First Cityval light metro line opens in Rennes
FRANCE: Rennes Line B was opened on September 20, the first to use Siemens Mobility’s Cityval version of its Neoval rubber tyre automated light metro platform.
First of 950 cars delivered to St Petersburg metro
RUSSIA: TMH delivered the first of 950 Baltiets cars to the St Petersburg metro operator on September 13, just 19 days after Petersburg Metropoliten and TMH subsidary Transholdleasing signed a 242·6bn rouble, 25-year contract for new trainsets to replace almost half the fleet.
Active steering tested on Swiss tram
SWITZERLAND: Zürich start-up Traila has demonstrated a prototype sensor-based active steering system which is designed to significantly reduce the friction between tram wheels and rails, reducing noise, wear and dust.
Warsolino tram beats energy efficiency targets
INNOTRANS: Hyundai Rotem is showing one the 123 Warsolino low-floor trams ordered for Warsazwa in what operator Tramwaje Warszawskie said was the largest tram contract ever signed in Poland.
Timișoara tram battery offers 70 km of off-wire operation
INNOTRANS: Turkish manufacturer Bozankaya is showing one of its custom designed trams for Timișoara, the first trams to be built new for the Romanian city in 50 years.
Series X train marks the spot for innovative passenger information
INNOTRANS: A detailed and location specific passenger information system is one of the highlights of the Series X metro trains which Siemens Mobility is supplying to the Austrian capital’s transport operator Wiener Linien.
Praha tram depot rebuilding gets underway
CZECH REPUBLIC: Main construction works have begun for a KC1·9bn project to rebuild the tram stabling and repair depot at Hloubětín in Praha.
Marseille orders maritime themed trams
FRANCE: Marseille transport operator RTM has awarded CAF a €57m contract to supply 15 trams, with options for more to support future expansion of the network.
Driverless trains introduced on Paris metro Line 4
FRANCE: Grade of Automation 4 unattended driverless operation on Paris metro Line 4 was launched on September 12.
Predictive supply chain partnership
FRANCE: Internet of Things company Stimio and tram and bus component supplier CBM have partnered to offer a predictive maintenance tool directly connected to spare parts supply services.
Luxtram extends southeast
LUXEMBOURG: Luxtram light rail route T1 has been extended southeast to Lycée Bouneweg, following a formal inauguration by Minister of Mobility François Bausch and the city’s mayor Lydie Polfer on September 11
West Midlands Metro extension track installed in Digbeth
UK: The Midland Metro Alliance has installed the first section of track in Digbeth as part of the Eastside light rail extension.
Yekaterinburg interurban tramway opens
RUSSIA: The double-track interurban tram Route 333 running 8·6 km from Yekaterinburg to the neighbouring city of Verkhnaya Pyshma has been opened by Governor of the Sverdlovsk region Evgeny Kuyvashev and Mayor of Yekaterinburg Alexei Orlov.
Consultancies commissioned to assess options for Watford to Croxley Link
UK: Three transport consultancies have been awarded contracts to independently develop innovative and ‘creative, but deliverable, viable and feasible’ concepts for transport on the Watford to Croxley Link.
Kraków tram extension connects southern routes
POLAND: A 1·7 km extension of the Kraków tram network from Łagiewniki SKA to Kurdwanów has opened to connect two existing lines in the south of the city.
Catherine Guillouard to leave RATP
FRANCE: Catherine Guillouard is to step down as Chief Executive of RATP on September 30 for personal reasons, the Paris municipal transport operator announced on September 1.
Grand Paris Line 18 power supply contract
FRANCE: A 50:50 consortium of Colas Rail and Eiffage Énergie Systèmes has been awarded a €26m contract to provide traction power supply equipment for the 35 km Grand Paris Express automated metro Line 18 between Orly Airport and Versailles-Chantiers station.
Tyne & Wear Metro trains rolled out
UK: The first two of the 46 trainsets ordered for the Tyne & Wear Metro have been rolled out by Stadler in Switzerland.
Transport for London funding agreed to 2024
UK: The government and Transport for London have reached agreement on a funding settlement running until March 31 2024. This includes just under £1·2bn of base funding and a revenue support mechanism, although there is still a funding gap and TfL is required to consider pension reform, cost savings and ...
St Petersburg to replace almost half its metro fleet
RUSSIA: St Petersburg metro operator Petersburg Metropoliten has signed a 25-year agreement for the lease of 950 metro cars from the Transholdleasing subsidiary of rolling stock manufacturer TMH.