EFE Trenes de Chile has contracted Siemens Mobility to implement the first European Train Control System Level 2 (ETCS L2) project on Chile’s rail network.
The project will also introduce Siemens Mobility’s Signaling X technology to Latin America for the first time.
The contract covers the installation of advanced signalling systems along 87 kilometres of track: the Tren Alameda–Melipilla line (61 km) and the Tren Santiago–Batuco line (26 km).
Under a five-year delivery programme, Siemens Mobility will engineer, supply, install, and commission the systems, followed by a ten-year maintenance agreement.
Signaling X is a cloud-ready, centralised signalling platform that integrates interlockings, signalling, and control systems within a virtualised data centre. The platform operates on commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and is designed for Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL4) applications. It is intended to improve operational efficiency, simplify system maintenance, and support the use of artificial intelligence in future expansions.
ETCS Level 2 enables continuous communication between trains and trackside equipment. The system for Chile will include interlockings, wayside equipment, traffic control centres, and onboard systems for 32 trains. The communication network will use 4G-LTE technology with provisions for future 5G deployment. This setup reduces the number of interlocking systems required and simplifies maintenance.
Marc Ludwig, CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility said:We are honoured to lead this pivotal project in Latin America, bringing our cutting-edge Signaling X technology to the region for the first time and setting new standards for railway operations and efficiency. Siemens Mobility’s expertise and advanced solutions pave the way for future digitalisation efforts, enabling sustainable and high-performing railway operations. We appreciate EFE for their confidence in our role as a market leader in rail and signalling technologies, and for recognising our proven expertise and technological capabilities.
The implementation of ETCS Level 2 is part of EFE’s broader strategy to standardise signalling systems for future railway expansions in Chile. Siemens Mobility has previously delivered ETCS projects in Latin America, including its recent ETCS L2 contract in São Paulo, Brazil.
