Thailand enhances rail safety across 48 train stations with Thales
• Thales, in a consortium with River Engineering, will design, deliver and install the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 1 Automatic Train Protection system on four sections of track across 48 stations around Bangkok.
• As a significant player in the transportation sector in Thailand, Thales first introduced its ETCS technology in 2017 on Thailand’s East Coast Line, followed by Bangkok’s Red Line commuter trains, and provides ticketing systems on Bangkok’s Blue Line Extension.
• In main line signalling, Thales' high tech systems cover 17,000 kilometers of track in 38 countries.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is pushing ahead with the modernisation of the country’s rail network, with an investment plan to turn railroads within 500 kilometres of Bangkok into an electric system. The first phase of this modernisation started with upgrades to the signalling system to European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 1, a European-wide standard that boosts capacity and increases reliability of rail networks.
Through a contract signed with SRT, Thales, together with its consortium partner River Engineering, is supporting Thailand’s revival of its rail industry, with the design, supply and install ETCS Level 1 on four individual sections on SRT’s railway network, covering significant swathes of SRT’s four lines (Northern, North-Eastern, Eastern and Southern Lines). The project is anticipated to take the next two years, and supports SRT as they modernise their railway network with ETCS as the standard Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
The signalling project will cover 48 stations, from Lop Buri in the north to Nakhon Pathom in the south and Map Kabao in the north-east. The longest stretch being installed with ETCS Level 1 will be on 21 stations from Hua Mak to Laem Chabang, enabling commuters to safely and efficiently reach the furthest eastern part of Thailand by rail.
Thales has established strong capabilities in the transportation sector in recent years, including Automatic Fare Collection systems and maintenance for the Bangkok Blue Line extension, the first phase of which was recently inaugurated in July this year. Thales first brought its ETCS technology to Thailand in 2017 for the Double Track Railway project (104 kilometres from Chachoengsao - Klong Sip Kao - Kaeng Khoi). In 2018, its reputation for ETCS technology was reaffirmed with the award to deliver the technology on 41 kilometres of the Bangkok Red Line, which is expected to serve over 130,000 commuters daily. This latest contract with SRT reinforces the company’s leading position in the railway signalling domain in Thailand
The Thales ETCS Level 1 system will ensure the highest safety standards for railway transportation in Thailand. First developed to promote interoperability across European rail networks, the system is increasingly adopted by rail operators worldwide. ETCS will continuously calculate a safe maximum speed for each train, with cab signalling for the driver and on-board systems that take control if the permissible speed is exceeded. The implementation of ETCS Level 1 technology can be easily superimposed on the existing national signalling systems ensuring minimal disruption, and is said to boost capacity of existing networks by up to 40%.
“In main line signalling, Thales' high tech systems cover 17,000 kilometers of track in 38 countries and support Thailand’s “One Transport for All” vision, with a shared objective in helping connect the country and enabling commuters to travel with ease. As a pioneer in ETCS technology in Thailand, this project further enhances our presence in the transportation sector and positions us as the leading partner to SRT in mainline transportation and signalling. We look forward to working with our partner, River Engineering, to modernise Thailand’s rail network and build it for the future.” said Mr. Massimo Marinzi, Country Director, Thales in Thailand.
