SWITZERLAND: Swiss Federal Railways has awarded Hitachi Rail, Siemens Mobility and Stadler major framework contracts worth SFr1·4bn for the supply of digital interlockings.
The first of the digital interlockings are expected to be put into operation in 2029. Around 80% of SBB’s existing systems are expected to be replaced in the next 20 years, and all in around 40 years.
The framework agreements run for 10 years, with three options for contract renewals of five years each, and include 25 years of maintenance and support of individual assets. Contracts for the delivery of individual interlockings will be awarded on an ongoing basis.
SBB said the decisive criteria for the awards announced on October 7 were economic efficiency, future-oriented development, quality of technical development and services.
It said that since this is a new generation of interlockings, they would be tested with the selected suppliers ahead of the first commissioning to ensure suitability for use on the busy network.
The digital interlockings will enable the implementation of cab signalling as the basis for running more trains at shorter intervals. SBB said its aim is to deploy a uniform and futureproof system which would be cheaper to operate and more flexible, with standardised modular elements allowing modernisation and enabling individual parts to be replaced more easily.
| Swiss Federal Railways interlocking contracts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lot | Scope | Most advantageous bids |
| 1 | Hardware and software for the interlockings | Hitachi Rail and Siemens Mobility |
| 2 | Supply of object controllers used to operate turnouts and signals and to monitor track sections | Stadler (all three companies can participate in requests for quotations) |
| Both lots include development, staff training as maintenance and support. | ||
