Hitachi Rail and SMRT Trains announced the latest verified results of their joint Green Communications‑Based Train Control (CBTC) Next Gen programme, confirming a 14% reduction in traction energy usage on Singapore’s North‑South and East‑West Lines (NSEWL). The announcement was made following a joint panel session at InnoTrans 2026, marking the completion of Phase 2 of the multi‑year collaboration to enhance sustainable urban transportation.

A multi‑year collaboration delivering measurable impact
The Green CBTC Next Gen programme was launched in 2023 to enhance the energy‑saving capabilities of the SelTrac™ CBTC signaling system. Traction power accounts for approximately 60% of metro energy consumption, making the CBTC system one of the most effective ways to achieve emissions reduction. The CBTC programme was first deployed on the North-South Line in 2017 and the East-West Line in 2018.

Green CBTC Next Gen uses advanced analytics in Hitachi Rail's SelTrac™ signaling platform to optimize train movements, automatically adjusting acceleration, braking and coasting profiles. The result is lower energy consumption without compromising operational performance, safety or passenger service.

Phase 1, completed in 2024, achieved 8% reduction in traction energy usage for automatic trains. Phase 2, completed in 2025, achieved an additional 6% reduction in savings, tallying up to a total of 14% energy savings.

With traction power accounting for 60% of total energy usage on SMRT’s network, the continued optimization delivered by Green CBTC Next Gen supports SMRT’s ambition to achieve net zero ambitions by 2050.

Driving long‑term sustainability and operational excellence
Green CBTC Next Gen is part of Hitachi Rail’s broader roadmap to deliver signaling systems with progressively lower carbon footprints. The forecasted CO₂ emissions from the latest SelTrac™ CBTC configuration are 16.4% lower over a 30‑year lifecycle compared to the 2018 iteration, based on Hitachi Rail’s standard configuration model.

SMRT and Hitachi Rail are also exploring new collaboration initiatives, including AI‑enhanced Green CBTC Next Gen capabilities for the NSEWL, aimed at unlocking further efficiency gains and supporting Singapore’s sustainability goals.

By combining digital innovation with proven engineering, Hitachi Rail delivers pioneering solutions like Green CBTC Next Gen that help cities operate cleaner, more reliable and more resilient transport networks. Hitachi Rail’s vision is to build a harmonized society where environmental responsibility, passenger well‑being and economic growth reinforce one another.

Alfredo Drago, General Manager, Hitachi Rail Singapore said: “Our partnership with SMRT is a powerful example of how collaboration can drive sustainable mobility. We are proud to contribute to the NSEWL’s energy‑efficiency journey with Green CBTC Next Gen, a technology that reflects Hitachi Rail’s belief that true sustainability comes from systemic efficiency — reducing emissions, lowering lifecycle costs and improving performance at scale.”

Lam Sheau Kai, President, SMRT Trains said: “CBTC is an important part of the transformation of our North-South and East-West Lines, helping us to run trains more safely, reliably and efficiently. With the next-generation CBTC programme, we are taking this further by using operational data and smarter train-control algorithms to reduce energy use by double-digits. This is what practical innovation means at SMRT – applying technology to make every journey more reliable and sustainable.”

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