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Alstom Metropolis

From Alfawiki
Alstom
IndustryRail transport, rolling stock manufacturing
Founded1928
Headquarters
Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine
,
France
ProductsMetropolis electric multiple unit trains, other rail vehicles and systems
Websitewww.alstom.com

The Alstom Metropolis series consists of electric multiple unit trains engineered and manufactured by the French company Alstom, tailored for high-capacity rapid transit and metro networks. These trains can be configured with anywhere from two to ten cars and are designed to operate in both driver-controlled and fully automated modes.

To date, more than 4,000 Metropolis vehicles have been delivered, serving 50 transit operators globally. Prominent markets encompass cities such as Singapore, Shanghai, Budapest, Warsaw, Montreal, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Lima, Santiago, Barcelona, Istanbul, Sydney, Amsterdam, and Riyadh.

Design features

The Metropolis range offers significant flexibility, with carbody dimensions varying from narrow to wide profiles to accommodate diverse operational requirements. Standard train formations typically include between two and six cars. Built for top speeds reaching , these trains fulfill the demands of mass transit systems. Their propulsion relies on Alstom’s ONIX or OPTONIX VVVF inverters utilizing IGBT transistors to control asynchronous three-phase AC traction motors, which support regenerative braking technology to enhance energy efficiency.

Capable of operating as fully automated driverless units (UTO), Alstom frequently delivers the Metropolis as part of comprehensive turnkey solutions encompassing signalling, track infrastructure, and associated services. Noteworthy automated implementations include the Sydney Metro, recognized as Australia’s inaugural fully driverless rail system, and the Budapest Metro, which introduced Central-Eastern Europe’s first automated metro line.

Car bodies are fabricated from either aluminium or stainless steel, with widths ranging from to lengths spanning . Depending on operational conditions, clients may opt for steel wheels or rubber tires. The trains feature an onboard Ethernet backbone that integrates subsystems such as security surveillance, public address systems, and passenger information displays. Maintenance is streamlined through the internet-connected TrainTracer platform, enabling real-time monitoring of train conditions accessible by depots and control centers.

Interior configurations are customizable with options including CCTV cameras, expanded seating widths, additional handrails, increased door vestibule space, accommodations for wheelchair users, and electronic screens for travel updates and advertising content. Door dimensions and gangway widths are adjustable to suit customer preferences; modular seating layouts are widely employed. Windows incorporate Climavit glass supplied by Sekurit Saint-Gobain, providing noise reduction inside the cabin by approximately five decibels.

Major deployments

In July 2006, OPRET awarded Alstom a contract for 19 Metropolis trainsets intended for the inaugural line of the Santo Domingo Metro. These units closely resemble the 9000 series except for their exterior paint scheme. An additional 15 trainsets were commissioned in January 2011 for Line 2, with deliveries commencing in March 2012.

In February 2010, Alstom secured a €200 million ($253 million) agreement with GVB to supply 23 six-car Type M5 Metropolis trains for the Amsterdam Metro. This was followed by a €42 million ($53 million) supplementary order in 2013 for five more trainsets. Each of these trains can accommodate up to 1,000 passengers and replaced older rolling stock across most routes, significantly boosting capacity.

Singapore's Land Transport Authority placed an order in March 2012 for 34 Metropolis trains valued at $303 million to serve the North East and Circle Lines; this contract included signalling system enhancements.

Hungary’s Budapest Metro introduced 15 Metropolis trainsets on its automated Line 4 in March 2014, marking a milestone as Central-Eastern Europe’s first driverless metro line.

In 2010, Alstom won a €243 million ($307 million) contract to deliver 42 trainsets for Phase I of the Chennai Metro. The initial nine units were imported from Brazil while subsequent trains were manufactured at a newly established facility near Chennai. These air-conditioned trains feature automatic sliding doors, regenerative braking capabilities, operate on a 25 KV AC overhead power supply system, and reach speeds up to . The first locally produced pairs were delivered in July 2014.

September 2014 saw Alstom awarded a significant contract to provide 22 six-car Metropolis trainsets along with CBTC signalling technology for the fully automated Sydney Metro Northwest, Australia’s first driverless rail network.

In November 2020, Alstom was contracted to supply 20 driverless Metropolis trainsets for Athens Metro Line 4 (scheduled to open in 2028) alongside 13 six-car Metropolis BM4 trains for Bucharest Metro Line M5 under a deal worth €100 million with potential expansion up to €240 million. The Bucharest fleet will be equipped with Alstom’s URBALIS 400 CBTC signalling system.

In November 2021, Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels signed a contract with Alstom to deliver 55 premium air-conditioned Metropolis trains for Greater Cairo Metro Line 1. Each nine-car set is scheduled for delivery starting in 2025 as part of an €876 million agreement that includes long-term maintenance and local assembly at Alstom’s new Alexandria plant. This arrangement continues a collaboration dating back to 1971.

Rolling stock variations

Systems operating Metropolis trains

Manufacturing locations

  • France: Valenciennes
  • Poland: Alstom Konstal facility in Chorzów
  • Spain: Santa Perpetua de Mogoda
  • Brazil: Lapa district, São Paulo
  • China: CRRC Nanjing Puzhen in Nanjing and Shanghai Alstom, a joint venture with Shanghai Electric, based in Shanghai
  • India: Sri City, Andhra Pradesh
  • Egypt: Borg El Arab near Alexandria (production to begin in 2026)

See also

External links

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