13 May 2023
- New suite of digital products to be unveiled by Hitachi Rail at leading rail conference, including PTC Onboard System, Railcar Telematics product line and enhancements towards an Intelligent Wayside
- Industry leading products will allow railroads to optimize and improve efficiency to maximize their investment for the long-term
- Unveiling of new products in line with Hitachi Rail’s broader strategy to support customers in optimizing their systems and assets through digital technology
Hitachi Rail is launching new innovations and product improvements at the upcoming 2022 Railway Systems Supplies, Inc. (RSSI) Communication & Signaling (C&S) exhibition in Kansas City, Missouri on May 16th, 17th and 18th. The company will be demonstrating digital solutions for freight and passenger rail to help railroads maximize their investment for the long-term.
Hitachi Rail will be launching several new innovations in the areas of Automation and Digitalization, which include PTC Onboard (Positive Train Control), Railcar Telematics, and dispatching systems. As part of its vision for an Intelligent Wayside, Hitachi continues to invest in integrating digital capabilities within its core signaling products. The added capability allows customers to improve operational performance and maintenance activities through deploying technological innovation.
Hitachi Rail announces the launch of its PTC Onboard System, as an Interoperable Train Control (ITC) solution for freight railroads and commuter rail operators. The technology platform utilizes a modern, multiprocessor architecture to run both vital (SIL-4) and non-vital applications, and it leverages the decades of onboard train control experience from prior Hitachi Rail platforms.
Miles Metschke, Head of Freight Rail, Hitachi Rail, North America, stated, “The Hitachi Rail platform allows railroads to upgrade their existing PTC systems today. We have also planned for the future of train control by including additional expansion capabilities, which allows railroads to maximize their investment for the long-term.”
Hitachi Rail will also launch its digital Railcar Telematics product suite to provide GPS tracking and operational status of railcars. An exclusive partnership with Intermodal Telematics establishes Hitachi Rail’s full suite of railcar telematics products, which complements its existing product portfolio from the acquisition of Perpetuum in 2021.
“We are very excited to be bringing our new railcar monitoring solution to North America with our partner, Intermodal Telematics. The combined products, software, and capabilities of both companies creates a best in class solution for railcar owners, rail shippers and railroads,” added Miles Metschke.
Hitachi Rail has made enhancements to several of its core signaling products to integrate digital capabilities in its vision to move towards an Intelligent Wayside.
- In M3/M23 switch machines, the Intelligent Electronic Circuit Controller (IECC®) has been updated with improvements for remote monitoring and diagnostics.
- Hitachi Rail’s switch machines have been upgraded to enhance maintenance activities – by making it faster and simpler to performing tests and inspections.
- The improved Model 95-E gate crossing mechanism – featuring a new electronic control module and dustless motor technology that significantly reduces maintenance costs.
- For the MicroLok II platform, new EasyRail® Design and Simulation tools have been launched to simplify the building and testing of vital and non-vital applications.
- EasyRail® Maintainer is a remote monitoring and diagnostics application for the MicroLok II platform, which provides advanced analytics over wayside data.
- The MicroLok II platform also includes the ViPro® vital processor for vital and non-vital wayside signaling and PTC applications – which combines core train control capabilities with next generation communications, monitoring and analytics.
Joseph Pozza, President of Hitachi Rail, North America, said, “We are proud of our core products for communication and signaling that are installed across North America. We continue to invest in new digital technologies to provide our customers with modern capabilities to better operate and maintain their rail network. Through these lasting partnerships we will continue to innovate and provide more efficient and safer railways.”
ENDS
Notes to the editors:
Hitachi Rail is exhibiting at Rail Systems Supplies exhibition being held Kansas City, Missouri from May 16th – 18th, 2022.
For customer enquiries, please contact Miles Metschke, Head of Freight Rail – Americas, +1 412 735 2911 or miles.metschke@hitachirail.com.
For media enquiries, please contact Adam Love on +1 (412) 688-2912 or Adam.love@hitachirail.com.
