Thales Equips CRRC Locomotives for Thailand with ETCS Devices

The French company Thales, a leader in technology and security systems, has successfully completed a project to equip 50 locomotives from the Chinese company CRRC Qishuyan for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) with modern onboard European Train Control System (ETCS) devices, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

This event marks a significant milestone in the development of the country’s transport infrastructure, ensuring the safety and efficiency of railway operations.

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ETCS, or the European Train Control System, is an advanced technology designed to standardize and enhance railway control and management systems in Europe and beyond.

The inclusion of this system in the locomotives supplied to Thailand demonstrates the country’s commitment to integrating modern technologies into its railway network.

A distinctive feature of the Thales RailBot family of devices is their modular design.

This allows for flexible integration into locomotive equipment, which is especially important for retrofitting existing rolling stock.

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RailBot offers a scalable system capable of upgrading to higher ETCS levels in the future and implementing automatic and unmanned driving functions.

The contract between Thales and CRRC was signed in January 2022 and became the largest project for Thales in terms of supplying RailBot devices.

Previously, Thales had successfully collaborated with CRRC, equipping eight shunting locomotives operating on the Berlin urban railway and three locomotives for the Czech passenger operator LEO Express.

For Thailand, this project continues a fruitful collaboration with Thales, which has previously completed six railway transport projects in the country.

However, none of the previous projects were limited to just the supply of onboard safety devices, highlighting the strategic importance of the current contract.

The use of ETCS in locomotives not only enhances safety but also improves operational efficiency.

The system allows for reduced intervals between trains, increased speed, and more precise movement control, ultimately leading to increased railway capacity and improved passenger service quality.

The development and implementation of technologies like ETCS demonstrate a commitment to sustainable development and modernization of transport systems.

The implementation of ETCS in Thailand not only facilitates integration with global railway standards but also opens new opportunities for the future development of the country’s transport network.

In conclusion, Thales’ project to equip CRRC locomotives for Thailand with ETCS devices represents a significant step forward in railway technology.

It underscores the importance of international cooperation and the application of advanced solutions to enhance the safety and efficiency of transport systems.

Photo: Thales

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