SINGAPORE — The company upgrading the signalling system for the Republic’s two oldest MRT lines opened a S$10 million regional integration centre in Changi yesterday, which its Chief Executive said will help it come up more promptly with systems tailored to the needs of rail operators.

French electronics giant Thales Solutions Asia’s Chief Executive Jean-Noel Stock said the facility will allow for localised testing of technology and clients would be able to see first-hand the systems that are being engineered for them.

The firm, which will supply the signalling system for the upcoming Tuas West Extension, will also be better able to carry out installation work within the non-revenue hours between 1.30am and 4.30am, said Mr Stock at a press conference yesterday.

Thales won the S$195 million contract to upgrade the signalling systems for the North-South and East-West lines last year.

The upgrade is in line with the Government’s move to make public transport more attractive to more commuters by shortening waiting times.

The improvements, which will be completed in phases between 2016 and 2018, will see frequency between trains decrease from 120 seconds to 100 seconds.

This means six trains will arrive at a station every 10 minutes during peak hours, instead of the current five trains.

Mr Stock revealed that the technology being put in place can, in fact, enable operators to run trains at even higher frequencies.

Giving an update on the progress of the signalling system’s upgrading, Mr Stock said work has started for the stretch between Changi Airport and Tanah Merah MRT stations. The system has also been installed on the Bishan test track, he added.

It is not the first time Thales has undertaken work on the Republic’s transport system.

It implemented the Integrated Supervisory Control System for the North East Line (NEL) in 1997, which featured driverless trains for the first time. The company is also responsible for the automatic fare gates at the Circle, Downtown and NEL, as well as the CCTV systems at the North-South and East-West lines.

Next year, the French company will open an innovation hub in Changi and it has penned a partnership with the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

It also plans to develop ground transport solutions for countries in the region, with Singapore as a base.