New contract for Thales to provide CBTC Signalling to Vancouver’s Broadway Subway Project
• Thales has been selected to provide its SelTrac™ Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling technology for the Vancouver Broadway Subway Project
• The Broadway Subway is an extension of the SkyTrain Millennium Line, extending 5.7 km along the Broadway Corridor.This new line will significantly relieve traffic congestion and commute times for Vancouver residents, as the Broadway Corridor is one of the busiest bus routes in North America and the second-largest employment centre in British Columbia.
• Thales brings a wealth of worldwide expertise to the project, with the Expo, Millennium and Canada lines in Vancouver already equipped with the Thales SelTrac™ technology, along with other successful global projects in Toronto, New York City, Dubai, Doha and Santiago.
Thales has been contracted by the Broadway Subway Constructors General Partnership (BSCGP) to provide the signalling for the new Broadway Subway, a direct extension of the current Millennium Line, which is also equipped with the Thales SelTrac™ CBTC signalling solution. The province of British Columbia selected BSCGP to complete the design and construction of the line, which will be operated and maintained by British Columbia Rapid Transit.
The Broadway Subway will extend the Millennium Line 5.7 km to the west, from VCC-Clark Station to a new station at Arbutus Street, with a fully integrated interchange where the existing Canada Line will intersect. From the Arbutus Station, the 99 B-Line bus service will connect passengers to the University of British Columbia.The new line will consist of 700 metres of elevated track and proceed underground for 5 km, with six stations below the Broadway Corridor.
Dominique Gaiardo, Vice President and Managing Director for Thales’ Urban Rail Signalling business
Thales has a 34-year history within the province of British Columbia, deploying the world’s first driverless CBTC system on the SkyTrain Expo Line and in recent years providing next generation signalling to the Millennium (including Evergreen extension) and Canada lines. Thales’ extensive knowledge of the network and signalling experience minimizes integration and project delivery time risks. Thales has an urban rail signalling competence centre located in Burnaby, B.C, which will provide specialized rail signalling experts and local experience to the project.
The Broadway Subway Project is expected to commence construction in 2020, with a five-year project duration and a scheduled public opening in 2025.