PORTUGUESE infrastructure manager Infrastructure Portugal (IP) has awarded Hitachi Rail a contract to develop and obtain approval for an ERTMS Specific Transmission Module (STM). Contract value has not been disclosed, but the base contract is understood to be worth €1.5m.
The award represents an important step in supporting the country’s transition from the national legacy Convel Class B automatic train protection (ATP) system to ETCS Level 2, in line with the nationally defined ERTMS migration roadmap.
During the transition phase, trains will be fitted with both ETCS onboard equipment and the new STM, allowing operations to continue on lines where ETCS has not been installed.
IP says the development and certification of the new STM will help to diversify the supply chain, reduce dependence on a single technology provider and foster a more competitive and resilient market. It is being developed as an external module and will be made available to the market under fair, reasonable and non‑discriminatory conditions.
“This contract is an important milestone for the modernisation of Portuguese rail,” says Joaquim Santos, country director at Hitachi Rail. “By developing this STM for the national network, we are helping create a more resilient and competitive technological foundation for the sector, while supporting IP in delivering an efficient and future‑ready transition to ERTMS."
