STOCKHOLM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Transportation, the world’s leading provider of innovative rail products and services, announced today it is launching a new European Train Control System (ETCS) and Computer Based Interlocking system offering. These systems are part of a new portfolio of rail signaling solutions called Tempo. The company made the announcement at the UIC ERTMS World Conference 2012 held in Stockholm, from April 24-26. UIC ERTMS World Conference is the railway premier showcase of the latest achievement of ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) and the future development for the railway industry.
The introduction of Tempo Railway Solutions marks a major milestone in GE Transportation’s strategy in providing ERTMS compliant systems worldwide. The offering provides a complete range of ETCS-compliant wayside and onboard solutions, ETCS being one of the two main components of the ERTMS standard. ERTMS is one of the leading control systems worldwide and brings significant advantages in terms of maintenance cost savings, safety, reliability, punctuality and traffic capacity. This explains why ERTMS is increasingly successful outside of Europe, and is becoming the train control system of choice for countries such as China, India, Taiwan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
Tempo Railway Solutions are designed around a common failsafe, scalable, hardware and software platform and an integrated suite of engineering tools, the combination of which simplifies the execution of railway signaling projects. It provides rail infrastructure managers and train operators a compelling solution to meet their current and future requirements in terms of cost and time efficiency to deploy and sustain train control and interlocking systems with minimum revenue service impact and maximum energy efficiency. The Tempo ETCS value proposition is already gaining market recognition in that its ETCS Onboard Controller (OBC) has been selected to integrate GE’s PowerHaul Series locomotives for 2013 revenue service in countries of the European Union.
GE Transportation plans to display its Tempo Railway Solutions portfolio at the InnoTrans exhibition in September 2012 in Berlin, Germany.
GE’s Tempo Railway Solutions is an innovative initiative, symbolic of GE Transportation’s ability to blend technical leadership, expertise and experience to solve its customers’ biggest challenges. The portfolio builds on GE Transportation’s know how and lessons learned in designing and deploying rail signaling systems worldwide while leveraging the latest state-of-the-art hardware and software technologies developed at its recently opened Centers of Excellence in Florence (Italy) and Paris (France). These new technologies are leading the way for the next generation of integrated, flexible, intelligent rail control solutions that the rail industry requires to cost efficiently solve their operational and service improvement issues.
"We are very excited to announce the global introduction of our new Tempo Railway Solutions,” said Pierre Comte, President of GE Transportation Intelligent Control Systems. “We are developing the signaling solutions of the future and the Tempo Railway Solutions portfolio is a direct reflection of this strategy. It is a key offering for expanding our operational footprint in the rail signaling market thanks to highly differentiated solutions developed at our Centers of Excellence, which are focused on imagining new approaches and new features to better solve our customers' toughest railway challenges. We have invested $60 million in our global Centers of Excellence and the investment is leading to innovative new products for our customers."
Franco Fabbian, Key Accounts Director of GE Transportation’s Intelligent Control Systems added: “The Tempo Vital Platform is a state of the art addition to our Systems’ portfolio and its ETCS implementation in particular is a key milestone as we further improve our position as a top-tier train control solutions provider for customers worldwide. We are expanding our reach and building on our expertise beyond our traditional markets."
GE’s PowerHaul Series Locomotive Leading Technology
The PowerHaul Series locomotive is GE’s most technologically advanced, fuel efficient and low-emissions diesel-electric locomotive. The PowerHaul is engineered to generate more horsepower and tractive effort while lowering fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to locomotives currently in use. The locomotive features several leading technologies to achieve this performance including the V16, twin-turbo PowerHaul engine, an advanced AC traction system and dynamic braking. The PowerHaul locomotive reduces fuel use by up to 9% compared to current operating fleet averages, significantly reducing railroad operating costs, while also reducing GHG emissions.
The PowerHaul Series locomotive is designed as a flexible global platform for high tractive effort, lighter axle load applications, that can be customized for locations such as Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and other regions around the world.
Virtual Rail Expo
Complementing UIC ERTMS World Conference 2012 and other rail-related trade shows around the world, GE Transportation launched its Virtual Rail Expo at www.gevirtualrailexpo.com, an innovative digital online exhibition featuring locomotives, signaling and communications solutions, rail services and more.
About GE Transportation
GE Transportation, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), solves the world’s toughest transportation challenges. GE Transportation builds equipment that moves the rail, mining and marine industries. Our fuel-efficient and lower-emissions freight and passenger locomotives, diesel engines for rail, marine and stationary power applications, signaling and software solutions, drive systems for mining trucks, and value-added services help customers grow. GE Transportation is headquartered in Erie, Penn., and employs approximately 12,000 employees worldwide. For more information visit www.getransportation.com. For more information on GE Transportation’s urban transit, passenger rail, and intelligent train control solutions visit www.ge-rail-labs.com.