Thales Announces First SCADAsoft Project for UK Transportation Market
23 May 2007
Tyne and Wear Metro will replace existing Traction Power SCADA metro system with Thales
Thales has announced that it has been chosen to replace the existing Traction Power SCADA system for the Tyne and Wear Metro. The project will cover 60km of light metro line for 59 stations in and around Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland. Metro is owned and operated by Nexus, the Tyne and Wear passenger transport executive. It services more than 38 million passengers every year and will be upgraded by February 2008.
Thales is implementing its SCADAsoft solution for the first time in the UK transportation market, following a number of high-profile metro and urban area transport projects around the world including Toronto, Beijing and Dubai. Thales was selected for the UK project due to the proven metro network management capabilities of SCADAsoft and the company's 30 years' plus experience in the UK transportation industry. In addition, Thales was able to meet a number of important criteria governing the project, including a strict 11-month delivery programme and the ability to maintain full operation of the network during the replacement process. Thales's SCADAsoft solution will be operated by the Tyne and Wear Metro to control and monitor the network's traction power and auxiliary services such as lifts and ventilation systems.
In another first for Thales in the UK, a Network Information Management System (NIMS) will also be deployed to assist in planning maintenance operations on the electricity network on the metro line. As a result, outages and line maintenance can be planned and performed with minimum disruption to the network.
The Thales system also offers the advantage of a fully scalable technology that will allow the Tyne and Wear Metro to add functionality in the future, such as security (CCTV), communications (passenger information and public address systems) and Automatic Train Supervision (ATS).
Tony Quinn, project director for Metro operator, Nexus, said, "Thales is providing a seamless replacement system that will enable us to continue a full service throughout the SCADA implementation period. By completely managing the network outages that allow work to be conducted on the line, the system will enable us to maintain the Metro line efficiently and effectively in the long-term too."
Justin Walker, head of Thales transportation activities in the UK said, "Our strong heritage and expertise within the UK transportation market has allowed us to offer the Tyne and Wear Metro a competitive and scalable SCADA solution that will meet their current and future requirements without disruption or delay to the network. By harnessing our electricity sector knowledge, we have also been able to provide Metro with extensive network management capabilities through the NIMS."
Thales's SCADAsoft systems are now present within transportation networks in major cities throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America.
