MHI Receives Order for Macau Light Rapid Transit (MLRT) Phase 1

The 20.2 kilometer (km) MLRT Phase 1 system will run between the Border Gate in the eastern district of Macau Peninsula and Pac On Ferry Terminal on Taipa Island, with a total of 21 stations. The elevated track, except for a 2.6 km tunnel, will run along the coast of the peninsula, including Macau Ferry Terminal for the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry, to the city center, home to numerous casinos and hotels, and then cross the Sai Van Bridge to Taipa Island. On Taipa, the MLRT will pass through Cotai and the airport to Pac On Ferry Terminal. Plans also call for construction of rolling stock depot. The MLRT Phase 1 is slated to begin commercial operation in April 2015.

The order placed to MHI includes the APM system but excludes station buildings and civil work. Specifically MHI will supply 110 cars (55 two-car trains), automatic train control (ATC) system, electrical power supply systems, communication systems, tracks, depot equipment, platform screen door system, fare collection system and Sai Van Bridge improvement work. The contract also offers GIT options for separate orders at a later date for maintenance services and additional car supply plans.

Macau, whose economy is expanding continuously against the backdrop of its flourishing tourism and casino industries, currently has no rail mass transportation system such as trains or monorail, and as a result it suffers from severe traffic congestion in the city center.

The APM is a fully automated, unmanned transportation system. Using electricity as its power source, it causes no air pollution from exhaust gas emissions and provides low noise level by its rubber-tired system. To date MHI has received APM orders for urban transportation systems such as Senkang/Punggol Lines in Singapore and many airports throughout the world including United States, (Miami, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta), as well as Hong Kong, Singapore (Changi), Korea (Incheon) and UAE (Dubai). In June 2010, the company received an order for 108 new cars for the Yurikamome Waterfront Line in Tokyo. With this robust track record MHI has established a leading position in the global APM market. MHI believes this track record and its technological expertise were highly evaluated by the customer and contributed to the latest award.

On the strength of the MLRT order going forward, MHI aims to further boost its aggressive marketing activities for APM systems for airports and urban transportation networks worldwide.