Cuenca tramway opens
ECUADOR: The Cuenca tramway opened for limited passenger services on May 25, with regular services scheduled to start in June. Travel will be free of charge for the first two months.
UK government aims to ‘permanently change’ transport use as tram and bus funding announced
UK: ‘We must plan our route to recovery’, said Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps at the government’s daily coronavirus briefing on May 23, when he announced £283m of funding ‘to ensure that more buses, trams and light rail networks return to service’ as the country moves to the ...
Urban transport industry news round-up
Bombardier Transportation has delivered the 200th Flexity Berlin tram to operator BVG, which has so far ordered a total of 231 in four variants. ‘The Flexity Berlin tram was developed in close co-operation with BVG. The result is a reliable, air-conditioned and barrier-free accessible tram that meets the needs of ...
Tampere’s first tram delivered for testing
FINLAND: The first of 19 ForCity Smart Artic trams to operate the future Tampere tram network was delivered to the city by Škoda Transtech on May 25.
UKVZ trams delivered to Novokuznetsk
RUSSIA: The first three of seven 71-623-04 trams ordered by the city of Novokuznetsk were delivered by UKVZ on May 17.
Manchester seeks tram safety systems
UK: Transport for Greater Manchester has begun a market sounding to gain a better understanding of the availability of technology which could automatically intervene if a tram approaches a higher risk location at a speed which could result in derailment, and also monitor the attentiveness of tram drivers and take ...
Frankfurt metro and tramway works train ordered
GERMANY: Frankfurt municipal transport company VGF has awarded Windhoff Bahn- und Anlagentechnik a contract to supply a three-vehicle works train for use across the city’s U-Bahn and tram networks.
Wiener Lokalbahnen reveals LRV interior design
AUSTRIA: Wiener Lokalbahnen has unveiled the interior design for the 18 TW500 bidirectional low-floor light rail vehicles it has ordered from Bombardier Transportation for use on the 27 km Badner Bahn interurban line under a 2018 contract with options for up to 16 more.
Social distancing measures in place as Transport for London increases services
UK: ‘Coronavirus poses monumental challenges to our city’s complex public transport network’, said Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on May 18, when Transport for London began increasing its services to accommodate growing ridership as coronavirus lock-down measures are eased.
Torino looks to the future with Hitachi Rail tram order
ITALY: ‘This is great news that bring us into the future’, said GTT Chief Executive Giovanni Foti, announcing that the Torino city transport operator had finalised a framework agreement for Hitachi Rail to supply up to 70 trams, with a firm order for an initial 30 vehicles.
Uraltransmash tests domestically-developed tram
RUSSIA: Uraltransmash has begin trials with its Type 71-418 tram design in Yekaterinburg.
Tramino II enters service in Braunschweig
GERMANY: Braunschweig city transport operator BSVG has put the first of seven Tramino II trams into regular service.
Helsinki regional transport authority to award Raide-Jokeri light rail operating contract
FINLAND: The board of Helsinki Regional Transport Authority HSL has approved plans for the future operation of the Raide-Jokeri 25 km inter-urban light rail line which is currenty under construction.
Very light rail track under development
UK: The Coventry Very Light Rail scheme to develop a low-cost transport system for medium-sized cities has been awarded £1∙5m of West Midlands Combined Authority funding to support the design and development of track for use by lightweight battery powered vehicles.