Istanbul takes Barcelona metro as reference in equipping and operating its automated M5 line

A delegation from Istanbul has been this week to Barcelona taking part in working sessions and visits to Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) facilities to gain experience and data with which to complete construction and prepare for the operation of the city’s future M5 metro line.

The delegation, made up of technicians and managers from the Railway Systems Department of the Asian side of Istanbul and metro operator, Istanbul Ulasim, visited Can Zam workshops on line 9/10, in Santa Coloma de Gramenet on Monday, and on Tuesday went to the Sagrera Metro Control Centre.

The working sessions focused on analysis of the most appropriate electromechanical and signalling systems to run a driverless metro line like the M5, which is scheduled to enter service in 2015-2016.

The visit by the Turkish delegation is part of a collaboration established some months back between TMB, the operator and the Istanbul infrastructure authorities, to transfer to them some of the knowledge gained in operating an advanced metro network like that of Barcelona, and in particular TMB’s experience of putting automated line 9/10 into service in 2009.

Istanbul, a megalopolis with a population of over 13 million, is developing an ambitious project to extend its mass public transport systems, including extending the metro to 420 kilometres by 2019. Line M5, covering 17 kilometres, is the second to be built in the Asian side of the city, the first being the M4.

TMB operates the 102.6 km-long metro network in Barcelona, which includes 141 stations and transported 370 million passengers in 2012. In its capacity as an international consultancy, it has previously participated in other activities related to the transport systems of Portugal, Algeria, Agentina, Chile and Peru, in addition to its current collaboration on the implementation of Panama City’s first ever metro line.