Smart turnouts for Belgian high-speed line
Connection between Brussels and France to be modernized.
www.vossloh.com
With the delivery of turnouts, Vossloh is contributing to the modernization of Belgium’s HSL 1 high-speed line from Brussels to the French border. The Belgian infrastructure operator Infrabel awarded the contracts for the manufacture and maintenance of turnouts to Vossloh. The contracts have a value of approximately 17 million euros.
As part of the comprehensive modernization of the line, which went into service in 1997, key components will be replaced in the coming years. The eight-year contract provides for the delivery of high-speed turnouts by Vossloh, while a separate contract covers their maintenance for a period of 20 years.
The turnouts, engineered for the special demands of high-speed railways, are equipped with sensors which continuously monitor the condition of the point machine and the turnout, providing decision support for the maintenance.
Benoît Gilson, CEO of Infrabel: “The contract with Vossloh marks a significant milestone in the modernisation and sustainability of the high-speed network between Belgium and France. With an investment of €17 million, Infrabel is anticipating the renewal of critical infrastructure reaching the end of its lifecyle. The new turnouts we are rolling out integrate advanced technologies, in particular in predictive maintenance, reinforce the safety and reliability of operations on the Brussels-Paris route. This partnership supports a long-term vision and demonstrates strong European industrial cooperation. We are preparing for the future of high-speed rail by delivering a high-performance and safe network for the decades to come.”
Oliver Schuster, CEO Vossloh AG: “We are proud to be a partner in this collaboration on the European high-speed rail network. On routes such as the connection from Brussels to France, the highest standards apply to the safety and quality of components. The fact that Infrabel has selected Vossloh as a supplier for these high-tech turnouts is a great confirmation of our expertise. We are particularly pleased that we have also been entrusted with the maintenance of the components for twenty years. As a solution provider in this partnership, we are thus contributing to sustainably strengthen rail as the most environmentally friendly mode of transport.”
www.vossloh.com