About Hitachi Rail: Hitachi Rail is a fully integrated, global provider of rail solutions across rolling stock, signalling, service & maintenance, digital technology and turnkey solutions. With a presence in 38 countries across six continents and over 12,000 employees, our mission is to contribute to society through the continuous development of superior rail transport solutions. We are proud of our global achievements, from our world famous ‘bullet trains’, to our signalling solutions and turnkey projects, state-of-the-art traffic management and digital solutions. Drawing on the wider Hitachi Group’s market-leading technology and research-and-development capabilities, we strive for industry leading innovations and solutions that can deliver value for customers and sustainable railway systems that benefit wider society. For information about Hitachi Rail, visit www.hitachirail.com.
Hitachi in Canada
At Hitachi, green and digital innovation drives our mission as climate change innovators. Converging operational and information technologies, Hitachi is addressing societal and environmental challenges, shaping a greener, brighter tomorrow for all.
17 November 2022
- Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx reach agreement with Hitachi Rail’s Connect 6ix consortium to transform Toronto’s mass transit network via the 15.6-km Ontario Line subway project
- A new fleet of driverless subway trains will run up to every 90 seconds through heart of the city
- Hitachi Rail will maintain and operate trains and the line for 30 years, creating a new control centre and maintenance and storage facility
- Second major program Hitachi Rail is delivering in Canada, continuing global rail firm’s rapid expansion into North America
Hitachi Rail has been awarded a contract to deliver the new Ontario Line rolling stock (trains), systems, operations and maintenance (RSSOM) package by Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx, as the leader of the Connect 6ix consortium. The $9bn CAD contract is the second major infrastructure project the global rail leader is delivering in Canada and will secure its presence in Toronto for the next 30 years.
The Ontario Line is a brand new 15.6-kilometre subway line that will create a high-frequency rapid transit service – with trains running as frequently as every 90 seconds – through the heart of Toronto. The new line will have the ability to move up to 30,000 people per hour in each direction and will be a major enhancement in public transit capacity and connectivity. The route will have 15 stations, eight of which will be underground and will extend from Exhibition/Ontario Place in the west to the Ontario Science Centre in in the east. In addition to creating new capacity, the program will also better connect the existing transit system, creating more 40 connections to other transit options, including GO Transit rail lines, existing TTC subway service on Line 1 and Line 2, and the future Line 5 (Eglinton Crosstown LRT).
As part of the agreement, the consortium Hitachi Rail and its partners will design and build the trains and install and integrate tracks and systems along the line, as well as maintain and operate the service for 30 years. The consortium will draw on Hitachi Rail’s extensive international experience delivering subway vehicles across the world to deliver a state-of-the-art fleet of autonomous trains. The trains will be packed with the latest technology and feature:
- onboard Wi-Fi;
- digital passenger information screens;
- charging points;
- dedicated spaces for bicycles;
- double wheelchair areas;
- continuous, connected carriages;
- heating and cooling throughout;
- doors that will open in sync with platform edge doors;
- regenerative braking.
Wi-Fi access, passenger information screens, and platform edge doors in all Ontario Line stations will also be delivered under this contract.
The trains will travel at speeds upwards of 80 kilometres per hour and will be powered entirely by electricity, offering passengers a greener way to travel across Toronto. The new line will reduce congestion and help protect the environment by removing up to 28,000 cars from the city’s roads each day.
The new subway will be able to achieve such a step-change in service levels because it will be fully autonomous and capable of offering higher levels of safety, reliability and capacity. Hitachi Rail’s world-leading digital train control systems will allow the fleet to run at high frequency – up to every 90 seconds – meaning passengers will never have to wait long for a train.
The line will be fitted with the latest communication-based train control (CBTC) technology that seamlessly connects tracks, trains and the control centre together – providing a perfect picture of every part of the subway system. Full automation and integration means that trains can safely run more closely together, as well as accelerating and braking more efficiently. To deliver the driverless system, Hitachi Rail will draw from its extensive international experience, which includes Denmark, Taiwan, Italy, Britain, China, Greece, India and the United States.
To make sure the trains run to a very high standard, Hitachi Rail and Transdev will establish a new purpose-built digital control centre and maintenance and storage facility, which will create hundreds of permanent jobs. The Connect 6ix project team are also going to recruit people to deliver the program, with recruitment beginning immediately, ahead of construction starting in 2023. In total, 800 jobs are expected to be created.
