Alstom Metropolis Cars

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Inside an Alstom Metropolis Car on the North East Line. Trains running on this line are driverless and fully automated.

Side door of the Alstom Metropolis Car - Notice the system map of the North-East MRT Line.

An Alstom Metropolis Car waiting at Hougang MRT Station.

Alstom Metropolis Cars are the first generation of communication-based train control (CBTC) rolling stock that has been in use in Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines since 2003.

Alstom was contracted in 1997 and 1998 (as C751A) by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in Singapore to supply for its North East Line in 2003, and subsequently for its Circle MRT Line, to be fully operational in 2010, excluding the Circle Line Downtown Extension.

1 Design features
2 Serial number
- 2.1 North East Line
- 2.2 Circle Line
3 Technical specifications
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Design features

Previously known as “moving block systems”, CBTC systems do not require traditional "fixed-block track circuits" for determining train position. Instead, they rely on "continuous two-way digital communication" between each controlled train and a wayside control center, which may control an area of a railroad line, a complete line, or a group of lines. Recent studies consistently show that CBTC systems reduce life-cycle costs for the overall rail property and enhance operational flexibility and control.

Alstom Metropolis Cars are driverless, fully automated, are sleeker in design, come with closed-circuit television (CCTV), have wider seats, have more grabpoles, more space near the doors, have wheelchair space and are equipped with electronic displays (six in each car), showing station information, safety messages and videos, commercials and movie trailers.

A development in Singapore's MRT history, the six-car trains on the North East Line are powered by overhead catenary, in contrast to the train cars on all the other operating lines prior to this, which are powered by a third rail. This was partially due to the fact that authorities consider overhead wires to be unsightly and as such do not allow for trains to be powered using this method on elevated lines. Since this line is the first to be fully underground in Singapore, the authorities had a choice between powering the trains on this line by overhead catenary or third rail. An overhead catenary power supply was decided upon. Despite being fully underground also, the decision has also been made to power the three-car trains along the upcoming Circle Line by third rail. This is also the first time in the history of Singapore's MRT history that the seats in every compartment of the train are made up of the same colours. 25 trainsets of six cars each were purchased for the North East Line, while another 40 trainsets of three cars each were purchased for the Circle Line. In addition, due to its driverless configuration, it is the only type of train where there are windows at the front and back of the train, giving passengers an impressive view as the train speeds through the tunnel. Its interior design seems to be related to cubism.

[edit] Serial number

[edit] North East Line

Individual cars are given a five-digit serial number by the rail operator, SBS Transit.

The first digit of a car's serial number is always a seven.
The second digit depends upon whether the car is the first, second or third car from either end of the train, where the first car equals one, the second equals two, and the third equals three.
The other three digits is the train identification number. A full length train of six cars have two different identification number, one for the first three cars, and the same number plus one, for the other three. The smaller number is always an odd number.

A typical SBS Transit NEL Train, for example, would consist of serial numbers 71001, 72001, 73001, 73002, 72002, 71002.

[edit] Circle Line

Individual cars are given a four-digit serial number by the rail operator, SMRT Corporation.

The first digit of a car's serial number is always an eight.
The other three digits is the train identification number. A full length train of three cars will have three different consecutive serial numbers. The numbering begins from one end of the train to the other end. The largest number is always a multiple of three.

A typical SMRT Circle Line train, for example, would consist of serial numbers 8031, 8032, 8033.

[edit] Technical specifications

Length of train (North East Line): 138 m (23 m per car)
Width of car : 3.2 m
Height of car : 3.7 m
Weight of car : 35,000 kg
Number of passengers seated per train (North East Line): 300 per train
Number of passengers standing (North East Line) : 1,428 per train
Maximum passenger load (North East Line) : 1,920 or 320 per car
Average speed : 45 km per hour
Maximum speed : 90 km per hour
Track gauge : 1,435 mm
Track Voltage : 1,500 volts AC overhead catenary (North East Line)/750 volts DC third rail (Circle Line)
Train formation (North East Line) : Two sets of three-car Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) which are permanently coupled, providing for driving cabs at either end of trains and four motorised cars in the middle.
Train formation (Circle Line): three-car trains