Alstom group, the integrated transit system of Riyadh Metro for lines 4,5 and 6 has highlighted eight new technologies with the power to transform mobility in the Middle East and specifically for Saudi Arabia now – or in the very near future.
Ranging from connected tech to help passengers plan easier, more comfortable journeys, to autonomous last-mile shuttles, next-generation electric buses, and behind-the-scenes management systems to keep the whole transport system running smoothly, each of the innovations is available now to be deployed.
When put together, they offer a revolution in smarter, more sustainable mobility for both passengers and operators, and will help rapidly growing cities move and breathe more easily for a better tomorrow.
Alstom installed its first gas turbine in Saudi Arabia in 1951. Since then, Alstom’s presence in Saudi Arabia has continued to grow. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a long and proud history in innovative industries. Alstom has been part of that history for over 65 years, contributing to the development of the country’s power and transport infrastructure. Today, being entirely focused on Transport, Alstom wants to support the Kingdom, which faces great need for infrastructure investment in terms of rail transport systems, and opportunities to develop and deliver sustainable solutions.
Alstom presence in Saudi Arabia aim is to deliver added value to the Saudi development in mobility and transport sector. With the Riyadh Metro Project, Alstom created hundreds of jobs for the Saudi nationals.
- Smarter mobility for passengers
Getting real time information to plan your journey
Optimet OrbanMap, an intelligent metro map
To make transport in the metro faster, more comfortable, and more pleasant, Alstom launches Optimet OrbanMap, a real-time dynamic information for metro networks. Designed for a collective use, and located in the station, Optimet OrbanMap allows visualising at a glance the metro network, its activity, trains position, travel times, service interruptions, and the level of comfort aboard the trains. Optimet OrbanMap also offers a dynamic vision of the city. It indicates places of special interest such as restaurants, museums, sports, etc.
Optimet OrbanMap obtains traffic information from the automatic train supervision system associated to the subway line. City life information is obtained from social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Foursquare, fed by residents and visitors. Data is analysed and selected by a moderator.
Decide your position on the platform
Optimet real-time train occupancy
On the metro platform, passengers are often spread out unequally and often concentrate at each end of it not knowing where to stand to board the metro efficiently. In peak times, this often generates congestion around the doors and makes passengers exchange difficult. To address this issue, Alstom launches Optimet real-time train occupancy, a solution that shows the level of occupancy per car through a colour LED strip (red, orange or green) above the screen doors which stretches all along the platform, as well as on monitors in the station passage ways and/or elevators.
Optimet real-time train occupancy combines a counting system and an information display system. The counting system uses sensors mounted on the platform screen doors. It interfaces with Optimet sensors and rolling stock load indications to determine the load of each vehicle. The data collected by the sensors is processed by an algorithm to recalculate the metro occupancy levels. The algorithm also takes into account the specific characteristics of the train (dimensions, seating arrangement, etc.), in order to provide the most accurate information. Once the doors close, this data is processed, interpreted and sent to the next station to be displayed. Thus, before the train arrives, commuters know where to stand on the platform in order to board the train in areas less crowded.
Having solutions for the first and last mile
EZ10
As passengers are requiring more and more flexibility and seamless transport from door to door, Alstom has invested
€14 million in EasyMile, an innovative start-up company which manufactures an electric autonomous shuttle called ‘EZ10’ that guarantees the first and last mile transportation. This enables Alstom to expand its knowledge into the driverless technologies, to reinforce its portfolio and enlarge its range of solutions.
EZ10 by EasyMile is defined as an electric collective shuttle that can accommodate up to 12 passengers. The vehicle is designed to be integrated in an Automated Road Transport Systems (ARTS), dedicated to the public transportation application, in private areas or cities. EZ10 is designed to operate in both directions in a similar manner, without having to do a U-turn. To this aim, the front and rear light are identical. Depending on the direction where the vehicle is driving, the lights will automatically be re-configured to stay consistent with the vehicle’s movement.
Since April 2015, EZ10 has been deployed in more than 50 sites in 14 countries in Asia, North-America, Middle-East and Europe. In France, it is now being tested in Paris since September 2016.
New experiences of mobility
Aptis
Alstom together with its subsidiary NTL, has launched a new experience of mobility to complete its emission-free, 100% electric range of solutions: Aptis.
Aptis‘ design is inspired by the one of a tram. It incorporates low-floor accessibility and 360° views. With batteries and power systems located on the top and the wheels situated at both ends with no overhangs, Aptis offers passengers a never-seen before full low floor. Aptis can carry up to 95 passengers on board. It features two or three large double doors which enable easy on-and-off passenger flows and smooth access for wheelchairs and strollers.
Combined with panoramic windows at both ends, Aptis offer 20% more windows surface for the comfort of the passengers. Moreover, it has low noise levels.
