ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won a substations order worth over $50 million from CPTM (Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitans - São Paulo Metropolitan Train Company) to provide a reliable power supply that increases capacity of two commuter rail links in the Greater São Paulo area.  The project will help increase the frequency of trains operating on the Diamond and Emerald railway line providing better connections between the western and southern municipalities of São Paulo and the city center. It will also support the southbound extension of the fastest growing rail link, which carries 100,000 passengers per day on average, a volume increase of 36 percent compared with 2010.

Increased focus on the environment, urbanization and the need to move more people and freight faster is driving the development of rail networks in emerging markets and other parts of the world. ABB is a leading supplier of power and automation products, systems and services that provide reliable power for rail infrastructure and rolling stock. This includes alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) traction substations and railway electrification solutions for the rail industry providing reliable power for mainline trains, metros and mass transit networks.

“The technologies deployed for this project will enable the efficient supply of electricity to power the expansion of the network and ensure reliable operation and performance of this busy rail network,” said Brice Koch, head of ABB’s Power Systems division. “ABB has leading technologies and a strong track record of providing innovative solutions for the rail sector, serving communities all over the world.”

CPTM has 89 stations and six lines with a total length of over 260 kilometers (km) that form a part of the Greater São Paulo rail network, one of the busiest of its kind in the world. This network serves 22 municipalities and carries over 2.3 million passengers a day. The operator is substantially increasing its transportation capacity by investing in the extension of lines, the construction and renovation of stations, the expansion of its fleet as well as other infrastructure improvements.

As part of the order, ABB will construct new substations as well as extend and refurbish several existing ones. Key product supplies include high, medium and low voltage switchgear, rectifiers, protection and control equipment and supervisory control systems. ABB is responsible for the system studies, design, engineering, supply, installation and commissioning. The project is expected to be completed by 2014.