Bombardier Innovia APM 300R C801B

Alstom Innovia APM 300R C801B
A C801B two-car set approaching Bukit Panjang LRT station.
Interior of a C801B car
Stock type	Rubber-tyres automated people mover
In service	1 August 2024;14 months ago (2024-08-01) – present [1]
Manufacturer	CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Alstom Transportation Systems (Alstom [formerly Bombardier Transportation] and CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Company)
Built at	Wuhu, Anhui, China
Family name	Innovia APM
Replaced	Bombardier Innovia APM 100 C801
Constructed	2019 – 2025
Entered service	1 August 2024;14 months ago (2024-08-01) [2]
Number built	19 vehicles
Number in service	17 vehicles
Formation	Single vehicles (M) that can be coupled to form 2-car trains
Fleet numbers	133 – 151
Capacity	22 seated; 83 standing
Operators	SMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation)
Depots	Ten Mile Junction
Lines served	BPLRT   Bukit Panjang LRT line
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminum
Train length	12.8 m (41 ft 11+7⁄8 in)
Car length	12.8 m (41 ft 11+7⁄8 in)
Width	2.8 m (9 ft 2+1⁄4 in)
Height	3.4 m (11 ft 1+7⁄8 in)
Doors	2 × 2 per car
Maximum speed	55 km/h (34 mph) (design) 48 km/h (30 mph) (service)
Traction system	Alstom MITrac (500 series) IGBT–VVVF
Electric system(s)	600 V 50 Hz 3-phase AC third rail
Current collection	Collector shoe
UIC classification	AA
Safety system(s)	Alstom Cityflo 650 moving block CBTC ATC under ATO GoA 4 (UTO), with subsystems of ATP, ATS and CBI
Coupling system	Dellner
Multiple working	Within type during regular service
Headlight type	Triangular LED
Track gauge	2,642-millimetre (8 ft 8 in) central guideway with rubber tyres

The Alstom Innovia APM 300R C801B (APM 300R) is the third generation of automated people mover (APM) trains built by a joint venture of Alstom (formerly Bombardier Transportation) and CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Company for the Bukit Panjang LRT line (BPLRT), Singapore, to replace the existing Adtranz ECX-100 C801 trains built in 1999. ^[3] The C801B trains are also the first of their kind to use AC third rail shoes, in contrast with the newer light rail lines around the world that utilise the APM 300R system built with DC third rail.

Overview

As the aging first-generation C801 trains drew near to its deadline service of 20 years, the LTA decided that the C801 trains were due for replacement instead of a refurbishment. This is in part of their renewal programme for the next 10 years for the BPLRT, including rail replacement and signalling upgrades. The LTA awarded the project to Bombardier Transportation (the manufacturer of the BPLRT train cars at the time, now merged with Alstom) to procure 19 replacement train cars for the BPLRT. ^[4] However, LTA chose not to reuse the same technology for the train line, instead opting for Bombardier's latest Innovia APM system, the Innovia APM 300. It is said to be much more reliable in many ways, including a much more robust braking and propulsion system, a higher reliability air conditioning system and many more. But with the BPLRT line utilising the same third rail technology as the APM 100, modification works on the APM 300 cars were done to work with AC third rail power supply. Hence, APM 300R was created, specifically for such conditions. The new trains were revealed on 3 December 2019, spotting a sleeker design and enhanced features. ^{[5] [6]}

Revenue service

The first two vehicles, cars 135 and 136, entered passenger service on 1 August 2024 as a two-car train coupled together. ^{[3] [7]}

Train formation

The C801B trains predominantly operate as two-car configurations in revenue service. With each car equipped with both the motors and the third rail current collectors, these trains can run as only one car, but can also be coupled to run as two cars during revenue service.

The car numbers of the trains range from 133 to 151. Individual cars are assigned a three-digit serial number by the line's operator, SMRT Trains. A trainset consists of one motor car, e.g. set 131 is car 131. The first digit is always a 1, while the last two digits identify the car number.

• Alstom built sets 131 – 151.

Pre-operational history

The first two train cars, designated 133 & 134, were lifted down from the depot to be sent back to the manufacturing plant in China for modification works. The Land Transport Authority later confirms that the two trains were prototypes used to undertake rigorous testing on the BPLRT network to anticipate potential issues under local operating conditions. ^[8]

References

1. "First Two New Bukit Panjang LRT Train Cars Enter Passenger Service On Aug 1". The Straits Times . 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
2. "Two New Train Cars Enter Service On Bukit Panjang LRT, Entire Fleet To Be Renewed By 2026". CNA . 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
3. "First Two New Bukit Panjang Light Rail Vehicles to Commence Passenger Service from 1 August". Land Transport Authority . 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
4. "Parliament: $344m overhaul of Bukit Panjang LRT; smoother rides expected from 2022". The Straits Times . 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
5. Tan, Christopher (3 December 2019). "Khaw Boon Wan confident overhauled Bukit Panjang LRT will live up to expectations". CNA . Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
6. "New BPLRT trains to enter service from Q2 2021, renewal to be completed by 2024". Mothership . 3 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
7. Loi, Esther (1 August 2024). "First two new Bukit Panjang LRT train cars enter passenger service on Aug 1". The Straits Times . ISSN   0585-3923. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
8. "LTA to return first 2 new Bukit Panjang LRT trains to China plant for modifications". The Straits Times . 30 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.