The new 3rd-gen Alstom Metropolis C851E (NEL) trains for the North East Line. (Image: SGTrains)
Commuters travelling on the North East Line (NEL) can look forward to the new 3rd-gen Alstom Metropolis C851E trains entering passenger service progressively from Friday (Jul 28) onwards, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Thursday.
When fully commissioned, the new Spanish-made C851E trains for the NEL, operated by SBS Transit, will increase the line’s fleet size from 43 to 49 trains.
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Alstom Metropolis C851E (NEL) To Enter Passenger Service
Equipped with Condition Monitoring and Automatic Track Inspection Systems
Acting Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat with representatives from LTA, SBS Transit and Alstom. (Image: LTA/Facebook)
As with the introduction of new trains on other MRT lines, like the Alstom Movia R151 trains, which entered passenger service in June, all six new C851E trains are also equipped with condition monitoring systems.
This system collects data from on-board equipment and will enable a more efficient and robust predictive maintenance regime by allowing pre-emptive maintenance measures to be taken before faults occur.
Additionally, two of the six C851E trains are fitted with an Automatic Track Inspection (ATI) system, the first trains with the system to be rolled out onto the NEL.
The ATI system features cameras and sensors installed beneath the train to monitor track conditions when trains are deployed for passenger service.
This complements the existing physical track inspections, thereby improving the detection of various track defects, such as rail cracks, rail corrugation and missing rail fasteners, for more timely maintenance of tracks.
Rigorous testing has been done before deployment for passenger service
The 3rd-gen Alstom Metropolis C851E (NEL) trains for the North East Line arriving into Singapore in April 2021. (Image: LTA/Facebook)
The purple-colour liveried C851E trains arrived in Singapore in April 2021 and were built by French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom at their manufacturing facility in Barcelona, Spain.
Before the commencement of passenger service deployment, these trains have undergone comprehensive testing by LTA, SBS Transit and Alstom.
RELATED: What Happens When New Trains Begin the Dynamic Testing Phase? »
In addition to the new C851E trains, LTA said the mid-life upgrade programme for the 1st-gen Alstom Metropolis C751A is “progressing smoothly” and that “four trains have been upgraded so far”.
The upgraded 1st-gen C751A trains come with a refreshed interior, new condition-monitoring capabilities and new air-conditioning & ventilation systems, and upgrading works will be completed by 2026.
RELATED: First Upgraded Train for North East Line To Enter Passenger Service From Feb 28 »
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Related Links
Alstom Metropolis C851E (NEL) – SGTrains
North East Line – SGTrains
External Links
New Trains for North East Line to be Rolled Out for Passenger Service from 28 July 2023 – LTA [Accessed 27 Jul 2023]
Images: SGTrains, LTA/Facebook and LTA/Facebook.
This article first appeared on SGTrains.
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