Hitachi Rail and SMRT Achieve Major Sustainability Milestone with 8% Energy Savings in Green Communications-Based Train Control Project

Published on November 8, 2024

Hitachi Rail and SMRT have reached a key milestone with the successful completion of Phase 1 of their Next-Generation Green Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) project, unveiled at the SITCE Exhibition in Singapore. This phase has introduced an additional 8% reduction in energy consumption for automatic trains, marking a major advancement in their joint commitment to sustainable urban mobility. The project’s annual energy savings exceed 15 million kWh, equivalent to the yearly electricity usage of roughly 3,000 households.

The partnership, established in 2023 between SMRT Trains and Hitachi Rail, aims to support SMRT’s vision of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The innovative Green CBTC technology, integrated with Hitachi’s SelTrac™ signaling system, harnesses advanced data analytics to streamline energy consumption. This capability enables operators like SMRT to achieve significant traction energy savings, aligning with broader environmental goals.

Hitachi Rail initially deployed SelTrac™ CBTC to upgrade the North-South Line (NSL) and East-West Line (EWL) in 2017 and 2018, with Green CBTC enhancements now enhancing energy efficiency across the NSEWL network. The system automatically manages functions such as acceleration, braking, and coasting to optimize energy use.

As traction power represents around 50% of total energy requirements in SMRT’s network, the Green CBTC technology reduces this demand through data-driven insights, contributing to more eco-friendly journeys for NSEWL passengers.

Looking forward, Hitachi Rail and SMRT plan to continue collaborative research aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability across Singapore’s rail network.

Mr Lam Sheau Kai, President, SMRT Trains, said: “We are encouraged by the positive energy savings achieved through our partnership with Hitachi Rail. Looking ahead, we are excited to target, and potentially exceed, a 15% reduction in annual traction power consumption over the next two years, making travel on the NSEWL more sustainable and greener.”

Ziad Rizk, Director, Urban Rail Signalling, Hitachi Rail, said: “SMRT and Hitachi Rail have a long-standing partnership in Singapore and together we are now making passenger journeys greener than ever. This project, designed as energy saving-as-a-service, allows for greater power efficiency without disrupting passenger services, marking a pivotal step towards more sustainable urban transit system.”