Hong Kong metro operator MTR has awarded a €28m contract to Alstom to replace track circuits, which are part of the signalling system, of five MTR lines and Airport Express in its metro network by early 2019.
Generally, metro track circuits are used to ensure the integrity of the rails and detect the position of trainsets on the lines.
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The five MTR lines includes the Island line (ISL), Kwun Tong (KTL), Tsuen Wan (TWL), the East Harbor Crossing (EHC) section of Tseung Kwan O line (TKL), and the Tung Chung line (TCL).
The original track circuits for the six lines, which are currently being replaced with the latest generation of track circuits to function for another 20 years, were supplied and equipped by Alstom between 1985 and 1998.
It is reported that no interruptions will occur on the lines, as the works will be performed during non-traffic hours.
Led by Alstom Hong Kong, the project will be supported by Alstom signalling teams in Saint-Ouen, France. Alstom has supplied more than 1,100 metro cars to MTR and equipped six lines with signalling systems.
Last January, MTR awarded a €330m contract to Thales and Alstom to upgrade the signalling systems of its seven metro lines.
Under the project, the firms were responsible for equipping the MTR lines with the latest communications-based train control (CBTC) technology, safely adding capacity, reliability and maintainability on the existing infrastructure system.
Image: Alstom employees work on signalling in Hong Kong. Photo: courtesy of Alstom.