With four steerable wheels versus two for a bus, Aptis occupies 25% less surface area in curves, providing perfect integration into the city. At bus stops, this minimises the space needed to park while offering gains in available space for other vehicles.
Aptis can be charged in two different ways. The first mode involves bringing enough energy on board to have sufficient autonomy for a full day of operation, then recharging the batteries in the depot overnight using a standard plug (it takes around 6 hours to fully recharge the batteries). The other solution may be either Alstom’s SRS solution or an inverted pantograph, which takes around 5 minutes to recharge, equivalent to a quick drivers’ break.
Stay connected all through the journey
Nomad Digital solutions
With a large range of smart devises (laptops, tablets, smartphones, smart watches, etc.) and continuous evolution of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), connectivity while traveling is a must for passengers. In is strategy to enhance passenger experience and accelerate digitalisation of its offering, Alstom acquired Nomad Digital, a world leading provider of passenger and fleet connectivity solutions for the railway industry.
Nomad offer includes Wi-Fi connection solutions as well as entertainment platforms (video, music, and playback) or connected on-board service, for example, ordering its coffee from its seat.
In addition, Nomad Digital also provides tele maintenance solutions, including Remote Online Condition Monitoring, Reliability Centred Maintenance, Driver Assist and Power Train products.
- Smart mobility for operators
Better manage multimodal operations
Mastria
Alstom launches Mastria, a multimodal supervision solution, which, through planned predictive and automated data analysis is able to generate quick and reliable reports, allowing operators to rapidly offer alternative mobility solutions to commuters.
Mastria combines Alstom’s 30-years of experience in the implementation of traffic management systems for urban and mainline customers worldwide with the results of the SystemX technological research institute.
Mastria optimises traffic fluidity for all means of transportation (buses, trams, metros, taxis…). The information on the best routes at any given time is available for transport authorities to dispatch to passengers. This optimises the duration of the trip thanks to an orchestration of the modes and flows in the transport system. In case of technical failures, other incidents or special events such as sports matches, bad weather, and public demonstrations, Mastria is able to anticipate the impact that the incident will have on the network and ensures that various operators collaborate in order to adapt the transport service accordingly and to offer alternative itineraries for passengers to reach their final destinations.
Mastria’s benefits go beyond the optimisation of the traffic and minimisation of commuting time. It also enables an increase in transport capacity and reduces the energy needed to operate the mobility system.
Mastria is based on four main standard functions which are: multimodal supervision, traffic management, operations orchestration and predictive analytics. These functions are highly configurable and can be combined together according to operators’ needs and to the transport network environment. It communicates over secure network connections with external control and information systems. It is flexible and designed to be scalable as to adapt to different transport networks, from local transport nodes to larger ones. It can be expanded to accommodate the inclusion of new lines and additional transportation means.
More punctuality and flexibility through autonomous solutions
Driving assistance
Driving assistance increases capacity and quality of the service, ensuring punctuality, accurate stops and energy saved through a smoother drive. For metro, Automatic Train Operation (ATO) is the state of the art technology. Alstom has equipped more than 50 lines with ATO in cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai (China), Lausanne (Switzerland), or Panama, and is equipping 40 others making the group a leader. Alstom is also investing in equipping mainline trains with driving assistance.
Autonomous trains
Alstom is the world leader in driverless metro and the company has implemented some of the first driverless metros in the world (Lille Metro in the 80’s and first driverless heavy metro in Singapore).
Driverless rolling stock ensures flexible operation and reduces cost related to operations. Alstom is now investing in new autonomous drive systems to enhance its portfolio of services as illustrated by the recent investment in EasyMile and the tests realised on a tram in a RATP depot in the suburb of Paris (Vitry-Sur-Seine). Equipped with virtual manipulator, localisation, anti-collision Lidar, and sensors, the tram is for the first time in the world able to park in the depot in full autonomy.
Predictive maintenance through advanced data science
HealthHub
Alstom has launched HealthHub a couple of years ago, a solution that collects data from rolling stock, infrastructure and signalling systems and allows predictive maintenance across all assets. The solution enables to shift from traditional mileage-based maintenance towards condition-based and predictive maintenance. To achieve this, the algorithms developed combine advanced data analysis with the technical system experience from design and operation.
The solution provides dashboards and reports that turn data into valuable information for maintenance and operation activities. It can be cloud-based, or provided as part of the on-premises architecture according to specific customer constraints. Combined with new maintenance strategies, e.g. using dynamic maintenance plans, this approach optimises availability, reliability and cost.
Remote condition monitoring started in 2006 with TrainTracer, enabling smarter data-driven decisions. It has been deployed as of 2014 for mainline operations such as for Virgin high speed Pendolino trains in the UK, NTV AGV high speed trains in Italy or PKP high speed Pendolino trains in Poland, to name a few examples. More recently, Alstom’s HealthHub solution is also deployed in urban transport such as the tramway systems in Reims and Nice.
