HITACHI Rail has signed a framework agreement with French National Railways (SNCF) covering the supply of bi-standard onboard signalling equipment for the TGV high-speed train fleet.
The Hitachi bi-standard equipment will be compatible with both ERTMS and the legacy TVM cab signalling system developed for the French high-speed network, and will be fitted to the new TGV M fleet being built by Alstom as well as previous builds of TGV already in service with SNCF.
Hitachi says that the framework includes orders worth a minimum of €25m which can be extended up to a value of €77m over the five-year term of the agreement.
The bi-standard ERTMS/TVM equipment features a more powerful onboard computer, with greater processing capacity that will enable it to accommodate future developments in signalling technology, according to Hitachi.
Combining TVM with ERTMS will also enable high-speed trains to operate both within France and on cross-border services.
The onboard equipment for SNCF will be manufactured at the Hitachi Rail plant in Riom in central France.
“This new framework agreement marks a new step in Hitachi Rail’s collaboration with SNCF to upgrade the national high-speed rail network," says Mr Gilles Pascault, president of Hitachi Rail in France.
“It follows the recent contract signed in November 2022 for the fitment of e300 Eurostar trains, and will see passengers benefit from cutting-edge digital technology through increased reliability and service capacity.”
