The Belgian infrastructure operator Infrabel has signed a contract with Alstom for the supply of train detection systems worth €80 million. The ten-year agreement will see Alstom supply around 10,000 Jade-3 track switching systems. The new devices will be manufactured at Alstom's signalling and train control production facility in Charleroi. In 2023, train detection failures led to the cancellation of 750 trains and delays totalling 50,000 minutes. The Jade-3 systems can be monitored remotely, have a self-test function, and can be pre-programmed, which simplifies installation on the line. The first 8,000 units of the new system will replace existing Jade units. Subsequently, Infrabel will install the remaining Jade-3 units in other parts of the network.
