On August 24 Shenyang Deputy Mayor Xing Kai confirmed that construction had started on the Shenyang section of the Shenyang – Fushun inter-urban light rail project. Operation of the 61·1 km route is expected to commence in April 2009. The line will reduce journey times between the two cities from 90 to 53 min.
Sacramento Regional Transit hopes to start work next year on the 6·9 km extension of its South Line from Meadowview Road to Cosumnes River College in Elk Grove, although completion has been delayed a year to 2012, and the price has risen 23% to US$270m. A risk analysis by the FTA emphasised that a number of physical barriers will make construction difficult. Track will be placed along a Union Pacific right-of-way and cross environmentally sensitive areas, a flood plain and a number of waterways.
NSW Department of Commerce has invited Expressions of Interest for the supply of an electronic integrated ticketing system for Sydney. Registrations close on October 16.
Kuala Lumpur metro operator Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad has launched a tender for automatic fare collection equipment for its Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines. Deadline for submissions is December 1.
The new CEO of Budapest Transport, István Kocsis, wants to restructure BKV as a holding company with separate subsidiaries including BKV Metro, BKV Autobusz, BKV Villamos (trams) and BKV HÉV (commuter trains). While the city of Budapest would remain BKV’s majority shareholder, the proposal would allow district councils and private companies involved in public transport to acquire shares. Other financial measures such as loan restructuring and bond issues are under consideration.
The Hungarian government has backed a HF37·7bn tram upgrading project in Miskolc. This involves renovating the 11 km route, laying 1·4 km of new track, the construction of 45 stops and the acquisition of 31 low-floor trams. Subject to the approval of EU funding, the project is due to be completed by the end of 2011.
BEML has secured a Rs520m order from Delhi Metro to design and build eight low-cost cars which will be used to lengthen trains from four to six-car formations. BEML is also supplying two nine-car stainless steel EMUs to Indian Railways under a second contract worth Rs310m. These are due to be delivered within two years, and the contract includes an option for a further 36 cars, increasing the total value to Rs920m.
