ECUADOR: The Cuenca tramway is currently in the final acceptance phase and is scheduled to begin revenue service in the first half of March.
Test running has been underway since 2015, but completion has been delayed by a series of funding and contractual problems. In 2017 the ACTN consortium of Alstom, Compagnie International de Maintenance and the NGE Group joint venture of TSO and NGE Contracting was selected to complete the civil and fit-out works. TSO was already responsible for the supply and installation of track and maintenance equipment as part of the CITA consortium with CIM, Ineo and Alstom.
Tenerife tramway operator Metrotenerife is providing pre-operation technical assistance, and will provide support for the first three years of commercial operation.
The 10·2 km route from Parque Industrial to Control Sur serving 27 stops features floating slab track in the UNESCO-listed historic city centre as a vibration-protection measure, as well as sections without catenary. Alstom has supplied a fleet of 14 Citadis trams. Ridership is predicted at up to 120 000 passengers a day.
