SYSTRA wins two major projects for a metro in Taiwan

Opened for revenue service in 2008, the Kaohsiung metro is one of the most modern in Asia; currently boasting two cutting-edge metro lines, this system is characterised by its state-of-the-art infrastructure, featuring air-conditioned stations and through the strategic integration of lifts, escalators that provide a comfortable environment for passengers.

Additionally, the network includes a circular Light Rail Transit (LRT) line, meticulously designed to ensure complete accessibility for individuals with reduced mobility and clearly marked walkways. The Kaohsiung metro network continues to expand and has chosen SYSTRA Asia’s expertise to support it.

The Formosa station on the Red Line

Over the next eight years, we will be providing support for the extension of the Yellow and Red lines:

For the Yellow Line, we are participating in the review of the detailed design of E&M systems, rolling stock, Niaosong depot operations, operation and maintenance, as well as Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety (RAMS) This endeavor is undertaken as a subcontractor collaborating with CECI Engineering Consultants, within the framework of a consultancy and project management assistance (PMC) mission.

This new line will run in a “Y” pattern through the heart of the city, a pivotal addition to the city’s transportation network. In collaboration with CECI, we are resolute in our mission to contribute substantively to the realisation of a modern, efficient, and seamlessly integrated transit solution that will significantly enhance urban mobility and cater to the evolving needs of the city’s inhabitants.

For the Red Line, we have been selected as an IV&V to extend the line to the south as far as the outlying Linyuan area. We are providing our verification and validation services of the overall system, including the track and Civil Work to ensure the safety of future operation, to the local public authority, Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit (KMRT).

Our involvement signifies a dedicated commitment to ensuring that every facet of this ambitious project aligns seamlessly with the highest standards of technical excellence and operational efficacy.

We are proud to have won these two major contracts for SYSTRA in Taiwan. The development of the Kaohsiung metro was one of the main commercial targets for our team in 2023. We were able to count on the support of all the entities of SYSTRA Asia and the Group to win these contracts, and we are determined to continue our development on the island.

Victoria Chen, Managing Director, SYSTRA Taiwan

A renewed success for SYSTRA in Taiwan

SYSTRA was one of the engineering companies involved in the creation of the Kaohsiung metro, first carrying out a feasibility study and transport plan in the late 1980s, then providing project management assistance from March 2001 to August 2008. We worked with the Taiwanese consultant CECI, assisting the system design management, risk management, interfaces and systems, as well as system design review. Since 2021, we have worked in technical advisory for the creation of the Yellow line.

Did you know?

SYSTRA has been present on the Taiwanese market since the 1980s and has been involved in all the major changes to public transport on the island. Our teams were involved in the creation of the Taipei and Kaohsiung metros, and then supported the design and construction of the high-speed line linking these two megacities. We also took part in setting up the systems for the express link to Taipei Taoyuan international airport.

With a team of 10 employees based in Taipei and Kaohsiung, SYSTRA Taiwan is part of the Asia Business Unit and contributes to numerous regional projects, such as the Jakarta metro. Most recently, in early 2023, our colleagues won a preliminary study for the future Blue Line of the Taichung metro. SYSTRA Taiwan is the only engineering company to have contributed to each of the island’s metros.

OUR OFFER IN URBAN MOBILITIES
ENR 2023: further progress for SYSTRA

SYSTRA has once again risen in the ENR rankings, both in the transportation engineering category and in terms of international turnover in 2022.

SYSTRA continues to grow in its benchmark category

In the Transportation ranking, which brings together the 2022 sales figures of the ten largest engineering companies in the mobility sector, we have moved up one place to 8th position, after already having moved up one place last year. We are the first French engineering company in this ranking.

In the Top 225 International Design Firms, which includes companies’ international turnover (generated outside France for SYSTRA), the Group moved up one place to 24th, after winning 4 places last year, which anchors us in the Top 25.

These two rises confirm the effectiveness of our strategy of excellence in the transport sector and our focus on the most attractive countries.

Moreover, we also moved up 2 places in the rankings based on the total sales (including France) to 45th place, confirming our place among the world’s Top 50 engineering companies.

The rankings for the Mass Transit & Rail and Bridges categories will be announced in December when the Global Sourcebook is published.

After a record year in 2022 for SYSTRA, our Group’s performance has been confirmed by this ENR ranking, which is a benchmark in the sector. This new rise confirms the relevance of our strategy of focusing on the transport engineering market in the most dynamic countries, where we are pursuing our organic growth as well as making targeted acquisitions.

