Hitachi Ansaldo Baltimore Rail Partners LLC: Awarded $400.5M Contract for Baltimore Metro Subway Link by the MTA

Hitachi Ansaldo Baltimore Rail Partners, LLC, a company established between Hitachi Rail Italy SpA and Ansaldo STS USA Inc. (the US subsidiary of Ansaldo STS SpA), has been awarded a $400.5 million contract from Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to provide a new metro fleet of railcars and a Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) system for the Baltimore Metro Subway Link.

The project features 78 state-of-the-art Hitachi railcars and the replacement of the existing signaling system with an advanced CBTC system by Ansaldo STS. The new Baltimore metro has been designed to be highly innovative in terms of safety, passenger comfort and design, with a 30-year life-cycle capable of providing an average journey of 80,000 miles per year.

Each bi-directional vehicle will have a minimum composition of two identical stainless steel cars, "married pair", with the ability for multiple compositions. Each car has 76 seats and a total capacity of 196 passengers. The floor structure guarantees fire resistance for at least 30 minutes, in compliance with the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 130 requirements. Each car is fully-motorized, with an IGBT inverter per each motor bogie.

All interiors, seat layouts, arrangement of accessories, and heating and lighting systems are designed to provide maximum comfort to passengers and to meet the requirements for access, travel and movement under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The vehicle is equipped with a ground / train communication system, a modern passenger information system and WiFi connection as well as a state-of-the-art integrated diagnostic system in the driver’s cab.

Particular care during the vehicle’s design has been given to the choice of materials able to reduce the weight and therefore energy use, in compliance with fire and smoke emission regulations, as well as to the maintenance of the new metro trains. The car head will be made of fiberglass and, combined with the presence of shaped LEDs, will deliver a modern and innovative design.

The Baltimore metro will be assembled at Hitachi Rail’s facility in Miami, Florida where metros for Miami Dade County are currently being manufactured. The first trainset for Baltimore Metro will enter into revenue service in 2021.

"With the Baltimore metro,” said Maurizio Manfellotto, CEO of Hitachi Rail Italy, “Hitachi is confirming its commitment and presence in the important U.S market. Not only will Hitachi provide new rail vehicles for the project but also the signaling, allowing our business to fully contribute to the development of passenger mobility for the US. Our goal is to always to satisfy the requirements of our customers and to provide innovative products which meet the needs of security, technology and sustainability.”

The award of the Baltimore project marks Ansaldo STS’s largest win in the U.S and represents a significant milestone in the company’s recognition as a major North American CBTC provider. The company has already successfully delivered and is delivering CBTC projects of similar caliber both in North America and globally. Ansaldo STS will integrate a new CBTC system into the existing 15.5 miles of MTA infrastructure.

"This landmark contract builds on the strong presence Ansaldo STS has in North America and represents our commitment to the improvement of MTA’s transit system. I am pleased that this is a strong example of the benefits of working in partnership with Hitachi to deliver this new high quality railway" said Andy Barr, CEO and general manager of Ansaldo STS.