Alstom systems equip Hong Kong's newly opened first driverless metro

Hong Kong's MTR South Island Line (SIL), for which Alstom supplied the signalling system, track works, overhead line electrification, as well as traction and train control management systems (TCMS), entered revenue service today. SIL is the first urban metro line run by Fully Automatic Operation (FAO) in Hong Kong.

SIL will connect the densely populated district of Ap Lei Chau. The four-mile-long line will extend MTR services from Admiralty Station to the Southern District of Hong Kong Island in 11 minutes via four new stations: Ocean Park, Wong Chuk Hang, Lei Tung and South Horizons.

Alstom equipped the line with its Urbalis 400 communication-based train control signalling system, which will enable FAO and enhance rail service with a high level of reliability and more flexibility in train deployment. It also supplied track works and overhead contact systems. In addition, Alstom supplied OpTONIX traction systems and TCMS for 30 metro cars.

Alstom Hong Kong was in charge of the overall management for the three contracts.  Alstom Saint-Ouen site in France, Bangalore site in India and joint venture in China, CASCO, provided support for delivering the signaling system. Alstom Charleroi site in Belgium and Alstom joint venture in China, Shanghai Alstom Transport Electrical Equipment Co. Ltd, supplied traction and TCMS systems.

Alstom has been providing transport solutions in Hong Kong since 1976. It has supplied signaling solutions for six metro lines in Hong Kong. Currently, Alstom and its consortium partner, Thales, are renovating the signaling system of six MTR lines and the Airport Express over a period of 10 years. Other Hong Kong metro contracts executed by Alstom include Kwun Tong Line extension, which entered revenue service in October 2016 and Shatin Central Link phase one (ongoing).