Salvador seeks tram network to replace aborted monorail scheme
BRAZIL: The state government of Bahia has approved the call of tenders for the construction of a three-line light rail network in Salvador totalling 36 km at an estimated cost of R$3·6bn.
Dubai considers elevated pod platoons
UAE: Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding to work with Urban.MASS on an operational pilot of its Floc Duo Rail concept for platoons of driverless electric pods running on an elevated track.
Urbanloop personal rapid transit testing begins
FRANCE: Testing of Urbanloop personal rapid transit pods has begun on 2 km track in a park at St-Quentin-en-Yvelines in the suburbs of Paris.
Bangkok Pink Line monorail opens
THAILAND: Passenger carrying test operations have begun on the 34·5 km Pink Line straddle monorail in Bangkok.
Monterrey World Cup monorail cars unveiled
MEXICO: The first of 13 six-car automated monorail trainsets that CRRC Nanjing Puzhen is building for Monterrey lines 4 and 6 was unveiled on November 21.
Metro and monorail testing underway as Cairo network grows
EGYPT: Test running on Cairo’s East Nile Monorail and on two branches of metro Line 3 started on November 5.
Dallas Fort Worth airport peoplemover modernisation contract
USA: Alstom has been awarded a $72·2m contract to modernise the Skylink automated peoplemover at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Inglewood Transit Connector peoplemover project makes progress
USA: The Federal Transit Administration has given a positive rating to the Inglewood Transit Connector peoplemover project, making it eligible for funding from the Capital Investment Grants programme.
Suspended monorail with glass floor opens in China
CHINA: The Optics Valley Skyrail suspended monorail has opened in Wuhan, with glass-floored vehicles giving passengers a view downwards as well as sideways.
Praha funicular cars ordered
CZECH REPUBLIC: Praha transport operator DPP has awarded Doppelmayr/Garaventa a KC138m contract to supply a pair of replacement cars for the Petřín hill funicular railway.
Santiago de los Caballeros monorail contract awarded
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Public transport development agency SITRAM has selected the SIF consortium of Alstom and Sofratesa to supply railway systems and rolling stock for the elevated monorail under construction in Santiago de los Caballeros.
Shanghai Pujiang Line maintenance contract signed
CHINA: Shanghai metro operator Shanghai Shentong Metro Group has awarded the CRRC Puzhen Alstom Transportation Systems joint venture a contract to maintain the rolling stock and railway systems on the Pujiang Line automated peoplemover.
HS2 Interchange peoplemover procurement begins
UK: HS2 Ltd has begun procurement of an automated peoplemover to link the future High Speed 2 Interchange station in Solihull with the National Exhibition Centre, the existing Birmingham International station and the airport.
Bangkok Yellow Line monorail opens
THAILAND: The opening of the full length of the MRT Yellow Line monorail running 30·4 km from Lat Phrao to Samrong in the east of Bangkok with 23 stations was marked with a visit by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on June 19.
Additional Sengkang-Punggol LRT cars ordered
SINGAPORE: Land Transport Authority has awarded Mitsubishi Heavy Industries a contract to supply a further eight two-car rubber-tyre automated light metro trainsets for the Sengkang and Punggol Light Rapid Transit lines.
Luton Airport DART cable-hauled peoplemover opens
UK: Full services on the Direct Air-Rail Transit automated cable-hauled peoplemover linking Luton Airport Parkway railway station with the airport terminal began running on March 27, following a soft launch with a limited timetable on March 10.
Alstom to operate Newark airport monorail for seven years
USA: Alstom has been awarded a €250m contract to operate and maintain the AirTrain Newark monorail that links Newark Liberty International Airport main line station to the airport terminals and parking facilities.
Studies back Dortmund H-Bahn expansion
GERMANY: There is a favourable economic case for the expansion of Dortmund’s H-Bahn suspension monorail, studies have found.
Sepulveda Transit Corridor programme management contract awarded
USA: Los Angeles Metro Transportation Authority has appointed Anser Advisory to support development of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project.
Phoenix airport peoplemover extended and trains lengthened
USA: Passenger services on a 4 km extension to the PHX Sky Train automated peoplemover system at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona began on December 20.