Infrabel invests 80 million euros in Alstom rail safety tech
Aiming to enhance rail safety and punctuality, Infrabel, the Belgian railway network manager, has announced an 80 million euro investment. The contract was signed on Monday between Infrabel and Alstom CEOs. Under the terms of the agreement, Alstom will supply approximately 10,000 state-of-the-art train detection devices over the next decade.
These devices, known as “Track Circuits” (TCs) or “JADE 3,” are pivotal in ensuring the secure and efficient management of rail traffic. Developed in Charleroi, Belgium, the JADE 3 represents the latest advancement in train detection technology, crucial for remote monitoring and control of railway traffic.
Benoît Gilson, CEO of Infrabel, emphasised the importance of this investment, stating, “This contract epitomises our role as stewards of the railway infrastructure, investing in innovative rail technology to guarantee safety and punctuality on our network at all times.” The deployment of the JADE 3 TCs will commence across the entirety of the Belgian railway network, with a particular focus on replacing ageing detection devices and enhancing rail operations in key corridors, such as the line to Paris via Halle and the high-speed rail line (LGV1).
The deployment of these TCs is expected to have a significant impact on punctuality. With nearly 12,500 TCs across the Belgian railway network, disruptions in their functionality have historically led to considerable delays and train cancellations. The JADE 3, boasting improved reliability and remote diagnostic capabilities, promises to mitigate such disruptions and ensure smoother train operations.
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