Canada selects Thales to supply VOBCs for Skytrain fleet expansion project in Vancouver

Vancouver, Canada (Urban Transport News): Thales Group announced that the company has been selected to provide 82 innovative SelTrac™ Vehicle On-Board Controllers (VOBCs) on 41 new trains for the SkyTrain fleet expansion in Vancouver that will operate on the Expo and Millennium Lines. The new technology will allow for increased capacity and reliability for passengers. 

Thales’ VOBC technology is an industry-leading, ingenious solution for urban rail transportation systems like TransLink’s SkyTrain network. VOBCs control propulsion, braking, the direction of travel, door operations, enforce speed limits and report identified faults. 

The VOBC is also a key component of Thales’ SelTrac™ Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) system, which is equipped on the Millennium and Expo lines, allowing the new trains to operate safely and efficiently with the existing fleet.  

Mark Halinaty, President and CEO, Thales Canada said:

Thales is proud to provide Vancouver residents with state-of-the-art technology that improves their journeys, getting them to their destinations safely and reliably. Thales is a strong and trusted partner of choice for the region and its transit system, and we are excited to support Vancouver’s recognition as a world-class transit innovator.

The latest version of the VOBC technology is in operation on transit networks globally, including in Santiago, Chile, London, England, and Doha, Qatar. In Canada, Thales will deliver this VOBC solution as part of the Toronto Transit Commission’s new Finch West expansion project.