Lotus Temple inspired styling for Delhi – Meerut RRTS commuter trains
INDIA: The design of the trainsets ordered for the 82 km Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System commuter line was unveiled on September 25.
Jaipur metro Pink Line completed
INDIA: A two-station extension of the Jaipur metro Pink Line was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot via video link on September 23, the day that the metro reopened after a five-month suspension of services because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Short Line Safety Institute offers assessment model to commuter operators
USA: The Short Line Safety Institute says its FRA-recognised multi-method Safety Culture Assessment process for freight railways could be easily transferable to commuter train operators.
Automated bus specification completed
USA: A performance specification has been developed by the Automated Bus Consortium, which was formed to bring together transport agencies to facilitate collaborative decision-making, undertake collective pilot projects in various live service environments and combine their purchasing power.
Vancouver Broadway Subway CBTC contract awarded
CANADA: The Acciona-Ghella consortium which is to design and build Vancouver’s Broadway Subway has awarded Thales a contract to supply SelTrac CBTC signalling.
Göteborg’s first M33 tram handed over
SWEDEN: The first of 40 Flexity trams ordered by Göteborg transport operator Göteborgs Spårvägar has been formally handed over by manufacturer Bombardier Transportation, following the completion of 8 000 km of test running.
BART celebrates world mask-wearing culture during the pandemic
USA: San Francisco Bay Area metro operator BART is highlighting mask styles from around the world as part of a campaign to change the way passengers think about face coverings during the coronavirus pandemic.
Contactless payment introduced on Málaga suburban network
SPAIN: Indra has deployed contactless EMV bank card payment on RENFE’s Málaga suburban services.
Kunming opens metro Line 4
CHINA: The 43·4 km Kunming metro Line 4 opened on September 23, along with a 7·3 km extension of the existing Line 6.
Urban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector
Denver opens North Metro Rail
USA: Denver’s Regional Transportation District formally inaugurated the first phase of its North Metro Rail commuter service to Thornton on September 21, with a ceremony attended by RTD General Manager & CEO Paul Ballard, Chair Angie Rivera-Malpiede and local authority representatives.
Tunnelling complete on Milano Line 4
ITALY: Tunnelling on Milano metro Line 4 was completed on September 9, when the project’s two remaining tunnel boring machines reached Parco Solari station, having undertaken a drive from Tricolore station which began in March 2019.
Keolis Downer to run Adelaide suburban network
AUSTRALIA: Keolis Downer has been awarded an A$2·1bn contract to operate the 122 km Adelaide Metro suburban rail network for eight years from the end of January 2021, with an optional four-year extension.
UrbanThings launches social distancing technology
UK: Ipswich Buses has deployed social distancing technology which has been developed by UrbanThings using a grant awarded by innovation agency Innovate UK.
Monterrey commuter rail study
MEXICO: The state of Nuevo León’s strategic projects agency FIDEPROES has awarded SENER Engineering a contract to undertake technical studies for a proposed commuter rail service linking Mariano Escobedo Airport and García in the Monterrey area.
First Line 11 airport metro cars arrive in Istanbul
TURKEY: Test running on the future Istanbul metro Line 11 linking the new airport with Gayrettepe is to start this month, after the first trainset was delivered on September 6.
Delhi Metro traction equipment ordered
INDIA: BEML has awarded Mitsubishi Electric Corp a contract to supply traction inverters, traction motors and train control management systems for 80 metro cars which Delhi Metro Rail Corp ordered last year.
Southwest LRT federal funding confirmed
USA: After several years of negotiation, the Federal Transit Administration has formally approved a $928·8m Full Funding Grant Agreement to support construction of the Green Line extension of the light rail network in Minneapolis, which will run southwest of the city to Eden Prairie.
Makati Subway construction contract awarded
PHILIPPINES: The Makati City Subway subsidiary of Philippine Infradev Holdings has awarded China Construction Second Engineering Bureau Co the engineering, procurement and construction contract for a planned metro line in Makati, southeast of central Manila.
Bucuresti opens fifth metro line
ROMANIA: The first section of București metro Line M5 was formally inaugurated on September 15, with a ceremony at Eroilor station attended by President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, and Minister of Transport Lucian Bode.