Hitachi Rail has commissioned a new ARGOS digital interlocking system and brought it into operational use on the national railway network in France.

Designed for SNCF Réseau and taking nearly five years of research and development, Hitachi Rail, in partnership with the HR/EQUANS/SNIC consortium, is developing the ARGOS project to renew and digitalise signalling interlocking systems throughout France.

Commissioning of the first ARGOS system on SNCF Réseau’s rail network took place at a pilot site at Chasse-sur-Rhône in south-east France, and follows the culmination of a project that started in September 2020.

SNCF Réseau launched the ARGOS program to renew and modernise the signal interlocking systems for the French national rail network in 2018. The new digital interlocking system will provide safer, more advanced, more efficient, and more reliable operation.

Hitachi’s ARGOS system manages information centrally and in real time, and provides a reduction in overall life cycle cost.

System controllers are positioned as close as possible to trackside equipment and are highly modular to reduce the cable cost, connections, and relays, and the amount of civil work required for installation. It also provides equipment standardisation and lower stock holdings.

SNCF Réseau has a target to reduce its total ownership costs by 15%, and the time needed to roll out the system by 30%. Additional benefits from ARGOS include significant improvements in performance, cybersecurity, maintenance, and operations.

Christophe Jeanney, GTS Country Director of Hitachi Rail in France, commented that the company’s collaboration with SNCF Réseau has enabled it to pioneer a new generation of digital interlocking and further strengthens its long-standing and trusted partnership with SNCF Réseau to digitally transform the SNCF Réseau network.

Other countries where Hitachi has deployed its digital interlocking system include Germany and Australia.

“SNIC is proud to support the successful commissioning of the first ARGOS Digital Interlocking System, marking a new milestone in our long-standing partnership with Hitachi Rail and our enduring commitment to SNCF Réseau. For over three decades, SNIC has been delivering its expertise in computerised interlocking systems and continues to contribute to the modernisation of railway signalling through innovation, reliability, and operational excellence.”

Xavier Payet, General Director of SNIC SIGNALISATION