Metro Report International
Part of the Railway Gazette Group, Metro Report International brings you the latest news from the rapidly-changing urban mobility sector, focusing on urban and suburban railways, metros, trams, light rail, commuter rail and peoplemovers, and covering operations, infrastructure, projects, policy, technology and suppliers.
Technical and operational features related to the urban rail sector are published in Metro Report International magazine which appears in print and digital versions twice a year.
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- Metro Report International
Orléans open payment system goes live
FRANCE: Orléans Métropole has launched an open payment ticketing system on its tram and bus services, deployed by its long-standing ticketing technology partner Kuba in partnership with La Banque Postale.
- Metro Report International
Seoul Metro to operate GTX-A when it opens on March 30
SOUTH KOREA: Seoul Metro has been selected as operator for Line A of the capital’s Great Train Express commuter rail network, ahead of the opening of the first section on March 30.
- Metro Report International
Urban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
- Metro Report International
Izmit plans first metro line as tram network grows
TURKEY: Plans to build a 26·8 km metro line in Kocaeli were announced by Turkey’s Minister of Transport & Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu on March 20, ahead of local elections scheduled for March 31.
- Metro Report International
Funding agreed for Milano metro extension and interurban tram refurbishment
ITALY: The national government has allocated €145m to help fund a 3·3 km western extension of Milano metro Line M1 from Bisceglie to Valsesia, Olmi and Baggio at an estimated cost of €543m.
- Metro Report International
Chicago Transit Authority launches first Innovation Studio challenges
USA: Chicago Transit Authority has launched its Innovation Studio project to partner with the private sector to explore new ideas.
- Metro Report International
Modi inaugurates three sections of metro in Kolkata
INDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated one new metro line and two extensions in Kolkata on March 6, totalling 11·5 km.
- Metro Report International
Light rail safety guidance updated
UK: Following a comprehensive review the Light Rail Safety & Standards Board has updated the Tramway Principles & Guidance document.
- Metro Report International
New fleet and expansion proposed as Sheffield’s Supertram comes under public control
UK: Fleet renewal and network expansion are included in the ambitions South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority set out when it took over management of Sheffield Supertram following the end of Stagecoach’s operating contract.
- Metro Report International
Moskva Mayor plans driverless trams
RUSSIA: Moskva Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has announced ambitions to deploy smart technologies by 2030 to make the public transport network more reliable and the preferred option for mobility within the city.
- Metro Report International
Parcels by tram project ends
GERMANY: The transport of parcels on trams in Schwerin is not viable, operator NVS and DHL Group have concluded following a pilot project.
- Metro Report International
Dogs and bikes added to ticketing app
TICKETING: Fairtiq has added the ability to buy tickets for dogs and bicycles to its swipe-in, swipe out rail and bus ticketing app covering Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
- Metro Report International
Urban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
- Metro Report International
Fare collection software for off-the-shelf device
TICKETING: Cubic Transportation Systems has launched the Umo Handheld Reader, which pairs the company’s software with a commercial off-the-shelf Samsung rugged XCover6 Pro mobile device to provide an affordable fare collection platform.
- Metro Report International
Facial recognition could remove the need for tickets
TICKETING: Belgian public transport ticket validator supplier Prodata Mobility has developed a proof of concept facial recognition system which could remove the need for passengers to carry a ticket or smart card.
- Metro Report International
St Louis orders light rail vehicles with onboard energy storage
USA: Bi-State Development Agency has formally awarded Siemens Mobility a contract supply 55 high-floor light rail vehicles with battery onboard energy storage for the MetroLink network serving the greater St Louis region.
- Metro Report International
Porto Pink Line signalling contract awarded
PORTUGAL: Metro do Porto has awarded Alstom a contract to supply signalling, safety and control systems for the Pink Line project.
- Metro Report International
Maryland’s Purple Line project pushed back
USA: The opening date for the 26 km Purple Line light rail route between New Carrollton and Bethesda in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC has been pushed back again.
- Metro Report International
Rail skills and innovation collaboration
UAE: A strategic partnership to develop rail sector skills and innovation in the UAE and the wider region has been agreed by Dubai metro and tram operator Keolis MHI and the UK’s University of Birmingham, which has a campus in Dubai.
- Metro Report International
Le Mans trams to be lengthened to boost capacity
FRANCE: Le Mans Métropole has awarded Alstom a €57m contract to extend the city’s 34 Citadis trams from 32 m to 44 m. This will increase capacity by 85 passengers to 296.