Andrew Barr, Group CEO, Hitachi Rail said: “As a world leader in autonomous metro systems, we’re hugely excited to help transform Toronto’s transit network by delivering the new Ontario Line.
“This will be the second major program that we’ll be bring our digital expertise and engineering excellence to deliver in Canada, after the Hurontario the light rail transit project. Our role delivering maintenance and operations for the next 30 years will see us having a lasting presence in Toronto for a generation to come.”
The Connect 6ix consortium includes:
- Applicant Lead: Plenary Americas, Hitachi Rail, Webuild Group, Transdev Canada Inc.
- Design Team: Hitachi Rail, IBI Group Professional Services (Canada) Inc.
- Construction Team: Hitachi Rail, Webuild Group, NGE Contracting Inc.
- Operations, Maintenance and Rehabilitation Team: Hitachi Rail, Transdev Canada Inc.
- Financial Advisor: National Bank Financial Inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
The Ontario Line RSSOM contract as part of the Connect 6ix consortium is the second major program that Hitachi Rail is delivering in Canada, and follows the Hurontario Light Rail Transit program. When combined with around 1,000 employees as part of the acquisition of Thales Ground Transportation Systems, these programs will give Hitachi Rail a strong presence in the Canadian transit market. The expansion reflects Hitachi Rail’s growth in the North American market, with over 1,200 existing employees and around 100 projects across the region. As a leader of rolling stock, signalling, maintenance and digital solutions, Hitachi Rail is ideally placed to deliver new or improved transit systems across North America.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Yinka Robinson, Hitachi Rail (North America) on +1 (412) 328-3416 or yinka.robinson@hitachirail.com
Adam Love, Hitachi Rail (Global) on +44 7860 273 317 or Adam.Love@hitachirail.com
Notes to the editors
The contract is to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Ontario Line Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations and Maintenance (RSSOM) package for a 30-year term.
The CBTC system will at the highest grade of automation (GOA4), meaning it will be a fully automated driverless system.
Prospective applicants: If you are interested in applying for job with Hitachi Rail, please email OntarioLineJobs@HitachiRail.com. In the interim, please DO NOT email the listed media contacts. Job inquiries to these addresses will not be answered.
Hitachi Rail is also recruiting for numerous roles for projects across North America. To see these opportunities, visit (Jobs and Careers | Rail | Global - Hitachi Rail | Hitachi Rail).
Vendors and suppliers inquiring about opportunities to work with Hitachi Rail should contact RSProcurement@us.hitachirail.com.
To find out more about Hitachi Rail in North America, please visit this link
Related links
About Hitachi Rail
Hitachi Rail is a fully integrated, global provider of rail solutions across rolling stock, signalling, service & maintenance, digital technology and turnkey solutions. With a presence in 38 countries across six continents and over 12,000 employees, our mission is to contribute to society through the continuous development of superior rail transport solutions. We are proud of our global achievements, from our world-famous 'bullet trains', to our signalling solutions and turnkey projects, state--of-the-art traffic management and digital solutions. Drawing on the wider Hitachi Group's market-leading technology and research-and-development capabilities, we strive for industry leading innovations and solutions that can deliver value for customers and sustainable railway systems that benefit wider society. For information about Hitachi Rail, visit www.hitachirail.com.
Hitachi in Canada
At Hitachi, green and digital innovation drives our mission as climate change innovators. Converging operational and information technologies, Hitachi is addressing societal and environmental challenges, shaping a greener, brighter tomorrow for all.
4 October 2023
Grid-eMotion® Fleet EV charging system powers RTC pilot of electric buses in preparation for the shift to all-electric public transit in Quebec City
Montreal, Quebec, October 4, 2023 – Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, has successfully deployed a centralized, multi-vehicle electric bus charging solution for RTC, the public transit agency in the greater Quebec City area. The technology was selected to be tested as part of a pilot project in 2022 following a call for tender won by Hitachi Energy. The three-year project represents an important step toward the ultimate electrification of the RTC’s entire bus fleet and infrastructure. The pilot is also providing valuable data on the best strategies for charging large numbers of vehicles.
