Thales to deliver signalling system for southern Gotthard extension

Following completion of the Gotthard tunnel, AlpTransit Gotthard has awarded Thales a US$64 million (€57 million) signalling contract for the new Ceneri tunnel, the final section of the transalpine rail corridor that will link Zurich and Milan in less than three hours journey time. Located 25 km south of the Gotthard tunnel, the Ceneri Base Tunnel between Bellinzona and Lugano in Switzerland is 15.4 km long and, like the Gotthard tunnel, comprises two single-track tubes separated by a space of 40 metres
September 19, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Following completion of the Gotthard tunnel, AlpTransit Gotthard has awarded 596 Thales a US$64 million (€57 million) signalling contract for the new Ceneri tunnel, the final section of the transalpine rail corridor that will link Zurich and Milan in less than three hours journey time.

Located 25 km south of the Gotthard tunnel, the Ceneri Base Tunnel between Bellinzona and Lugano in Switzerland is 15.4 km long and, like the Gotthard tunnel, comprises two single-track tubes separated by a space of 40 metres.

Thales will provide its latest ETCS Level 2 train control technology and will have overall responsibility for project management and integration of train command and control systems. The tunnel is scheduled to open in 2020.

Thales’ signalling technology is expected to reduce the journey time between Locarno and Lugano from today's 55 minutes to 22 minutes, with more than 300 trains travelling in both directions every day at speeds of up to 250 km/h.

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