Upgrades to revitalize the world’s busiest underground rail system

Zürich, Switzerland – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, said 2006-12-14 it has won a contract from Bombardier Transportation worth $56 million to supply AC traction motors for new trains that will run on the London Underground.

The 190 new trains are part of Metronet Rail’s $30 billion program to upgrade nine of the 12 lines in London’s underground rail network – one of the busiest in the world which carries nearly one billion passengers annually. The seven- and eight-car trains will run on the network’s sub-surface lines (the District, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines).

“This contract underscores our position as a long-term partner and supplier of choice for the makers of modern rail systems,” said Tom Sjoekvist, head of ABB’s Automation Products division. “Our reliable, high-performance products will complement Bombardier’s application expertise to deliver proven transportation solutions at competitive cost.”

A traction motor is typically used to power the driving wheels of a railroad locomotive, a tram or an electric train like a subway or light rail vehicle. There is usually one traction motor on each driven axle.

The motors are based on Bombardier’s design and will be integrated into the propulsion and control system which is being manufactured by Bombardier in Sweden. The completed trains will be built in England at the Bombardier site in Derby.

The new vehicles will feature air-conditioning and inter-connecting gangways which will allow passengers to walk through the entire length of the train. The standard, modular design will help to optimize maintenance regimes. The first new train will enter service on the Metropolitan line in 2009 and, together with new signalling, the new fleets will improve journey times on the sub-surface lines.

ABB www.abb.com is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 107,000 people.