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Press Release25 June 2025Siemens AGMunich
Siemens Mobility signs framework agreement with Swiss BLS for ETCS Level 2 upgrade
Siemens Mobility signs framework agreement with Swiss BLS for ETCS Level 2 upgrade. Photo source: www.schienenverkehr-schweiz.ch
Siemens Mobility and Swiss BLS Netz AG have agreed on a
joint, long-term framework agreement worth €110 million. The contract includes modernization
of the existing control and safety technology to meet the latest European Train
Control System standard (ETCS Level 2). Siemens Mobility will supply state-of-the-art
safety systems for cab signaling as well as train control technology. As a
first step, the regional railway line between the Swiss city of Bern and
Schwarzenburg will be equipped with this advanced technology. The awarded sum
includes options for additional projects that are to be implemented in the next
decade according to the BLS ERTMS implementation concept for cab signaling.
Daniel Pixley, Head of Automation at BLS Netz AG: "Siemens
Mobility is the optimal supplier for us, with a convincing complete solution to
set the standard in Switzerland for high-performance regional lines based on
ETCS Level 2. The joint project is the foundation for further initiatives by
BLS and the industry in Switzerland, following the ERTMS implementation
concepts."
Marc Ludwig, CEO of Siemens Mobility Rail Infrastructure:
"BLS Netz AG trusts in our expertise to equip its Bern-Schwarzenburg regional
line with state-of-the-art ETCS Level 2 technology. We will be integrating and
meeting the specific requirements of a line that runs through both urban and
rural areas – from optimized closing times of level crossings to efficient
traffic control. The long-term framework agreement also ensures planning
security and enables the efficient implementation of future modernizations."
BLS AG is modernizing its 17-kilometer line between Bern
Fischermätteli and Schwarzenburg by upgrading from ETCS Level 1 to signal-less
ETCS Level 2. This technology enables the direct transmission of all track
information to a display in the driver's cab. The reference project aims to
achieve a significant increase in capacity for regional rail operations. The challenge
here lies in the line’s mix of urban and rural routing as well as its numerous
level crossings. To keep level crossing closure times as short as possible and
minimize disruption to road traffic, Siemens Mobility is implementing a new
intelligent level crossing management system. The modernization provides several
benefits: It reduces the number of required interlocking systems, simplifies
system maintenance, and creates prerequisites for expansions. The first
commissioning of the new system is planned for 2029.
The BLS Netz AG railway network covers 424 kilometers, making
it the second-largest standard-gauge network in Switzerland after SBB's
network. BLS Netz AG operates passenger as well as freight services. Founded in
1906, the company, originally named the 'Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon Railway', is
considered a pioneer of Swiss rail transport. One of its milestones was the
opening of the Lötschberg Base Tunnel in 2007, which at 34.6 kilometers is
among the longest railway tunnels in the world. As Switzerland's second-largest
railway company, BLS transports over 67 million passengers annually and plays a
central role in public transport in the Bern region as well as on the freight
transport corridor between the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
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Siemens Mobility
is a separately managed company of Siemens AG. As a
leader in intelligent transport solutions for more than 175 years, Siemens
Mobility is constantly innovating its portfolio. Its core areas include rolling
stock, rail automation and electrification, a comprehensive software portfolio,
turnkey systems as well as related services. With digital products and
solutions, Siemens Mobility is enabling mobility operators worldwide to make
infrastructure intelligent, increase value sustainably over the entire lifecycle,
enhance passenger experience and guarantee availability. In fiscal year 2024,
which ended on September 30, 2024, Siemens Mobility posted revenue of €11.4
billion and employed around 41,900 people worldwide. Further information is
available at:
www.siemens.com/mobility