JEDDAH: The world market for metro vehicles will grow from its present volume of around five billion euros by four percent per annum until 2016, UNIFE, the Association of the European Rail Industry, forecast. A growth boom is also expected for the Gulf region, with the accessible market in the Middle East and Africa seen to grow at an annual rate of about 4.5 percent by 2016. A study by business consultants Booz Allen Hamilton concluded that the world's major cities will be investing more than five trillion euros in their road and rail infrastructures by the year 2035. Increasing urbanization and the resultant rise in the volume of traffic in cities, on the one hand, and the ever greater need to protect the climate, on the other, will fuel the demand for more and more eco-friendly mobility solutions in the coming years. Hans-J?rg Grundmann, CEO of the Siemens Mobility Division, said "efficient urban transportation and traffic management systems are the keys to overcoming the great challenges of our day, for example reducing greenhouse gases and traffic congestion. Electrically powered means of transportation, such as metros, tramway systems and buses, reduce energy consumption and conserve the environment. Siemens is therefore convinced that future urban transportation will largely be dominated by electric mobility." Against this backdrop, Siemens Mobility presents new products and solutions for urban mass transit at the four-day UITP World Congress and Exhibition that opened in Dubai Sunday. This year, the international exhibition's slogan is "Boosting public transport: Action". Siemens Mobility Division is involved in a lot more than just rail-based transportation. It will also unveil products for individual traffic. With its "complete mobility" approach, Siemens is aiming for the sensible networking of various transportation modes in order to ensure the efficient and environmentally compatible transport of people and goods. "Those are very good conditions for us as the world's leading supplier of integrated transportation and logistics solutions. We want to secure part of this growth, among other things with our new Inspiro metro platform," said Grundmann. Siemens is the only company in the world that offers an integrated transportation concept. It includes complete turnkey rail projects, operations control systems for railways and traffic control systems for roadways, traction power supplies, and rolling stock for mass transit, regional and mainline services. Its portfolio also covers airport logistics and postal automation. The highlight of the Siemens presentation at the exhibition in Dubai will be Inspiro, the brand-new mass transit train. A mockup of this new Siemens metro will be on show there. In the development phase, utmost priority was placed on the environmental compatibility of the train. The lightweight aluminum car body, the new demand-responsive control of the HVAC system and the weight-optimized bogies all contribute to a reduction in power consumption. The optional use of driver assistance systems and the possibility of driverless operation also ensure high-energy efficiency. The modular self-contained train concept enables any configuration to be formed with three to eight cars and with variable degrees of motorization. Maximized door widths and load detection systems will enable passengers to board and exit much faster, thus shortening dwell times at stations. In addition, the new interior layout affords more space for passengers, with larger standing areas in the intercar gangways. The modern, futuristic design of the Inspiro was created by the renowned design agency BMW Designworks US. The vehicles meet the new European fire protection and crash requirements of CEN/TS 45545 and prEN 15227 and have a recycling rate of over 95 percent. Another advantage is the extensive use of standardized, service-proven components with low failure rates and, last but not least, the lower maintenance and repair costs of the entire train. Siemens Mobility won its first order for the new Inspiro generation in Poland. The Warsaw Metro ordered a total of 35 six-car trains in February 2011 for its 23-kilometer metro network. The order covers the delivery, commissioning, testing and certification of the vehicles. Delivery is scheduled to start in the fall of 2012.
