Alstom Metropolis C751A

The Alstom Metropolis C751A is the first generation of communications-based train control (CBTC) electric multiple unit rolling stock in operation on the North East line of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system since 2003. 25 trainsets were purchased for the line.

Alstom Metropolis C751A
Front of an Alstom Metropolis C751A at Sengkang Depot.
In service20 June 2003 (2003-06-20) – Present
ManufacturerAlstom
Built atValenciennes, France
Family nameMetropolis
Constructed2000–2003
Entered service20 June 2003 (2003-06-20)
RefurbishedCRRC Nanjing Puzhen
2019–2024
Number built150 vehicles (25 trains, 1 refurbished)
Number in service144 vehicles (24 trains, 1 under refurbishment)
Formation6 per trainset
DT-Mp-Mi+Mi-Mp-DT
Fleet numbers7001/7002 – 7049/7050
Capacity1920 passengers
298 seats
Operator(s)SBS Transit Ltd (ComfortDelGro Corporation)
Depot(s)Sengkang
Line(s) served NEL  North East line
Specifications
Car body constructionWelded aluminium
Train length138.5 m (454 ft 4+3⁄4 in)
Car length23.65 m (77 ft 7+1⁄8 in) (DT)
22.8 m (74 ft 9+5⁄8 in) (Mp/Mi)
Width3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Height3.7 m (12 ft 1+5⁄8 in)
Floor height1,100 mm (3 ft 7+1⁄4 in)
Doors1,450 mm (57+1⁄8 in), 8 per car, 4 per side
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph) (design)
90 km/h (56 mph) (service)
Weight230 t (230 long tons; 250 short tons) (6 passengers/1 m2 or 11 sq ft)
Traction systemAlstom ONIX 1500 IGBT–VVVF
Traction motors16 × 150 kW (200 hp) 3-phase AC induction motor
Power output2.4 MW (3,200 hp)
Acceleration1.1 m/s2 (3.6 ft/s2)
Deceleration1.4 m/s2 (4.6 ft/s2) (Emergency)
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classification2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Bogies16 t (16 long tons; 18 short tons) per axle
Braking system(s)Regenerative and pneumatic
Safety system(s)Alstom URBALIS 300 moving block CBTC ATC under ATO GoA 4 (UTO), with subsystems of ATP, Iconis ATS and Smartlock CBI[1][2]
Coupling systemScharfenberg coupler
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Overview

The six-car trains on the North East line are powered by overhead catenary, a first in Singapore's MRT history. Rolling stock on all the other operating lines are powered by a third rail because authorities considered overhead wires to be unsightly and did not allow for trains to be powered using this method on elevated lines.

Since this line is the first to be fully underground in Singapore, the authorities had a choice between powering the trains on this line by overhead catenary or third rail. This rolling stock is the first to have seats of the same colour in every compartment of the train.

Alstom was contracted in 1997 and 1998 (as Contract C751A) by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in Singapore to supply for trains for the North East line.[3]

Platform gap reducers were since added to all C751A trains, similar to those on the C830C and C751C.

Refurbishment

In December 2018, LTA announced that the C751A trains will undergo mid-life refurbishment works from 2019 onwards. A contract worth $116.7 million was awarded to CRRC Nanjing Puzhen for the refurbishment works. All 25 first-generation C751A trains will be upgraded. The trains' interior, such as seats, panels, and flooring, will be replaced. The LCD screens will be removed. Air-conditioning & ventilation systems will be upgraded. The trains will be retrofitted with new LTA passenger information displays similar to the ones found on newer MRT trains such as the CT251 and the upcoming CR151.

The exterior livery design will be retained with the exception of Land Transport Authority logos. Smaller SBS Transit logos are located on the gangway ends of each car in a similar fashion to LTA's earlier corporate livery designs. Works are expected to be completed by 2024.

The first refurbished train set (7013/7014) entered passenger service on 28 February 2022.[4][5]

Exterior design

Red and purple stripes run along the train livery for passengers to easily identify that the trains are operated by SBS Transit. The fleet numbers were placed on the roof above the 1st and 4th doors on each car and three SBS Transit logos are placed per side per car.

