CHILE’s state-owned operator Chilean National Railways (EFE) has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply ETCS Level 2 for two commuter lines totalling 87km. The value of the contract has not been disclosed.
Siemens will install its Signalling X platform for the first time in South America on the 61km line between Alameda and Melipilla and the 26km line between Santiago and Batuco, both located in the centre of the country. The deployment is part of EFE’s strategic plan to install ETCS Level 2 as part of future network developments which include new construction, line upgrades and electrification to extend the Santiago commuter network.
Signalling X, which integrates interlockings, signalling, and control systems into a centralised, virtual data centre, runs on the DS3 platform, specifically designed for Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL4) applications.
Under the terms of the contract, Siemens will design, supply, install and commission the new signalling as a five-year project, followed by 10 years of comprehensive maintenance, covering preventative, corrective, and predictive aspects.
Siemens plans to establish a regional software maintenance centre of competence to support this contract, which it says will allow it to participate in other similar projects across South America.
A year ago, EFE awarded Alstom a €55m contract to install a new digital signalling and train control system across 1800km of its network.
