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Singapore – The Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) well as tunnels for the North East Line Extension. The company had has awarded the civil contract to design and construct the previously completed the construction of Kaki Bukit and Geylang bored tunnel between Aviation Park station and Loyang station for Bahru stations for Downtown Line Stage 3 and Canberra station for the Cross Island Line Phase 1 (CRL1) to Taisei Corporation – China the North-South Line. State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited Singapore Construction works for the 3.2-kilometre tunnel between Aviation Branch Joint Venture, at a total contract value of SG$356 million. Park Station and Loyang Station is expected to start in the second

Taisei Corporation and China State Construction Engineering quarter of 2021. For the first time, LTA will use a large-diameter Corporation Limited Singapore Branch have established track records tunnel boring machine to construct a single tunnel with two tracks in providing design-and-build construction services which include rail in it. CRL1 is slated to commence passenger service in 2030. stations and tunnels locally and abroad. Taisei Corporation is currently The CRL, Singapore’s eighth MRT line, is the city state’s longest involved in the construction of Marina Bay station and tunnels for the fully underground line at more than 50 kilometres long. It will Thomson-East Coast Line while China State Construction Engineering Annex A serve existing and future developments in the eastern, western, and Corporation Limited Singapore Branch is currently working on the north-eastern corridors, linking major hubs such as Jurong Lake construction of Keppel and Cantonment stations for Circle Line 6, as Location map of tunnel between Aviation Park Station and Loyang Station District, Punggol Digital District and Changi region. When fully completed, the CRL is expected to have a daily ridership of at least 600,000 in the initial years, growing to one million in the longer term. The CRL will have almost half of its stations as interchanges with other train lines, making it easier and more convenient to travel across the rail network. It will be constructed in three phases. CRL1 is 29 kilometres long and comprises twelve stations from Aviation Park to Bright Hill. This will serve residential and industrial areas such as Loyang, Tampines, Pasir Ris, Defu, Hougang, Serangoon North and Ang Mo Kio and benefit more than 100,000 households. With CRL1, common recreational spaces such as Changi Beach Park and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park will be more accessible by public transport. Studies on the details of subsequent CRL phases are ongoing.

*All station names are working names

Location map of tunnel between Aviation Park Station and Loyang Station

Hong Kong – MTR Corporation has commissioned a new signalling system and 9-car trains on the East Rail Line (EAL). At the same time, MTR has established a dedicated Shatin to Central Link (SCL) Technical and Engineering Assurance Team, directly accountable to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), to monitor the SCL project from both a technical and service readiness perspective and to identify important unknown issues of the remaining works of the SCL project for timely reporting and follow up. The establishment of the team is an initiative of the Corporation after reviewing the Report of the Investigation Panel (the Report) into the postponement of the commissioning of the EAL new signalling system in mid-September last year.

Multiple contracts awarded by Singapore LTA

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the second civil contract for the construction of Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link to China Communications Construction Company Limited (Singapore Branch) at a contract value of around SG$180 million. This contract covers the construction of the RTS Link viaduct and tunnels in Singapore. The viaduct will stand above the Straits of Johor within Singapore’s territory at a height of 25 metres. It will then continue inland and transition to underground tunnels connecting to the RTS Link Woodlands North station.

China Communications Construction Company Limited (Singapore Branch) has 15 years of experience in infrastructure construction, specialising in large-scale rail, road and bridge projects. It has previously completed rail projects in other countries such as China and Kenya. The company is also currently constructing the Boon Lay station on the Jurong Region Line.

Construction for the RTS Link viaduct and tunnels is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2021. The first civil contract to construct the RTS Link Woodlands North station, tunnels and the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) building in Singapore, was awarded on 26 November 2020. The RTS Link is expected to commence passenger service in end 2026.

The RTS Link is a four-kilometre rail shuttle service between the Singapore terminus at Woodlands North station and the Malaysia terminus at Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru. It has a large capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction. Passengers will enjoy a fast and seamless travelling experience between Singapore and Johor Bahru on the RTS Link, and a journey time of about five minutes between the two stations.

