Thales yesterday announced that it has been awarded an ETCS Level 2 (European Train Control System) contract by the Austrian rail operator to implement the system on two lines across the country. Thales will supply, integrate and deploy its proven ETCS solution and the routes will be operational in December 2012. The project involves routes along the Vienna – St. Pölten (Tullnerfeld) section of the Western railway mainline across 60 km and along the 148 km long Brenner Axis (Unterinntal).

This project represents a major innovation in today’s train control in Austria, enabling faster, safer and more cost-efficient rail transportation for train operators. By implementing ETCS Level 2, communication with the train is performed via the digital mobile radio: GSM-R. Along both routes, Eurobalises are used as electronic milestones, providing information about the train’s position and the direction of travel. As a result, savings in investment and services costs will be achieved following the reduction in track-side control and safety equipment.

“This project reinforces Thales’s leading position in the ETCS market following the successful implementations in Europe, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Mexico. It is a recognition of the skills set by the Austrian team in the railway sector,” says Alfred Veider, Director of Thales’s Security Solutions & Services business in Austria.

Increased interoperability among rail networks of national rail operators, rolling stock manufacturers and the different system solutions in control and safety technology is considered by Thales to be an essential step towards a harmonised and competitive European rail network.