Train lengths have been doubled from 26m to 52m, with services now operated with four-car trains with capacity for 320 passengers instead of two-car sets. The goal is to eventually operate with a 75 second headway between services during peak periods to reduce waiting times and improve the passenger experience.
Siemens was awarded a €66m contract to upgrade the 12.3km driverless line from Blama-Gramont to Basso-Cambo in January 2016. The supplier managed the overall system integration for the project, including engineering, software developments and modifications to the VAL automation system developed by Matra, which is now part of Siemens. VAL includes the rolling stock, automation system, track, platform screen doors, network, automatic supervision and central control station in Basso-Cambo.
The project was completed over more than 1000 nights, with teams of around 50 staff working from midnight to 04.00 to modify the system, before ensuring it was ready for services to resume at 05.15 each day.
“As one of France’s fastest-growing cities, Toulouse needs a transport system that guarantees availability and provides a great passenger experience,” says Siemens Mobility CEO, Ms Sabrina Soussan. “Our VAL solution will help the city achieve these objectives by doubling capacity on Line A for daily commuters and visitors alike.”
