NY: Siemens Rail Automation to Upgrade Train Control Systems on Two Largest Commuter Lines in U.S.

Siemens Rail Automation, in a consortium with Bombardier Transportation, has been awarded a contract, not to exceed $428 million including all phases and options, by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to upgrade train control systems on the two largest commuter lines in the U.S.

Siemens and Bombardier will develop, test and commission a new Positive Train Control (PTC) system, a technology solution that helps monitors and control train movement, for the MTA Metro-North Railroad and MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) commuter lines. These improvements will increase efficiency on lines that carry around 80 million passengers per year.

The project will be delivered in phases on approximately 1100 km (700 miles) of track and 1500 vehicles across the two railroads. Siemens work scope for this project includes development, modification, design, delivery, provisioning, and supervision of testing and commissioning of the new Positive Train Control (PTC) carborne system. The scope also includes modifications and revision to existing railroads’ wayside signal in order to upgrade and add ACSES II-related hardware for the two complete PTC systems, one configured for Metro-North Railroad and one configured for Long Island Rail Road.

“Siemens is a leading provider of rail automation technologies worldwide, and we are excited to bring this global expertise to advance rail efficiency on these highly traveled commuter lines,” said John Paljug, president of Siemens Rail Automation. “We look forward to continuing Siemens strong relationship with the MTA and delivering technology that will make rail travel increasingly efficient for the over 80 million passengers that travel these lines each year.”

Siemens has developed PTC, a signal enforcement system that will lead to more efficient train control, specifically for the North American market and in accordance with U.S. Congress’ Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. The act mandates widespread installation of PTC systems by December 2015 on rail lines which carry at least five million gross tons of freight annually, on Class I railroads that ship Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH) commodities, and on lines where intercity passenger rail and commuter service is regularly operated. The train control system works to prevent train accidents caused by errors such as overspeed conditions or overrunning red signals.

This is the first major signalling contract for Siemens Rail Automation in the U.S. since its acquisition of Invensys Rail, which expanded the company’s presence in the North American rail automation market and also strengthened the company’s Positive Train Control solution.