Furthermore, the CIQ facilities will be conveniently co-located at Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar stations, so that passengers will only be required to clear both Singapore and Malaysia immigration authorities once, at the point of departure. Upon arrival in Singapore, passengers can seamlessly continue their journey by

Visuals of the Jurong East Integrated Transport Hub transfers between the North-South and East-West Lines and the future Jurong Region Line at the Jurong East station. The construction of the JE ITH is expected to start in the second quarter of this year and complete around 2027.

Like all the other ITHs, inclusive facilities have been incorporated into JE ITH, including barrier-free alighting areas and toilets, priority queue zones with seats, and a nursing room. This is part of the Government’s efforts to create a more caring and inclusive public transport system.

The ITH will feature a 27-storey tower block connected by a sky bridge to an eight-storey podium block. The development will have offices, public facilities as well as retail spaces.

transferring to the Thomson-East Coast Line, which is adjacent to the RTS Link Woodlands North station. When operations Artist’s ImpressionArtist’s Impression of RTS Link Viaduct of RTS Link Viaduct A commence, the RTS Link will significantly improve connectivity n eight-storey podium building (left) will be connected to a between Singapore and Johor Bahru and ease congestion along the Causeway. 27-storey tower block (right) by a 90m sky bridge The LTA also awarded the contract to complete the civil works for

Hume station on the Downtown Line to JSM Construction Group

Pte Ltd. at a contract value of SG$34,338,000. Hume station is located along Upper Bukit Timah Road between

Hillview and Beauty World stations. A station box with basic structural provisions had earlier been constructed for this station.

The new contract covers the construction of a station entrance, ventilation shaft and fitting-out works for the new station. In addition to serving existing residential developments along Hume

Avenue, the station will also provide more convenient access for members of the public to the Rail Corridor (Central) and Former

Ford Factory. Hume station is targeted to open in 2025. JSM Construction Group Pte Ltd. has wide-ranging experience in the construction sector, including a strong track record in MRT station upgrading works. The company is currently carrying out Location map of DTL Hume Station addition and alteration works for Pasir Ris station along East-West

Line and had previously worked on providing additional platforms at Choa Chu Kang MRT/LRT station. Location map and artist’s impression of RTS Link viaduct In order to fit out the underground station into an operational one, the contractor will be carrying out extensive installation works including architectural, plumbing and sanitary requirements.

As the station is along an operational line, majority of these works will only be carried out after train services have stopped running, and when the operator is not carrying out maintenance works. Beyond civil works, the station will also require the installation and testing of rail systems and electrical and mechanical (E&M) services. The contracts for the E&M services will be Location of RTS Link Viaduct and Tunnels awarded later this quarter while the rail systems will be procured from the incumbent contractors who had earlier supplied them for the Downtown Line. Once the installation works are completed, testing will also be carried out before the station can open for passenger service. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the tender to design and build the Jurong East Integrated Transport Hub (JE

ITH) to China Communications Construction Company Limited (Singapore Branch) at a contract value of SG$477.4 million. The ITH comprises community and civic institutions, an office tower and a bus interchange. With its opening, commuters in the area can look forward to direct connectivity and more convenient Artist’s Impression of DTL Hume Station

Hong Kong – For the Ho Man Tin Station Package One

Property Development project, a novation agreement has been reached between MTR Corporation Limited, Goldin Properties Holdings Limited and Great Eagle Group. The Corporation will work together with Great Eagle Group to bring this project to completion.

Chengdu, Shanghai and Xi’an – The last two months have seen seven metro projects entrusted to Alstom across three of Mainland China’s top ten populous cities – namely Chengdu, Shanghai and Xi’an – come to fruition. This follows the Chinese tradition of opening new transit lines during the New Year period.

From Shanghai’s Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4) driverless metro lines 10 (phase two), 15 and 18, Xi’an Line 5 (phases one and two) to Chengdu’s metro lines 17 (phase one) and 18 (phase one), as well its first GoA4 driverless Line 9 (phase one), Alstom and its joint ventures in China, Shanghai Alstom Transport Electrical Equipment Co. Ltd (SATEE) and CASCO Signal Ltd celebrate their continued contributions to the country’s urban transit development. With the successful opening of these four GoA4 driverless lines, Alstom brings its wealth of experience and advanced traction technologies to the Chinese market.

