Alstom Metropolis Cars

Introduction

The newest of the four types of rolling stock in use, the Alstom Metropolis trains are used on the North East Line and the upcoming Circle Line. The trains are the first to use the new communication-based train control (CBTC) system in Singapore, being rolled out on the North East Line since year 2003. 25 trainsets of six cars each were purchased for the North East Line, while another 40 trainsets of three cars each were purchased for the upcoming Circle Line.

On the North East Line, individual carriages have a five-digit serial number given by the rail operator, SBS Transit. The first digit of any carriage’s serial number is always 7. The second digit depends on whether the carriage is the first, second or third carriage away from either end of the train, where the first carriage equals 1, the second equals 2, and the third equals 3. The other three digits make up the train identification number. A full length train of six carriages has two different identification numbers, one for the first three carriages, and the same number plus one for the other three. The smaller number is always an odd number. A typical SBS Transit train that services the North East Line, for example, would consist of serial numbers 71001, 72001, 73001, 73002, 72002, 71002 respectively.

On the Circle Line, individual carriages have a four-digit serial number given by the rail operator, SMRT Corporation. The first digit of any carriage’s serial number is always 8. The other three digits make up the train identification number. A full length train of three carriages will have three different consecutive serial numbers. The numbering begins from one end of the train to the other end. The largest number is always a multiple of three. A typical SMRT Circle Line train, for example, would consist of serial numbers 8031, 8032, 8033.

The Alstom Metropolis train's exterior is painted with a black and white background, with a red and purple stripe in between.

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Interior Design

The Alstom Metropolis trains have a design that provides more comfort and convenience for passengers. The seats are wider compared to those of the C151 trains, and the grabpoles have been split into three at the centre.

All Alstom Metropolis trains still have an Emergency Stop Plunger and fire extinguishers located in the carriages, but the communications system in the carriages has been removed as there is no longer a need for it due to the trains being driverless. The emergency exits from the train can still be manually handled by passengers in case of an emergency, but staff from SBS Transit can always be found in the North East Line trains, both to maintain order and assist in emergency situations.

The Alstom Metropolis cars have electronic displays in their interior as well. There are six such displays in each carriage, and they display advertisements, movie trailers, station information and safety videos and messages. Other forms of advertisements are similar to those of the C151, C651 and C751 trains, with advertisements located on the windows of the train. One main difference in the form of advertisements lies in the lack of advertisement plates in the Alstom Metropolis trains. Instead, the advertisements are pasted on the walls of the train.

These trains seem to incorporate cubism into its interior design, with the colours used on the seats and walls of the carriages looking like they have been broken up and pieced back together. White is used for the walls of the carriage, while the seats are split into two colours, with beige at the top and light blue for the base. the upper portion of the walls are also beige, and even though there are no advertisements currently in the Alstom Metropolis cars, there is still a map of the North East Line.

One unique feature of the Alstom Metropolis train is the lack of a driver compartment. Instead, there are windows at the front and back of the train, providing commuters with a great view of the tunnel as the train passes through it.

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Technical Specifications

Length of train (North East Line): 138m (23m per carriage)
Width of carriage: 3.2m
Height of carriage: 3.7m
Weight of carriage: 35,000kg
Number of seats per train: 300
Number of passengers standing per train: 1,428
Maximum passenger load: 1,920 per train or 320 per carriage
Average speed: 45km/h
Maximum service speed: 90km/h
Track gauge: 1,435mm
Track voltage: 1500V AC overhead catenary (North East Line) / 750V DC third rail (Circle Line)

next: Safety/Security

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