IN PARTNERSHIP with Barcelona metro operator TMB and the Universitat Politènica de Catalunya who respectively hold stakes of 39% and 12%, Siemens Transportation Systems has established a research and development centre for driverless metro operation at its traction motor plant at Cornellà de Llobregat.
Established with the support of the Catalunya regional goverment, Cetecam is expected to employ up to 290 engineers and will receive €12·8m of investment over the next five years.
Siemens has been awarded the contract to equip Barcelona metro Line 9 for driverless operation (MR06 p25), and the centre’s first three-year contract includes trials on Line 2 outside traffic hours which are due to be completed by October. Meanwhile, Bombardier and Emte are implementing a €24·5m contract to install ATP on Line 3. n
