Siemens, Bombardier to upgrade N.Y. train control systems

Siemens Rail Automation, in a consortium with Bombardier Transportation, was awarded a contract, not to exceed $428 million including all phases and options, by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to upgrade train control systems on the two largest commuter lines in the U.S.

Siemens and Bombardier will develop, test and commission a new positive train control (PTC) system, a technology solution that helps monitor and control train movement, for the MTA Metro-North Railroad and MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) commuter lines. The improvements will increase efficiency on lines that carry around 80 million passengers per year.

The project will be delivered in phases on approximately 700 miles of track and 1,500 vehicles across the two railroads. Siemens' work scope for this project includes development, modification, design, delivery, provisioning, and supervision of testing and commissioning of the new PTC carborne system.

The scope also includes modifications and revision to existing railroads’ wayside signal in order to upgrade and add ACSES II-related hardware for the two complete PTC systems, one configured for Metro-North Railroad and one configured for LIRR.

This is the first major signaling contract for Siemens Rail Automation in the U.S. since its acquisition of Invensys Rail, which expanded the company’s presence in the North American rail automation market and also strengthened the company’s PTC solution.