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.
Riyadh metro Red and Green lines open to passengers
SAUDI ARABIA: The next phase of the Riyadh metro project was completed on December 15 with the launch of passenger services on the Red and Green lines.
‘Green’ train control cuts metro traction energy consumption
SINGAPORE: Hitachi Rail and metro operator SMRT say Phase 1 of their Next-Generation Green Communications-Based Train Control project has reduced traction energy consumption on the North-South and East-West lines by 8%, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 3 000 households.
Trains ordered to increase Medellín metro capacity
COLOMBIA: Metro de Medellín has awarded CAF a contract to supply 13 three-car trainsets, with final assembly and testing to be undertaken at the operator’s own facilities.
Robot cleaners deployed at Singapore metro stations
SINGAPORE: Metro operator SMRT Trains has deployed 89 autonomous cleaning robots at its stations. Supplier Simpple says the robots increase the speed and efficiency of strenuous and repetitive work, freeing staff to undertake more complex tasks.
Santiago orders driverless metro trains
CHILE: CAF has been awarded a contract to supply and maintain six five-car trainsets as part of the project to extend Metro de Santiago’s Line 6 at both ends.
Bengaluru Red Line approval progress
INDIA: On December 6, the Karnataka Cabinet approved Phase 3A of the Bengaluru metro, allowing the project to go forward for central government sign-off.
Hitachi Rail completes Roma metro trainset
ITALY: The first of 14 six-car metro trainsets that Hitachi Rail is supplying for Roma’s metro lines A and B has been completed.
Saitama New Urban Transit trainsets delivered
JAPAN: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has completed deliveries of the 2020 Series Automated Guideway Transit light metro trainsets for Saitama New Urban Transit Co’s New Shuttle Ina Line in Greater Tokyo.
Stadler awarded ‘breakthrough’ Atlanta CBTC contract
USA: Stadler has announced an ‘international breakthrough’ in the signalling sector with the award of a $500m eight-year contract to supply its NOVA Pro communication-based train control to replace Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s current metro signalling equipment.
Hamburg U-Bahn orders engineering wagons
GERMANY: Hamburg U-Bahn operator Hamburger Hochbahn has awarded GBM Gleisbaumechanik Brandenburg a contract to supply up to 15 custom-designed wagons for engineering trains.
Driverless London Underground trains are not viable, study finds
UK: The previous government’s proposal for the possible conversion of London Underground lines to driverless operation will not be taken any further, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has confirmed.
Macau opens Hengqin Line
CHINA: Macau Light Rail Transit’s Hengqin Line opened on December 2, its second new line in a month. The 2·2 km shuttle links Macau with Hengqin in Zhuhai in mainland China, where there is interchange with the Zhuhai Airport Intercity Railway
Chennai metro places ‘landmark’ driverless train order
INDIA: Chennai Metro Rail Ltd has awarded BEML a contract to supply and maintain 70 three-car trainsets for GoA4 unattended automatic operation.
Long-awaited Thessaloniki metro opens
GREECE: The Thessaloniki metro opened on November 30, 18 years after construction began.
One Singapore metro operator selected but decision postponed on the second
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority has awarded a contract for the operation of the future Jurong Region Line automated metro, but has postponed a decision on the Cross Island Line.