C751A trains do not have a middle window cut out unlike the newer driverless trains in the MRT system. This is because it has to make way for the old detrainment ramp, which is not as compact as that of the C751C, C830, C830C and the upcoming C851E.

Interior design

The interior colouring scheme of the trains is largely different from other trains in the system, with beige being used for the roof, the emergency communication button and the top ends of the seats, and lavender for the lower parts of the seats. Wheelchair spaces are located at the 9th and 16th doors of the trains. 36 LCD displays had been installed on the trains but they were deactivated. These trains has two side windows at each end for viewing the tracks.

In addition, the C751A trains are also fitted with the following:

  • 2 Visual Passenger Information System (VPIS) screens installed in each train car. These displays show the name of the next station, current station, door closing messages and occasionally the date and time.
  • 6 LCD screens are installed on the overhead panel in each train car. These screens formerly showed rail travel information of the next station and terminating station, silent commercials and safety videos. The units have since been deactivated due to lack of demand and was removed in refurbished trains.[6]

Experimental programmes
  • Some of C751A trains had been installed four rows for standing area to take away 28 seatings in between two doors of the middle four cars. This creates space for more commuters to board, especially during peak hours.

Driverless operation
The fully automated operation of the North East line trains allows for passengers to view the tracks on each end of the trainset

The C751A is the first fully driverless heavy metro rolling stock in Singapore, being introduced in 2003. However, in some situations, such as the event of disruptions, SBS Transit hires employees trained to drive the trains manually.[7]

The C751A uses the URBALIS 300 moving-block communications-based (CBTC) Automatic Train Control (ATC) system, which optimizes headway and enables extra trains to be injected automatically into the system at rush hour to increase passenger capacity and reduce congestion.

In the depot, trains are also operated in full automatic mode. Communication between the train and the fixed signaling equipment is enabled by the IAGO two-way continuous transmission system. Station-based automatic train supervision ensures a greater degree of availability. Built-in test equipment has also been included, and Eurobalise standards have been adopted for spot transmission.[3]

Train Formation

The configuration of a C751A in revenue service is DT-Mp-Mi+Mi-Mp-DT

Cars of C751A
car type Control Cab Motor Pantograph car length Wheelchair Bay
mm ft in
DT✓✗✗ 23,650 77 ft 7.1 in✗
Mp✗✓✓ 22,800 74 ft 9.6 in✗
Mi✗✓✗ 22,800 74 ft 9.6 in✓

The car numbers of the trains range from 7x001 to 7x050, where x depends on the carriage type. Individual cars are assigned a five-digit serial number by the rail operator SBS Transit. A complete six-car trainset consists of an identical twin set of one driving trailer (DT) and two motor cars (Mi & Mp) permanently coupled together. For example, set 7013/7014 consists of cars 71013, 72013, 73013, 73014, 72014 and 71014.

  • The first digit is always a 7.
  • The second digit identifies the car number, where the first car has a 1, the second has a 2 & the third has a 3.
  • The third digit is always a 0.
  • The fourth digit and fifth digit are the train identification numbers. A full-length train of 6 cars have 2 different identification numbers. For example, 7013/7014 (normal coupling) or 7011/7022 (cross coupling).
  • Alstom built sets 7001/7002-7049/7050.

See also

References
  1. "Singapore Northeast Line: will soon be the largest, fully automatic metro system in the world" (PDF). pp. 4 to 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  2. "URBALIS Evolution: Controlling the Performance" (PDF). p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  3. "Singapore Northeast Line – The first fully automatic heavy metro system" (PDF). Alstom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  4. "NEL to undergo major renewal from January". The Straits Times. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  5. Loh (27 February 2022). "First Upgraded Train for North East Line To Enter Passenger Service From Feb 28". SGTrains. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  6. "VISUAL PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR SINGAPORE MRT AND LRT LINES" (PDF).
  7. "SMRT to deploy drivers to once-driverless MRT lines to improve reliability". SingaporeGO!.
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