to carry a maximum number of people while offering passengers optimum capacity, comfort and safety. At the same time, our solutions address growing demand for interoperability between new infrastructures and legacy transport systems. To meet these changing needs and standards, Thales’ signalling activity offers in-depth expertise in system testing and deployment.
Thales is one of the major contributor to the development of Europe’s high-speed rail networks with the European Train Control System (ETCS) solution. Thales has the best track records in terms of ETCS project deployment with major references in Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Poland, Finland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, Mexico, Algeria, India, Saudi-Arabia, Australia and South-Korea. Thales leads the Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) market with 30 metro equipped with SelTrac CBTC solutions in the largest capitals worldwide.
Integrated communication and supervision systems
Communication systems represent another fast-growing market and Thales leads the Supervision and Communications market with a comprehensive solutions offering. Thales is uniquely positioned to enable operators to implement integrated communication and supervision systems, which not only optimise infrastructure usage but also ensure optimum security.
The communication systems simultaneously pilot traffic management systems (i.e., signalling), as well as maximum passenger security and comfort thanks to an array of alarm, video-surveillance, abnormal behaviour detection, fire detection, lights, escalators and passenger information systems.
Fare collection: pioneering multi-modal, multi-operator systems
Thales is the 3rd world’s leading provider of fare-collection systems, with an extensive presence in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Middle East.
From a single metro line or bus operation to a transportation system that stretches across an entire nation, Thales’ Fare Collection Systems are there to meet customers needs – no matter how large or small the network.
Proven in service throughout the world, Thales end-to-end Fare Collection offer embraces everything from design, equipment supply and integration to through-life maintenance and operations.
The result: seamless journeys for passengers and quick, secure revenue collection and distribution for operators – today and for years to come.
References
Dubai Metro, a particularly important project for Thales
RTA, operator of the Dubai metro, wanted to develop a metro network to combat the city's road congestion and offer passengers the best service possible.
Inaugurated in September 2009, Dubai's metro covers 52 kilometres with the red line, to which 17.6 kilometres will be added with the green line, due to open during the course of 2011. It will thereby become the largest CBTC driverless metro in the world.
Dubai Metro demonstrates the full range of Thales’s capabilities. Thales has deployed signalling and train control for driverless operations, communications and information systems to support operational and passenger needs, intermodal ticketing for seamless journeys and video surveillance for enhanced security. Thales has also provided two Operation Control Centres. It is a complete mission-critical solution.
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Thales’s references in the field of Transport systems include numerous contracts throughout the world in Europe, Asia and the Americas
Turnkey solutions -
Metros: Dubai, Mecca, Istanbul (Kadikoy-Kartal), etc.
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Main lines railways: North-South Railway link (Saudi Arabia), Lötschberg Tunnel (Switzerland), Gotthard Tunnel, etc.
Signalling -
Metros: Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong-Kong, Jubilee line and Neasden Depot in London, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Vancouver, Wuhan, etc.
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High-speed and ETCS lines: Austria, Germany, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Korea, Mexico, etc.
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Conventional rail lines: Algeria, France, Finland, Hungary, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Poland, Bulgaria, etc..
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Automated People Movers: Washington Dulles, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Tampa, etc.
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Automated Light Rail: San Francisco, Kuala-Lumpur, etc.
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Tramways: Bordeaux and Nantes (France) and Bergen (Norway).
Integrated fare collection -
Metros: Algiers, Delhi, Gautrain (South Africa), Hong Kong, Madrid, Santo-Domingo, Turin, etc.
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Bus: Mexico, Toronto (Canada), Vicenze (Italy), Lisbon (Portugal), etc.
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Contactless systems: Beijing, Cairo, Singapore, etc.
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Multi-operator, multi-modal systems: Denmark, Netherlands, Oslo (Norway),
Auckland (New Zealand).
Supervision -
Metros: Chongqing and Guangzhou Metro (China), Line 13 in Paris (France), North East Line(Singapore), Panama, Tyne & Wear Metro (UK),
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Tramways: Croydon Tramlink and Manchester Metrolink (UK), Lille and Marseille tram network (France), Palermo (Italy).
Telecommunications -
UK: Airwave, Channel Tunnel Rail Link (GSM-R), East London Line
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France: SNCF in the Ile de France
Revenue management -
UK: Eurostar, UK’s web-based Online Journey Planner, National Express, Cross Country, Midland Mainline.
