Thales and BLS have signed a frame contract to modernize the BLS rail lines.
Thales will supply electronic interlockings with optical signaling to BLS over the next ten years.
Thales made the following statement on this contract:
“By choosing Thales to supply new electronic interlockings, BLS maintains the continuity of rail services. BLS can utilize a number of synergies from the 23 stations that Thales has already installed on its railway network since 2003. These synergies include the planning, implementation and operation of the system along with employee training. This enables BLS to implement future projects more efficiently, as the employees are already familiar with the systems.
The annual electricity consumption of the retained solution has been a key strategic factor, as BLS it has consistently evaluated the environmental impact of this modernization over 40 years of operation. Together, Thales and BLS decided to test the power consumption of the proposed Thales solution. Measurements taken on installed systems showed that the Thales system is highly efficient and confirmed the lower power consumption.
Finally, Thales’ efficient and cost-effective solution will allow BLS to go further in modernizing its railway lines. Thales’ system offers also the ability to convert existing Thales interlockings to cab signaling ETCS L2 (European Train Control System Level 2) without replacing the interlocking indoor equipment. This approach will enable BLS to migrate existing lines to the modern ETCS-L2 train control system at lower cost in the future.”
“We are very pleased to again collaborate with BLS and to modernize this Swiss railway with Thales electronic interlockings, providing a mature and reliable system and ensuring high usability and efficiency to save energy. This new contract reinforces our excellent, long-standing relationship, which dates back more than 20 years and marks a great success for Thales Transport in Switzerland” said Kurt Sauerwein, Managing Director Ground Transportation Systems, Thales in Switzerland.
“Thales’s offer was convincing in terms of sustainability, a high level of synergies and a very good fulfilment of all our qualitative criteria. We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership” said Daniel Wyder, Head of Infrastructure at BLS
