The missing link

_{This article was written by Pip Brooking and published in the Innovations magazine #2}.

The Gotthard tunnel is due to open in 2016 and will be the longest rail tunnel in the world. Thales technology will keep trains rolling from end to end. Thales is now working as part of the Transtec Gotthard Consortium to supply the signalling infrastructure for the new route. This will enable more than 300 trains per day through the two tunnels at speeds of 250km per hour.

New Rail Link through the Alps

The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is currently undertaking one of the world’s largest construction projects – the NRLA (New Rail Link through the Alps). The aim is to:

boost connections with the rest of Europe,
cut journey times,
expand capacity,
encourage more freight off the roads.

The longest tunnel in the world

The first phase of the project, the 34.6km Lötschberg Base Tunnel, opened in 2007. The Gotthard tunnel, due to open in 2016, will be the longest rail tunnel in the world – stretching more than 57km. Such length brings considerable challenges in terms of logistics, implementation and safety requirements.

Thales signaling solutions

Thales has been working with SBB on signalling systems since 1997, when the first electronic interlocking system was put into operation. In 2004, a new high-speed line was put into operation between Mattstetten and Rothrist with an electronic interlocking system. And Thales has been able to provide the first examples of the new train control system, ETCS L1LS (Limited Supervision), in the country.

After successfully installing an advanced signalling solution for the Lötschberg tunnel, Thales is now working with AlpTransit Gotthard AG as part of the Transtec Gotthard Consortium to supply the signalling infrastructure for the new route. This includes electronic interlocking, ETCS level 2 and a centralized traffic control system, which will enable more than 300 trains per day through the two tunnels at speeds of 250km per hour. Transit time between Zurich and Milan will be reduced by an hour, to two hours and 40 minutes.These large-scale projects have given Thales the opportunity to develop a team of experienced specialists in the field of train control installations in Switzerland and build a competence centre for interoperability services for ETCS-compliant solutions.

This positions Thales well for further growth, as Switzerland continues to expand its rail infrastructure.