Press releases Transport: Thales' CBTC technology celebrates 25 years
and remains at the cutting edge of innovation
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Increasing line capacity
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Promoting sustainable mobility with green modes of transport
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Developing value-added signalling at optimised costs
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Designing technologies that continuously adapt themselves to market trends
UITP World Congress, Dubai, 11th April 2011 – Invented 25 years ago, Thales' CBTC technology for train control systems remains the benchmark technology. This is not only because it was ahead of its time, but also as it has continued to evolve and integrate new functionalities, keeping up with the continual developments of urban transport.
In the 1980s, Thales invented CBTC technology, the train control system based on telecommunications. At the time, conceiving then designing a signalling system controlled by computers was considered pure science fiction! The first fully automatic (driverless) CBTC system was commissioned at the World Expo in Vancouver in 1986. During this event, CBTC technology proved its efficiency, reliability and profitability to the entire world, transporting hundreds of thousands of visitors.
The CBTC is an automatic rail traffic control system based on continuous communication between the train and the computers responsible for controlling the traffic. Compared with conventional railway signalling systems that manage the distances between trains in real time, CBTC technology allows trains to be operated with intervals right down to 60 seconds, all the while ensuring optimum operational safety.
Today, CBTC signalling is still the benchmark technology for metro operators across the globe and 90% of requests for metro signalling require it. The technology has proven its efficiency, but also its ability to optimise costs in terms of system lifecycles. A CBTC system is a profitable and sustainable investment as it is designed to be updated and take on more functionalities and capabilities:
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It adapts itself to different modes of transport: metros, tramways (San Francisco), suburban trains (Hong Kong) or automated shuttles in operation 24/7 (Las Vegas).
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Invented to supply new lines, the technology also enables existing metro networks to be modernised, which represents a major challenge in terms of operational safety and maintaining service during deployment.
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Based on software, the systems are constantly updated with new versions adapted to the client's needs.
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Its performance capabilities enable passenger transport capacities to be significantly optimised, all the while reducing the carbon footprint of transport.
A portfolio spanning the globe
Thales has rolled out its SelTrac CBTC solution on 30 of the largest urban transport networks in the world and has the best global portfolio in this field: Vancouver, New York, Santiago de Chile, London, Paris, Dubai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Wuhan…
One of the most prestigious projects is the Dubai metro. Inaugurated in September 2009, it covers 52 kilometres with the red line, to which 17.6 kilometres of the green line will be added, due to open in 2011. It will become the largest CBTC driverless metro in the world. The metro in Dubai is equipped with Thales' comprehensive range, comprising CBTC signalling, ticketing, telecommunications and supervision.
Gabriel Colceag, Manager of Thales' urban signalling of transport systems explains: "With this global approach, CBTC technology is becoming a core technology at the heart of the transport system. From now on, it is a major global tool for the management of information, communication, supervision and security systems that enables operators to transport their passengers in a more efficient way.
Transport: Thales is strengthening its international presence
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With major successes in 2010, such as the metros in Mecca, Shanghai and New York, Thales has confirmed its status as international leader of transport systems.
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The first national interoperable computer ticketing system developed by Thales in the Netherlands has now been operational for a year.
Vélizy, 9 March 2011 - 2010 was an excellent year for Thales, seeing the company sign large-scale contracts in the ground transportation sector. Its footprint has been noticeably extended in both America and Asia in the area of urban transport.
"Thales is continuing to develop on an international scale from year to year, and 2010 was no exception to this rule," explains Jean-Pierre Forestier, Thales Senior Vice President in charge of Transportation Systems. "Factors such as growing urbanization, coupled with people and governments showing a greater appreciation of ecological issues, are encouraging the development of public ground transportation, particularly rail transport. In this context, our goal is to position Thales as a leader in this sector, offering ever-more reliable, efficient and innovative technologies, which will facilitate both the tasks of the operator, as well as the customer’s experience. The new contracts won in 2010 across the globe and the renewed trust of our long-term partners on other projects reinforce Thales's ability to provide pertinent answers to these increasingly demanding needs".
Key contracts involving urban transport
In 2010 in the United States, Thales was chosen by MTA New York City Transit (NYCT), New York's public transport network, to modernise with CBTC the signalling systems on the Flushing Line. The seven year contract has an estimated worth of $343 million.
In Latin America, Thales has been chosen to perform signalling, supervision and ticketing of the two metro lines being constructed in Panama and Santo Domingo. In Mexico, Thales has won a new ticketing contract for bus line 3 (Bus Rapid Transit) in Mexico City.
