CHINA: Songjiang Tramway has awarded Shanghai Keolis a five-year contract to operate and maintain the tram network in the Songjiang district of southwestern Shanghai.
The joint venture of Shanghai Shentong Metro Group (51%) and Keolis (49%) is to operate the two-line network, which is due to open in two phases. The initial 13·9 km, serving 20 stops, is expected to open on December 25 2018. This will be followed in mid-2019 by a further 16·9 km and 26 stops. Interchange would be provided with metro Line 9.
Services would initially run at frequencies of around 10 min between 05.00 and 23.00. Ridership is forecast at 170 000 passengers a day.
The Shanghai Alstom Transport joint venture of Shanghai Rail Traffic Equipment Development Co (60%) and Alstom (40%) has supplied 30 Citadis trams under a €72m contract placed in 2015.
