Hitachi Rail is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the launch of its SelTrac™ signalling technology on Vancouver’s SkyTrain, the world’s first fully automated, driverless metro, which opened on 11 December 1985.
The system was originally developed in the 1970s by Standard Elektrik Lorenz (SEL), with final development undertaken by Alcatel. In its initial version, data transmission was achieved through inductive loops, and it was not until the G8 version, introduced in the 2000s, that it evolved into a CBTC system with continuous radio communication.
In 2007, Thales GTS acquired Alcatel’s train control and signalling division, including the SelTrac system. In 2024, the technology became part of Hitachi following the acquisition of Thales.
Although communication via inductive loops was more limited than radio in its early stages, it was the first system to enable real-time monitoring and control of train position and speed. It laid the foundations for what would later become the CBTC standard.
Since its inauguration, the SkyTrain network has grown to 80 kilometres and 53 stations, with eight extensions in which Hitachi Rail has played an active role.
Over these four decades, the company has continuously upgraded SelTrac™ with technological enhancements that reduce energy consumption and hardware weight, supporting greener and more efficient rail operations.