International Transit Supplier News Roundup for March 2021

In early March, Alstom signed a purchase agreement for the acquisition of Shunter, a services company in the area of maintenance of rolling stock for freight and passenger transport in the Netherlands. Alstom notes the transaction will reinforce its position in the Benelux maintenance market by combining both companies’ capabilities, solutions and products to the benefit of railway operators. It will also reinforce Alstom’s global maintenance services with a physical presence in the Port of Rotterdam.

“We are very enthusiastic to integrate Shunter's expertise, which is widely recognized by the operators,” said Alstom Managing Director Benelux Bernard Belvaux,. “Shunter’s full maintenance expertise will complement Alstom’s knowledge and installed base in products and solutions. It will enable us to become an even stronger maintenance partner to our customers, increasing availability and reducing the total cost of ownership of their fleets.”

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Keolis has been awarded a contract to operate and maintain the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, metro and tram networks. The initial contract is for a nine-year term with the possibility of a six-year extension. Keolis, along with its partners Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering and Mitsubishi Corporation, will begin the contract’s term in September 2021.

The Dubai metro network is the longest fully driverless and automated metro network in the world with two lines spanning a total of 90 km (55.9 miles), including 15.8 km (9.8 miles) of tunnel and 53 fully air-conditioned stations offering a host of facilities ranging from retail outlets to Wi-Fi.

His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Roads & Transport Authority said, “We at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority are keen on ensuring the highest standards of operation, maintenance, security and safety for the metro and tram riders and achieving competitive performance indicators of operation and punctuality of journeys besides improving the quality of services provided to metro and tram riders. According to the contract, the consortium shall undertake the operation and maintenance services of the Dubai Metro Red and Green lines as well as Route 2020. It will also cater to the operation of Dubai Tram, and all assets of the metro and tram networks including trains, control centers, stations and the associated infrastructure.”

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Moscow Metro will modernize its Wi-Fi network in 2021 with the planned installation of 100 additional base stations, an increase in the bandwidth of the communication channel and the start of testing of the Wi-Fi 6 network. Moscow Metro says passengers will have access to a maximum internet speed of more than 200 Mbps.

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Wabtec Corporation secured an order to supply Siemens Mobility with several products for the London Underground’s Piccadilly Upgrade Program, which aims to replace the aging rolling stock, signaling and control systems across four lines. The first phase of the program is aimed at modernizing the fleet serving the Piccadilly Line with new trains.

The deal, valued at more than US$70 million, is for brakes, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC), passenger information systems and third-rail current collectors.

“London Underground is one of the world’s busiest transit systems with millions of passenger journeys per day. As such, it requires the most reliable and efficient solutions to deliver the expected flawless transport for Londoners” said Lilian Leroux, president of Wabtec’s Transit business. “These orders build upon our long-standing relationship with Siemens Mobility and will support one of the most modern and sustainable metros ever built