RB Rail has confirmed that all five bidders have qualified to proceed to the second stage of tendering for the contract to design, install and commission the control-command and signalling (CCS) subsystem of the Rail Baltica project.

The five bidders are:

  • GTS Deutschland
  • Hitachi Rail
  • a joint venture of Indra Sistemas and AŽD Praha
  • the SKGN Baltics consortium of Siemens Mobility Latvia, Siemens Mobility, GRK Suomi, NRC Group Finland and Kontron Transportation, and
  • a partnership of Alstom Transport, Alstom Baltics, Cobra and KZA Krakow.

RB Rail is planning to sign the CCS contract with its preferred bidder by the end of 2024.

The contract will include the installation of ETCS, the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) that will replace GSM-R, interlockings, and a traffic management system.

The preferred bidder will also supply information and communication technology (ICT) systems including a data transmission network and cybersecurity protection, voice communications, ancillary systems, monitoring applications and a supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada) system.

Station equipment falling within the scope of the CCS contract includes passenger information systems, CCTV, a master clock system, ticketing systems and ticket barriers for some stations.

The power supply, cableway systems and technical buildings for signalling equipment will also be installed under the CCS contract, under its implementation phase on the Rail Baltica main line which is expected to be completed by the end of 2030.

“The Rail Baltica project has attracted interest from top international companies and consortia,” says says Ms Aiga Benfelde, deputy head of procurement at RB Rail and chair of the procurement commission.

“As the project progresses, the focus remains on ensuring smooth integration of the CCS system into the broader Rail Baltica infrastructure, and the selected candidate will play a vital role in shaping the future of rail travel in the region.”

“The implementation of this state-of-the-art system involves advanced technologies and modern signalling solutions, designed to meet the demands of high-speed train operations,” says Mr Andrejs Mislēvičs, deputy head of the systems and operation department, and signalling and communications team leader, at RB Rail.

“By providing accurate and timely information to train drivers and control operators, the system ensures efficiency, reduces journey times, and optimises railway capacity.”

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