Chelyabinsk orders more trams
RUSSIA: Sole bidder UKVZ has won a contract to supply 11 fully low-floor single-section trams to Chelyabinsk at a maximum price of 814m roubles.
Energy bank to boost tramway power supply
NETHERLANDS: The use of an ‘energy bank’ to reinforce a tramway power supply without needing to build a substation is to be piloted in Rotterdam from December.
Škoda showcases onboard safety and automation technology
CZECH REPUBLIC: Škoda Group showcased its onboard technology for rolling stock at the Trako trade fair in Gdańsk on September 20.
Infrastructure training to be offered at Very Light Rail centre
UK: City of Wolverhampton College and its training partner National Infrastructure Solutions have taken over space at the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation’s Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre in Dudley.
Light rail certified ticket validators deployed
USA: Pittsburgh Regional Transit is the first transport agency to deploy a version of Masabi’s Just Ride Validator which has been specifically designed and certified for light rail applications.
New-build tram for Sarajevo unveiled
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: The first of 15 Tango NF3 trams that Stadler is to supply to Sarajevo was unveiled at the 15th Trako International Railway Fair in the Polish city of Gdańsk on September 20.
Edinburgh tram inquiry report sets out reasons for delays and cost increases
UK: The long-awaited report of the inquiry into why the Edinburgh tram project incurred delays, cost more than budgeted and was reduced in scope was finally published on September 19.
Hilltop Tacoma Link light rail route opens
USA: Sound Transit opened the Hilltop Tacoma Link light rail extension on September 16, more than doubling the length of Tacoma’s T Line.
Berlin tram route M10 extended west to Moabit
GERMANY: A 2·2 km extension of Berlin tram route M10 from Hauptbahnhof to Turmstraße U-Bahn station on Line U9 opened for revenue service on September 9, restoring tram services to the Moabit district after an absence of around 60 years.
West Midlands Metro extended to Wolverhampton railway station
UK: A 600 m branch of the West Midlands Metro light rail network to Wolverhampton railway station was opened on September 17, including an intermediate stop at Pipers Row to serve the city’s bus station.
Double-deck trams offer passengers more payment options
CHINA: Thales and Golong International Technology Co have supplied an integrated electronic system to increase the number of fare payment options on Hong Kong’s traditional tramway.
Croydon tram operator to use Omnibus software
UK: FirstGroup company Tram Operations Ltd is to use cloud-based software from Omnibus for activities including timetabling, crew scheduling and depot planning on the London Trams network it operates in south London.
Xochimilco light rail vehicle unveiled
MEXICO: China’s CRRC Zhuzhou has unveiled the first of nine light rail vehicles it is supplying for the Xochimilco line in the southern outskirts of Mexico City under a €33m contract.
Hydrogen trams planned in Ulsan
SOUTH KOREA: A study has found that the development of a hydrogen-powered tramway in Ulsan would be feasible, Minister of Land, Infrastructure & Transport Won Hee-ryong announced on August 23.