Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility solutions, has signed a major project for Taichung, one of Taiwan’s rapidly growing metropolitan areas. The company has signed a €159 million contract to supply a high-capacity, driverless signaling system for Taichung’s new Blue Line metro (MRT), which is expected to transform urban and intercity public transportation. This strategic agreement further demonstrates Alstom’s long-term commitment to the development of public transportation infrastructure in Taiwan.
Alstom will be a key part of an international consortium selected by the Taichung City Government Rapid Transit System Bureau to deliver a complete metro system for Taichung’s second full-fledged MRT line. The company will work with industry leaders such as Singapore Technologies Engineering (STE), CTCI and Hyundai Rotem Company on this critical project. This strong collaboration is crucial to the successful completion of the project and to providing the people of Taichung with a modern and reliable public transport system.
More Frequent and Precise Train Services with Urbalis Technology
As a key partner in the signaling consortium, Alstom will provide its proven and successful Urbalis CBTC[1] (Communication Based Train Control) system for the Taichung Blue Line. This choice is based on the fact that Alstom’s Urbalis platform is already operating smoothly on Taichung’s existing Green Line. The Urbalis system will enable Blue Line trains to operate much more frequently and precisely, with significantly shorter waiting times, especially during peak hours. This development will play a critical role in meeting increasing passenger demand and improving the travel experience as the city continues to expand. The system will maximize the capacity of the metro network by increasing train frequency and reducing commute times, enabling shorter journey times of up to 90 seconds.
Blue Line: Connecting the East and West of the City
The Taichung Blue Line, which will be 24,8 kilometers long and consist of 20 modern stations, will directly connect the bustling Port of Taichung in the west of the city to the major transportation hub of Taiwan Railways Taichung Station in the east. The new line will form a vital link between the existing Green Line and the future Orange Line, forming an important part of Taichung’s integrated and multimodal transportation system. Supporting the Blue Line project with Alstom’s advanced technology will make a significant contribution to the Taiwanese government’s long-term strategic goal of creating a comprehensive and efficient transportation network for one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas.
Tiberghien, General Manager of Alstom East Asia: “Building a Better Connected Future”
Toby Tiberghien, General Manager of Alstom East Asia, said of this important contract: “Following our successful launch of the Green Line in 2021, we are very honoured to continue our journey in Taichung with the new Blue Line. Our Urbalis solution will deliver an efficient and reliable driverless signalling system through a high-quality solution and excellent service, supporting our commitment to building a better connected future for the city.” Tiberghien’s statement clearly demonstrates Alstom’s commitment to the Taiwanese market and how the company’s technology contributes to the sustainable growth of cities.
Alstom's Roots in Taiwan and Investment in the Future
With an active presence in Taiwan for over 40 years, Alstom has also successfully delivered signaling systems for the Taipei Metro. From automated metros to next-generation trams, the company continues to play a leading role in contributing to the future of Taiwan’s public transport. Today, in addition to Taichung’s Green Line signaling system in service, Alstom is also supplying the Urbalis Forward signaling solution for the Taipei Wanda Phase 1, Phase 2 and Taipei Circular Line Phase 2 lines under construction in Taiwan, as well as 35 modern Metropolis metro train sets for the Wanda-Zhonghe-Shulin Line. These projects are concrete demonstrations of Alstom’s long-term investment strategy in Taiwan and its confidence in the country’s public transport infrastructure.
Global Leadership in CBTC Technology
With over 30 years of deep expertise in CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) technology and the successful equipping of more than 32 metro lines in 190 countries worldwide, Alstom is an undisputed leader in the public transport market. The company’s advanced Urbalis and Onvia technologies enable it to be at the forefront of innovative automation solutions for both urban and mainline rail systems. The Urbalis system provided for the Taichung Blue Line project further confirms Alstom’s global leadership and proven reliability in this field. This latest contract is an important part of Alstom’s vision to contribute to the future of the world’s cities with smart and sustainable mobility solutions.
