Hitachi Rail announced it will be partnering with Invest Ontario to develop urban rail signaling technology in Toronto.
The investment of 100 million Canadian dollars (roughly $141,505,000) into Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signaling technology will create cutting-edge products for urban rail operators in Canada and around the world, officials said. Hitachi said the R&D program to integrate AI, 5G and cloud computing technology into a new SelTrac solution will create 100 new high-skill jobs, expanding its Canadian workforce to more than 1,200.
“The over $100 million investment in the next generation of our world-leading SelTrac technology is hugely exciting – and we are grateful to the Government of Ontario and Invest Ontario for their support,” Ziad Rizk, managing director of Urban Rail Signaling with Hitachi Rail, said. “By integrating AI, 5G, edge and cloud computing, our system will allow urban rail transportation operators around the globe to improve passenger journeys and operate more efficiently. This Ontario-invented technology is a Canadian success story that is creating jobs and boosting economic growth.”
The CBTC technology will offer transit operators lower costs and minimized carbon footprint, officials said. The system uses wireless communication between trains and infrastructure to operate urban transit and subway systems more efficiently, the company said. SelTrac was invented in Ontario and is the world’s first moving block CBTC signaling system. It is currently operating on more than 100 lines in 40 major cities around the world, including the O-Train in Ottowa.
“As one of the largest and most sought-after tech hubs in North America, Ontario is driving the development of next-generation technologies that will strengthen economic growth across key sectors, including automation and transportation,” Vic Fedeli, Canada’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, said. “Through Invest Ontario, we are proud to support Hitachi Rail’s expansion in Toronto and thank them for choosing our province as the ideal place for their continued growth and success.”