Istanbul Line M5 CBTC contract awarded
TURKEY: Alstom is to supply, test and commission communications-based train control systems for the 11 km Çekmeköy-Sancaktepe – Sultanbeyli eastern extension of the driverless metro Line M5 on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Delhi Metro’s Pink Line goes automatic
INDIA: Automated operation of Delhi Metro’s 59 km Pink Line between Majlis Park and Shiv Vihar was launched on November 25. A train operator will initially be retained onboard ‘to instil a sense of confidence and assistance’, Delhi Metro Rail Corp said.
Titagarh Firema metro cars arrive in Catania
ITALY: The first two-car metro trainset to be manufactured by Titagarh Firema for the Catania metro has been delivered to the Sicilian city, ready for the start of test running in the coming weeks.
Dhaka metro Line 1 ODA loan signed
BANGLADESH: The government and Japan International Co-operation Agency have signed a ¥115·237bn official development assistance loan to finance work on Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Line 1.
Beograd metro preliminary works begin as rail plan approved
SERBIA: The Beograd city assembly has approved a general plan for development of the proposed metro as well as expansion of the suburban rail and tram networks, and preliminary site clearance works for the future metro depot have begun.
Downtown Line to switch to risk-sharing contract
SINGAPORE: Land Transport Authority and operator SBS Transit have reached agreement for the Downtown Line to transition to the second version of LTA’s New Rail Financing Framework from January 1 2022.
Subway cars to be converted into emergency pump trains
USA: Redundant New York Subway cars are to be converted into mobile pump trains which can be used to remove water from tunnels following hurricanes and unusually heavy rainfall.
Kaohsiung Red Line extension E&M contract awarded
TAIWAN: Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit Bureau has awarded a consortium of South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem and Singapore’s ST Engineering a 207·8bn won seven-year contract to provide metro trains and electrical systems for a 9·3 km northern extension of the Red Line with six elevated stations.
Dhaka metro staff trained in Delhi
BANGLADESH: Operations and maintenance staff for the future Dhaka Metro are being trained at the Delhi Metro Rail Academy in the Indian capital, which is providing interactive classroom sessions, demonstrations, simulators, practical and on-job training.
Pyramid metro trains ordered
EGYPT: The National Authority for Tunnels has awarded Mitsubishi Corp and Kinki Sharyo a ¥40bn contract to supply 184 metro cars incorporating ‘advanced railway technologies developed in Japan’ for use on Phase 1 of Cairo Line 4.
Testing begins on Istanbul airport metro line
TURKEY: Testing running has begun on the first phase of Istanbul’s express metro line M11. This is being built to serve the city’s new main airport, which opened in 2019.
London Underground consults on accessibility priorities
UK: Transport for London has begun a public consultation to help it prioritise works to make London Underground stations more accessible. It is seeking feedback on whether to focus on upgrading a single, complex central London station, or divide the available resources between small and medium-sized stations outside the centre.
Cairo Metro fleet modernisation agreements
EGYPT: The National Authority for Tunnels has reached an agreement for Alstom to supply and maintain 55 Metropolis trainsets for Cairo Metro Line 1, and has awarded CAF and Mitsubishi a contract to refurbish 23 existing trains.
First metro line opened in Hanoi
VIETNAM: Hanoi’s first metro line was opened by Deputy Prime Minister for Industry & Economy Lê Văn Thành and Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thể with a ceremony at Cát Linh on November 6.
Western Sydney Airport metro line shortlist announced
AUSTRALIA: Three consortia have been shortlisted for the Stations, Systems, Trains, Operations & Maintenance contract package for the Western Sydney Airport automated metro project.
Metro turnback time cut during testing
CHINA: The average time taken to turn back trains on Shanghai’s automated metro Line 5 has been cut by 26 sec to 86 sec during testing, paving the way for the operation of more frequent services.
Grand Paris Express Line 18 track contract awarded
FRANCE: Société du Grand Paris has awarded Alstom a €133m contract to supply and commission 46 km of track, third rail power supplies and associated equipment for the CEA/Saint-Aubin – Orly airport eastern section of the future driverless metro Line 18.
Taipei metro verification & validation contract awarded
TAIWAN: The city of Taipei has appointed Ricardo to provide independent verification & validation services for Phase 2 of the Line 7/Light Green driverless medium-capacity metro project.
Sofia metro cars refurbished
BULGARIA: TMH’s Metrowagonmash subsidiary has returned 12 Type 81-717.4/714.4 metro cars to Sofia Metro following their refurbishment.
Tyne & Wear Metro deploys monitoring drone
UK: Transport authority Nexus has begun using a Matrice 300 RTK drone to monitor the 77 km Tyne & Wear Metro network.