Alstom Metropolis C751C


The Alstom Metropolis C751C together with the Alstom Metropolis C830C are the second generation of communication-based train control rolling stock to be used in Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit lines. 18 trainsets of 6 cars were manufactured by Shanghai Alstom Transport Co Ltd, Deliveries began in July 2014. All 18 trainsets were delivered by 2015. The first trainset entered service on 1 October that year.

Tender

The tender for trains under the contract 751C was opened together with another contract C830C for an additional 24 Circle line trains which was closed on 18 July 2011 with 4 bids. The Land Transport Authority has shortlisted all of them and the tender results was published on 1 February 2012.
S/NName of tendererAmount
1Alstom Transport S.A. – Alstom Transport Pte Ltd Consortium234,900,000.00
2Hyundai Rotem284,954,400.00
3Construcciones Y Auxilliar De Ferrocarriles, S. A.234,443,494.80
4CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd.245,076,923.08

Design

Externally, the C751C shares similarities with its predecessor, the Alstom Metropolis C751A in terms of shape, color and appearance, but has an additional window on the detrainment doors located at the ends of the train, allowing passengers to see the tracks ahead. The detrainment system on a C751C is also different as that of a C751A. The interior of the C751C is similar to the C751A but has redesigned gangways identical to those on the C830C. The seat colours are similar to the Bombardier MOVIA C951 and C801A, having a purplish tint. Priority seats can be identified by their red colouration. The C751C has a dynamic route-map system, similar to the C830C and C951. It also has a louder and higher-pitched propulsion system than its predecessor. It is equipped with a new type of pantograph.
This line uses Overhead Lines, therefore overhead line gearboxes by Brecknell Willis are installed. During peak hours, SBS Transit staff may be deployed on the trains, hence passengers can only view the tracks through the emergency exit window. The difference between C751A and C751C is that there is no LCD Displays. Compared to the C751A trains, the interior roof is white instead of beige-orange.

Features

It features a Visual Passenger Information System, letting commuters know what the current and next station is, as well as green blinking lights which indicate the side of which the train doors will open when the train reaches the station.
There is also a dynamic in-train route display, which provides commuters with their route information throughout their journey, and also indicates which side the doors will open. DRMD panels are installed in these trains and it will be refurbished in 2023 to include Punggol Coast.
At most stations on the North East line, the train doors will open on the right side, but at terminus stations like Punggol and HarbourFront, some train doors may open on the left.

Driverless operation

The C751C is fully driverless under normal circumstances, using CBTC which do not require traditional "fixed-block track circuits" for determining train position. Instead, they rely on "continuous two-way digital communication" between each controlled train and a wayside control center, which may control an area of a railroad line, a complete line, or a group of lines. Recent studies consistently show that CBTC systems reduce life-cycle costs for the overall rail property and enhance operational flexibility and control.

Train Formation

The configuration of a C751C in revenue service is DT-Mp-Mi-Mi-Mp-DT
The car numbers of the trains range from 7x051 to 7x086, where x depends on the carriage type. Individual cars are assigned a five-digit serial number by the rail operator SBS Transit. A complete six-car trainset consists of an identical twin set of one driving trailer and two motor cars permanently coupled together. For example, set 051/052 consists of carriages 71051, 72051, 73051, 73052, 72052 and 71052.