Bombardier’s INTERFLO 250 ERTMS signalling solution is to be installed on a metro line between the centre of Santiago and Rancagua.
The introduction of the €15 million in-cab signalling system system will allow the state operator Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado (EFE) to triple the capacity of the line from six million passengers to 18 million, reducing headways to just four minutes.
Once complete, Santiago will become the second Latin American country to utilise ERTMS behind Rio de Janeiro.
The mixed commuter and regional line connects Estación Central in the centre of the Chilean capital to the districts of Nos, Rancagua and Chillán – 400 kilometres from Santiago.
The metro system consists of five lines and 108 stations.
Earlier this month, Colas Rail and ETF were awarded a contract for the construction and maintenance of two new lines (Lines 3 and 6).
The consortium will install both conventional catenary systems and solid busbar catenary, also known as rigid catenary, along the combined 90-kilometre railway.
Commissioning is due to take place in February 2017 for Line 6 and June 2018 for Line 3.
