Thales wins a €18.2 million train control contract in San Francisco

Thales, the world leader in innovative transportation solutions, was awarded a contract from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) for the design and construction of advanced train control technology for the new Central Subway project, an extension of the existing T Line.

Thales will supply its field-proven SelTrac® CBTC (Communications Based Train Control) Technology for the agency’s 1.7 mile extension of the T line, a solution designed to improve transit options for residents in one of the city’s most densely populated neighborhoods, provide a rapid transit link to a burgeoning technology and digital-media hub, and improve access to a premier commercial district and tourist attraction.

For SFMTA, the SelTrac® CBTC solution provides maximum performance in terms of headways, passenger throughput, and energy conservation. It knows the position of each train to a high degree of accuracy, which allows faster response times, more tightly controlled movements, and easier expandability and adaptability. In addition, the solution offers the opportunity to lower life-cycle costs and increase revenue by moving more people more quickly. For passengers, the SelTrac® CBTC system will result in safe operations and a more predictable commute.

Thales already supplies automatic train control technology for the Market Street subway in the SFMTA system; the award of this contract will ensure seamless integration and interoperability within the SFMTA subway environment.

The SFMTA is the seventh largest public transit agency in the United States, providing transit services to more than 200 million riders annually. The Central Subway Project is the second phase of the SFMTA Third Street Light Rail Transit Project. The Central Subway is expected to be opened to the public in 2019.