The same applies to Europe. In France, the RATP has continued to place its trust in Thales, entrusting the company with the supervision of lines 9, 10 and 12, in addition to lines 3, 5 and 13 in Paris. Within the scope of automating line 1, which is planned for 2012, the RATP has chosen Thales to install a second operating station to enable signalling of one part of this line. In Spain, Thales has signed a contract with the SEITT (Spanish government corporation for the infrastructure of ground transportation), to modernise the security systems of the tunnels in Tarrasa, Sabadell, as well as three sections in Barcelona. These tunnels are used by suburban trains.
In Dubai, Thales has installed its 2nd parking station that is interoperable with the city's transport network. It is equipped with Thales's WiLix system which allows a single payment method to be used for fare tickets and parking tickets.
Another example of Thales's dynamic approach in the field of urban transport is demonstrated in the signing of a joint venture agreement with Shanghai Electric Corporation (SEC) and Shanghai Automation Instrumentation Co (SAIC) to create a company for urban signalling systems. Focusing on the Chinese market, this alliance will enable CBTC technology to be used on a wider scale in order to respond to the ever-increasing needs of this market.
Successful commissioning within extremely short timeframes
2010 has also been marked by significant commissioning projects, evidencing Thales's ability to install its systems successfully and within very tight deadlines.
One of the greatest successes of the year is the metro in Mecca, a project signed with China Railway Construction Corp and implemented in just 21 months. Thales provided an integrated solution comprising signalling, supervision and telecommunications. The metro was opened as planned on the 2nd November 2010, just before the annual pilgrimage.
In South America, Thales has put extensions of lines 1 and 5 into service this year on the Santiago metro in Chile, with supervision, traffic control and electronic interlocking systems (LockTrac PMI).
On the Chinese market, the company has put two extensions of Wuhan line 1 into service using Thales Seltrac CBTC solution, as well as extending line 3 of the Guangzhou metro.
In Norway, the town of Bergen has opened its new tramway equipped with Thales' complete tramway management solution, the perfect balance between technological performance (video surveillance, control and monitoring of traffic, integrated wifi, etc.) and energy savings (lighting and other integrated components with low electricity consumption).
Thales's signature contactless ticketing is becoming increasingly attractive
Thales has consolidated its expertise in the area of contactless ticketing, by finalising deployment of the first national ticketing system in the Netherlands, allowing transport users to take the train, bus, tramways or metro anywhere in the country, using the same contactless transport card. This ticketing system has been in operation for a year now and has been extremely well-received by public transport users. To date, 9.5 million contactless cards have been sold, generating 25 million transactions per week! This is why Dutch rail transport company Nederlandse Spoorwegen ordered new gates this year that operate with this technology, for 65 new Dutch railway stations.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup kick-off will take place in Johannesburg, a city where the new train line Gautrain has just entered into operation.
Thales has delivered the automatic fare collection (AFC) solutions of the train line including
the equipment for vending, validating and controlling transport. Passengers are now able to
travel with a single transport card on the entire transport network, including 10 stations, 9 car
parks and 125 busses.
This year, Thales has also supplied automatic payment solutions by contactless card for Singapore's Circle Line. The success of this launch again strengthens the strong relationship of confidence the company has with Land Transport Authority, the city's transport operator who has already chosen Thales to supply the North East line.
Thales's know-how dedicated to mainline networks
Originally designed for the European market, the ETCS standard (European Train Control System) is gaining more and more ground across the globe. It enables an increased capacity of lines, ensuring interoperability between national networks and different equipment suppliers, all the while guaranteeing the safety of passengers and optimised operating costs.
Thales has also won a contract for supplying a Level 1 ETCS system designed for the railway line in Gyeongchun in South Korea, a section spanning 80 km between Mangwoo and Chuncheon.
Thales has also signed a contract with Austrian railway operator OBB, covering the deployment of ETCS system level 2 on two national lines. The project comprises a 60 km section of the west high-speed line and another line spanning 148 km on the Brenner route. This project represents a major innovation in the field of train control in Austria.
In Slovakia, Thales is installing the ETCS system on board the passenger trains of Slovakian railway operator ZSSK Passenger.
Within the framework of the modernization of the Algerian line connecting Ain Touta with M Sila, the ANESRIF entrusted to Thales the study, the supply, the assembly and the commissioning of the signaling systems, the telecommunications and the energy. The first eight stations equipped with a computer system of new generation signaling system in Algeria were delivered in 2010.
