Thales USA's transport business was awarded a 7-year, $343 million contract by MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) to perform signaling upgrades and related refurbishment to the subway system's Flushing Line.

Thales's communications-based train control (CBTC) technology, which will enable automatic operation of trains between stations and will facilitate an improvement in operating flexibility and system safety, will be integrated into the Flushing Line as other upgrades to the Line are taking place, including the addition of new rolling stock.

In addition to the core CBTC technology, Thales's solution for the Flushing Line upgrade will incorporate non-proprietary, free-space, wireless radio communication between the train and wayside equipment

The Thales USA transport team will be supported by a sub-contractor team, which includes L.K. Comstock, provider of the project's installation and refurbishment services, and Thales Canada's rail transport technology development group in Toronto.

Measuring just under 10 miles, the Flushing Line, also known as the No 7, runs from midtown Manhattan to Main Street, Flushing, Queens and serves 21 stations with 46 eleven-car trains. The Flushing Line transports over 350,000 passengers daily, totaling 115 million passengers a year.