Hitachi Railway Company signs a framework agreement with France’s SNCF

Hitachi Rail Signed a new framework agreement with France worth up to 77 million euros SNCFto provide on-board digital signaling equipment (ERTMS / TVM standard) for the latest generation TGV (TGV-M) and existing TGV trains operating over the French and European high-speed rail networks.

The new equipment will enable rail services to offer greater reliability and availability of trains to passengers and enable Europe to become better connected to sustainable transport.

The equipment will be manufactured at the Hitachi railway plant in Riom, central France. The framework agreement contains orders for

At a minimum of €25m, which can be extended to €77m over the next five years

Bi-standard ERTMS/TVM equipment includes a more powerful computer, with greater processing power that will allow it to handle future developments in signal technology, including those resulting from future European standardization. It also combines TVM (old French ATP “Transmission Voice-Machine”) and ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) technologies to enable SNCF high-speed trains to operate safely on French high-speed networks and across borders.

– This new framework agreement marks a new step in Hitachi Railway’s cooperation with SNCF Corporation to modernize the national high-speed rail network. This follows the latest contract signed in November 2022 for the installation of Eurostar E300 trains, and will see passengers benefit from cutting-edge digital technology through increased service reliability and capacity. We are proud and grateful to SNCF for their continued confidence in Hitachi Rail technology, says Gilles Pascolt – President of Hitachi Rail France.

Since the introduction of the bi-standard technology in 2007, more than 1,000 units have been put into service aboard various types of trains, mainly in Europe (France, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg and Germany) and Asia (South Korea and China).

Signaling equipment can also be used in the cab with ERTMS only, with all train types and operations, internationally.

Pictured: Hitachi Rail Europe will build Class 800 dual-mode and Class 801 electric trains for the Department of Transportation’s Intercity Express programme. The trains will enter service on the Great Western Main Line in 2017 and on the East Coast Main Line in 2018. They are manufactured in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.