Canadian firm Bombardier has won its first contract in China as part of the Bombardier and New United Group Signalling Solutions (BNS) joint venture (JV).

Under the RMB226m ($33m) contract, the new Chinese JV will deploy an upgraded rail control system for the metro network in Changzhou, Jiangsu province.

Bombardier holds a 50% stake in the JV, which it founded with New United Group (NUG) last year.

Scheduled to open in 2019, the 34km Metro Line 1 will stretch from the north of Changzhou to the south, thereby connecting its residential and business districts.

The line will also link the city's high-speed railway to its public bus network.

Bombardier China president Jianwei Zhang said: “We are very proud to have been selected by Changzhou Metro to provide our advanced rail control technology for the city’s first metro line.

“Bombardier's CityFlO solution will enable semi-automatic train operation on the line, planned to transport up to approximately 950,000 passengers per day at speeds of up to 80km/h.

“This will significantly improve the travel time for passengers across the city.”

“Bombardier's CityFlO solution will enable semi-automatic train operation on the line."

Compared to conventional signalling systems, the CityFlo 650 advanced automatic train control system efficiently carries out complex urban rail operations.

The on-board system uses wireless high-speed data communication to continuously monitor the location of trains, and automatically supervises train speeds to ensure shorter travel times.

It can also enhance the line´s capacity by safely reducing the distance between trains travelling along the same track.

Bombardier has also received a $370m order to deliver 52 additional Francilien electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter trains to the French National Railway Company Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF).


Image: Upgraded rail control solution to ensure faster and safer operation on Changzhou’s Metro Line 1. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.