SIEMENS Mobility has been awarded a contract to supply a complete digital signalling system providing automatic train operation (ATO) over ETCS Level 2 by Trivia Trens, the Comporte subsidiary that will operate lines 11-Coral, 12-Sapphire and 13-Jade of the São Paulo commuter network in Brazil.
Under a 25-year concession contract signed with the São Paulo state government on May 21, Trivia Trens is currently undertaking staff recruitment and training. The handover from current operator São Paulo Metropolitan Trains (CPTM) will take place under a transitional phase running until July 2026, which could be extended to January 2027 if needed.
Covering 140km of lines serving 46 stations, the signalling contract represents the largest deployment of ETCS Level 2 in Latin America, according to Siemens. The value of the contract was not disclosed.
The contract includes design, supply, installation, commissioning and assisted operation of the new signalling system, and retrofitting Trainguard ETCS onboard units to a variety of rolling stock built by different manufacturers.
Fleet fitment will comprise:
- 107 Trivia EMUs
- Six locomotives owned by freight operator MRS Logística
- Three locomotives operated by Trivia, and
- 17 track maintenance vehicles.
Siemens will supply an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATS), as well as electronic interlockings, a radio block centre and complete trackside equipment, backed by a two-year warranty and the supply of spare parts. Movement authority will be transmitted by Tetra radio.
ATO will enable operation at Grade of Automation 2 (GoA2), setting precise acceleration and braking patterns to optimise train headway. As well as increasing capacity by up to 30%, Siemens says that ATO will significantly reduce energy consumption and peak power demand.
The streamlined architecture of the new signalling system will also significantly reduce maintenance requirements. With fewer trackside components and capable of being upgraded in the future, “this solution represents a future-proof investment for São Paulo's expanding mobility needs,” Siemens says.
“By implementing ATO over ETCS Level 2 in São Paulo's busy metropolitan network, we're setting new standards for automated urban rail transport in the region,” says Marc Ludwig, CEO of rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility.
