QR code ticketing to go live in Hong Kong
CHINA: MTR Corp and electronic wallet company AlipayHK are to launch QR code payment on Hong Kong’s rail network on January 23.
Two Zhengzhou metro lines open
CHINA: The simultaneous opening of two new lines in Zhengzhou at 11.18 on December 26 has lifted the capital of Henan province from 22nd to 12th in the country’s metro rankings, with five lines in operation totalling 206·3 route-km
Driverless line opening marks launch of Taiyuan metro network
CHINA: Taiyuan, the provincial capital of Shanxi with 4·3 million inhabitants, became the latest addition to the Chinese metro club when it opened its first line on December 26.
Toshkent metro expansion aims to cut road traffic, pollution and delays
UZBEKISTAN: A 7∙1 km extension of the Toshkent metro’s Chilonzor Line south from Olmazor to Quipchoq (Bekat-5) in the Sergeli district was inaugurated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on December 26.
Series 6000 trains enter service on Barcelona Line 1
SPAIN: The first two of four CAF-built second-generation Series 6000 trains ordered by Barcelona metro operator TMB in 2018 have entered service on the 1 672 mm gauge Line 1.
Customer service focus in next Subte operating concession
ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires metro authority Subterráneos de Buenos Aires SE has agreed a new operating concession with the incumbent Metrovías, which is due to enter into force during the first quarter of 2021.
Additional support for Edinburgh Trams and Glasgow Subway
UK: The Scottish Government has announced a further £8m of emergency funding for the Glasgow Subway and Edinburgh Trams in response to the on-going financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Detailed design of Hong Kong’s Northern Link gets the go ahead
CHINA: Hong Kong’s government has authorised MTR Corp to go ahead with the procurement of detailed planning and design consultancy services for the Northern Link project.
Tyne & Wear Metro opens temporary depot
UK: Tyne & Wear Metro has opened a temporary depot at Howdon which will be used to commission the replacement fleet of trainsets which is to be supplied by Stadler from 2022.
Qingdao opens two metro lines
CHINA: The northern section of Qingdao metro Line 1 and the first phase of Line 8 opened for revenue service on December 24, adding almost 70 km to the city’s expanding urban rail network.
Test running begins on London’s Northern Line Extension
UK: The first empty passenger trains have run over the branch of London Underground’s Northern Line which is under construction to serve the Battersea Power Station regeneration area.
Wien metro tunnelling to begin in February
AUSTRIA: A 50:50 consortium of Porr and Strabag has been selected to build 7 km of tunnels and four stations for the southern extension of Wien metro line U2.
Ningbo opens metro Line 4
CHINA: A fourth metro line serving the coastal city of Ningbo was opened for revenue service on December 23, following an inauguration ceremony attended by mayor Qiu Dongyao.
Moscow Metro expands payment options
RUSSIA: Moscow Metro has worked with VTB bank, Google and Mastercard to enable passengers to use Google Pay on Android devices. Other payment systems are to be added.
CBTC gains Chinese certification
CHINA: The TSTCBTC 2.0 signalling system developed by the Thales SEC Transport joint venture has received China Urban Rail Certification from the National Development & Reform Commission and the National Certification & Accreditation Administration.
Chengdu metro tops 500 km as first driverless line inaugurated
CHINA: Chengdu now has the country’s fourth largest urban rail network, following the inauguration of five routes totalling more than 160 km.
Toulouse Aerospace Express metro contract award
FRANCE: Toulouse Metropole has awarded Alstom a contract to design, build and maintain the Toulouse Aerospace Express driverless metro line.
Tyne & Wear Metro introduces smartphone ticketing
UK: Tyne & Wear Metro passengers can now use an Android smartphone to pay for travel and open ticket gates, in a partnership between transport authority Nexus, Google Pay, mobile ticketing provider Yotra Ltd, ticketing and gating supplier Scheidt & Bachmann and Newcastle-based software company Nebula Labs which developed the ...
Wiener Linien orders Robel tunnel cleaning vehicle
AUSTRIA: Robel has won a tender to supply a metro tunnel and trackbed cleaning unit to the capital’s transport operator Wiener Linien. Delivery is scheduled for mid-2022.
Docklands Light Railway extension study underway
UK: Transport for London has begun further technical studies for a proposed extension of the Docklands Light Railway automated light metro from Gallions Reach to Beckton Riverside and across the River Thames to Thamesmead.