Pierre Verzat, Chief Executive Officer

Find out more on Engineering News-Record ranking on their website.

SYSTRA publishes its Sustainability Report 2022

Sustainability is now an integral part of Group’s Operations, and is a pillar of SYSTRA’s growth and a guarantee of its performance. Among the many initiatives undertaken this year within the Group, we have made the reduction of environmental impact in our client projects and our practices a key axis.

The Report highlights the launch of the Climate Trajectory, which covers both our operations, with the implementation of our Sustainable Design and Construction Framework, and our sites, with the measurement of our carbon emissions around the world.

Another major step forward is the Group’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Charter, which will be the basis for our future actions in this area and demonstrates our commitment to our employees on these subjects.

The Sustainability Report also looks at the strengthening of our service offering in the face of the energy transition challenge, thanks to our expertise in transport systems, our knowledge of the challenges of the energy sector and our ability to respond to these challenges.

Our expertise in transport systems, our knowledge of local issues and our simulation tools have enabled us to strengthen our service offering in the face of the energy transition.

Sustainability at SYSTRA is no longer just an ambition: it has become a reality. And we have the resources and solutions to have a positive impact on the projects we implement to continue to make the difference.

Christelle Chichignoud, Sustainability Director

2022 Sustainability Report

Find out how SYSTRA makes a difference, and our vision of sustainability:

sustainability report 2022
SYSTRA awarded two Asset Management contracts in Hong Kong

We were first selected for a contract as part of a consortium with the asset management specialist Assetman, to carry out a complete audit of the condition of Hong Kong’s railway network, focusing on operating methods and the asset management process. The audit should last six months after which the final report will be presented to the Hong Kong government.

MTR wants to ensure the quality of its service, including 99.9% on-time performance, while meeting international standards and adopting industry best practice. We will support them by providing benchmarking studies and our extensive knowledge of mass transit networks around the world, as well as offering recommendations to strengthen their maintenance and risk management procedures.

Patrick Desforges, Business Development Director, SYSTRA Asia Business Unit

A second, bigger contract

The second contract focuses on operational maintenance and this time SYSTRA is the sole contractor. We will be using our local teams in Asia and SYSTRA France’s Systems teams to do a complete analysis of the track equipment and network infrastructure.

Trains crossing at a station

Innovation at the forefront

We will carry out site visits and provide an innovation component with an ad-hoc solution which will study the potential for new technologies, in particular in the fields of modelling and the effective use of data.

Key facts – Hong Kong MTR network

  • 278.3km of lines, including 235.2km of metro
  • 98 metro stations, 68 tram stations, 32 KCR train stations
  • 1,688.1 million passengers in 2019
  • 9 metro lines + 1 express line to the international airport
  • 4 KCR rail lines (ex-Kowloon-Canton R)
  • 12 tramway LRT lines
  • The LGV Shenzhen – Hong Kong section

To find out more, consult the brochure dedicated to Asset Management, published with Usbek & Rica.

MVA’s Significant Project Tai Kwun – The Centre for Heritage and Arts, Wins Multiple Awards

Tai Kwun – The Centre for Heritage and Arts, has again been given two prestigious awards – the RIBA International Awards for Excellence 2021 and the Quality Building Award 2020.

Tai Kwun (meaning ‘Big Station’) is the Centre for Heritage and Arts in Hong Kong, formerly known as the Central Police Station in the colonial era. The renovation and revitalisation project began in 2008, took twelve years of making.

Awards:

The RIBA International Awards for Excellence is globally recognised and awards buildings that change the world. In 2021, there were 16 remarkable projects which won the Prize, ranged from 11 countries. Tai Kwun, is the only winning structure from Hong Kong. The award was presented in July 2021.

The Quality Building Award (QBA), an award co-organised by nine leading professional institutions of the property sector in Hong Kong, recognised Tai Kwun – The Centre for Heritage and Arts with Grand Award in the Hong Kong building (Renovation / Revitalisation) Category.

SYSTRA MVA as the Lead Traffic Consultant

SYSTRA MVA provided professional traffic engineering and transport planning consultancy services for the conceptual design stage and construction for Tai Kwun. The revitalisation project has been recognised by several international and local awards in which MVA contributed since 2008, led by local and international Architects and conservation architects.

The historical site is the only winning structure from Hong Kong in the RIBA recognition, and it also won the Grand Price – Hong Kong Building (Renovation/ Revitalisation) category in the latest QBA.

Key Solutions:

Photo source: RIBA © Edmond Leong