Canada: Greater Vancouver transport authority TransLink has awarded Bombardier a US$99m contract for 34 MkII SkyTrain light metro cars, with options for a further 38 cars totalling US$92m. The linear induction trainsets will be manufactured in Sahagun, Mexico, and assembled in Thunder Bay for delivery in the first half of 2009.
China: Managing Director of Hong Kong Tramways Frankie Yick Chi-ming has announced a feasibility study for an extension to form a circular route along the waterfront from Western Market to Sheung Wan, Wan Chai, the Star Ferry pier and ultimately the Convention & Exhibition Centre. Proposals are also being drawn up to construct metal-framed double-deck cars at the Tramway's Whitty Street depot. These would replace wooden-framed vehicles which need to be rebuilt every six to seven years.
On November 29 Ningbo People's Congress voted to submit plans for a 25?4bn yuan metro network to the National Development & Reform Commission. The city hopes services on Line 1 and the first phase of Line 2 could begin in 2015, serving 45 stations on an initial 72?1 km network.
Croatia: A 1 km extension of the Osijek tramway to serve the Bosutsko shopping area opened on December 2. There are three stops, and further extensions are planned.
Germany: On December 14 Hamburg Hochbahn awarded a consortium of Alstom and Bombardier a contract to supply 27 three-car DT5 trainsets in 2009-13, with an option for a minimum of 40 more which would take the value to €240m. The DT5 trains will have AC drives, air-conditioning and wide gangways between cars, and will be used on the planned line U4 to HafenCity as well as replacing DT3 vehicles dating from 1966-71.
On December 6 the Land of Hesse gave the go-ahead for a 3?5 km tram extension to serve the Frankfurter Bogen development in Frankfurt. The k30m line is expected to open in December 2009.
India: The government of Kerala has accepted a study prepared by Delhi Metro Rail Corp recommending the construction of a 25?3 km elevated metro between Aluva and Petta in Kochi, with a future extension to Tripunithura. Three expressions of interest in a BOT contract have been received, and tenders will be called 'soon', said DMRC Managing Director E Sreedharan.
Italy: The first two 950 mm gauge Skoda 06T trams for Cagliari were delivered on December 1, and launch of the 7 km tram-train service between Repubblica and Monserrato is planned for March. Also in Sardinia, FdS formally opened the 2?5 km tramway in Sassari on October 27, with revenue services between the FS station and Emiciclo Garibaldi starting three days later.
Mexico: On December 13 Alstom announced a k56m contract from Mexico City metro authority STC for the refurbishment of 25 trainsets on Line 8, and the provision of maintenance for 10 years. Replacement propulsion systems supplied from Alstom's plant at Ridderkerk in the Netherlands will be fitted to cut power consumption.
Romania: Brasov's single tram route closed on November 18. Trolleybuses have replaced trams on the 7 km line which opened in 1987 and needed extensive modernisation.
Spain: The 2?4 km extension of Madrid Metro Line 5 from Canillejas to Alameda de Osuna was opened on November 24. It is expected to generate an additional 6?million passenger-journeys a year on Line 5, an increase of 5% on current traffic levels.
Alstom has been awarded a €15?4m contract to supply signalling and telecommunications systems for the two light rail routes under construction in M?laga, including its Urbalis wireless signalling product. Operations are expected to begin in February 2009.
Ukraine: Zürich transport operator VBZ has donated to the city of Vinnitsa 13 'Karpfen' and 12 'Mirage' trams which have been made redundant by deliveries of Cobra low-floor vehicles. They will be delivered to Ukraine in 2007-08, and are expected to remain in service until around 2018.
UK: Transport for London has awarded DeltaRail a £6m contract to develop and support software for the creation, analysis and publication of timetables for all London Underground lines.
Carillion Construction has awarded Corus a £700 000 track design contract for renewal of Manchester's Metrolink trackwork, including bridge renewal near Victoria station and improvements to the track alignment to enable platforms to be used more efficiently.
A second custom-made small-profile Tubevac vacuum ballast excavation machine has been ordered by Tube Lines from Swedish firm Disab Vacuum Technology AB.
USA: Sacramento RTD opened the 1 km light rail extension from 7th and K Street to Sacramento Valley Amtrak station on December 8.
Venezuela: Test running on Line 1 of Maracaibo Metro between La Vanega and El Varillal began on November 25. Pöyry's Infrastucture & Environment business group has been awarded an €8m extension of its contract to provide supervisory services for the construction of Line 1 until 2009.
