Hitachi Rail has secured a contract to modernise telecommunications and passenger information systems on the Cascais Line in Lisbon, Portugal.

Infraestruturas de Portugal has placed a contract with Hitachi Rail to upgrade the telecommunications and passenger information systems, which will significantly improve the service’s quality, safety, and functionality for passengers and the operator on one of Lisbon’s busiest commuter lines.

The new contracts are in addition to an existing agreement for upgrading the current signalling system with Hitachi Rail’s electronic ETCS Level 2 interlocking system.

Hitachi Rail will work alongside partners SISINT and Conecticabo to implement a fully automated Passenger Information System that will provide real-time updates on train services and extend the coverage to all stations on the line.

The new system will be designed to support multimedia formats so that it is suitable for future innovations in passenger communication.

As well as updating the Cascais Line’s Passenger Information System, Hitachi Rail will upgrade the line’s telematics, including the data network, time information, energy, and SCADA systems that were revamped as part of this project that began during Q4 2024.

Hitachi Rail’s track record in managing brownfield projects and implementing innovative solutions, while ensuring the reliability and safety of railway operations, will be key to the modernisation of the Cascais Line.

It also builds on the company’s track record in Portugal dating back to the early 1990s. This includes collaborating with Infraestruturas de Portugal to implement advanced signalling and telecommunications systems, passenger information solutions, and key operational infrastructure such as the Lisbon Operational Control Centre, which currently manages 70% of Portuguese rail traffic.

The Cascais Line project is the contract that Hitachi Rail has implemented in Portugal, including the Sines, Évora, and Beira Alta Lines. Hitachi Rail has also been at the forefront in developing ETCS Level 2 signalling in Portugal, initially on international corridors and later on the Cascais Line.

In June 2024, Hitachi Rail completed a €1,660m acquisition of Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems to expand its global presence for signalling and telecommunications systems. Hitachi Rail is also upgrading the signalling on the Paris-Lyon high-speed with next-generation computerised interlocking digital signalling technology.

“Hitachi Rail’s involvement in modernising the telecommunications and passenger information systems on the Cascais Line demonstrates our commitment to delivering state-of-the-art digital solutions that enhance both operational efficiency and the passenger experience.”

Joaquim Santos, Vice President of the ICS Business Line at Hitachi Rail