South Korea: Suburban networks take shape
Under pressure to reduce commuting time across the country, policymakers are developing suburban rail services around key conurbations, many making use of spare capacity on existing main lines. Benjámin Zelki reports.
South Korea: Seoul embraces the ‘GTX era’
This year has seen the opening of the first phase of Seoul’s Great Train Express commuter rail Line A, and the start of construction on lines B and C. Plans have also been announced for extensions of all three and three more lines, as the Executive Director of Korea National Railway’s GTX Department Song Hye-chun explains to Benjámin Zelki.
Portugal: Circle Line leads Lisboa metro expansion project
Backed by EU funding, the expansion of the Lisboa metro and light rail networks is expected to deliver significant environmental benefits for the Portuguese capital, reports Andre Pires.
Philippines: New lines programme puts the metro in Manila
After years of stagnation, major investment in and expansion of the urban rail network in Manila is now on the horizon, with three new lines and one metro extension due to open by the end of the decade. Benjámin Zelki reports from the Filipino capital.
Luxembourg: Luxtram eyes an expanding network
As Luxembourg City’s first modern light rail line nears completion, work is getting underway on two branches to form a second route. Two more routes are being planned, along with an interurban link to the country’s second city.
Netherlands: TINA on course to reshape HTM tram fleet
Dutch operator HTM has unveiled a mock-up of its next-generation trams from Stadler’s expanding modular TINA range. Dr Harry Hondius reports from Den Haag.
China: Metro networks grow in 14 cities
More than 300 km of new metro lines and extensions were commissioned in China during December 2023, with the completion of 19 projects in 14 cities. This meant that by the beginning of 2024, Chinese cities accounted for nine of the world’s 10 largest networks. Toma Bačić rounds up the latest additions.
London and New York outside top 10 longest metros as Chinese cities dominate
Data from Railway Gazette shows Moskva is now the only non-Chinese metro among the 10 longest networks in the world. Beijing and Shanghai are leading the way, but it is unclear yet which city will be first to achieve a 1 000 km metro.
