South Shore Line double tracking project gets underway
USA: Indiana Governor Eric J Holcomb has officially launched work to provide a double-track alignment along the whole 41 route-km section of the South Shore Line between Michigan City and Gary. This involves 29 km of double tracking, including a new 3 km segregated alignment to replace street running on ...
Paragon ID acquires UrbanThings
UK: Ticketing, payment and identification company Paragon ID has acquired UrbanThings, which develops passenger information, vehicle tracking, digital ticketing and analytical systems.
Urban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
Lyon metro Line B goes driverless with GoA4 upgrade
FRANCE: Lyon transport authority Sytral Mobilités, operator Keolis and technology supplier Alstom launched Grade of Automation 4 unattended automatic operation of metro Line B on June 25.
‘Shake and brake’ earthquake safety system on test
USA: An earthquake early warning system that uses Positive Train Control to apply train brakes automatically is being tested by Los Angeles commuter operator Metrolink, California Department of Transportation and the US Geological Survey.
Russian-developed Faster Payments System piloted on Moscow Metro
RUSSIA: The city of Moscow and the Bank of Russia have launched pilot scheme enabling the use of the National Payment Card System’s Faster Payments System at 80 metro stations. They said the capital is the first Russian city where FPS with QR-code public transport payment will work on such ...
Still no long-term funding deal for Transport for London
UK: Transport for London’s current extraordinary funding agreement with the Department for Transport has been extended to July 13.
Paris Line 14 extensions on course to open in June 2024
FRANCE: Paris transport operator RATP is working towards a simultaneous opening of the Line 14 northern and southern metro extensions in June 2024, the group’s project Manager Stéphane Garreau has confirmed to Metro Report International.
Rostock orders TINA trams
GERMANY: Rostocker Straßenbahnen has ordered 28 Stadler TINA trams, which will gradually replace its 6N1 trams dating from 1994-96 on all six routes from 2025.
London Underground seeks renewable energy
UK: London Underground has called tenders for a long-term contract for the supply of electricity from renewable sources, as part of a wider scheme for the Greater London Authority group to move to renewable energy by 2030.
Bozankaya tram enters service in Timișoara
ROMANIA: The first of 21 trams being supplied by Turkish company Bozankaya has entered service on Route 1 in Timișoara, the first tram supplied new to the city in 50 years.
Double-deck trains considered for Moscow Central Ring
RUSSIA: The use of double-deck trains on the 54 km Moscow Central Ring line is being studied, as ridership has reached 550 000 passengers/day and the infrastructure is now at maximum capacity.
Gragnano light rail plan agreed
ITALY: Local municipalities have agreed to develop a 4 km light rail line to connect Gragnano with the terminus of Trenitalia’s Napoli suburban service at Castellammare di Stabia, east of Sorrento.
Cairo Metro Line 4 ticketing and telecoms contract awarded
EGYPT: National Authority for Tunnels has awarded Thales, Orascom Construction and Colas Rail a turnkey contract to design and deploy the telecoms, control and ticketing systems for Cairo Metro Line 4 Phase 1 and provide two years of maintenance.
MTR Corp to invest in start-ups
CHINA: MTR Corp and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Co Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding for a two-year collaboration to invest in digital technology start-ups.
Urban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
China dominates list of the world’s top 10 longest metro networks
INTERNATIONAL: The opening of the latest extension takes Chongqing up to seventh place in Railway Gazette’s Knowledge Hub analysis of the world’s largest metros, displacing London Underground (405 route-km) out of the top 10 for the first time and leaving Moscow (437 route-km) as the sole non-Chinese city represented.
Roma ring service restarts after 32 years
ITALY:·Regular passenger services on the 7 km Valle Aurelia to Vigna Clara section of Roma’s orbital ring railway began running with the summer timetable on June 13, 32 years after a service was provided for eight days during the Italia 90 FIFA World Cup.
Chongqing Line 4 extended northeast
CHINA: The second phase of Chongqing Rail Transit’s Line 4 opened from Tangjiatuo to Huangling on June 18, adding 32·6 route-km and 15 stations.
Montpellier orders 60 trams
FRANCE: Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole has selected CAF to supply 60 trams to its local transport operator TaM, with options for 17 more bringing the total value of the order to €223·7m.