Alstom and its local joint venture (JV), Shanghai Alstom Transport Electrical Equipment Co. Ltd. (SATEE), were awarded a contract by Beijing Metro in China to provide traction systems to equip 160 metro cars for the phase 3 of Beijing metro line 6, expected to enter into commercial service by the end of 2018.

Beijing metro line 6 is the city’s second east-west metro line and an important transportation artery aiming to reduce the traffic pressure in Beijing. When completed, line 6 is expected to carry one million passengers every day.

Alstom and SATEE will provide the Optonix traction system specially designed and developed by Alstom for the Chinese market and already ordered by major Chinese cities including Shanghai, Nanjing, Qingdao, Xi’an and Chengdu. The system uses electrical braking and features a lightweight and compact design, leading to high performance train operations capabilities. The system will be tested at SATEE’s facility in Shanghai before commissioning.

The JV will also provide the propulsion inverter, auxiliary converter, brake resistor, master controller, gearbox and coupling. Traction motors will be produced locally by XAYEECO, Alstom’s JV for traction motors in China. Other key components such as high circuit breakers and traction control will also be provided by Alstom.

For the past two decades, Alstom has been deeply involved in the construction of the Beijing metro network. So far, Alstom has provided traction equipment to 692 metro cars for line 6 (phases 1 and 2) and line 15, as well as signaling systems to Beijing Airport Link, line 2, line 6, line 9, Fangshan line and line 1 (revamping).