Thales’ CBTC technology celebrates 25 years of success

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Invented 25 years ago, Thales’ CBTC technology for train control systems remains the benchmark technology.

The first fully automatic (driverless) CBTC system was commissioned at the World Expo in Vancouver in 1986.

The CBTC is an automatic rail traffic control system based on continuous communication between the train and the computers responsible for controlling the traffic.

Compared with conventional railway signalling systems that manage the distances between trains in real time, CBTC technology allows trains to be operated with intervals right down to 60 seconds, all the while ensuring optimum operational safety.

Today, CBTC signalling is still the ‘benchmark technology for metro operators across the globe’ and 90% of requests for metro signalling require it. The technology has proven its efficiency, but also its ability to optimise costs in terms of system lifecycles.

Thales has rolled out its SelTrac CBTC solution on 30 of the largest urban transport networks in the World.

One of the most prestigious projects is the Dubai metro. Inaugurated in September 2009, it covers 52 kilometres with the red line, to which 17.6 kilometres of the green line will be added, due to open in 2011.

It will become the largest CBTC driverless metro in the world. The metro in Dubai is equipped with Thales’ comprehensive range, comprising CBTC signalling, ticketing, telecommunications and supervision.

Gabriel Colceag, Manager of Thales’ urban signalling of transport systems explains:

“With this global approach, CBTC technology is becoming a core technology at the heart of the transport system. From now on, it is a major global tool for the management of information, communication, supervision and security systems that enables operators to transport their passengers in a more efficient way.”

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