Work begins on next phase of Coventry Very Light Rail demonstration programme
UK: Colas Rail UK has begun construction of an 800 m section of Very Light Rail track between Coventry University Technology Park and the railway station as part of the city council’s VLR pilot programme.
Alstom and Mälardalen University renew strategic industrial-academic partnership
SWEDEN: Mälardalen University and Alstom have renewed a long-standing strategic partnership for collaborative research and education.
Alstom Boa trains enter service on Lille metro Line 1
FRANCE: Alstom Boa rubber-tyred light metro trains have finally begun entering passenger service on Lille’s automated Line 1, as part of a long-running programme to upgrade the line.
Etihad Rail runs passenger trains from the Saudi border as war grounds flights
UAE: Etihad Rail and Abu Dhabi’s Emergency, Crisis & Disaster Management Centre organised special passenger trains to facilitate the return of UAE citizens and residents from Saudi Arabia while flights are grounded because of the ongoing war in Iran.
Stadler Digital Labs joint venture launched
PORTUGAL: Stadler and Critical Software have formed the Stadler Digital Labs 51:49 joint venture to develop software for the rail sector.
Limited service starts on Santo Domingo metro extension
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Limited services started on the 7·3 km northwestern extension of Santo Domingo metro Line 2 from María Montez to Pablo Adón Guzmán with a ceremony on February 24 attended by President Luis Abinader.
Underground solar power contract awarded
UK: Transport for London has appointed SSE Energy Solutions to build and operate solar installations to provide zero-carbon electricity directly to the London Underground.
Turkey reaches preliminary financing agreement for Istanbul rail bypass
TURKEY: The government has reached preliminary agreement on US$6·75bn of financing for the construction of the long-planned Gebze – Halkalı railway bypass around Istanbul.
Construction starts on high speed line featuring South Korea’s first undersea rail tunnel
SOUTH KOREA: Construction started with a groundbreaking ceremony on February 3 on the 174·6 km high speed line linking Gimcheon with the island city of Geoje.
Urban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
RMT calls for maintenance patrols to have better access to welfare facilities
UK: The RMT trade union has called on Network Rail to ensure that all maintenance patrol workers to have guaranteed access to adequate toilet and washing facilities, with documentation of suitable welfare arrangements in all Safe System of Work Packs.
