Hitachi Rail Global

• New technology to automatically adjust train frequency to best cater for change in passenger numbers

Ansaldo STS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Metroselskabet to develop a Proof of Concept for a new Dynamic Headway solution leveraging Hitachi technologies for the Copenhagen Metro M1/M2.

The new Dynamic Headway solution will be designed using both Ansaldo STS’s train control systems and Hitachi’s digitalization and IoT (Internet of Things) technology to detect congestion through sensors at stations in order to analyse demand.And based on the demand analysis, the number of trains can be optimized automatically, responding dynamically to sudden change in passenger numbers.

This is particularly useful during increases in demand due to events along the route. A dynamic solution will help resolve congestion before it impacts on passengers, thereby increasing passenger satisfaction. For the operator, this highly responsive solution, which adapts the number of trains to real-time demand, means saving energy and operation costs by increasing utilisation of services.

Henrik Plougmann Olsen CEO of Metroselskabet said “Exploring ways to optimise delivered capacity to make it as efficient as possible is critical to minimising the cost of provision of public transportation.Metroselskabet is keen to encourage and participate in activities that can yield economies to our services.We are happy to contribute to this initiative with Ansaldo STS that will combine the latest advances in data management and control systems to create a solution that could improve the services we provide.”

Alistair Dormer, Chairman of the Board, Ansaldo STS and Group CEO of Hitachi Rail said: “Hitachi’s Dynamic Headway Solution combined with Ansaldo STS’s driverless technology is developed based on our joint Digitalisation strategy by utilising Hitachi’s IoT platform “Lumada”. In the long term, we plan to integrate the Dynamic Headway technology in our CBTC offering. As a global technology provider, we bring innovative solutions like this to our customers, combining the world-class know-how of Ansaldo STS and its majority shareholder Hitachi.”

Andy Barr, CEO of Ansaldo STS, said: “Having worked closely with Metroselskabet for 18 years now, we are delighted to sign today’s MoU for the provision of a new, passenger-focused system. With automation technology such as the Dynamic Headway Solution, both passengers and operators benefit from timely trains automatically adapting to demand. We are delighted to continue our close partnership with Metroselskabet to keep Copenhagen Metro on the forefront of passenger-friendly travel.”

A prototype solution will be available on site by the end of 2017, potentially followed by full development and implementation targeting Copenhagen M1/M2 and Cityringen project.

Copenhagen's driverless metro system became operational in October 2002, and Ansaldo STS has managed the system ever since. This partnership has been highly successful: the metro system won the awards for “Best metro in the world” and “Best metro in Europe” by the International Metrorail 2008 Conference, as well as being named “Best driverless metro” in 2009.

The Copenhagen Metro line consists of 21 km of double track (10 km underground and 11 km of elevated track) and passes through 22 stations connecting the various parts of the city centre, the area of Ørestad and the airport. Its 34 unattended trains travel at a maximum speed of 80 km/h, ensuring that passengers havetwo minutes to wait during peak hours, and are guaranteed a 24-hour service.

Virgin Trains’ customers are a step closer to new trains as work begins on the Azuma (Class 800) fleet, due to enter service on the east coast in 2018.

Work on the bodyshells is taking place in Kasado, Japan, before the trains arrive in the UK to be built by Hitachi’s manufacturing team at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which is home over 900 employees including 50 apprentices. UK build work on the Virgin Azuma will begin this summer.

The Virgin Azuma will transform travel and customer experiences when it arrives on the east coast main line next year. The fleet of 65 trains will provide an extra 12,200 seats, and faster journeys will make direct routes to new destinations such as London-Middlesbrough possible, as well as a big increase in through services from London to places such as Bradford, Harrogate and Lincoln.

David Horne, Managing Director of Virgin Trains on the east coast, said: “We are very excited to be moving closer to the day when our fantastic new train comes into service. The arrival of Azuma in 2018 will mark another milestone on our journey towards totally transforming travel for our customers, and the work happening now in Kasado and beginning in the summer at Newton Aycliffe are important steps on that journey.”

Karen Boswell, Managing Director at Hitachi Rail Europe, said: “The new Azuma fleet will be a combination of Japanese design and British manufacturing. The trains are built using Japanese bullet train technology, world famous for its quality and reliability. We are proud that our Newton Aycliffe team, based a short distance from the East Coast main line, will work on pioneering trains used by millions of passengers”

Tokyo, February 1, 2017 --- Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501, “Hitachi”) today announced that it will strengthen business structure in order to achieve further growth through the global rollout of Social Innovation Business using digital technologies.

1. Strengthening uniform operations in specific Business Units (as of April 1)

Hitachi introduced a market-in business structure composed of “front,” “platform,” and “products” in April 2016, and has strengthened the earnings base, including the review of unprofitable businesses and structural reforms, by operating its businesses unit by unit. Since Hitachi has seen certain results in establishing the earnings base, it will assign Executive Vice President and Executive Officers responsible for four strategic fields, in order to plan and execute growth strategies from broader viewpoints, toward accelerating further growth starting in FY2017. The Executive Vice President and Executive Officers will each lead the expansion and growth efforts for their responsible fields and businesses, as well as generate synergies in each area to accelerate development of Social Innovation Business using digital technologies.

In addition, Smart Life & Ecofriendly Systems and Automotive Systems businesses will be positioned in the “Urban” field. Utilizing IoT, these two businesses will generate synergies with Building Systems, Railway Systems, and Urban Solutions, to create new value in the field.

Description of four fields

2. Accelerating the global development of Social Innovation Business utilizing “Lumada”

(1) Strengthen Global Business Base (as of April 1)

Mr. Hicham Abdessamad, CEO of Hitachi Consulting Corporation, will be promoted to undertake an additional role as Deputy General Manager of the Social Innovation Business Division. In this new role, Hicham will lead Social Innovation Business across the Americas, Asia/Pacific, and Europe / Russia / Middle East and other areas (“EMEA/CIS”). He will lead the acceleration of Social Innovation Business using digital technologies by expanding use cases of Hitachi’s IoT Platform “Lumada” globally. At the same time, Mr. Yoshitaka Tsuda, Senior Vice President and Executive Officer of Hitachi, Ltd., will be appointed General Manager of the Social Innovation Business Division, and Mr. Kenichi Kokubo, Vice President and Executive Officer, Chief Executive for China Hitachi Group, will continue to lead business development in China.

(2) Appointment of Chief Lumada Officers (as of February 1)

In order to accelerate the global rollout of the IoT platform “Lumada,” a Chief Lumada Officer will be appointed in each BU to create Lumada use cases and expand the solution business in collaboration with other BUs.

3. Strengthening investment strategies for the next stage of growth (as of April 1)

As part of our efforts to achieve the goals laid out in the 2018 Mid-term Management Plan and further growth, two new divisions will be established. The first will be the “Investment Strategy Division,” responsible for planning investment strategy in order to establish an optimum asset allocation for the Hitachi Group. The mission of this division includes an ideal allocation of investment funds and determination of the best structure of the balance sheet to globally develop Social Innovation Business. The second will be the “Future Investment Division,” with a mission to formulate medium-to-long term focus fields and supervise projects, capturing the trend of next-generation technologies such as robotics, AI, and connected mobility, as well as changes in the world at large.

Business Structure (as of April 1, 2017)