HK - MTR deal to Thales and Alstom

expat network

HK – MTR deal to Thales and Alstom

Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation has awarded Thales and Alstom a €330m (£246m) contract to upgrade the signalling on seven metro lines.

Thales executive vice-president for transportation systems, Jean-Pierre Forestier, has described the project as the largest resignalling contract ever awarded.

The extensive project will equip the seven MTR lines with the latest communications based train control (CBTC) technology. CBTC gives operators precise control in the movement of their trains, allowing them to run on the line at higher frequencies and speeds – with or without drivers.

Thales and Alstom will be responsible for the replacement of the existing signalling system including automatic train supervision (ATS), interlocking, and automatic train control (ATC) in the control centre, trains and stations. Thales will provide the advanced SelTrac CBTC system.

Project implementation will be carried out by a Alstom Thales joint project team. Thales, the consortium leader, is taking the technical lead while Alstom will ensure the overall project management, as well as the supply of the remote trackside equipment controllers to deliver an interface with the existing field elements.

“With their combined technical strengths, rich experiences and dedicated commitments, Thales and Alstom are fully confident to provide MTR with the most secure, efficient and reliable signalling and infrastructure systems,” said Pascal Cléré, senior vice president, transport information solutions at Alstom Transport.

Forestier added: “We are very proud with winning with Alstom the largest resignalling contract ever awarded. Joining our combined experience and expertise, Thales and Alstom will contribute to enhance a mass transit system that is vital to Hong Kong success.”

Source: www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

Link: http://tinyurl.com/jvtr33m

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.