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Bombardier is installing its first communications-based train control system on a metro in Europe, following the award of a euro104 million contract from Madrid Metro.
FACED with the renovation of its lines 1 and 6, Madrid Metro has selected the Cityflo 450 communication-based train control (CBTC) system from Bombardier Transportation. Madrid Metro wanted to increase capacity on both lines, but without extensive changes to the infrastructure, and it was felt that only a CBTC system could achieve that. Furthermore, the system should have the ability to evolve into a fully automated system.
Line 1 is 16.7km long and Line 6 is 23.5km long. Each line has 27 stations. The project involves equipping the 68 trains on Line 1 and the 49 trains on Line 6 with automatic train protection (ATP) and automatic train operation (ATO).
Cityflo 450 features moving block operation with driver semi-automatic train operation (STO) using radio communication between train and wayside. It can either operate as just a moving block overlay system for new installations or installations already in service, or as a moving block system with a fixed block track-circuit based fall-back system, as in the case of Madrid Metro. Furthermore, Cityflo 450 can in the future be upgraded to Cityflo 650, a fully automated system.
The main objective facing Madrid Metro was how to increase the capacity of lines 1 and 6 while at the same time maintain operation without any reduction in the capacity during the upgrading work.
Headways on Line 1 are currently between 148 and 156 seconds, and between 143 and 174 seconds on Line 6. Cityflo 450 will be designed to meet Madrid Metro's...