Moscow Metro disinfects tunnels
RUSSIA: Moscow Metro has been using modified infrastructure inspection vehicles to spray all its tunnels with liquid disinfectant.
Edinburgh tram extension site works on hold during pandemic
UK: Edinburgh Council has instructed contractors Morrison Utility Services and Sacyr Farrans Neopul to cease site works for the construction of the tramway extension from York Place to Newhaven.
Sofia Metro cars to be modernised
BULGARIA: Sofia Metro has awarded Transmashholding’s Metrowagonmash subsidiary a firm contract to modernise an additional 40 Series 81-717.4/714.4 metro cars. This is intended to improve the passenger experience, reduce operating costs and maintenance requirements, and ensure a further 15 years of service.
Samara Metro train delivered
RUSSIA: Samara Metro has taken delivery of another four-car trainset from Transmashholding’s Metrowagonmash factory, augmenting the 46-car fleet used on its single 11·6 km line.
Krasnodar orders 56 trams
RUSSIA: UKVZ has won four separately-tendered contracts to supply a total of 56 unidirectional trams to the city of Krasnodar
Amsterdam chooses HASTUS planning software
NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam city transport operator GVB has selected GIRO’s HASTUS software to support all its network and service planning, crew and vehicle scheduling, and operations management, including the integration of electric buses into its fleet.
Manchester Metrolink opens Trafford Park line
UK: The 5·5 km Manchester Metrolink light rail extension to the Trafford Centre shopping complex was opened for revenue service on March 22, around seven months ahead of the original target date.
London Underground, rail and bus services cut by coronavirus
UK: Major cuts to metro, rail and bus services were announced by Transport for London on March 18, with the operator explaining that Mayor of London Sadiq Khan had asked it to focus on enabling ‘critical workers to make essential journeys’ during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Elizabeth Line CCTV maintenance contract awarded
UK: Transport for London has awarded Telent a contract to support and maintain the Elizabeth Line driver-only operation CCTV system, which enables train drivers to view images from platform cameras on in-cab monitors to ensure safe departure.
Transport for London forecasts £500m financial impact from coronavirus
UK: Transport for London has issued an update on how the coronavirus has affected passenger numbers and how it intends to utilise its reserves to manage the forecast initial financial impact of £500m.
Cádiz tram-train testing underway
SPAIN: Following authorisation by notified body CETREN on March 13, test running is set to begin this month along the full 24 km length of the tram-train route between Chiclana de la Frontera and Cádiz.
Vossloh tramway rail grinding machine delivered to Tampere
FINLAND: Vossloh has supplied a HSG-city rail grinding machine for the Y-shaped tramway which is under construction in the city of Tampere for opening in August 2021.
Grand Paris Express Metro wireless network contract awarded
FRANCE: Société du Grand Paris announced the selection of a consortium of Nokia and ENGIE Solutions to design and install an LTE private wireless network for lines 15, 16 and 17 of the Grand Paris Express metro, on March 12.
Köln and Wuppertal operators order 25 hydrogen buses
GERMANY: Local operators Regionalverkehr Köln and Wuppertaler Stadtwerkehas have jointly ordered 25 Urbino 12 hydrogen-powered buses from Solaris for delivery from 2021.
Stadler to retrofit Ostrava trams with collision prevention system
CZECH REPUBLIC: Tram operator DP Ostrava awarded a KC26·9m contract to Stadler Bussnang on March 3for the retrofiting of the city’s Tango NF2 trams with obstacle detection assistance.
Tyne & Wear Metro extensions to be studied
UK: Tyne & Wear transport authority Nexus has called tenders for studies of the technical feasibility of 10 proposed Metro extensions and local passenger rail reopenings.
Vitoria-Gasteiz tram extension plans released for public consultation
SPAIN: Details of the proposed 6 km tram extension connecting central Vitoria-Gasteiz to the district of Zabalgana were released for public consultation on March 9.
Helsinki contactless fare payment contract awarded
FINLAND: The LMJ ticketing and technology services company owned jointly by Helsinki regional transport authority HSL and 21 municipalities has awarded Littlepay a three-year contract to roll-out its contactless EMV payment platform.
Barcelona introduces 105 smart buses
SPAIN: MAN Truck & Bus announced it had completed delivery of 105 Lion‘s City buses to Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona on March 5.
RATP trials pedestrian crossing warning system
FRANCE: RATP is trialling an experimental safety system near Vélizy’s town hall T6 tram stop.