All Metro articles – Page 214
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NewsUrban rail news in brief - May 2009
The central government approved a revised budget on April 20 for the planned Taichung Mass Rapid Transit system in central Taiwan, increasing funding to NT$51·4bn from the previous NT$28·8bn. The 16·7 km 18 station project will link Taichung City’s Beitun district to Taichung County’s Wuri, based on an amended plan. ...
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NewsStrong interest in Sydney metro contract
AUSTRALIA: New South Wales’ Transport Minister David Campbell announced on April 29 that 13 groups had registered an interest in the contract to build the infrastructure for the planned CBD metro line in Sydney. These include both local and international companies. Formal Expressions of Interest are to be returned by ...
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NewsEdmonton launches South LRT extension
CANADA: The first 2·3km segment of Edmonton Transit’s C$673m South LRT extension from Health Sciences Centre to South Campus was ceremonially opened on April 25, along with a new intermediate station at McKernan/Belgravia. Construction of the extension began in 2005, and the remaining 5·2 km to Century Park is expected ...
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NewsToronto picks Flexity Outlook
CANADA: Toronto Transit Commission voted unanimously on April 27 to confirm the selection of Bombardier's Flexity Outlook low-floor tram design as the base model for its next generation fleet, following a recommendation by officials the previous week. Toronto is planning to purchase 204 articulated trams to replace its 248 Canadian ...
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NewsExtensions to ease Paris saturation
FRANCE: Funding for a 14·5 km extension of Paris tram route T3 around the east of the city from Porte d'Ivry to Porte de la Chapelle was approved on April 16. T3 will gain 26 stations when the extension opens at the end of 2012, providing interchanges with 11 metro ...
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NewsVeolia to run Hong Kong trams
CHINA: Veolia Transport has signed an agreement with Wharf Holdings to buy a 50% stake in Hong Kong Tramways. Veolia will assume responsibility for operating and managing the network, which opened in 1904 and now carries 240 000 passengers a day on 163 tramcars, the only entirely double-deck fleet remaining. ...
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NewsTraffic up, funds down
USA: Citing record fuel prices in mid-year as a key driver, the American Public Transportation Association reports that public transport ridership in 2008 reached its highest level since 1956, with more than 10·7 billion trips. And although job losses soared as the US economy fell into recession, patronage remained high. ...
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NewsMinisters ride Alger metro Line 1
ALGERIA: Government ministers rode over the first completed section of Alger metro Line 1 in early April. On board the special train were Minister of Transport Amar Tou, Minister of the Interior Yazid Zerhouni and Minister of Energy & Mines and President of OPEC Chakib Khalil. Starting from the ...
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NewsStockholm seeks metro car builders
SWEDEN: Storstockholms Lokaltrafik has invited prequalification bids for the supply of its next generation of metro trainsets. In an OJEU notice published on April 8, bidders have been given until May 25 to apply. SL is planning to order an initial build of 80 vehicles, designated C30, with options ...
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NewsMetro tunnellers in trouble
EUROPE: March 3 was a bad day in Köln. Around 14.00 the building housing the city archive in Waidmarkt collapsed, probably as a result of tunnelling work for the north-south Stadtbahn taking place near the structure. Adjacent buildings were also affected, and by March 13 it became clear that two ...
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NewsSevilla metro inaugurated
SPAIN: The first phase of Sevilla metro Line 1 was officially inaugurated on April 2 by the President of Andalucía, Manuel Chaves González. He was joined at the event by Minister of Development Magdalena Álvarez Arza and the region’s head of public works Luis García Garrido, together ...
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NewsRestructured Brussels metro network launched
BELGIUM: The final section of Brussels Metro's inner ring between Delacroix and Gare de l'Ouest was officially opened on April 2 by Pascal Smet, Brussels Minister for Mobility. The event was held in the presence of King Albert II and Laurette Onkelinx, Deputy Prime Minister and President of Beliris ...
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NewsCrossrail selects Bechtel as Project Delivery Partner
UK: Crossrail Ltd announced on April 1 that it intends to appoint a team of Bechtel, Halcrow and Systra as project delivery partner for the construction of the central section of the east-west route across London. Under the terms of the £400m contract they will be responsible for overseeing ...
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Kolkata projects launched
INDIA: The Kolkata Mass Rapid Transit SPV, a consortium of Srei Infrastructure, West Bengal Transport Infrastructure Development Corp and Czech-based Amex International, was launched by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on February 18 to implement a Rs60bn light rail project in Kolkata. The 40 km north-south route from ...
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Grant concluded
USA: A US$900m full funding grant agreement for Washington’s Dulles Metrorail extension was signed by US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on March 9, clearing the way for work to start. The FFGA covers Phase 1 of the $5·2bn, 37 km project from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue ...
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Warszawa Line 2 bids under review
POLAND: Five offers have been submitted by international consortia competing to build the 6 km central section of Warszawa Metro Line 2. The committee evaluating the tenders is expected to make a decision by the end of March. This must then be ratified by the City of Warszawa. The ...
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Boon Lay extension open
SINGAPORE: The S$436m extension of the East–West Line by 3·8 km from Boon Lay to Pioneer and Joo Koon opened on February 28. A date has now been set for the inauguration of the Circle Line. Phase 1 will commence operations on May 30, when five stations at Bartley, Serangoon, ...
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Budget slashed
ARGENTINA: Jorge Irigoin, President of Buenos Aires metro construction authority Sbase, has resigned two weeks after the city’s Minister of Urban Development Daniel Chain announced a 75% reduction in the budget for metro development. The figure of 447m pesos approved by the city government last December has now been cut ...
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CAF trams on test in Antalya
TURKEY: Test running has started with 14 CAF light rail vehicles for the 11 km Antalya tramway being built by Alarko, which is due for completion on June 14. The line will have 16 stops, including two cut-and-cover stations, and a depot at the northern terminus of Fatih. From ...
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NewsUrban rail news in brief - April 2009
St Petersburg metro Line 4 was diverted to a newly-opened terminus at Spasskaya on March 7, with the Sadovaya – Komendantskiy Prospekt section of Line 4 transferred to Line 5. A consortium comprising Alstom, Gea21, Inabensa, Mipelsa and Pavimentaciones Morales has been awarded a €74·8m turnkey contract to build Jaén’s ...