Improved wayfinding to simplify navigating Philadelphia’s public transport
USA: Philadelphia transport operator SEPTA has begun rolling out wayfinding improvements, which CEO & General Manager Leslie S Richards said ‘will make the system easier to navigate for all passengers, regardless of language, ability, or familiarity with public transportation’ as part of preparations for the city hosting the World Cup ...
Construction starts on Sevilla metro Line 3
SPAIN: Work has started on the construction of Sevilla metro Line 3, following a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Minister of Transport & Sustainable Mobility Óscar Puente and Minister of Housing & Urban Development Isabel Rodríguez on April 8.
Stockholm metro traffic management systems to be renewed
SWEDEN: Greater Stockholm transport administration SL has awarded Cactus Rail a €35m contract to replace the traffic management systems on the capital’s Red and Blue metro lines and provide 25 years of support.
Torino driverless metro train production underway
ITALY: Representatives from the city of Torino’s infrastructure manager Infra.To have visited the Alstom factory at Valenciennes in France to see the production of the first two cars of four four-car Metropolis trainsets on order.
Santo Domingo orders more metro trains
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Santo Domingo Metro operator OPRET has awarded Alstom a contract to supply and commission eight more three-car Metropolis trainsets to support the extension of Line 2.
MRT Jakarta extension railway systems contract awarded
INDONESIA: Operator MRT Jakarta has awarded a 4·2tr rupiah contract to Japan’s Sojitz Corp on April 17 to design and install the railway systems on the phase 2A extension of the Jakarta MRT North–South Line. The 5·8 km underground phase 2A is under construction between Bundaran HI and Kota.
Knorr-Bremse enters signalling market with North American acquisition
NORTH AMERICA: Knorr-Bremse announced on April 19 that it had agreed to buy Alstom’s North American conventional signalling business, with a deal that is expected to be formally concluded ‘in summer 2024’.
More Metro Manila Subway loans agreed
PHILIPPINES: Finance Secretary Ralph Recto and Japan International Cooperation Agency Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto signed a ¥150bn loan agreement on March 26 for the third tranche of financing for Phase 1 of the Metro Manila Subway Project.
Beograd metro consultancy contract renewed
SERBIA: The city of Beograd has renewed RATP Dev’s ongoing contract to provide early operator assistance for the three-line automated metro project.
Disneyland Resort Line train replacement to create a ‘brand new look’
CHINA: New battery trains and resignalling are included in Hong Kong operator MTR Corp’s plans to create a ‘brand new look’ for the Disneyland Resort Line from 2028.
Local elections prompt flurry of Istanbul metro openings
TURKEY: Four extensions to existing metro lines have been opened in Istanbul to coincide with the municipal elections which took place at the end of March.
Ontario Line electrification contract awarded
CANADA: NGE Group’s TSO subsidiary is to design and supply 1·5 kV overhead electrification for Toronto’s Ontario Line metro project.
Technology tackles train surfers and bicycle thieves
UK: The Docklands Light Railway is to be equipped with technology which can detect ‘train surfers’ illegally clinging to the back of its automated trains or between vehicles.
Milano transport operator targets French market
FRANCE: Executive Director Arrigo Giana tells Metro Report International about Milano transport operator ATM’s plans for international expansion.
Facial recognition ticketing to be expanded
RUSSIA: Moskva Metro reports that 100 million trips have now been made using biometric payment, with the Russian-made system having ‘proven its utmost security and reliability’ and further deployment planned.
Lyon operating contract aims to provide ‘exemplary’ metro and tram services
FRANCE: Lyon transport authority Sytral Mobilités has awarded the Paris transport operator’s RATP Dev subsidiary the next contract to operate and maintain the city’s metro, tram and funicular services for 10 years from January 1 2025, as well as a future river shuttle service which is to launch in June 2025.
Funding agreed for Milano metro extension and interurban tram refurbishment
ITALY: The national government has allocated €145m to help fund a 3·3 km western extension of Milano metro Line M1 from Bisceglie to Valsesia, Olmi and Baggio at an estimated cost of €543m.
Chicago Transit Authority launches first Innovation Studio challenges
USA: Chicago Transit Authority has launched its Innovation Studio project to partner with the private sector to explore new ideas.
Modi inaugurates three sections of metro in Kolkata
INDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated one new metro line and two extensions in Kolkata on March 6, totalling 11·5 km.
Moskva Mayor plans driverless trams
RUSSIA: Moskva Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has announced ambitions to deploy smart technologies by 2030 to make the public transport network more reliable and the preferred option for mobility within the city.