MRT Jakarta introduces WhatsApp ticketing
INDONESIA: MRT Jakarta and Route Mobile Ltd have launched WhatsApp-based metro ticketing.
Daegu’s urban rail network grows
SOUTH KOREA: The urban rail network in Daegu has expanded following the opening of a cross-city suburban rail corridor and the extension of its metro.
Lille orders more metro trains
FRANCE: Métropole Européenne de Lille has awarded Alstom a €210m firm order to supply 15 more rubber-tyre automated light metro trainsets, following on from 27 ordered previously.
Resignalling programme to create Madrid’s first driverless metro line
SPAIN: Metro de Madrid has awarded Alstom a contract to upgrade the signalling on Line 6 to make it the city’s first driverless metro line.
MRT Xizhi – Donghu Line construction contract signed
TAIWAN: Main construction works for the MRT Xizhi – Donghu metro line in New Taipei are set to get underway in March, after the turnkey design and build contract was signed on December 19.
Penang LRT Mutiara Line construction launched
MALAYSIA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim officially launched construction of the Penang LRT Mutiara Line medium capacity metro with a groundbreaking ceremony on January 11.
Railway innovation and talent development MoU signed
CHINA: City University of Hong Kong, MTR Corp and MTR Academy have signed a memorandum of understanding covering railway-related research, talent development and innovation.
Delhi RRTS extension opens as India targets second spot in world metro rankings
INDIA: The 13 km Sahibabad to New Ashok Nagar extension of the Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System line was opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 5.
New York Subway battery-diesel maintenance locos approved for use
USA: New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved the operation of battery-diesel hybrid locomotives ordered from Wabtec to haul maintenance trains on the Subway network.
Ho Chi Minh City joins the metro club
VIETNAM: Ho Chi Minh City’s 19·7 km metro Line 1 opened for commercial service at 10.00 on December 22 with free travel for 30 days.
Elephant & Castle passenger tunnel designer appointed
UK: Dragados UK has appointed AECOM as lead designer for the first stage of the construction of passenger tunnels to increase capacity at London Underground’s Elephant & Castle station.
Orange Line launch completes Riyadh metro openings
SAUDI ARABIA: The last of the six metro lines in Riyadh opened on January 5 when services began on Line 3, the Orange Line.
Dubai Metro Blue Line construction contract awarded
UAE: Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority has awarded the contract for construction of the metro network’s Blue Line to a Turkish-Chinese consortium comprising civil works contractors Mapa and Limak with railway systems supplier CRRC.
UK firm wins rolling stock electronics export orders
EUROPE: British electronic and electro-mechanical component and systems supplier LPA Group has announced three export orders in the rail sector with a total value of £4m.
North America: Bringing more rail to Mexico’s metropolis
Two major suburban rail projects are well into the phase of delivery in the state of Mexico, which borders Mexico City. But plans to extend metro and light rail beyond the capital’s boundaries are yet to be finalised as policymakers continue to flirt with non-rail modes, which are often perceived as cheaper to deliver.
Washington metro reinstates automatic train operation after 15 year hiatus
USA: Automatic train operation has resumed on the Washington DC metro after a 15 year gap.
More walk-through Subway cars in latest New York MTA procurement
USA: New York MTA has approved a $1·27bn firm order for a further 435 Kawasaki Rail Car R211 Subway cars, including 80 R211T cars with open gangways.
Tyne & Wear Metro’s first Stadler train enters passenger service
UK: The first of the 46 custom-designed Class 555 trainsets that Stadler is supplying to replace the Tyne & Wear Metro fleet entered passenger service on December 18.
Shanghai metro extension hiatus ends as networks grow in five cities
CHINA: More than 100 km of new metro line has opened in China in the last quarter, including a link to a key main line station in Beijing and an automated route in Shanghai.
London stations added to Google Street View
UK: Google Street View now includes 18 London rail and Underground stations, with a further 18 to be added by the end of the year.