Alstom has been awarded the contract to design and supply the rolling stock and signalling for the fully automated Grand Paris Express Line 18.
Line 18 is a 35-kilometre automatic metro line that will include 14km of overhead lines. It will link Versailles to Orly airport in 30 minutes, passing through the Saclay plateau.
Alstom was selected by Société du Grand Paris, in agreement with Île-de-France Mobilités. It will supply a maximum of 37 trainsets, with an initial firm order made for 15.
The rolling stock for Line 18 belongs to the same range as Alstom’s Metropolis metros for lines 15, 16 and 17 on the Grand Paris Express. At peak times, each train will be able to carry 498 passengers – 54 seated – at speeds of up to 100km per hour.
The contract, valued at roughly 230 million euros (265.33m USD), also includes the deployment of a complete signalling system that uses three different technologies.
The Urbalis Fluence automatic train control will improve the line’s overall performance by reducing intervals between trains, while the Iconis centralised controls allow for automated traffic management with a high level of operational flexibility, enabling operators to develop advanced regulation scenarios.
Finally, Alstom will also supply a robust data transmission system.
“Alstom teams are especially proud to win the contract for Line 18 of the Île-de-France network. After the Toulouse metro system, awarded to us last year, this contract is further recognition of our expertise in integrated turnkey metro systems and digital mobility. This contract also points to the renewed confidence of our customers, Île-de-France Mobilités and Société du Grand Paris.”
Alstom will also act as the project’s general integrator. This will include the organisation and verification of different sub-assemblies and overall system tests.