In Spain, the long-standing partnership with ADIF, the Spanish national railway network management company, was solidified with the signing of 2 new contracts. Thales has been able to rely on its many past successes, such as its various on-schedule accomplishments in terms of the Madrid-Seville, Madrid-Toledo, Cordoba-Malaga, Madrid-Valladolid and Lerida-Barcelona high-speed Spanish lines. Thales has won a €136 million contract for the delivery of a complete signalling, supervision and telecommunications solution on the Orense/St-Jacques-de-Compostelle route, a section of the high-speed line that connects Madrid and Galicia. The second was a €20 million contract for the implementation of a bidirectional automatic block signal system between Aranjuez and Alcazar in San Juan, near Madrid.
In France, the SNCF has chosen Thales for the renovation of its communication network TETRA. The unit put in place will use Thales's innovative DigiM@x technology, which will allow the SNCF to operate an advanced secured mobile network for all lines and stations across the Paris region before the end of the year.
Thales provides a transportation system to the Mecca’s Metro in time for the Hajj pilgrimage
17 December 2010 - Thales met a significant challenge to open the first phase of the new 18 km heavy metro in time for Hajj. Muslim’s pilgrimage to Mecca is the largest annual congregation in the world. Now in revenue service, the metro enables the transportation of 44.000 pilgrims between the holy sites within an hour and reduces the time to travel between Arafat and Muzdalifah from five hours to 10 minutes ! This step follows on from the contract signed in June 2009 with China Railway Construction Corp. (CRCC).
For this large and ambitious project, Thales has provided both the signaling solutions, with its world-leading SelTrac Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) and a fully integrated communications solution on a turnkey basis with a complete set of services including design, integration, installation, testing and commissioning. The fully integrated communications solution includes an operation control centre and an automatic information system for passengers.
The line is now operating in Automatic Train Protection mode ; the second phase of driverless train control operation is scheduled for Hajj.
The metro services three main areas: Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah ; each having three stations. Thanks to Thales transportation system, the new metro will have the capacity to move 72,000 passengers per hour.
Dr. Eng. Habib Zein Al Abideen, head & manager of MOMRA in charge of the metro project for CRCC said: “We have completed the Haj this year with great success and enabled pilgrims to perform their Haj rituals with ease and comfort. We are very happy to benefit from the state of art technologies from Thales and his strong expertise in public transport systems.”
“After managing the security supervision of the holy sites, Thales is very proud to contribute again to the improvement of the pilgrimage with this new metro,” said Michelangelo Neri, VP Thales’s Civil Businesses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “The new transportation system developed for Mecca’s metro concentrates all the state-of-the-art technologies both in the fields of signalling and communications solutions.”
This success reinforces Thales’s strong presence in transport in the Middle East region that includes the Dubai metro, Saudi Arabia North South Railways link, together with the Dubai and Doha airports.
Biographies
| Jean-Pierre Forestier
Senior Vice President, Transport Systems Division
Jean-Pierre Forestier is a graduate of the Ecole supérieure d’électricité, Supélec. He began his career at ONERA-CERT, notably as Director of the Automation Division, before joining the Ministry of Research as Director of the national research programme for Industrial Automation and Robotics. In 1985, he joined Alcatel Alstom Research in Marcoussis, firstly as Director of the Computer Science Department, then as Chairman and CEO. In 1995, he became Managing Director of Alcatel Transport Solutions Canada. In 1997, he was promoted to Director of Alcatel’s Transport Solutions Division. From January 2007, he has managed the Rail Signaling Solutions Business Line within Thales’s Security Solutions and Services Division. Since February 2010, Jean-Pierre Forestier has been appointed Thales SVP in charge of the Transport Systems Division.
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| Gabriel Colceag Vice President, Urban Rail Signalling, Transport Systems Division
Gabriel is a top graduate of the Aeronautical Faculty of the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest. He started his career as an aerospace engineer specialized in avionics, flight control systems and communications, holding progressively senior positions with Alcatel-Bell Space and Honeywell. From 1996 to 2001, he joined the Transport Solutions division of Alcatel in Canada, running several Engineering and Safety departments. From 2002 to 2004, based in Paris, managed the worldwide product portfolio and R&D activities for both main line and urban rail signalling. From 2004 to 2007, back to Toronto, Canada, became Vice President of Alcatel Transport Solutions Inc., in charge of new technology projects for major operators of CBTC systems around the world. From 2007 to 2010, he was General Manager of Thales Rail Signalling and Thales Country Director for Romania. Since March 2010, Vice-President of Thales in charge of the Urban Rail Signalling business line of the Transport Systems Division.
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