Berlin S-Bahn extended to BER airport
GERMANY: Berlin S-Bahn services were extended to the new Berlin Brandenburg International airport on October 26, in preparation for the start of full operations at the end of the month.
Hangzhou – Shaoxing line trains unveiled
CHINA: The first of 18 trainsets for the Hangzhou – Shaoxing inter-urban link has been unveiled by the CRRC Puzhen.
Siemens Mobility and Newag sign traction equipment agreement
POLAND: Siemens Mobility and Newag have signed a five-year framework agreement for the supply of up to 200 traction drives for Impuls 2 electric multiple-units ordered by commuter operator SKM Warszawa.
Morley – Ellenbrook line construction contract awarded
AUSTRALIA: The MELconnx Consortium has been awarded the contract to design and build the 21 km Morley – Ellenbrook line to serve the northeast suburbs of Perth.
Boston commuter operator hit by ransomware attack
USA: Boston commuter rail operator Keolis Commuter Services was subjected to a ransomware attack on its computer systems on the morning of October 10.
Malolos – Clark Railway civil works contracts awarded
PHILIPPINES: Construction of the Malolos – Clark Railway Project is expected to ramp up rapidly, following the signing of a further three civil works contracts worth more than US$1·7bn.
Auckland awards P2P electrification contract
NEW ZEALAND: KiwiRail has awarded the eTRACS joint venture of John Holland and McConnell Dowell an early contractor involvement contract to develop the southern extension of Auckland’s suburban electrification from Papakura to Pukekohe.
Crossrail governance transferred to Transport for London
UK: Responsibility for governance of the Crossrail programme formally transferred from the independent Crossrail board to Transport for London with effect from October 1, as the project to build an east–west commuter line across London transitions from the current construction phase to operations and maintenance.
Chengdu opens express metro
CHINA: The first section of Chengdu’s express metro Line 18 opened for revenue service on September 27, exactly 10 years after the start of operation on the city’s first metro line.
Ningbo Line 3 suburban extension opens
CHINA:·The second phase of the Yinfeng Line elevated suburban route, which forms a southern extension of Ningbo metro Line 3, was opened by the city’s Mayor Qiu Dongyao on September 27.
Bordeaux RER plans take shape
FRANCE: Nouvelle-Aquitaine region has announced the first tentative steps towards the development of a proposed regional express network around Bordeaux.
CRRC Zhuzhou unveils 160 km/h trainsets for Guangzhou
CHINA: The first trainsets ordered by Guangzhou Metro Group for two of the newly reclassified Intercity routes in the Guangzhou Bay Area were unveiled by CRRC Zhuzhou on September 15.
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.
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.
Contactless payment introduced on Málaga suburban network
SPAIN: Indra has deployed contactless EMV bank card payment on RENFE’s Málaga suburban services.
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.
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.
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.
Seoul inaugurates Suin line connection
SOUTH KOREA: The Suin and Bundang lines in Seoul have been connected with the opening of an 18·8 km link between Hanyang University at Ansan and Suwon.
Class 730 EMU for Birmingham’s Cross-City Line revealed
UK: One of the Bombardier Transportation Class 730 Aventra electric multiple-units which West Midlands Trains has ordered for its Cross-City Line services through Birmingham has been unveiled at the manufacturer’s Derby factory.