All Europe articles – Page 50
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NewsHelsinki tests mock-up longer tram
FINLAND: Helsinki transport operator HKL is using a full-scale tram mock-up to identify what infrastructure changes would have to be made to enable longer trams to run on its network. Night testing started on March 14 using a steel frame covered with a tarpaulin, towed by a tram. The ...
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Metro Report InternationalSofia metro Line 3 TBM launched
BULGARIA: The tunnel boring machine for the first phase of Sofia metro Line 3 has been launched. The 9·4 m diameter TBM has been supplied by Herrenknecht. The 7·8 km, eight-station first phase of the east-west line is due to open in 2019. It includes 7 km of bored ...
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Metro Report InternationalAlstom and NTL launch Aptis electric bus prototype
FRANCE: Alstom and NTL presented a prototype of the Aptis electric bus at NTL’s factory in Duppigheim in eastern France on March 9. Alstom says that the vehicle is based on a tram design, with roof-mounted equipment and a mostly low floor. The vehicle is 12 m long, 2 ...
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Metro Report InternationalLondon creates its first low-emission bus zone
UK: The first of 12 low-emission bus zones planned for London’s most polluted streets started operating on March 9. The zone in the southwestern district of Putney will only permit buses achieving strict Euro-6 emissions standards to operate across the seven routes that pass through it. This will see ...
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NewsEkova and Cegelec complete Göteborg tram refurbishment
SWEDEN: Czech firms Ekova Electric and Cegelec Praha have completed the refurbishment of 79 M31 trams for Göteborg, with the last handed back to operator Göteborgs Spårvägar on March 7. Work began in June 2011 following the award of a KC170m contract. This marks the second renovation of the ...
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Metro Report InternationalRhein-Ruhr-Express depot construction launched
GERMANY: The foundation stone for the Rhein-Ruhr-Express maintenance depot was laid in Dortmund-Eving on March 7. Siemens is building the 70 000 m2 facility on the site of a former marshalling yard on the Dortmund – Lünen main line. A 163 m long, 63 m wide and 12·4 m ...
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NewsOperator sought for Dublin Luas trams
IRELAND: The National Transport Authority is to hold a market awareness day on April 5 ahead of the planned call for tenders for the next contract to operate and maintain Dublin’s Luas light rail lines. The existing five-year contract held by Transdev is due to end in the fourth quarter ...
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Metro Report InternationalIntegrating Crossrail’s asset management data
UK: Building information modelling cloud software company 3D Repo has developed a mobile platform which brings together disparate databases and information sources to support the management of maintainable assets on London’s Crossrail project. Data matrix identity labels and RFID tags can be scanned using a mobile device to provide real-time ...
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NewsOlsztyn tram extension funding agreement signed
POLAND: A funding agreement for 144·9m złoty of EU funds for the expansion of the Olsztyn tram network was signed on February 28 by Mayor Piotr Grzymowicz. A new route is to be built from the existing network at the junction of al Piłsudskiego and ul Kościuszki southeast to ...
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Metro Report InternationalSmart card testing simulator to be launched
SMART CARD: Later this year Austrian company Arsenal Testhouse is to launch a software-based simulator which will enable the functionality of smart cards and other payment systems to be tested to see whether a new product would be likely to pass formal validation against technical standards. While full verification would ...
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NewsBerlin orders more Flexity trams
GERMANY: Berlin transport authority BVG has exercised the final option in its framework contract for Flexity Berlin trams, supplier Bombardier Transportation announced on February 27. The order for 21 trams is valued at €71m. The 100% low-floor seven-section bidirectional trams will be 40 m long and will be equipped ...
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NewsTramwaje Warszawskie reach Nowodwory
POLAND: The latest expansion of the Warszawa tram network opened to passengers on February 27, with the commissioning of a 1·5 km northern extension to Nowodwory. Built by a ZUE-Strabag consortium under a 31·6m złoty contract, the extension runs from Tarchomin Kościelny and has an intermediate stop at Štefánika. ...
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Metro Report InternationalSecond City Crossing opens in Manchester
UK: The final phase of Manchester Metrolink’s Second City Crossing opened on February 26. The new route runs from a rebuilt St Peter’s Square stop along Cross Street to Exchange Square and Victoria. Transport for Greater Manchester said that the opening of the Second City Crossing was the final ...
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Metro Report InternationalTransport for London renews contactless payment processing contract
UK: Transport for London has renewed Barclaycard’s contract to provide transaction processing services for contactless payment. The merchant acquirer contract runs for seven years, with an option for a further three years. Contactless payments was rolled out across TfL services in September 2014, and now accounts for 39% of ...
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NewsEBRD backs Bozankaya metro car manufacturing
TURKEY: The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development is providing bus and rail vehicle manufacturer Bozankaya with a €10m loan to finance expansion of production capacity at its Ankara plant including investment in an automated welding machine. This will support a contract for Bozankaya to act as a subcontractor to ...
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Metro Report InternationalVinci awarded Paris Line 15 contract
FRANCE: A joint venture led by Vinci Construction Grands Projets has been awarded a €926m contract to undertake civil works on an 8 km section of Line 15 South of the Grand Paris Express network, running between Fort d’Issy Vanves Clamart and Villejuif Louis-Aragon. Two TBMs will be deployed to ...
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NewsLight rail plans progress in Wiesbaden
GERMANY: The municipality of Wiesbaden has approved €3·4m of preliminary planning work for the city’s first tram route. The Land of Hessen is providing €465 000. When complete, the Citybahn light rail line would link Wiesbaden to the existing metre gauge tram network in the neighbouring city of Mainz ...
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NewsStadler signs Merseyrail EMU contract
UK: The contract for Stadler Bussnang AG to supply and maintain 52 electric multiple-units was signed by Liverpool region transport authority Merseytravel on February 16. The deal is worth ‘up to £700m’, including maintenance throughout the EMUs’ expected 35-year lifecycle at the Kirkdale depot which will be designed, built and ...
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NewsLund tram project breaks ground
SWEDEN: A groundbreaking ceremony on February 15 marked the start of work on the tram project in the city of Lund. Contractor Skanska is building the 5·5 km route with nine stops, which will connect Lund Central station and the science village. Opening is due in September 2019. ...
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NewsLille pursues airport tram link
FRANCE: The construction of a 10 km light rail line between Lille and Lesquin Airport via Ronchin is expected to go ahead during the period of the city’s next public transport operating concession, according to the President of the Métropole Européenne de Lille, Damien Castelain. Under development ...