China Adopts European Signalling Technology

The Chinese Ministry of Railways (MOR) will install $91m worth of European rail traffic management system (ERTMS) equipment on China's high speed rail line between the cities of Wuhan and Guangzhou.

Supplier Bombardier Transportation will also install, test and commission the ERTMS Level 2 onboard and wayside signalling equipment for China Railway Signalling and Communications Corp (CRSC).

The new signalling system for China will manage very high-speed (VHS) traffic travelling at speeds up to 300km/h along nearly 1,000km of rail line.

The INTERFLO 450 ERTMS Level 2 signalling system will consist of 120 onboard systems for 60 VHS train sets and nine RBCs (Radio Block Centres) for the line and stations. It will also provide signalling support on interface specifications and interoperability.

The system is scheduled to enter commercial operation in January 2010.

The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) is a European Union (EU) backed standard being deployed in many European countries.

Reported by Ozge Ibrahim