Qinghai-Tibet Railway awards ITCS signalling contract to Alstom

CASCO Signalling Co. Ltd – an Alstom and Chinese joint venture – have been awarded a contract by Qinghai-Tibet Railway Company to supply a Train Control System (ITCS) signalling solution.

The contract, worth over €15 million, will see CASCO Signalling Co. Ltd supply and improve the ITCS signalling solution on the 1,956km Qinghai-Tibet regional line between the cities of Golmod and Lhasa. It is Alstom’s first ITCS contract since the integration of GE signalling.

ITCS signalling solution on the 1,145 km stretch of line

Golmud to Lhasa section is 1,145 km long and includes 45 stations on which passenger regional and freight trains circulate. In order to increase the capacity of the line, Qinghai-Tibet Railway Company has obtained approval to add 13 new stations by the end of 2016, and revamp and/or relocate 18 existing stations by the end of 2017. With the line being modified, there was a need to improve the existing signalling system. This project will allow for more people to take the trains and optimise the transport capacity and availability of the line while enhancing the local economy.

Commenting on the contract Ling Fang, Managing Director of China and East Asia for Alstom said, “This contract is a breakthrough for Alstom after the successful integration of GE signalling. With an enhanced signalling solution portfolio addressing urban, regional and mainline, and through our strategic local partner CASCO, we are China preferred partner to support its railway projects throughout the country.”