Infrastructure news
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Urban newsTai Wai – Kai Tak extension to open on February 14
CHINA: The first section of Hong Kong MTR’s long-awaited Shatin – Central Link project will open for revenue service on February 14, the operator announced on January 17. The extension from Tai Wai to Kai Tak forms part of the east-west link which will eventually connect ...
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Urban news
EBRD finances Izmir metro civil works
TURKEY: The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development is to provide Izmir Metropolitan Municipality with a loan to finance the €754·5m construction of civil works for the planned Üçyol – Buca driverless metro line serving the southeast of the city.
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Urban news
Bogotá Regiotram de Occidente contract awarded
COLOMBIA: A contract to design, build and operate the 39·6 km Regiotram de Occidente inter-urban commuter line linking Bogotá with its western suburbs was signed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corp on Janaury 7. The subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corp was sole bidder for ...
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Urban news
Elizabeth Line through central London now expected to open in summer 2021
UK: The London Paddington to Abbey Wood central section of the Elizabeth Line is now expected to open in ‘summer 2021’. The full service from Reading and Heathrow Airport in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east is now expected to commence by mid-2022, ...
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Urban news
BART board approves CBTC, connectivity and security programmes
USA: The award of a $798m contract for Hitachi Rail STS USA to roll out communications-based train control on the San Francisco Bay Area’s BART metro network was approved by the operator’s board on January 9, along with projects to improve passenger connectivity and deploy security staff. ...
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Urban news
Plzeň expands tram network
CZECH REPUBLIC: Plzeň transport authority PMDP has opened the first tramway extension in the city for almost 30 years, with the inauguration on December 16 of a 1·4 km extension of Line 4 to the Borská Pole industrial zone. Line 4 is the city’s busiest, linking ...
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Urban news
Hamburg automated metro financing agreed
GERMANY: Confirmation of a grant to finance construction of the first driverless metro line in Hamburg has been formally handed over to operator Hamburger Hochbahn by the city’s government. Subject to the completion of planning procedures, construction of line U5 is expected ...
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Urban news
Beijing Capital International Airport peoplemover to be upgraded
CHINA: A consortium of CRRC Puzhen Bombardier Transportation Systems and Bombardier NUG Signalling Solutions Co has been awarded a 215m yuan contract to upgrade the automated peoplemover at Beijing Capital International Airport. This includes upgrading 18 existing Bombardier Innovia APM 100 cars and supplying an additional ...
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Urban news
Shibuya station shift sorted
JAPAN: Tokyo Metro’s Ginza Line services began using a new station at Shibuya on January 3, following the successful completion of a six-day blockade to realign the tracks and connect up the new platforms.
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Urban news
Metro opening wave continues
CHINA: December 28-30 saw the opening of metro and tram extensions in seven Chinese cities, as the country’s urban rail expansion programme continues unabated. The capital of Shandong province, Jinan , opened its 21·6 km north-south Line 3, liking Tantou and Longdong. This has 14 stations, ...
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Urban news
Chengdu metro and tram networks expand
CHINA: The Chengdu urban rail network was increased by more than 100 km with the simultaneous opening on December 27 of five new metro and tram lines.
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Urban news
Songjiang tram network phase 1 completed
CHINA: The final 3·9 km section of the first phase of Shanghai’s Songjiang tram network was opened for revenue service on December 30.
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Urban news
Beijing metro now the world’s longest
CHINA: The opening of two extensions to the Beijing metro on December 28 has taken the total network length to 699·3 km with 405 stations, including 62 interchanges, overtaking Shanghai to become the world’s largest metro network.
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Urban news
Abidjan metro package approved
CÔTE D’IVOIRE: The government has formally approved the technical and funding proposals for construction of an elevated metro line in Abidjan, which is to be developed by a consortium of French companies.
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Urban news
Telent awarded Transport for London communication assets contract
UK: Transport for London has awarded Telent Technology Services Ltd a new contract with an expanded scope covering the management of its wide range of communication assets. This includes public address speakers, CCTV cameras inside and on buildings, customer help points, and information displays. The ...
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Urban news
Utrecht inaugurates Uithof tram line
NETHERLANDS: Revenue services began running on Utrecht’s 8km Uithoflijn express tram route on December 16, following a formal launch on December 14 attended by Minister of Infrastructure & Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen and a day of free travel.
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Urban news
Sydney Metro reaches harbour crossing milestone
AUSTRALIA: Construction of the second phase of the Sydney metro reached a landmark on December 9 when a tunnel boring machine completed the first bore for the tunnel beneath Sydney harbour. Having completed its 880 m drive from south to north, slurry ground TBM Kathleen was disassembled at ...
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Urban news
Tunnelling begins on Pune metro
INDIA: Tunnelling has started on Line 1 of the Pune metro, with the flagging off of a tunnel boring machine from Agriculture College. The 85 m long Terratec TBM is to bore a tunnel 20 to 30 m below ground on the 8·2 km Shivajinagar – ...
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Urban news
Wien agrees €2bn S-Bahn expansion package
AUSTRIA: Proposals for a €2bn package of infrastructure enhancements to expand the capital’s S-Bahn network were unveiled by the Mayor of Wien Michael Ludwig and ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä on December 3.
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Urban news
ST Engineering launches variable platform screen doors
SCREEN DOORS: ST Engineering launched its variable pitch platform screen door at the AusRAIL Plus trade show that took place in Sydney on December 3-5. The VP-PSD detects the door configuration as each train approaches the platform, automatically moving the doors to the correct stopping position. ...
