Hitachi Rail celebrates 40 Years of SelTrac™ signalling technology on Vancouver SkyTrain
The SkyTrain uses Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology SelTrac™, which was developed in Canada and pioneered by Hitachi Rail.
www.hitachirail.com
Hitachi Rail is celebrating 40 years since the successful deployment of its SelTracTM signalling technology on the Vancouver SkyTrain.
On December 11, 1985, Vancouver welcomed passengers onto the world's first fully automated, driverless metro, the SkyTrain. This monumental achievement was only possible because of the Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling that was developed in Canada and pioneered by Hitachi Rail.
In response to growth of regional mobility needs, Vancouver SkyTrain has expanded 8 times to become an 80km network with 53 stations. Through each phase of growth over the past 40 years, Hitachi Rail has worked in partnership with SkyTrain to provide support from day-to-day and through each network expansion, including introduction of new train types. Through the decades, the SelTrac TM system has been updated and upgraded through insertion of new technologies to support the much larger and more complex railway as it has evolved.
Hitachi Rail's SelTracTM is a strong solution for delivering efficient, low-carbon mass transit operations in cities. Hitachi Rail believes high standards of environmental performance are essential and is working to shrink the carbon footprint of the SelTracTM solution itself with new iterations that reduce both the weight and power consumption of the system hardware.
This state-of-the-art technology is designed to provide decades of reliable service. While brand new technology can pay green dividends, Hitachi Rail recognises that the life-extension of existing assets presents a highly sustainable and cost effective solution.
"This is an important occasion to recognise the success of the world's first fully automated, driverless train and to recognize that Hitachi Rail's SelTrac™ technology made this possible," said Ziad Rizk, Managing Director, Hitachi Rail in Canada. "This milestone is not just about technology, it's about transforming how cities move and how people connect. For 40 years, we've supported SkyTrain, and we look forward to continuing this partnership for decades to come."
When Hitachi Rail deploys SelTracTM, it is committed to supporting the agency and operator throughout the life of their system. Hitachi Rail's work in Metro Vancouver underlines the strength of that promise.
www.hitachirail.com
