Alcatel-Lucent and France’s RATP Group improve services and enhance passenger safety on the Paris Métro rail network

Alcatel-Lucent and France’s RATP Group improve services and enhance passenger safety on the Paris Métro rail network

Broadband system introduces real-time video train control, surveillance, maintenance services and passenger safety improvements on the busiest underground line in Paris without interrupting service

Paris, November 21, 2011 – Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) has collaborated with the RATP Group, the French public transport operator and the world’s fifth largest urban transport operator, to provide a range of broadband communications services to improve security, safety and the passenger experience on Line 1 of the Paris Métro.

Line 1 is the busiest on the subway system and runs from Château de Vincennes in south-east Paris to La Défense, an important business district and location of the corporate headquarters of some of the largest companies in France. The line also serves major tourist destinations such as the Louvre museum, and carries an average of 725 000 passengers every day.

As a result of the collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent, Line 1 metros will benefit from real-time video train control, video surveillance and operational data transfer between trains and the control center.  This will enhance safety and the customer experience and optimize operations and maintenance efficiency, as part of RATP Group’s project to transform Métro line 1 into a fully-automated ‘driverless’ system. 

A new ground-to-train data transfer system (Transmission de Données Sol Train or TDST) will allow real-time monitoring of the flow of data between the driverless trains and central control. Twin cameras at the front and back of each train provide real-time video control to the center, while video surveillance streamed in real-time from the cameras inside each metro car enhances passenger security.

The system includes the provision of passenger information services, including on-board TV programs, advertizing, and updates for travelers and visitors to Paris. In addition, TDST provides rapid notification of maintenance requirements, reducing response and repair time and improving the efficiency of the service.

Alcatel-Lucent’s smooth implementation of the TDST system has enabled the seamless transition from driver to driverless operation without any interruption to service on the line – a very new and very different approach to upgrading passenger rail networks. Previous implementations of this type have required that rail services be closed for some time to implement the changes.

Pascal Homsy, Alcatel-Lucent France Chairman and CEO said, “Alcatel-Lucent has a long history of delivering innovative secure communications solutions for the metro environment. Our expertise in this industry meant we were able to provide a highly efficient solution to transform RATP’s network and deploy it without disrupting daily operation.”

Under this agreement Alcatel-Lucent delivered a complete end-to-end integrated system with full Wi-Fi coverage over 18km of track for Line 1 of the Paris Métro system including comprehensive services such as design and integration. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent provided an on-board interface connecting all subsystems including video-surveillance cameras, and multimedia screens located in train carriages.

About the RATP Group

The RATP Group is a state-funded public transport operator headquartered in Paris, France. The group is the 5th largest urban transport operator in the world (bus, metro, trains and tram transport) with 56,000 employees and a presence in more than 12 countries. The group is responsible for the safe transportation of over 12 million people every day across the world.

Over the past sixty years, the RATP Group has acquired and developed unmatched expertise. This means that we master every component of our core skills: infrastructure design and renovation, transport operations, security and safety, the integration of multimodality, passenger information, ticketing systems, pricing, customer marketing, and more. Our proficiency is a key asset for dealing with an increasingly complex business. Our specialists provide technical, economic, and socially responsible choices.

About the Alcatel-Lucent Dynamic Communication Solutions for Railways

Alcatel-Lucent helps urban and main line rail operators make every journey on-time, safe and connected.  Whether the need is to enhance, renew or build a communication network, Alcatel-Lucent is the trusted partner for railway communications solutions.  With a comprehensive product and service portfolio and more than 30 years of experience in transportation systems integration, Alcatel-Lucent has proven expertise in designing, deploying, maintaining and operating mission-critical networks. These networks support operational systems such as train control and signaling, ground-to-train communications, and video protection, to name just a few.  Find out more about Alcatel-Lucent’s Dynamic Communication Solutions for Railways.