Ansaldo STS (STS.MI) and NIIAS (a subsidiary of Russian Railways JSC RZD) have signed a Contract worth approximately 7.4 million Euro to test – on a trial site located near the city of Sochi – the innovative railway signalling system called ITARUS-ATC.

The Contract became effective on December 29, 2009 and the related activities (design, transportation, installation, testing and commissioning) will last two and a half years.

The ITARUS-ATC system is based on the interoperable European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) / European Train Control System (ETCS), and will require the implementation of the most advanced Italian and Russian technological solutions. ITARUS-ATC is conceived as a cost-effective for NIIAS and state-of-the-art

system, suitable for low, medium and high traffic railroads, including high-speed lines, and capable of enhancing the safety and capacity of railways.

With this deal, Ansaldo STS has entered into one of the most important railway markets of the world. The Contract is of high strategic importance to Ansaldo STS, given the great potential of the Russian market, and also lays the groundwork for further Company initiatives on the Country’s railway lines (high speed lines, Euro-Asiatic corridors, Sochi 2014 Olympic Games transportation system).

This new success consolidates outstanding Finmeccanica position in the Russian market and further corroborates Ansaldo STS undisputed world-wide leadership in the ERTMS / ETCS systems, which the company has already successfully applied and is applying in Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Sweden, UK, Czech Republic,

Romania, Greece, China, India, South Korea, Turkey and Libya.

Source: Transportweekly