BASELLAND Transport (BLT), the operator of the light rail network in the Swiss city of Basle, has commissioned Stadler to equip its core network with the Nova Pro CBTC system, enabling automatic train operation (ATO).
This follows the introduction of ATO at Grade of Automation 2 (GoA2) on BLT’s Waldenburg Railway, the 13km light rail line from Liestal to Waldenburg where Nova Pro CBTC has been installed to replace conventional lineside signalling. Under GoA2, once the doors are closed and the driver has authorised departure, the LRV operates automatically.
Under a phased implementation programme, installation of Nova Pro onboard equipment will begin later this year on the 38 Tango and 25 Tina LRVs previously supplied by Stadler to BLT. Initial test operations are scheduled to begin on Line 11 of the BLT network in 2027.
Public 4G and 5G networks will be used for communications between onboard and trackside equipment. Stadler says that migration to Nova Pro will take place “within BLT’s existing infrastructure and system landscape.” The core network is intended to operate at GoA2, with the Nova Pro system capable of supporting fully unattended operation at GoA4.
“With successful operation on the Waldenburg Railway, expanding Nova Pro to our core network is the next logical step,” says Reto Rotzler, chief infrastructure officer (CIO) at BLT.
“Thanks to its scalable automation capabilities, Nova Pro ensures long-term usability and investment security.”
