HITACHI Rail has completed the installation of ETCS Level 2 on the Kouvola - Kotka/Hamina line in Finland, the test track for the national rollout of ETCS Level 2.
The project included the installation of a 5G radio communications system meeting the specifications of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), now being developed to replace GSM-R.
The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (FTIA) awarded Thales Ground Transportation Systems (GTS) a contract to install ETCS Level 2 on the Kouvola - Kotka/Hamina line in April 2021. Hitachi Rail completed its €1.66bn acquisition of Thales GTS on May 31.
Throughout the project, the signalling contractor initiated the design phase by convening technical working groups on both sides to delineate the requirements and specifications for implementing ETCS Level 2.
The project also included interlocking renewal where new equipment was put into service in November 2023.
Hitachi Rail says that the Kouvola - Kotka/Hamina project provides a solid foundation for the future deployment of ETCS Level 2 in Finland, while significantly enhancing local ETCS expertise.
“To deliver such complex and time-critical projects requires a fully committed team and strong collaboration with the customer and all stakeholders,” says Mr Niko Hoffmann, general programme manager at Hitachi Rail Finland.
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