Alstom, Lilee tout PTC product line

Lilee Systems and Alstom Tuesday jointly announced the launch of what they called a "new, first-of-its-kind suite of interoperable Positive Train Control (PTC) products for rail lines."

The two companies said they have developed an Interoperable Train Control (ITC) solution that for the first time offers the industry a Wayside Interface Unit with Systems Management Agent (SMA) functionality.

The launch of the product line comes as freight and passenger rail operators work towards fulfilling a federal mandate for full deployment of Positive Train Control technology by Dec. 31, 2015, the companies said, adding that they will unveil and demonstrate their new offering during the third annual PTC World Congress being held this week in Orlando, Fla. br>

The joint PTC offering is built on Alstom’s proven microWIU Wayside Interface Unit and addresses two fundamental priorities: safety and smart management of railroad’s wayside signaling and train control equipment. Augmenting the microWIU with Systems Management Agent (SMA), Service (SMS) and Gateway (SMG) capabilities allows rail system operators to monitor, configure, control, secure and update their installed train control equipment and assets using a fully-integrated communications network, the companies said. This approach improves and simplifies management of railroads’ ITC devices. The joint offering is available immediately to rail operators in the U.S. and Canada.

“Lilee Systems and Alstom have well-established track records for solving customers’ signaling and train control challenges,” said Steve Zwart, Alstom’s director of PTC activity. “Recognizing a need to help those same customers simplify and accelerate their PTC deployments, we are now building on our complimentary core competencies and together providing a suite of tools that make the management of PTC wayside assets secure, reliable and easy to deploy.”

“Alstom is a rail industry leader with superior solutions and deep technical knowledge,” Jia-Ru Li, CEO of Lilee Systems, said. “By combining their proven microWIU wayside interface unit with our WMS-2000 communications and asset management framework, we are reducing the complexity of our customers’ freight and commuter rail PTC implementations.”