Bombardier Deliver First Driverless Metro Trains For Singapore’s Downtown Line
Singapore’s new Downtown Line, which is due to part open in 2013, received the first of 73, three-car Bombardier Movia C951 driverless metro trains, two weeks ahead of schedule.
Bombardier was awarded the $571 million contract by the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) in November 2008 for 219 Movia vehicles, which are currently being assembled at Bombardier’s joint venture facility in Changchun, China.
Bombardier Movia C951 Driverless Metro Trains
The Movia metro vehicles use the latest propulsion technology so they have low energy consumption, optimised performance and the vehicles are up to 90% recyclable. They are hoped to promote a greener mode of transportation for Singapore, in particular for the Downtown Line which will be operated by SBS Transit.
The Downtown Line, which once complete, will cover 42km, will see it become the world’s longest, driverless, underground mass rapid transit (MRT)line. It will open in three stages, the first being in 2013, the second in 2015 and the final stage in 2017.
Eleven sets of vehicles will be delivered in time for the opening of the initial 3.4km section between Bugis and Chinatown in 2013 and the remaining trains will be delivered by mid 2016 in time for the final 21km opening of the eastern section from Chinatown to Expo in 2017. Stage 2 of the line, spans 16.6km and runs from Bugis to Bukit Panjang.
When finished, Bombardier trains will serve 34 stations across Singapore and transport nearly half a million commuters a day. President of mainline and metros, Asia Pacific for Bombardier Transportation, Kristian Mikkelsen said “We are confident that our highly experienced team will continue to deliver the trains to the satisfaction of our customer. This delivery represents a key milestone for us and is the result of a great deal of collaboration between LTA and Bombardier.”
