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SBS Transit collaborates with Siemens Mobility to sustain the high performance of its Downtown MRT Line

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From left to right: Siemens Mobility’s Asia-Pacific CEO, Mr Michel Obadia, SBS Transit’s Group CEO, Mr Jeffrey Sim, and Siemens Mobility Asia-Pacific’s CFO, Dr Katharina Sikora, officially inked their partnership towards long-term reliability and sustainable performance for Singapore’s Downtown Line on 30 May at the Asia Pacific Rail 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Long-Term Service Support for the Downtown Line Signalling System

The DTL has been using SMPL’s Trainguard Sirius Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system since it commenced operations in 2013. To be assured of continued safe and reliable operations, SBS Transit has awarded SMPL with a Long-Term Service Support (LTSS) contract which includes the provision of spare parts and technical support for the DTL signalling system. Leveraging its strong onshore and offshore expertise and resources, SMPL will repair faulty components promptly and conduct failure trend analysis for safety and reliability improvements. Additionally, the LTSS contract encompasses obsolescence monitoring and resolution, ensuring timely intervention when the spares become obsolete.
The multi-year LTSS contract until 2047 is part of SBS Transit’s long-term strategy to effectively operate and maintain the DTL's Signalling system throughout its entire life cycle and to provide passengers with safe and reliable journeys every day. 

Localisation of Point Machine MRO Capabilities in SBS Transit

A point machine is a critical trackside signalling equipment as it switches the direction of the railway tracks, guiding the train from one track to another and ensuring safe train operations. Currently, MCEM91 point machines are installed on the DTL and the tracks at the Singapore Rail Test Centre under the Land Transport Authority. It will also be installed on the upcoming Jurong Region and Cross Island Lines.
To avoid a long turnaround time for their repairs and maintenance that are conducted overseas, SBS Transit is partnering SMPL to establish a local maintenance centre, which will be housed at SBS Transit’s Component Service Centre. It will also serve as the sole authorised point machine maintenance centre in South-East Asia. Notably, SMPL will provide training to SBS Transit’s engineers to equip them with capabilities in maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) of the MCEM91 point machines as well as the supply of essential spare parts required in maintenance.
This localisation of capabilities within SBS Transit will further solidify and elevate the industry’s local maintenance competencies in providing world-class rail solutions for Singapore’s rail network.

Implementation of Controlguide® Airo to Optimise Train Deployment on the DTL

Both partners have renewed their MOU signed earlier in November 2022 to continue with their efforts to implement SMPL’s Controlguide® Airo, which is an Artificial Intelligence-based solution, to optimise train deployment.
Controlguide® Airo, the first-of-its-kind in the Asia Pacific region, is a unique demand-responsive software that utilises data analytics to detect and predict crowd levels both on trains and at MRT stations, and automatically adjust train schedules to better cater to passenger demand. This advanced solution will enable SBS Transit to deploy its trains more efficiently and potentially reduce its train mileage by up to 5%, thus reducing traction energy consumption and its carbon footprint. Furthermore, Controlguide® Airo will enhance SBS Transit’s ability to prepare and manage unexpected situations, for instance, a sudden surge in passenger numbers due to a concert or sports event.
Mr. Michel Obadia, CEO of Siemens Mobility, Asia-Pacific and Singapore, said: “With these contracts, SBS Transit will benefit from the full suite of Siemens Mobility technologies and service capabilities to ensure Downtown Line’s optimal performance and resilience over the next 25 years’ life-cycle. 
These include the localisation of the service capabilities for the electro-mechanical safety critical point machine, the long term service support of our  Trainguard CBTC solution as well as the implementation of a digital application to enhance the deployment of trains in the Downtown Line network, thanks to the use of  data and artificial intelligence algorithm.
We will continue to collaborate with the local rail ecosystem to develop capabilities that will enable us to maintain Singapore’s rail network safety and reliability performance while providing optimal passenger experience.”
Mr Jeffrey Sim, Group CEO, SBS Transit said: “This is a strategic partnership with Siemens Mobility which will further strengthen our engineering competency. It will also contribute significantly to enabling us to maintain our DTL performance as the most reliable MRT line globally. We are particularly excited to be designated as the sole authorised point machine maintenance centre in Singapore and South-East Asia, which recognises our engineering capabilities, and underscores our commitment not only to our passengers by providing safe and reliable journeys but also to the industry in building local rail expertise. With the MRT network expanding with the upcoming Jurong Region Line and the Cross Island Line, we place strategic importance in growing our MRO expertise on the Point Machines which are critical in our rail network.” 

For this press release

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 2023, which ended on September 30, 2023, Siemens Mobility posted revenue of €10.5 billion and employed around 39,800 people worldwide. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/mobility

For further information about Siemens Mobility in Singapore, please see mobility.siemens.com/sg/en.html

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SBS Transit is a public-listed company in Singapore and a member of the ComfortDelGro Group, which is one of the world’s leading land transport companies. A multi-modal public transport operator, SBS Transit runs the North East Line, which is the world’s first fully automated, underground heavy metro system. It also operates the Downtown Line, which is reputed as the world’s most reliable metro for the third year running, and the Sengkang-Punggol Light Rail Transit Systems. In total, it operates 78 stations with 198 trains running on 83 track-km. It is also the biggest and most experienced public bus operator in Singapore. With a fleet of more than 3,000 buses, it operates some 220 bus routes. Every day, it carries more than three million passenger trips on its network of buses and trains.
 
For further information about SBS Transit, please see: www.sbstransit.com.sg
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Contact

Yvonne Yeo

Siemens Mobility

+65 8186 3684

Goh Xin Ying

SBS Transit

+65 9818 3620