The first fully automated metro line in Latin America is opened in São Paulo – Siemens supplies automation technology

Erlangen, Germany, ViaQuatro, the operator of Line 4 of the São Paulo Metro, opened the initial section of this line at the end of May. This makes São Paulo, Brazil the first city in Latin America to have a fully automated, driverless metro system. ViaQuatro had commissioned Siemens Mobility to expand the new line in 2007.

Line 4 in this Brazilian metropolis covers a distance of 12.8 km and serves eleven stations. The first section that has now been opened includes two stations located 2.5 km apart and connects Line 4 to the rest of the São Paulo Metro system. All stations are equipped with platform screen doors. This fully automated line enables trains to run at closer headways than conventional driver-operated systems and ensures optimum safety conditions. When fully completed, Line 4 is expected to carry approximately 900,000 passengers daily.

The line section, the metro trains and the operations control center are all equipped with the automatic train control system, Trainguard MT CBTC from Siemens. The driverless metro trains will be operated as a shuttle service between the two stations. Three trains have been equipped for this service. The depot will be controlled by the Siemens-built Sicas interlocking system.

As leader of the consortium, Siemens Mobility supplied the ATC system Trainguard MT CBTC, which employs CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) technology to enable driverless operation. The supply included both wayside and onboard equipment to operate the train in fully automated and unattended service. Siemens also installed the Vicos CBTC Central Control Station, an automatic traffic supervision solution specially designed for the CBTC technology, as well as the Sicas electronic interlocking system. The Hyundai-Rotem company is supplying 84 cars to make up the 14 metro trains.

The remaining section of the line will be opened in the next phases of the project. Besides the onboard Trainguard MT CBTC system, Siemens will install a passenger information system, a video surveillance system and a train radio system. In addition to the Vicos CBTC system, the operations control center will be equipped with a Scada system. It will monitor and control not only the metro line, the stations and the depot, but also the train communication system and the video surveillance system supplied by Siemens for the trains and stations.

Trainguard MT CBTC is already operating in Paris, New York and Barcelona. This automatic train control system has also been earmarked for the metro projects in Algiers, Budapest and Helsinki.

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the world’s leading supplier of production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. With integrated automation technologies as well as comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. The Sector consists of six Divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility and Osram. With around 207,000 employees worldwide Siemens Industry posted sales of about EUR35 billion in fiscal year 2009. http://www.siemens.com/industry

The Mobility Division (Erlangen, 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 25,000 employees worldwide Siemens Mobility posted sales of EUR6.4 billion in fiscal year 2009 (ended September 30). www.siemens.com/mobility

Reference Number: IMO201006029e