news

Thales and Siemens awarded $60 million contract for MTA New York City transit’s Culver test track project

Posted: 13 March 2012 | Thales | No comments yet

Thales and Siemens have been awarded a contract…

Flushing Line Train

Thales and Siemens announced today that they have been awarded a contract to provide a permanent communications-based train control (CBTC) test track facility for Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT). The test facility, to be installed on an express track of the subway system’s Culver line, will offer a controlled environment for NYCT CBTC equipment scenario trials and assessment. The 4-year contract is valued at over $60 million (around €45 million).

CBTC technology manages all train movements and signaling, safely reducing the amount of headway required between trains. This enables an operator to increase the number of trains running on a line, providing daily riders with a safer, more comfortable and less crowded daily commute.

Under this contract, Thales and Siemens will work together to provide NYCT with a set of specifications, which will be used as a standard for NYCT’s future CBTC projects. The two companies will create a fully operational test track that will be used by NYCT to test and validate the interoperability of CBTC equipment from any supplier that complies with these published specifications.

“Thales is proud to be selected, with Siemens, to deliver this important project for the NYCT,” said Allan Cameron, president and CEO of Thales USA. “The establishment of the Culver test track will provide an important validation and risk mitigation tool for NYCT as it rolls out its long-term CBTC interoperability program.”

“We achieved a major milestone with the successful deployment of CBTC in revenue service on the Canarsie line, and are pleased to be once again working with NYCT on the deployment of this technology, ” said Gert Seidel, vice president and general manager, Siemens Rail Automation business in the United States. “We look forward to partnering with Thales to provide NYCT with technology that will improve the travel experience of its passengers.”

The test track will be established on NYCT’s Culver Line, also known as the F-Line. When not in use for CBTC testing, the test track will support unequipped revenue service.

Related organisations
,