Alstom has been awarded a €159 million contract to deliver a high-capacity, fully automated signalling system for the Taichung Blue Line metro in Taiwan — a key infrastructure project that will strengthen public transportation in one of the country’s fastest-growing cities.
The project is being delivered by an international consortium selected by Taichung City’s Rapid Transit System Bureau. Alstom, serving as the signalling systems provider, will work alongside partners including Singapore Technologies Engineering (STE), CTCI, and Hyundai Rotem Company to develop the city’s second major metro line.
Alstom will supply its Urbalis Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system, already deployed successfully on the Taichung Green Line. This advanced system enables automated, driverless operations and supports shorter train intervals — as close as 90 seconds — allowing for higher service frequency and improved passenger flow, particularly during peak hours.
The Blue Line will stretch over 24.8 kilometers and include 20 stations, connecting Taichung Port in the west to the Taiwan Railway’s Taichung Station in the east. It will integrate with the existing Green Line and the planned Orange Line, forming a crucial backbone in the city’s expanding transit network.
Toby Tiberghien, Managing Director for East Asia at Alstom, remarked, “Building on the success of the Green Line, we are proud to continue supporting Taichung’s transit development. The Urbalis system will ensure reliable, high-efficiency service, helping the city move toward a more connected and accessible future.”
With more than four decades of presence in Taiwan, Alstom has supplied signalling technology for multiple lines of the Taipei Metro and is actively involved in other key transit projects, including Taipei Wanda Phase 1 and 2 and the Circular Line Phase 2. Alstom is also delivering 35 Metropolis trainsets for the Wanda–Zhonghe–Shulin Line.
Globally, Alstom has over 30 years of experience in CBTC systems, having equipped more than 190 metro lines in 32 countries. Its Urbalis and Onvia platforms are recognized as leading solutions for both urban metro and mainline automation, placing the company at the forefront of smart transit innovation.
