Hitachi Rail has been awarded a new contract by Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) following the conclusion of a public international tender, marking a significant milestone in the modernisation of the Portuguese rail network.
Under the agreement, Hitachi Rail will develop and certify a new External ERTMS Specific Transmission Module (STM) for the Portuguese market. This will become the second STM available for Portugal’s railway system and plays a critical role in the country’s transition from the national CONVEL automatic train protection system to the harmonised European Train Control System (ETCS).
The project aligns directly with Portugal’s nationally defined ERTMS migration roadmap, supporting the phased deployment of ETCS Level 2 across the network while ensuring operational continuity during the transition period.
Ensuring continuity during the ERTMS migration
During the migration phase, trains will operate with both ETCS and STM onboard, allowing seamless operation on lines that are not yet fully interoperable. This dual‑fitment approach ensures services can continue safely and reliably while ETCS infrastructure is progressively rolled out nationwide.
By introducing a second STM solution, the programme delivers clear strategic benefits for the Portuguese rail sector, including:
- greater diversification of the supply chain;
- reduced reliance on a single technology provider; and
- a more competitive and resilient market for railway undertakings, maintainers and future rolling stock programmes.
Open, interoperable and market‑ready
The new STM is being developed as an external module, enabling full interoperability between ETCS and Portugal’s Class B system, CONVEL. In line with European regulation, the solution will be made available to the market under fair, reasonable and non‑discriminatory (FRAND) conditions.
This approach is designed to support long‑term fleet flexibility, simplify future procurement, and strengthen interoperability across the Portuguese network and its connections to the wider European rail system.
A pan‑European delivery team
The solution will be delivered through a collaborative effort involving Hitachi Rail teams in Portugal, Sweden and Italy, combining deep local knowledge of the Portuguese network with the company’s wider European expertise in digital signalling and onboard train control.
Hitachi Rail has played a pioneering role in ERTMS deployment across Europe and is currently delivering major programmes, including large‑scale network deployment in Italy and onboard ERTMS and STM programmes in Sweden.
Commenting on the award, Joaquim Santos, Hitachi Rail Portugal Country Director, said:
He added:
"For passengers, operators and the wider public, the benefit is clear: a stronger railway system with greater interoperability, improved long‑term sustainability and readiness for the next generation of rail services."
The STM solution will also support certification and integration activities, reinforcing Portugal’s position within the interoperable European rail landscape and enabling smoother cross‑border operations in the years ahead.
Image credit: iStock
