Biggest order for rail infrastructure: Copenhagen to get signaling worth 252 million euros

Modern infrastructure makes mass transit more attractive and lowers the CO2 impact

Erlangen, Germany - Banedanmark, the Danish railway infrastructure operator, has placed a contract with Siemens for the modernization of the complete signaling system of the Copenhagen commuter rail (“S-Bane”) network. The order worth 252 million euros is the biggest for Siemens in the rail automation business. It calls for the supply and installation of the fully automatic Trainguard MT type train control system, Sicas type electronic interlockings, and point machines. The equipment package also includes a brand-new operations control center. The first of six construction phases equipped with the new signaling system is scheduled to go into operation already before the end of 2014. The contract also includes maintenance of the system for 25 years.

Copenhagen’s commuter rail lines are to be equipped initially for Semi-Automated Train Operation. This will shorten the service interval between trains in the inner-city area from the present 120 seconds to 90 seconds. The replacement of the present signaling system, parts of which are more than 50 years old, is intended to substantially increase the capacity and the reliability of current rail services. This will make riding the S-Bane more attractive to commuters and therefore lower the use of individual transport. At the same time, these modern systems will cut energy consumption. “By modernizing its railway infrastructure, Copenhagen is pursuing a bold plan to make the city carbon neutral by 2025. For Siemens, this also marks the biggest rail automation order we have ever received,” said Hans-Jörg Grundmann, CEO of the Siemens Mobility Division. The contract also includes the option for the conversion to driverless operation at a later date.

The modernization of Copenhagen’s S-Bane network is part of the government’s program of renewing the entire railway signaling in Denmark by the year 2020. The aim of this program is to boost the capacity and reliability of complete rail service by the year 2030. It is the biggest and most sweeping modernization project of its kind ever seen in Europe. A total of 3.2 billion euros has been allocated for this purpose. “The Danish Parliament – the Folketing – has set itself a target of doubling the capability of the domestic railway services by 2030. One of the missions to be accomplished in order to meet that target is the equipping of the Copenhagen commuter rail network with a new signaling system,” says Jesper Hansen, CEO of Banedanmark.

Siemens Mobility is to equip the 170 kilometers of Copenhagen’s double-track S-Bane (commuter rail) network for Communication Based Train Control, an automatic radio-based train control system. The 135 S-Bane trains currently in use, the maintenance fleet, and the tracks of the seven commuter rail lines will be successively modernized in six constructions phases by the year 2018.

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the worldwide leading supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation and building technologies. With integrated automation technologies and comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. In fiscal 2010, which ended on September 30, 2010, revenue from continuing operations of the Industry Sector (excluding Osram) totaled around €30.2 billion. At the end of September 2010, Siemens Industry Sector had around 164,000 employees worldwide without consideration of Osram. Further information is available on the Internet at: http://www.siemens.com/industry

The Siemens Mobility Division (Berlin, Germany) is the internationally leading provider of transportation and logistics solutions. With “Complete mobility”, the Division is focused on networking the various modes of transportation in order to ensure the efficient and environmentally compatible transport of people and goods. “Complete mobility” targets the goal of sustainability and combines the company’s competence in operations control systems for railways and traffic control systems for roadways together with solutions for airport and postal logistics, railway electrification, rolling stock for mass transit, regional and mainline services, as well as turnkey systems and forward-looking service concepts. With around 24,000 employees worldwide Siemens Mobility posted sales of €6.5 billion in fiscal year 2010 (ended September 30). www.siemens.com/mobility

Reference Number: I20110843e