Harman Patil (Editor)

Kawasaki Heavy Industries and CSR Qingdao Sifang C151B

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In service
  
2017

Entered service
  
2017

Constructed
  
2014–2017

Manufacturer
  
Kawasaki Heavy Industries CSR Sifang

Built at
  
Qingdao, Shandong, China

Number under construction
  
30 Vehicles (5 Trainsets)

The Kawasaki Heavy Industries & CSR Sifang C151B is the fifth generation of rolling stock to be used on the existing East West Line and North South Line. 45 trains were purchased and they will be delivered between 2015 and 2018, These trains will be used to increase the capacity with the opening of Tuas West Extension. SMRT took delivery of the first 2 train cars on 21 May 2015. These trains will increase frequency for the entire MRT line as well as Tuas West Extension and Canberra MRT Station.

Contents

The C151B has a similar IGBT-VVVF traction system to the C751B and C151A and it is the first train to have a white front with a smaller logo.

Tender progress

In the turnkey Contract C151B, 3 tenderers were shortlisted – Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd/Kawasaki Heavy Industries (Singapore) Pte Ltd Consortium, CSR Zhuzhou/Siemens, and Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. On 23 August 2012, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) awarded the tender to Kawasaki Heavy Industries at a price of S$281,508,884.00. Subsequently, the tender results were released to the public on 27 August 2012.

Manufacturing process

Kawasaki will be responsible for the overall project management, design, manufacturing of bogies and procurement of major components. CSR Sifang will be in charge of manufacturing, final fitting and assembly of complete MRT trains and factory testing. Kawasaki (Singapore) will be responsible for the delivery of complete MRT trains to the depot, on-site testing and commissioning. The new MRT trains are scheduled to be delivered to Singapore from 2015 onwards.

Main Propulsion Controller

The C151B trains is the fourth commuter type Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) made in Japan to feature electric systems fully manufactured by Fuji Electric. Propulsion is controlled by VVVF Inverter with 2-level IGBT semiconductor controller, rated at 415 kVA. Each inverter unit controls two motors on one bogie (1C2M), and one motor car features two of such units. Motors are three-phase AC induction type, model MLR109, with a maximum output of 140 kW.

Train Formation

The configuration of a C151B in revenue service is DT-M1-M2-M2-M1-DT

The car numbers of the trains range from x601 to x690, where x depends on the carriage type. Individual cars are assigned a 4 digit serial number by the rail operator SMRT Trains. A complete six-car trainset consists of an identical twin set of one driving trailer(DT) and two motor cars(M1 & M2) permanently coupled together. For example, set 665/666 consists of carriages 3665, 1665, 2665, 2666, 1666 and 3666.

  • The first digit identifies the car number, where the first car has a 3, the second has a 1 & the third has a 2.
  • The second digit is always a 6, part of the identification numbers
  • The third digit and fourth digit are the train identification numbers. A full length train of 6 cars have 2 different identification numbers, one for the first 3 cars, and the same number plus 1, for the other three.
  • Kawasaki Heavy Industries & CSR Sifang built sets 601-690.
  • Livery

    Currently, it is the second train with SMRT's new white livery with red, yellow and black colour scheme, which is similar to Bukit Panjang LRT's C801A, as compared to the older SMRT trains. The C151B will be the third batch of trains to feature the classic white exterior background, similar to the Siemens C651 and the C151 trains prior to its refurbishment between 2006 and 2009. The C151B trains are the first trains to have a full white front unlike the older batch of trains with black front. The first two trains received the new livery with the older SMRT logos, while subsequent trains were painted with new SMRT logos.

    References

    Kawasaki Heavy Industries & CSR Qingdao Sifang C151B Wikipedia