Global urban transport news – Page 7
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NewsState government takes over Adelaide tram operations
AUSTRALIA: Responsibility for the operation of Adelaide’s trams returned to the government of South Australia at 03.00 on August 31, ending the privatisation put in place by the previous government.
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NewsWirye Line test runs aim to return trams to Seoul after 58 years
SOUTH KOREA: Seoul municipality has announced that test runs will start this month for the 5·4 km, catenary-free Wirye Line tramway, with opening scheduled for next year.
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NewsNext Firenze tramway and vehicle purchase approved
ITALY: Firenze city council has approved the final design of a tram line to link Piazza Libertà on the existing network with Rovezzano station.
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NewsReconstruction of first section of Santiago – Batuco railway tendered
CHILE: EFE has signed a US$470m contract with the Constructora Gran Andes consortium for the first section of civil works to reconstruct the Santiago – Batuco railway.
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NewsHitachi Rail opens Maryland rolling stock factory to supply North American market
USA: Hitachi Rail has opened a factory in Maryland where it will produce rolling stock for North American customers including the Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia metros.
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NewsNext Melbourne train operating contract is ‘an opportunity to raise the bar’
AUSTRALIA: Expressions of interest in the next contract to operate passenger rail services around Melbourne are to be invited from mid-September, with the state government calling for ‘the most experienced transport operators from around the world’ to bid.
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NewsNJ Transit orders double-deck EMU cars and electro-diesel locos
USA: NJ Transit has exercised options to purchase an additional 200 Alstom Multilevel III double-deck commuter electric multiple-unit cars for $1·055bn and 12 ALP45 electro-diesel locomotives for a maximum of $204m.
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NewsEFE receives bids for Santiago – Melipilla suburban rail project as subcontract awarded
CHILE: A contract has been let for renewal of the Malloco – Santiago Lo Errázuriz section of the Santiago - Melipilla suburban rail scheme, while national railway EFE has received bids for civil works for an underground section of the route in the centre of the capital city.
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NewsAlstom to supply Tūhono battery-electric trains to provide better connections in Wellington
NEW ZEALAND: Greater Wellington Regional Council has awarded Alstom a NZ$1·066bn contract to supply and maintain 18 battery-electric multiple-units for the Wairarapa and Manawatū lines as part of the Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility programme.
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NewsDriverless tram enters passenger service
RUSSIA: A fully automated driverless tram has entered regular passenger service in Moskva, following a multi-stage testing programme.
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NewsDART+ Coastal commuter rail project approved
IRELAND: Procurement of contractors for the DART+ Coastal North project to extend Dublin’s electric suburban services north to Drogheda is to get underway, following the granting of planning approval during August.
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NewsGold Coast light rail Stage 4 cancelled
AUSTRALIA: The Queensland government has cancelled Stage 4 of the Gold Coast Light Rail programme, and will instead look to bus provision as well as studying wider transport needs for the region.
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Metro Report InternationalBART launches Tap & Ride contactless payment
USA: The San Francisco Bay Area’s BART has introduced tap-in tap-out payment with contactless bank cards and mobile services.
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Metro Report InternationalTbilisi plans tram and metro projects
GEORGIA: Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has announced a tender for the design of a 7·5 km tramway in the capital, and plans are being developed for a third metro line.
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NewsMendoza suburban rail project makes progress
ARGENTINA: The province of Mendoza has agreed to take forward a 32·3 km suburban rail project linking the current Metrotram terminus at Gutiérrez with San Martín.
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Metro Report International‘An act of justice’ promised as Santiago metro Line 9 construction starts
CHILE: Construction of Santiago’s 27 km metro Line 9 has begun with a ceremony at the future La Pintana depot site.
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Metro Report InternationalMetro passengers encouraged to take a mindful break with giant chess sets
SINGAPORE: Metro operator SMRT Trains has installed giant chess sets as part of its Communities in Station programme to ‘enhance vibrancy and enrich the commuter experience’.
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Rail Business UKBee Network pipeline confirms Manchester’s tram-train and underground rail ambitions
UK: Transport for Greater Manchester has approved £6m to develop plans for significant expansion of the Metrolink network, including new tram-train services and potential underground routes in the city centre.
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Metro Report InternationalRéunion Express interurban light rail plan revived
FRANCE: The overseas territory of La Réunion and its five municipalities have signed a ‘partnership roadmap’ for revival of the Réunion Express interurban light rail project along with bus and road improvements designed to reduce dependency on private cars and cut carbon emissions.
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Metro Report InternationalStations, Rail & Systems agreement signed for Toronto light rail extension project
CANADA: Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have awarded Trillium Rail Partners the Stations, Rail & Systems contract for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension light rail project.