Drones and social media partnerships tackle deadly ‘Subway surfing’
USA: The Operation Lifesaver safety campaign has expressed concern over an increase in illegal ‘Subway surfing’, where people ride on the outside of metro trains, and New York City Transit has deployed drones to back up a publicity campaign developed with teenagers to tackle the problem which has caused at ...
Metro Trains Melbourne invests in facilities for female staff
AUSTRALIA: Metro Trains Melbourne is investing A$1m in toilets, showers and changing rooms to accommodate the increasing number of women in its workforce.
Legal changes aim to streamline Californian rail electrification projects
USA: The Governor of California has signed legislation designed to accelerate electrification by exempting zero-emission railway projects on existing lines from requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, which can lead to legal delays.
London Overground line branding roll-out begins
UK: Transport for London began rolling out new line names and colours on the London Overground network on November 20. This will replace the previous system where the various routes on the complex inner-suburban rail network were not distinguished with individual branding.
Tallinn transport operator targets 50% market share
ESTONIA: The city of Tallinn and tram and bus operator Tallinna Linnatransport have signed a new operating agreement worth up to €1·4bn which includes ambitions to increase public transport’s market share from a third to a half and achieve close to zero CO2 emissions.
New Elizabeth Line operator aims to offer ‘the best of Tokyo and London’
UK: Transport for London has selected the GTS Rail Operations Ltd joint venture of rail and bus operator Go-Ahead Group (65%), recently part-privatised operator Tokyo Metro (17·5%) and diverse Japanese business group Sumitomo Corp (17·5%) for the next concession to operate Elizabeth Line services.
Urban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
Lima to launch commuter rail service with withdrawn Caltrain fleet
PERU: Lima municipality is to launch a commuter train service on the railway between Callao on the Pacific coast and Chosica in the capital’s eastern suburbs in 2025, using a fleet of diesel locos and double-deck coaches withdrawn from service by California’s Caltrain.
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail operating contract awarded
USA: NJ Transit has awarded a joint venture of ACI and Herzog a contract to operate and maintain the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail network after the current design-build-operate-maintain contract expires.
Manila opening gives commuters ‘the gift of more moments spent with their loved ones’
PHILIPPINES: Passenger services on the Manila LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Phase 1 began on November 16, following an official inauguration by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr the previous day.
Autonomous battery LRV tested in Indonesia
INDONESIA: Test running of a domestically developed, battery-powered, autonomous light rail vehicle began in Solo on November 6.
Bangkok Blue Line to be upgraded and Orange Line extension civils contract awarded
THAILAND: Plans to upgrade Bangkok’s Blue Line were approved by an extraordinary ceneral meeting of Bangkok Expressway & Metro shareholders on October 31. CH Karnchang plc has been contracted to oversee procurement of trains and infrastructure enhancements valued at 6·8 bn baht.
Consultants to support West Yorkshire Mass Transit programme
UK: West Yorkshire Combined Authority has appointed a consortium of Jacobs and Mott MacDonald as its Design Development Partner for the next phase of the West Yorkshire Mass Transit programme, which includes two light rail lines integrated with cycling, walking and rail travel.
Palermo orders more trams
ITALY: Comune di Palermo has awarded CAF a firm order to supply a further 14 trams.
Adaray suburban rail service launched
TURKEY: Republic Day on October 29 was marked by launch of Adaray suburban services between the city of Adapazarı and Arifiye, over an 8·5 km branch from the Istanbul – Ankara main line.
Amsterdam metro train order increased
SPAIN: Amsterdam transport operator GVB has awarded CAF a firm order to supply an additional 13 three-car M7 metro trainsets.
First trainset delivered for Taipei’s Wanda Line
TAIWAN: Alstom has delivered the first medium-capacity automated metro trainset for the 22·8 km Wanda Line, also known as the Light Green Line and Line 7, which will provide a 30 min journey time between Taipei and New Taipei City.
Urban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
Voters reject Salzburg S-Link rail project
AUSTRIA: Voters in the Salzburg area have rejected a proposal to build a 15 km partly underground light rail line, which will not now go ahead.
Agreement to complete Rio de Janeiro’s unfinished Gávea metro interchange
BRAZIL: A ‘conduct adjustment’ agreement was signed in early October that resolves long-lasting disputes between state transport agency Agetransp, operating concessionaire MetrôRio, and Line 4 project concessionaire Rio Barra over the suspended works for the Gávea metro interchange in Rio de Janeiro.