NETHERLANDS: NS has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to equip 176 VIRM double-deck EMUs for use with ETCS Level 2, in the first major contract for the roll-out of ETCS onboard equipment under the national retrofitting programme.
Siemens Mobility will provide the equipment and installation support in 2023-27 along with seven years of maintenance services.
The supplier said it views the initial project as a long-term and collaborative partnership to ensure a smooth transition from the existing train control system to ETCS.
‘This important project is another significant step in transforming the more than 20 different national railway control and safety systems currently being used in Europe, towards a harmonised and interoperable system that safely paves the way for cross-border rail transportation’, said Andre Rodenbeck, CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, on September 15.
