Alstom, a company specialized in rail systems and rolling stock, has selected the multinational technology firm GMV to supply the automatic vehicle location system (AVLS) for the AlUla Experiential Tramway project in Saudi Arabia. This innovative light rail system, inspired by the historic Hijaz railway, will immerse its passengers in a cultural journey through AlUla’s five historic districts. Featuring a combination of the latest technologies and a sustainable approach to mobility, it will operate in one of the country’s most iconic cultural settings.
This is an ambitious project involving 20 of the newest generation of Alstom’s CITADIS trains, which will run along a 22.4 km line with 17 stations, to connect a series of historical destinations that include UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The journey will offer passengers an immersive experience, as they enjoy a unique tour of the AlUla oasis and the surrounding desert, along a route that reflects the rich history of pilgrimages of the past.
GMV will be implementing its SAE-R® solution on all of the system’s trains, to provide its advanced capabilities for rail traffic operation and management. This solution from GMV is already in operation on major fleets such as Spain’s RENFE trains and Barcelona’s light rail system, as well as internationally on systems including the Warsaw Tramway in Poland, TfNSW in Australia, and ONCF in Morocco. This multi-application computer-aided dispatch / automatic vehicle location (CAD/AVL) platform gives rail operators the ability to perform integrated transportation management, including planning of services, monitoring and managing fleets in real time, providing passenger information, and using recorded data for statistical purposes.
GMV’s AVLS system complements the traditional functions of this type of system, such as accurate train location, efficient management of driver and passenger messaging, onboard and in-station passenger information systems, driver management, and service regulation operations, with other cutting-edge and groundbreaking new features, such as automatic route requests and real-time driver information for energy-efficient driving.
The AVLS system for the AlUla Experiential Tramway
To fully guarantee safe and efficient operation, the SAE-R® solution will be functionally integrated with a wide range of external systems, including those located at the control center (planning system, passenger information at tram stops, integrated operation and control/smart city system, etc.), and those installed on board (train control and management system (TCMS), systems for passenger information and route requests, automatic train protection (ATP), traction power supply (TPS), and passenger counting.
The onboard units installed on the 20 trains running on the AlUla Experiential Tramway are designed and manufactured by GMV, including a touchscreen human-machine interface (HMI) for the driver. The solution is also supplemented by installation of a control center ecosystem at the local operation points, with workstations that will give a transportation network operating company the ability to monitor and analyze all operations. This will be possible in real time, as well as in a deferred manner, so that the data recorded can be used by external systems to calculate values for the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to assess the system’s operation.
In addition to complying with the latest cybersecurity requirements, GMV’s AVLS system is designed to ensure maximum availability, even if an error occurs in any of its components.
GMV, a provider of ITS solutions since 1994
GMV is renowned worldwide for the design, development, implementation, and rollout of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) based on the IoT, mobile communications, and Global Navigation Satellite Systems, with over 1,000 customers in 35 countries on five continents. GMV’s ITS solutions help transportation authorities and operators improve their services, reduce operating costs, and enhance user satisfaction.
GMV has achieved a strong track record for its ITS systems in the railroad and light rail industries, with its own innovations and collaborations with major private and public rail operators such as RENFE in Spain, Morocco’s national railroad system (ONCF), and the municipal metro systems in Barcelona and in Santiago, Chile. The company also collaborates with rolling stock manufacturers such as Alstom, CAF, Siemens, Stadler, Talgo and Pesa, which reflects its high level of commitment as a reliable technological partner for large rail industry projects.
GMV sets itself apart through rigorous compliance with the strict standards applied in the industry, and it has participated in flagship projects for all modes of rail transportation: trams; light and heavy metro systems; suburban, regional, and long-distance train lines; high-speed train systems, and freight transportation.
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