Canada: Toronto Transit Commission put Alcatel’s SelNet System Management Control into revenue service on the Scarborough Rapid Transit line in July.
France: Alongside a programme to increase capacity at Toulouse Matabiau station, SNCF is discussing with local authorities a 15 km ’tram-train’ (RG 7.01 p467) route to Blagnac Airport, north of the line to Auch. The project is expected to cost up to Fr1bn.
Germany: Planning procedures are to start in Hamburg for construction of a 12 km light rail line between Hauptbahnhof and Steilshoop, mainly on reserved track. The cost of the line is expected to be DM420m, including rolling stock (RG 6.00 p338).
Great Britain: In July Centro recommended four new Midland Metro corridors for inclusion in the West Midlands Local Transport Plan. They are Birmingham Eastside - Quinton or Halesowen, Coventry Road - Birmingham Airport and NEC, Great Barr or Kingstanding - Bournbrook or Selly Oak, and Wolverhampton - Walsall.
Nottingham City Council has appointed consultant Turner & Townsend as project manager for its planned Nottingham Express Transit extensions.
Docklands Light Railway Ltd Chairman Ian Brown announced on August 15 that Serco Docklands Ltd had been awarded a two-year franchise extension to operate and maintain the DLR network until March 31 2006.
A feasibility study for a light rail line linking the Waterfront Edinburgh development zone with the city centre via Leith is due to be published this month.
Spain: Work is expected to begin within two years on an extension of the Valencia metro from Mislata to Manises Airport, now costed at Pts16bn with four stations in the Quart and Mislata districts. As part of the project, Renfe’s Valencia - Riba-roja suburban line is to be covered over within these areas.
Madrid Metro has awarded Indra a Pts675m contract to supply two driving simulators to train staff in preparation for the arrival of its Series 7000 and 8000 trainsets (RG 1.01 p53).
USA: The first of 10 Siemens SD160 LRVs for Utah Transit Authority was delivered to Salt Lake City on July 19, and is expected to enter service this month.
Yugoslavia: Inekon and Gosa are to modernise 30 CKD-built Beograd trams at a cost of DM12m. The Swiss city of Basel has donated to Beograd 40 tramcars and 10 years’ worth of spares, which will be delivered by February.
