Bombardier MOVIA C951

Bombardier MOVIA C951
In service	December 2013 – Present
Manufacturer	Changchun Bombardier Railway Vehicles
Constructed	2012 – 2016
Number built	276 Vehicles (92 trainsets)
Formation	3 cars per trainset Mc1–Tc–Mc2
Fleet number	9001 – 9092
Operators	SBS Transit
Depot(s)	Kim Chuan/Tai Seng and Gali Batu
Line(s) served	Downtown Line
Technical Data
Car body	Welded aluminium
Doors	8 per car
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Track gauge	Standard Gauge (1435mm)

The Bombardier MOVIA C951 is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train operating on the Downtown Line (DTL). Entering service in 2013, these were the Downtown Line’s first generation of rolling stock.

Ninety-two trainsets comprising three cars each were procured. They were manufactured from 2012 to 2016 by Changchun Bombardier Railway Vehicles (joint venture of Bombardier Transportation and CNR Changchun) in Changchun, China.

Background

Awarded to Canadian-Chinese consortium company Changchun Bombardier Railway Vehicles in November 2008, Contract 951 (C951) for the procurement of rolling stock called for of 73 trainsets of three cars each at a value of S$570.7 million. They beat Alstom, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hyundai Rotem for the lowest cost offered.

With the anticipation of more  demand for the Downtown Line in the future, an additional 15 trainsets were purchased by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) under Contract 951A (C951A) at a cost of $119.2 million, and with no comparable differences. An further 4 trainsets were later purchased, bringing the total to 92 trainsets.

The trains were built as part of Bombardier’s MOVIA family of urban EMU trains. They draw power from a 750 V DC bottom-contact third rail, similarly used on most other heavy-rail lines in Singapore. Running on Siemens’ Trainguard Sirius CBTC system, these trains are fully automated (ATO GoA 4) and do not require an attendant on board.

Each 3-car train comprises of two Motor Cars (Mc1 and Mc2) at each end and an unpowered Trailer Car (Tc) in the middle.

History

The first nine trains entered revenue service on 22 December 2013 with the opening of the Downtown Line (Stage 1) between Bugis and Chinatown. With the opening of the Downtown Line (Stage 2) between Bukit Panjang and Rochor, a combined 45 trains were put into service, with the remainder to be rolled out following the opening of the Downtown Line 3.

Current Design

The exterior of C951 trains are white, with a central turquoise and blue band running the length of the train, representing the Land Transport Authority’s ownership of the trains under the New Rail Financing Framework. The front of the train was sloped for aerodynamic effects. Additionally, a large viewing window above the Emergency Exit Ramp gives more commuters a view of the tunnel.

All C951 trains are comprised of three cars with open gangway connections between all cars. Each car has eight doors, four on each side. The interior features longitudinal seating in a different color scheme within each car, namely yellow, lime green and light blue from front to rear. Priority seats are in red, located in every car near the doors. At the ends of every car, perch seats are installed for greater standing space.

Trains were also fitted with a Train Travel Information System (TTIS), with ceiling-mounted LED textual displays and LCD display panels, as well as Dynamic Route Map Displays above every door. Two Wheelchair Bays are located in the middle two cars of every C951 train, at doors 5 and 8.

Emergency Exits are located at both ends of every train, with a ramp that can be deployed in an emergency. Within the cabin, Passenger Communication Units and Door Unlock Handles are located at the side of the train doors, enabling passengers to speak with staff or open the train doors in an emergency. Fire extinguishers are also placed in every car.

Train Formation

A three-car trainset is formed of two Motor Cars (Mc1 and Mc2) at each end and an unpowered Trailer Car (Tc) in the middle. As such, the running configuration of a C951 trainset is Mc1–Tc–Mc2. 92 trainsets are operated on the line, a total of 276 carriages.

Every car is identified by a five digit number ranging from 9001x to 9092x, where the first digit is always 9, and the last digit x is carriage identifier. Motor Car 1 uses 1, followed by the middle Trailer Car using 2 and the last Motor Car 2 using 3. Trainsets are identified by their first four digits, i.e. Set 9001, Set 9002 and on to Set 9092.

As such, a sample Set 9033 will contain the carriage numbers 90331-90332-90333. Depending on the direction of travel, the sequence may be reversed. All sets were built by Bombardier.

Train Upgrades

In September 2020, Bombardier announced that it would upgrade the communication systems on the 92 trainsets supplied to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for the Downtown Line, as part of LTA’s line extension plan. These upgrades include:

• Digitalizing the Dynamic Route Map Display (DRMD) from LED to LCD
• Installing a Train Control Monitoring System (TCMS)
• Installing a Automatic Track Inspection (ATI) system software update
• Enhancing other communication tools

The upgrades would be done under Contract 9511 – Downtown Line 3 Extension and Hume Station Work for DTL Trains.

The first train with upgraded DRMD returned to revenue service in July 2023.

Accidents & Incidents

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Gallery:

External Links & References

• LTA awards 6 Downtown Line Contracts Totalling $1.13 Billion – LTA
• Shorter Waiting Time With 15 More Trains For Downtown Line – LTA
• Bombardier MOVIA Fleet to Double Capacity on Singapore Downtown Line – Bombardier
• Bombardier Movia C951/C951A – Wikipedia
• Bombardier MOVIA C951 – SGTrains
• Bombardier to enhance communication systems on the MOVIA metro fleet for Singapore’s Downtown Mass Rapid Transit line – Bombardier

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