Light rail safety strategy published
UK: Research into light rail safety, expanding the range of guidance documents and the continued development of a new risk model and a robust accident reporting system are amongst the projects detailed in the Light Rail Safety & Standards Board’s business plan.
Training academy to support tram network expansion
UK: West Midlands Metro has opened a training academy at its Wednesbury depot, as the tram operator plans to create more than 160 driving, maintenance, ticket inspection and support jobs as part of a £1∙3bn network expansion programme.
English light rail networks get final tranche of Covid-19 funding
UK: The government has announced £56m of funding to support the operation of Manchester Metrolink, Tyne & Wear Metro, Sheffield Supertram, Nottingham Express Transit, West Midlands Metro and Blackpool Tramway services from July 20 to April 2022.
LIOS light rail extensions proposed in Lisboa
PORTUGAL: The municipalities of Lisboa, Oeiras and Loures have finalised a co-operation agreement to proceed with development of 24 km of new light rail lines around the capital.
Preferred bidder for Košice tram contract
SLOVAKIA: Košice operator DPMK has selected Pesa Bydgoszcz as preferred bidder for a coontract to supply up to 30 trams.
Clean air funding for Magnitogorsk tram order
RUSSIA: UKVZ is to supply 10 single-section Type 71-623-02.01 partly low-floor trams to the city of Magnitogorsk.
Gold Coast Stage 3 trams ordered
AUSTRALIA: Gold Coast light rail concessionaire GoldLinQ has ordered a further five Flexity 2 low-floor light rail vehicles from Alstom to operate the Stage 3 extension now in development.
Parcel tram software under development
GERMANY: Public transport IT specialist INIT has been selected to develop the booking, transport management, payment and shipment tracking system for the RegioKArgo freight tram demonstrator project in Karlsruhe.
Made-to-measure accommodation bogies for tram refurbishment
UK: West Midlands Metro commissioned depot equipment specialist Mechan to produce three bespoke accommodation bogies to enable its trams to be stored outdoors while their bogies are refurbished.
HEAG Mobilo orders more trams
GERMANY: Darmstadt transport operator HEAG Mobilo has ordered a further 11 Stadler ST15 low-floor trams to support a planned increase in services and enable the withdrawal of 30-year old ST12 high-floor cars.
Testing underway on San Diego’s Mid-Coast Extension
USA: Testing of the Mid-Coast Extension light rail line has begun, after the San Diego Association of Governments officially handed the route over to operator MTS ahead of the opening which is scheduled for November 21.
Magdeburg orders customised low-floor trams
GERMANY: Magdeburg transport authority MVB has awarded Alstom a contract to supply Flexity trams featuring a ‘unique and timeless’ design specifically developed for the city.
Supercapacitor tramway opens in Jiaxing
CHINA: The first route of a planned 98 km seven line tram network in Jiaxing was opened on June 25, operated using a fleet of trams fitted with supercapacitors for catenary-free operation.
Sydney tram order
AUSTRALIA: Transport for New South Wales has awarded CAF a contract to supply a further four Urbos 100 five-section trams for Sydney’s Inner West Light Rail Line.