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Mexico: Thales wins first ETCS Level 2 signalling and telecommunications contract in Latin America

Key points

  • The suburban line between Mexico City and Toluca will be the first ETCS Level 2 signalling and telecommunication project in Latin America.
  • With its state-of-the-art signalling and telecommunication solution, the new line will carry up to 270,000 passengers per day.
  • The new 57 km rail link will allow 600,000 daily trips between Mexico City and Toluca, with an end-to-end journey time of 39 minutes.

Thales is to provide its ETCS Level 2 signalling technology for the suburban rail line between Mexico City and Toluca, the capital of the State of México. The contract was awarded to Thales as part of a consortium of Spanish companies and their Mexican subsidiaries*.

Toluca is a fast-growing industrial city with a population of 1.8 million, and the Mexico City-Toluca highway is one of Mexico’s busiest roads. The new 57 km rail link will remove an estimated 200,000 vehicles from the congested local road system and significantly reduce CO2 emissions. It is expected to carry 270,000 passengers per day between Mexico City and Toluca, with trains travelling at up to 160 km/h and an end-to-end journey time of 39 minutes.

Thales will deploy its state-of-the-art ETCS Level 2 signalling technology and telecommunications systems including GSM-R. This is the first implementation of the ETCS Level 2 signalling solution in the Latin America. In 2008, Thales deployed also the first ETCS Level 1 system on Mexico City's Buenavista-Cuautitlán line.

Thales is one of the principal suppliers of rail signalling technology and the world leader in ETCS solutions, with a 30% share of the global market. This latest contract in Mexico follows recent awards for ETCS and telecommunications solutions in Nigeria, Greece, Poland, Spain and Hungary, and confirms the continuing success of the company's international expansion strategy.

*Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA, CAF Signaling SA, CAF Mexico SA de CV, Construcciones Ferrovías y Subsistemas SA de CV, Construcciones Urales SA de CV , Isolux Ingeniería SA, Corsan-Corvian Construcción SA, Isolux de Mexico SA de CV

"Mexico is a key country for Thales in the region, where we have been present for almost 50 years as a reliable player in the aerospace, security, defense and transportation industries. This strategic achievement to signal the Mexico City-Toluca line crowns our footprint in the transportation sector in Mexico, where we have a strong presence in ticketing and toll systems, signaling and telecommunication”.

Ruben Lazo, Managing Director of Thales in Latin America

Notes to editors
ETCS (European Train Control System) is a modern train protection system that ensures the safe transportation of passengers and goods. In an effort to harmonise the continent’s networks, ETCS has been the European standard since 1986. Today, ETCS is in service not only in Europe but also in many countries around the world.
ETCS is a modular solution consisting of different levels. The main difference between ETCS Level 1 and ETCS Level 2 lies in the type of communication medium used between the vehicle and the trackside infrastructure. ETCS Level 1 communication is carried out using Eurobalise transponders already present on the tracks, while ETCS Level 2 uses GSM-R.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader in the Aerospace, Transportation, Defence & Security markets. In 2013, the company generated revenues of €14.2 billion with 65,000 employees in 56 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers and local partners.
 
Contact
Press Transportation Victoire Chartier
+33 1 57 77 90 22 victoire.chartier@thalesgroup.com