The technology selected for the pilot is Hitachi Energy’s Grid-eMotion® Fleet solution, an integrated charging system that can deliver multi-megawatt level charging capabilities tailored to the demanding requirements of urban bus fleets. The system requires 60 percent less space than conventional charging systems and a 40 percent decrease in required depot cabling. This industry-leading grid-to-plug solution has been deployed in sustainable transport projects at some of the biggest urban bus systems in the world, including London, UK, Västerås, Sweden, and Brisbane, Australia.
The project supports the Quebec provincial government's plan to electrify 55 percent of its urban buses and 65 percent of its school buses by 2030, a critical objective in Canada, where transportation accounts for about a quarter of total greenhouse gas emissions.
"Hitachi Energy is proud to support the RTC energy transition through our Grid-eMotion Fleet pilot deployment. This project offers a great opportunity to demonstrate how charging systems designed specifically for fleets can play a critical role in transitioning our urban transit systems to fully electric operations," said Alireza Aram, Managing Director, Grid Integration North America, Hitachi Energy. "This exciting project is enabling us to explore different approaches to EV fleet charging in a real-world environment, gathering data that can be applied with public transit agencies around the world."
One of the key goals of the project is to explore different fleet charging strategies in an active bus terminal, including traditional plugs, as well as overhead pantograph systems. Typically, bus terminals in urban environments are space-constrained and were not designed for electric buses, which require compact, scalable, and space-saving systems. Hitachi Energy’s Grid-eMotion Fleet technology can provide public transit agencies with much-needed flexibility to address the unique needs of each facility. Hitachi Energy’s solution has been tested at RTC’s Metrobus Center and is expected to run at full capacity in 2024.
Grid-eMotion Fleet solution charging an electric bus at RTC garage. Picture: Claude Mathieu
Hitachi in Canada
At Hitachi, green and digital innovation drives our mission as climate change innovators. Converging operational and information technologies, Hitachi is addressing societal and environmental challenges, shaping a greener, brighter tomorrow for all.
15 December 2022
Substantial modernization of a key transmission system in Canada will support the transfer of electricity between Montreal and New York
Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, today announced that it has been selected by Hydro-Québec for its high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology for the transmission of electricity, which will ensure the sustainability of the energy exchange between the Quebec network, in eastern Canada, and New York State in the northeastern United States.
Hydro-Québec, the largest hydroelectricity producer in Canada and one of the largest hydroelectricity producers in the world, is a public company that generates, transmits, and distributes reliable, clean and renewable electricity in Québec. Thanks to its surplus energy, it supplies the Canadian provinces and the northeastern United States.
The Châteauguay HVDC system will enable the transmission of up to 1,500 megawatts of electricity between the electrical networks of Quebec and the state of New York which will contribute to maintaining a low carbon footprint in the region. This new system will replace existing equipment which has been in operation since 19841, increasing the efficiency and controllability, plus raising the power conversion capacity of the Châteauguay HVDC system2 by 50 percent.
“We are proud to be returning to the Chateauguay HVDC station, after helping to build it almost four decades ago,” said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business. “This new system represents an important enhancement to the ability to transmit large-scale hydro power between Canada and the United States, which will support the shift away from fossil fuel.”
Hitachi Energy is supplying a “back-to-back” converter station, which converts AC power to DC then reconverts it to AC from DC enabling the interconnection of the 735 kilovolt Canadian and 765 kilovolt New York grids which are “out of phase” and cannot be connected directly via traditional AC systems.
Note to editors:
Hitachi Energy’s HVDC solution combines world-leading expertise in HVDC converter valves; the MACH™ digital control platform3, which enables renewables integration and manages voltage and frequency disturbances in the grid; converter power transformers and high-voltage switchgear; as well as system studies, design and engineering, supply, installation supervision and commissioning.
HVDC Light® is a voltage source converter technology developed by Hitachi Energy. It is the preferred technology for many grid applications, including interconnecting countries, integrating renewables and “power-from-shore” connections to offshore production facilities. HVDC Light’s defining features include uniquely compact converter stations and exceptionally low electrical losses.
Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the world’s HVDC projects.
References
Hitachi in Canada
At Hitachi, green and digital innovation drives our mission as climate change innovators. Converging operational and information technologies, Hitachi is addressing societal and environmental challenges, shaping a greener, brighter tomorrow for all.