Thales-Alcatel-Lucent Consortium to Provide Metro Services in China

The Chinese cities of Wuhan and Guangzhou have awarded contracts to French companies Thales and Alcatel-Lucent, to provide signalling solutions and upgrades for their metro projects.

The cities will use Alcatel-Lucent's and Thales' solutions to help resolve traffic problems in the two cities as well as provide a faster, safer and more convenient travelling experience to and from the downtown area.

Thales will provide its SelTrac Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system and Alcatel-Lucent will provide services including project management, network integration and maintenance for the cities' Metro projects.

The Wuhan Metro work involves installing an end-to-end signalling system on Metro Line 1 Phase II, which is an extension of Phase I to the east and the west by 19.6km with 17 stations and expected to complete in 2010.

The Guangzhou Metro work requires a signalling solution for the 30.9km northern section of Metro Line 3, connecting Guangzhou East railway station and Guangzhou Baiyun airport, spanning 11 stations and scheduled for completion by October 2010.

Alcatel-Lucent will work through its subsidiary in China, Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell.