Mitsubishi Corporation awarded the over €1 billion, approximately over P57.5 billion, contract to design and build the turnkey rail system for the Metro Manila Subway to Thales, in a consortium with Colas Rail (lead) and Egis.
Thales will design and deploy its latest generation of Integrated Communications and Supervision systems, and the Automatic Fare Collection system for a total of €156 million.
The contract represents Thales’ first major win in the public transport sector in the Philippines and reinforces its position as a leading rail solutions provider in South East Asia.
The state-of-the-art system, based on digital technologies, will provide an environmentally friendly transport alternative in Manila to improve connectivity as well as reduce congestion and atmospheric pollution in the city.
Connecting Valenzuela and Parañaque, the new 35-kilometre line will consist of 15 underground stations and will reduce travel time from Quezon City to Taguig to 35 minutes, from close to two hours today.
The Metro Manila Subway is one of the Philippines’ largest infrastructure projects aimed at creating an efficient rail system in the world’s most densely populated city.
As part of this push for development, construction has begun on a third Mass Rapid Transit line and the metropolis’ first underground subway line to connect its northern and southern cities.
Thales will design and develop the integrated and secure communications networks (incl. radio, Multi Service Network, wayside telephone and wireless LAN systems), wayside equipment for security systems (including CCTV and Video Analytics features), passenger information and public address, the digital supervision solution as well as the centralised supervision of energy system (power-SCADA).
This state-of-the-art ICS solution is compliant with the highest cybersecurity standards and will offer DOTr the latest digital technologies for an intelligent, sustainable and scalable system that is designed to last. Thales will also provide Automatic Fare Collection as part of its scope in the project.
Thales has built extensive experience in major metro projects in the region over the last decade, with strong local expertise from teams situated all across Asia, collaborating with Thales teams in Europe and North America.
“We are delighted to have been selected, together with our consortium partners, to help modernize Manila’s rapidly-changing urban infrastructure," Nicolas BOUVEROT, Vice-President, Thales South East Asia said in his Feb. 25, 2022 statement.
"This marks an exciting new journey for Thales in the Philippines, and with the strong collaboration from our teams in Asia and Europe, we look forward to helping the Philippines build a robust transportation network.”