Cats and dogs to be permitted on light rail services
CHINA: MTR Corp is to allow cats and dogs to be carried on Hong Kong light rail services during weekends and public holidays for a two-month trial period starting on May 1.
South Coast Rail commuter services launched
USA: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and operator Keolis Commuter Services have launched passenger services on Phase 1 of the South Coast Rail project, providing Fall River and New Bedford with trains to Boston for the first time in more than 65 years.
Viewpoint: Winning the battle against antisocial behaviour
Keolis UK operates the Nottingham Express Transit network, where an array of enforcement and outreach policies have been used to cut antisocial behaviour on and around trams. Chief Executive Alistair Gordon explains the company’s approach.
Luxtram cleared for takeoff
LUXEMBOURG: A 3·9 km tramway extension to Luxembourg airport opened on March 2, with an opening ceremony attended by Helge Dorstewitz, Managing Director of Luxtram, with Minister of Mobility & Public Works, Yuriko Backes, the city mayor and other municipality representatives.
Light rail sightseeing tour launched to boost tourism
CHINA: Hong Kong’s MTR Corp has launched the Tuen Mun Voyager light rail sightseeing tour to boost tourism in the Tuen Mun area.
Second metro line opens in Taiyuan
CHINA: The capital of Shanxi province gained a second metro line on February 22 with the opening of Line 1, celebrated at an event held at Xiayuan station.
Tunis suburban rail Line D opens
TUNISIA: Line D of the Tunis Réseau Ferroviaire Rapide suburban rail network was launched on January 25, with 10 000 passengers carried on the first day.
Trieste’s partly funicular tramway reopens
ITALY: The unusual tramway which links Trieste with Villa Opicina via a cable-hauled incline has reopened after being suspended in 2016.
Heart for transplant delivered by metro train
INDIA: Hyderabad Metro has taken part in the express transfer of a heart between two hospitals for a life-saving transplant.
Ottawa’s O-Train starts phased reopening
CANADA: Ottawa’s O-Train reopened its extended north-south Trillium Line on January 6, with services to be ramped up over the next month.
Turquoise tram route added to Lusail network
QATAR: Revenue-earning Turquoise Line tram services in Lusail north of Doha began on January 6.
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.
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.
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.
Parramatta light rail line opens in western Sydney
AUSTRALIA: The L4 light rail line serving Parramatta in western Sydney opened on December 20, with simultaneous first departures from the Westmead and Carlingford termini at 05.00.
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.
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.
Test running foreshadows revival of closed Jaén tramway
SPAIN: The first test runs have been undertaken for the planned reopening of the 4·7 km tramway in Jaén, which closed in 2011 after just 17 days of operation.
Tallinn’s trams cruise onto second city crossing
ESTONIA: Commercial operation of Tallinn’s 2·5 km Vanasadam tram route began on the morning of December 1.
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