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The contract covers a two-year period. In the first phase, which kicked off in December 2007, Thales will modernise the existing system and provide identical functionalities. Commissioning is scheduled for February 2009. The second phase, which is due for delivery in the last quarter of 2009, calls for the integration of more advanced functions including remotely controlled imaging.

Thales won the contract on the basis of its unrivalled engineering expertise acquired through more than 40 years experience. The proposed traffic control system is built around the Thales SCADASoft platform, a fully modular, custom-configurable and scaleable solution to meet all the customer's needs.

Erik Baele, IT Manager at STIB (Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles): "Our old system had reached obsolescence and STIB was looking for an advanced metro traffic control system that offered proven capability and could be implemented rapidly. The software platform proposed by Thales easily met these criteria and also offered the best value for money. What's more, Thales committed firmly to meeting the deadline set by STIB and to delivering future upgrades such as automatic driverless train control. Combined, these were the decisive factors in our choice. STIB is delighted to be teaming with Thales on this project and we are confident that we can now meet the challenge of being ready in time for delivery of the newly reorganised metro system in early 2009."

Commenting, Bruno Vazzoler, VP managing director Integrated Communication & Supervision Systems of Thales Transportation Systems, said: "We already have a strong track record in markets around the globe, especially in Asia and Latin America, and are now keen to strengthen our presence in Europe. This new contract in Belgium will give us a high-profile reference in the European metro refurbishment market. I would also like to add how pleased we are to be working with STIB, whose teams have taken a highly cooperative approach to the project on the basis of ongoing dialogue and exchange."

About Thales

Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales's leading-edge technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. To this end, the group's civil and military businesses develop in parallel and share a common base of technologies to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. The group builds its growth on its unique multi-domestic strategy based on trusted partnerships with national customers and market players, while leveraging its global expertise to support local technology and industrial development. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with 2007 revenues of €12.3 billion.

Improving the quality of service and security in the transport sector
Thales provides solutions for three main transportation segments: rail signalling, integrated communication and supervision systems and ticketing. Thales offers a comprehensive range of integrated, modular solutions for the safe transportation of people and goods covering all forms of transport: from bus, metro, tramway and regional train networks to mainline (high-speed) links and road transport.

Press Contacts

Thales, Security Solutions & Services
Victoire Le Barazer
Tel. +33 1 73 32 13 20
victoire.lebarazer@thalesgroup.com

Thales, Corporate Communications
Christophe Robin
Tel. +33 1 57 77 86 26
christophe.robin@thalesgroup.com