World's largest contract for railway monitoring system
Paris, April 8, 2004 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today announced that it has been awarded a contract to deliver control and safety train detection systems, including several thousand advanced-technology axle counters, to the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA). This contract, valued at approximately 20 million Euros, is the largest ever signed worldwide for this class of railway monitoring solution.
Alcatel will equip the entire Taiwanese network (approx. 1100 km, about 40% electro-powered) with 6,200 axle counters within the next two years. About 2,500 multiple-section axle counters and 3,700 single section axle counters will therefore be installed for automatic train detection in all stations and track sections. The project will be executed in three phases, during which Alcatel will deliver equipment and provide training, enabling the customer to install the axle counters .
Axle counters ensure reliable and safe train detection on tracks and are therefore crucial for railway control and safety. Alcatel's axle counters are built to high standards of availability and reliability, their per section installation and maintenance costs over the entire life cycle are low and are virtually maintenance free. Furthermore, they are designed for a long service life in extreme environmental conditions, such as the tropical climate prevalent in Taiwan.
Alcatel 6315 FieldTrac is a two out of two microprocessor-based multiple-section axle counter system. It can evaluate and monitor up to 32 sections simultaneously. Alcatel 6316 FieldTrac, a single section axle counter, is able to evaluate three detection points and monitor one section.
Hans Leibbrand, Head of Alcatel's transport solution activities in Germany, said: "We are proud to have delivered the first axle counters worldwide certified for the highest safety integrity level (SIL 4) in accordance with CENELEC (European committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) standards".
Increasing numbers of railway operators are replacing their old train detection systems with axle counters. With over 35,000 electronic axle counters already installed in over 30 countries, this new contract further strengthens Alcatel's position as the world market leader in providing axle counter solutions and technology for train detection.
About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or to their employees. Alcatel leverages its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services to bring value to its customers in the framework of a broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.5 billion in 2003, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
About Alcatel's Transport Solutions
Alcatel Transport Solutions is a leading global supplier of train control, signaling, interlocking, control center and integrated rail communications technology. For main lines operators around the world, Alcatel's offering includes its proven interlocking technologies LockTrac, its train control technology AlTrac (including AlTrac/ETCS), its network management solutions NetTrac and its field equipment FieldTrac (axle counters, point machines, signals…). For more information, visit us on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com/tas | |
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