Between December 2020 and January 2021, SATEE supplied its OptONIX and ONIX metro traction systems for 1,088 metro cars of four metro lines – Chengdu Line 9 (200 cars), Shanghai Line 10 (156 cars), Shanghai Line 15 (324 cars) and Xi’an Line 5 (408 cars), with support from Xi’an Alstom Yongji Electric Equipment Co. Ltd (XAYEECO).

It was also responsible for the train control monitoring system (TCMS) of Shanghai Line 10 and Shanghai Line 15, and the latter line’s train electrical design. During the same period, CASCO has successfully put into service its Urbalis 888 signalling solution on six of these metro lines in Chengdu and Shanghai.

‘We are humbled and excited for the various opportunities across major Chinese cities to provide a reliable, efficient and comfortable connectivity experience for their commuters. We remain committed to supporting the country’s bold ambition of urban rail transit expansion while delivering our service proven and sustainable mobility solutions to even more travellers’ said Olivier Loison, Managing Director for Alstom in China & East Asia. Alstom has been operating in China for over 60 years. Today, 30 per cent of the radio communication based train control (CBTC) solutions are supplied by CASCO, cementing its lead in China’s railway signalling sector. Alstom has provided traction systems for more than 40 per cent of the GoA4 driverless metro lines in China, and is currently delivering for the Nanjing Line 7 project. Designed and developed specifically for the Chinese market in 2009, OptONIX is in operation today on 4,422 metro cars across six cities. This experience enables Alstom to innovate and implement an upgraded OptONIX system for the four metro projects in Chengdu, Shanghai and Xi’an, achieving higher levels of energy efficiency and electrical braking while remaining 98 per cent recyclable.

CRRC Dalian has received an additional order for ten diesel locomotives from KiwiRail of New Zealand. This is the fifth locomotive order following the previous four orders for 63 locomotives, bringing the total locomotive export of CRRC Dalian to New Zealand to 73 units, which accounts for about one-third of the total number of locomotives used by KiwiRail.

The newly signed ten locomotives will build on the mature design and concepts of the previous generation, and leverage the experiences accumulated in the onsite technical support services and the user application habits of the previous locomotives. More exploration and study will be done to further optimize and improve the reliability design and maintenance convenience design, and further optimize the locomotive processes and production to provide high quality products and services.

During the negotiation, the company overcame the impact of Covid-19 and spent much effort in planning. Through the innovative ‘cloud negotiation’ and collaboration, the company finally won the recognition of the customer.

Vientiane – The long anticipated high-speed railway connecting

Kunming in southern China with Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is expected to complete construction in December this year. The Laos-China Railway Company (LCRC) held its annual meeting earlier in the year, reporting that construction of rail infrastructure is set to be largely finished this year, with the remaining tunnels and bridges and rail track base by the end of the year.

So far, over 170 kilometres of the total 198 kilometres of tunnels have been bored and over 36 kilometres of bridges accounting for 59.3 per cent of the total have been constructed. The laying of rail track will begin this year with the developer expecting to complete laying track from the Chinese border to Luang Prabang by the end of the year, according to CRC General Manager Li Bing Xuang.

Da Nang – The central Vietnamese city of Da Nang is seeking investors for a proposed rail transit system. At present, the plans call for three lines – an East-West Line, a South-North Line and line that would run to the nearby historical town of Hoi An. The estimated cost of the project is USD$2.57 billion.

Kuala Lumpur – The Putrajaya Line MRT trains are busy undergoing testing and commissioning in preparation for the opening of Phase One of the Putrajaya Line. With 13 MRT stations from Kwasa Damansara Station to Kampung Batu Station, Phase One is expected to begin operations by mid-July 2021. Similarly to the Kajang Line, RapidKL will also be the operator for the Putrajaya Line.

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