Bombardier Innovia APM 100 C801A
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport, rolling stock manufacturing |
| Founded | 1942 |
| Fate | Acquired by Alstom |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Innovia APM 100 C801A automated people mover trains |
| Owner | Alstom |
Bombardier Innovia APM 100 C801A
The Bombardier Innovia APM 100 C801A represents the second iteration of automated people mover (APM) trains produced by Bombardier Transportation (currently Alstom) specifically for the Bukit Panjang LRT line. Engineered mainly for airport transit and light rail applications, these trains operate entirely autonomously through Automatic Train Control (ATC), allowing for driverless operation. Their use of rubber tires running on ceramic tracks results in quieter rides compared to traditional steel-wheel rail systems.
Delivered between 2014 and 2015, this set of 13 vehicles enhanced the Bukit Panjang LRT line’s capacity by half. By September 2015, all units had commenced revenue service. The trains are designed as individual cars that can be coupled into pairs, each car accommodating 22 seated and 83 standing passengers. Operation is managed by SMRT Trains Ltd, a subsidiary of SMRT Corporation, with maintenance conducted at Ten Mile Junction Depot.
Notable technical details include an aluminum carbody that is lightweight, a top operational speed of 48 km/h, and Bombardier thyristor motor drives powering 75 kW DC traction motors. The safety framework incorporates ATC under Grade of Automation 4 (GoA 4), featuring subsystems such as ATP, ATS, and CBI. Current signalling relies on Bombardier CITYFLO 550 fixed block technology, with future upgrades planned to Alstom Cityflo 650 CBTC moving block signalling.
Overview
To mitigate congestion on the Bukit Panjang LRT line, an additional 13 trains were procured, boosting fleet capacity by 50%. The inaugural unit, numbered 120, arrived on 15 June 2014 and began service on 19 November the same year. By 4 September 2015, all thirteen vehicles were operational. In March 2019, two train cars (128 and 131) were dispatched to New Jersey, USA, for installation of new signalling systems and returned in April 2021. The remaining eleven units are scheduled for local retrofitting once these initial upgrades are finalized. On 29 July 2023, the retrofitted trains resumed passenger operations. As of 10 July 2025, eleven cars have completed the CBTC system upgrade; one unit is currently undergoing retrofitting while another awaits conversion. Upgraded trains include extra antennas and refreshed announcement systems.
Exterior
The APM 100 C801A models bear a strong resemblance in shape to the ECX-100 C801 trains but exhibit several distinct exterior differences:
- Circular LED headlights and taillights have replaced the ECX-100’s rectangular incandescent lamps.
- Windscreens and windows feature a grey tint instead of the green tint found on ECX-100 models.
- Their streamlined bodywork is adorned with SMRT’s "Pixel" livery: a white base accented by black, yellow, and red stripes with square motifs.
- Door opening is indicated by orange lights.
- Automatic windscreen wipers engage during rainfall.
Interior
The interior layout of the APM 100 C801A closely follows that of the ECX-100 C801 but includes enhancements aimed at passenger comfort:
- Priority seating is highlighted in red, while standard seats are yellow-green; this contrasts with the ECX-100’s uniformly teal seats.
- Each end of the car contains two ergonomically designed priority seats.
- Additional yellow handgrips are installed to encourage passengers to move toward the center of the car.
- The trains feature an updated Train Travel Information System (TTIS) alongside a pre-announcement chime.
- When operating in two-car sets, movement between cars is restricted to when stationary with doors open.
- Seating positioned at each car end allows passengers to enjoy external views during travel.
- Builder plates identify manufacture by Bombardier Transportation in the United States and display individual car numbers.
Train configuration
Each C801A functions as an individual revenue service vehicle, featuring its own motors and third rail power collectors, and has the capability to be linked together to form two-car sets. The cars are numbered from 120 through 132, with each assigned a unique three-digit code by SMRT Trains—the initial digit is consistently 1, followed by the specific car number. Sets numbered 120 to 132 were produced by Bombardier Transportation.
Additional specifications
- Certain units are fitted with closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems.