Siemens Secures order to electrify Hawaii's first rail Transit System

Honolulu rail project will reduce traffic congestion and environmental impact while boosting the economy

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Jul 31, 2012, 09:34 ET

ATLANTA, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens (NYSE: SI) announced today it has received a multi-million dollar order from Ansaldo Honolulu JV to electrify the track for the new Honolulu rail transit system. The rail system is the first for the state and is scheduled to be completed in 2019. It will span 20 miles (32 kilometers) from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center with 21 stations along the route, including Pearl Harbor and the Honolulu Airport. Siemens will supply 14 traction power DC rectifier substations at 750 volts and two tie breaker gap substations. The order also includes the emergency stop equipment at the metro depot and all stops on the line.

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Figures from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) reveal that by 2030, if rail is not put into operation, the number of car trips per day will increase by 40,000 on Honolulu's highways and streets. Rail will reduce daily traffic by approximately 30,000 vehicles and decrease delays due to congestion by an estimated 18 percent. It is also projected that approximately 10,000 jobs will be created as a result of the construction.

"Cities everywhere are suffering from increasing traffic congestion. This has a negative impact on the environment and the economy," said Mirko Dusel, CEO of the Rail Electrification business unit. "Honolulu is a great example of how new rail transit systems can counter these effects and improve the quality of life for residents."

The Honolulu rail transit system will be an elevated rail system, separated from ground transportation, allowing for faster, safer and more reliable performance than alternatives built at ground level, but less expensive than an underground system. According the U.S. Department of Energy, rail is more energy-efficient than single-occupant cars and trucks, consuming 37 percent less energy per passenger-mile.

"The big picture for the Smart Grid is improved energy delivery, informed consumption and reduced environmental impact," said Thierry Godart, president of the Smart Grid division in the United States. "Rail projects like Honolulu's deliver on these goals, helping to create energy-efficient, eco-friendly solutions while at the same time directly alleviating problems experienced by people in the community."

Siemens' rail electrification portfolio includes products, systems and solutions in the areas of traction power supply, contact lines and network control technology for mass transit and mainline rail systems as well as for industrial applications.

About Siemens
Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector, with approximately 87,000 employees worldwide, offers sustainable technologies for metropolitan areas and their infrastructures. Its offerings include integrated mobility solutions, building and security technology, power distribution, Smart Grid applications, and low- and medium-voltage products. The sector comprises the Rail Systems, Mobility and Logistics, Low and Medium Voltage, Smart Grid and Building Technologies Divisions and Osram Sylvania. For more information, visit www.usa.siemens.com/infrastructure-cities

The Siemens Smart Grid Division supplies products and solutions for intelligent and flexible electrical network infrastructures. To meet growing energy needs, the networks of today and tomorrow must integrate all forms of power generation and ensure bi-directional energy and communication flows. Intelligent networks help make it possible to generate and use power efficiently and on demand. They contribute to the electrification of railroads and also supply industrial enterprises, infrastructure elements and entire cities with electricity. For more information, visit www.usa.siemens.com/smartgrid

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SOURCE Siemens