Under the new contract, Hitachi Rail will upgrade the 140km line by providing ERTMS level 2 base line 3.6 systems and related equipment. Credit: Lukas Ganster on Unsplash.

Hitachi Rail has signed a contract with its technological partner Trafikverket (Ester) for the deployment of its ERTMS level 2 signalling system on the Malmbanan Arctic circle section in Sweden.

This initiative will be undertaken under Sweden’s railway digitalisation programme.

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Under the new contract, Hitachi Rail will upgrade the 140km-long line by providing ERTMS level 2 base line 3.6 systems and related equipment.

The 14 stations along this line, as well as technical buildings, will also be upgraded.

Under the Ester framework, Hitachi Rail collaborated with Trafikverket for the first time in 2008.

The collaboration involved the installation of the ERTMS technology on Haparandabanan as an ERTMS pilot line.

Hitachi Rail Nordic region head Eric Morand said: “We are very proud of Trafikverket again showing it’s confidence in Hitachi Rail and our contribution to the modernisation of this vital northern line. Further to that initial step, Hitachi Rail will be prepared for the same for the upcoming initiatives for the remaining core network to be upgraded by 2030 (mainly ScanMed East and ScanMed West).”

Last month, Hitachi Rail successfully completed the testing of its first battery-powered tram in Florence, Italy.

The battery tram was tested between Alamanni and Fortezza in Florence in revenue service on T1 and T2 lines, which is operated by Gestione Servizio Tramviario (GEST), a subsidiary of French public transport maintainer RATP.

Under the trial, battery packs were fitted on an existing Hitachi-built Sirio tram, which travelled some distance under battery power.

Battery trams will help in reducing the visual impact on urban streets and the cost of electrified infrastructure, which is usually required in the event of traditional tram lines.

The company is now working towards marketing these trams across the globe.