All Metro Report International features articles
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In depthNew Taipei: Urban rail supports low-density growth
New Taipei Metro Corp manages three urban rail lines with four more under construction in the municipality surrounding Taipei. NTMC President Kuo-Chi Wu explains to Benjámin Zelki how the urban rail network has developed, and how it plans to grow in the medium term.
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In depthUSA: ‘What we are doing in Virginia is pretty unique’
The Commonwealth of Virginia has purchased 640 km of trackage and disused alignments as it seeks to significantly expand passenger rail services. With funding in place for projects to 2030, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Executive Director DJ Stadtler explains the strategy and progress so far to Benjámin Zelki.
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Metro Report InternationalLight rail: France's modern role models
No fewer than 28 cities in France have built modern light rail networks in the 40 years since Nantes turned the tide on post-war car-centricity. With 115 km of new line now under construction and 276 vehicles on order, the outlook remains bright, even if political headwinds are starting to be felt. Michael Dreyer reports.
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Metro Report InternationalMobility-as-a-Service: navigating the post-hype reality
Advances in technology, particularly data analytics, are transforming Mobility as a Service from a failed experiment into a more pragmatic and sustainable real-time travel companion.
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In depthFrance: SERM promises a suburban rail revolution
Recent legislation has paved the way for the development of high-performing multimodal transport networks in 24 French conurbations, centred around rail as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Reinhard Christeller explains.
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Metro Report InternationalMultimodality: Carrying parcels on tram tracks
Using autonomous pods to transport parcel shipments and other goods on existing tram infrastructure could help to mitigate the traffic jams caused by growing volumes of delivery vehicles, suggests Fragile CEO Lukas Kauer.
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Metro Report InternationalLatin America: Unlocking multimobility
Reliance on proprietary technology and fragmented ticketing systems can constrain the value of public transport. The adoption of open standards in Mexico City offers an example of how integrated multimodal networks can enhance access and contribute to wider economic prosperity.
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Metro Report InternationalIsrael: NofIt project learns from Karlsruhe
Work is under way on the NofIt interurban light rail line linking Haifa and Nazareth, which will run through complex terrain with gradients of up to 8%. Dan Shenbach, CEO of project promoter TransIsrael, discusses the state of progress with Benjámin Zelki.
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Metro Report InternationalChina: Metro sector prioritises extensions
Almost 600 km of new metro and suburban railway was put into service across 22 Chinese cities from November 2024 to early 2025, with the focus on expanding existing networks.
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Metro Report InternationalKazakhstan: Extending the reach of the Almaty metro
The single metro line in the former capital of Kazakhstan is being extended in several phases while two light rail routes are planned in the medium term. Vladimir Waldin reports.
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Metro Report InternationalPoland: Tram development continues apace
Polish cities have invested significantly in tram network reconstruction and expansion over the past two decades, and the trend is expected to continue. Rolling stock renewals enabled domestic suppliers to strengthen their businesses, and order prospects remain strong, as Michael Dreyer explains.
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Metro Report InternationalMetro signalling: TACS supports flexible operation
An integrated train control and operating system has been successfully deployed on Qingdao metro Line 6 as a national demonstrator for China’s next generation of metro signalling.
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Metro Report InternationalNew York: Subway operator seeks supplier support
Tim Mulligan is heading up a newly created rolling stock programme office at New York MTA, tasked with widening and deepening the relationship between the authority and its supply chain. He explained the plans to Nick Kingsley.
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Metro Report InternationalMexico: Guided buses challenge urban rail projects
While Mexico is enjoying a renaissance in rail investment at a national level, urban rail projects in several cities are coming under threat from cheaper bus options and Chinese-backed ART technology. Michael Dreyer reports.
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Metro Report InternationalColombia: Bogotá finally chooses rail
In the 2000s the capital of Colombia was famous for its TransMilenio bus rapid transit network, but as that became overcrowded, authorities made a decision to develop metro and tram-train routes, reports Marcelo Benoit.
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Metro Report InternationalBrazil: Urban rail projects battle local politics
Examples in Cuiabá and Canoas show how vulnerable Brazilian urban rail projects are to changes in local politics, as well as the temptation of alternative modes which are seen as less complex, even if the benefits are lower. Marcelo Benoit examines the two cases.
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Metro Report InternationalBrazil: Salvador turns to the tram
Having dismantled a suburban railway and aborted a monorail scheme, the Brazilian city of Salvador is now developing a tram network using second-hand trams and track assets from Cuiabá. Ana Cláudia Nascimento, CEO of state transport operator CTB, explains the plans to Benjámin Zelki.
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Metro Report InternationalNorth America: Bringing more rail to Mexico’s metropolis
Two major suburban rail projects are well into the phase of delivery in the state of Mexico, which borders Mexico City. But plans to extend metro and light rail beyond the capital’s boundaries are yet to be finalised as policymakers continue to flirt with non-rail modes, which are often perceived as cheaper to deliver.
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Metro Report InternationalPakistan: Lahore’s pioneering metro approaches maturity
This month, Lahore’s Orange metro line completes four years of operation serving Pakistan’s second largest city. Its growing ridership and positive socio-economic impact have spurred the local authorities to plan three more urban rail lines, although funding remains an issue.
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Metro Report InternationalVietnam: Hanoi ahead in sluggish metro expansion
With Hanoi’s second metro line having opened this summer and a starter route in Ho Chi Minh City due to be inaugurated soon, Vietnam is likely to have 41 km of metro operational by the year end. Yet this is far below the government’s goal, with bureaucratic delays partly to blame. Peter Janssen reports.