Hitachi Ansaldo Baltimore Rail Partners, a company established between Hitachi Rail Italy SpA and Ansaldo STS USA, Inc. (the US subsidiary of Ansaldo STS SpA), has been awarded a USD 400.5 million contract from Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to provide a new metro fleet of railcars and a Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) system for the Baltimore Metro Metro Link.
The project features 78 state-of-the-art Hitachi railcars and the replacement of the existing signalling system with an advanced CBTC system by Ansaldo STS. The new Baltimore metro has been designed to be highly innovative in terms of safety, passenger comfort and design, with a 30-year life-cycle capable of providing an average journey of 80,000 miles per year.
Each bi-directional vehicle will have a minimum composition of two identical stainless steel cars, “married pair”, with the ability for multiple compositions. Each car has 76 seats and a total capacity of 196 passengers. The floor structure guarantees fire resistance for at least 30 minutes, in compliance with the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 130 requirements. Each car is fully-motorized, with an IGBT inverter per each motor bogie. The vehicles are equipped with a ground / train communication system, a modern passenger information system and WiFi connection as well as a state-of-the-art integrated diagnostic system in the driver’s cab.
The Baltimore metro will be assembled at Hitachi Rail’s facility in Miami, Florida where metros for Miami Dade County are currently being manufactured. The first trainset for Baltimore Metro will enter in to revenue service in 2021.
“With the Baltimore metro, Hitachi is confirming its commitment and presence in the important US market. Not only will Hitachi provide new rail vehicles for the project but also the signalling, allowing our business to fully contribute to the development of passenger mobility for the US,” said Maurizio Manfellotto, CEO of Hitachi Rail Italy.
“This landmark contract builds on the strong presence Ansaldo STS has in North America and represents our commitment to the improvement of MTA’s transit system. I am pleased that this is a strong example of the benefits of working in partnership with Hitachi to deliver this new high quality railway,” said Andy Barr, CEO and General Manager of Ansaldo STS.
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