Hitachi Rail Integrates 5G Digital Signalling into Urban Rail Lines

This innovation will enhance New York’s Crosstown Line and Hong Kong International Airport’s Automatic People Mover. By utilizing 5G for critical train-to-ground communications, Hitachi Rail aims to significantly boost performance while reducing both investment and lifecycle costs.

Hitachi Rail’s advanced SelTrac™ CBTC digital signalling system now incorporates 5G capabilities, making it an industry first. The CBTC system provides superior traffic management, capacity, safety, and reliability compared to traditional signalling systems.

The integration of 5G technology further enhances these capabilities by replacing outdated communication methods such as radio and Wi-Fi, delivering faster, more reliable connections.

Moreover, 5G reduces the need for extensive trackside infrastructure as fewer radio access points are required compared to current Wi-Fi solutions. This not only lowers costs but also simplifies maintenance and installation efforts.

The added 5G bandwidth also enables advanced digital asset management solutions, allowing real-time train data reporting and optimization of operations and maintenance.

The deployment of 5G ensures reliable, high-performance connectivity in challenging environments like tunnels, ensuring uninterrupted operations and real-time monitoring.

Furthermore, Hitachi Rail’s use of 5G positions operators to easily adopt future innovations, such as the expected rollout of 6G technology, without needing to overhaul existing infrastructure.

Ziad Rizk, Managing Director of Urban Rail Signalling at Hitachi Rail, commented: “Our pioneering 5G solution is a game changer for the urban rail market. The new 5G system plays a crucial role in providing reliable, high-capacity CBTC operations for metro operators. We are proud to deliver this transformative technology and the benefits it will bring to passengers.”

Hitachi Rail’s 5G-based CBTC solution will be deployed in two of the world’s busiest metro systems:

New York’s Crosstown Line: A private 5G network is being implemented, improving connectivity and operational efficiency for the line, which serves 70,000 passengers daily.

Hong Kong International Airport: A 5G overlay network is being introduced to enhance the existing SelTrac™ system on the Automatic People Mover, marking one of the first uses of 5G in mission-critical signalling.