Alstom starts to deliver the new signalling system for the São Paulo driverless metro

In accordance with a contract signed with the State of São Paulo in July 2008, Alstom begins to deliver the fully automated control system for the lines 1, 2 and 3 of São Paulo Metro.

The contract implies the complete renovation of the existing train control of these 3 lines (signaling, operational control center, telecommunications, infrastructure, multimedia, access control and maintenance), with the supply of Urbalis, Alstoms CBTC system (network integrating radio technology).

The first phase concerns the equipment of the line 2s extension, which counts 3 additional stations and makes the line longer of 3.5 km. The service will not be interrupted during the upgrade of the system.

Urbalis is a complete train control and telecommunication system based on a CBTC. Alstom will equip all the lines with this solution which allows more efficient operation and makes it possible to increase train frequency and transport capacity, as well as easier maintenance (as the radio-based system requires less efforts than the wires). With CBTC system in operation, the headway between trains will be reduced.

Alstoms Information Solutions unit in Brazil is the main responsible for the project. It employs more than 450 employees. Other Alstom units in Saint-Ouen (France), Villeurbane (France), Bologna (Italy), Montreal (Canada) and Bangalore (India) are also involved.

This contract is the largest signaling project ever won by Alstom in the world and is the companys first CBTC in Latin America.

Alstom was responsible for the driverless system of Singapore metro, the worlds first automatic metro without conductor, as well as the driverless networks of Lausanne (M2), Beijing (line 2) and Shanghai (line 10). The Urbalis train signaling system has also been installed in other major cities such as Milan, Delhi, Santiago, Daegu, Istanbul, Cairo, Incheon, Seoul and Madrid.