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.
UGL and John Holland to operate Adelaide trams
AUSTRALIA: The Torrens Connect joint venture of local bus operator Torrens Transit, UGL Rail Services and John Holland has been selected to operate light rail services in Adelaide, under a contract announced by the South Australian Public Transport Authority on March 10.
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.
Lucknow Metro introduces Braille ticketing
INDIA: Lucknow Metro has introduced Braille versions of its GoSmart cards as part of the first-year anniversary of its 23 km North-South corridor on March 8.
Cubic awarded Aachen ticketing contract
GERMANY: Aachen transport association AVV has awarded Cubic Transportation Systems a contract worth more than US$3m to supply and maintain a multimodal ticketing system in the regions of Aachen, Düren, and Heinsberg.
New York MTA extends OMNY smart ticketing coverage
USA: New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority expects to expand its OMNY account-based contactless fare payment system to all bus routes in Manhattan, as well as Subway stations across four city boroughs, by the end of February.
Dublin automated metro operations consultant appointed
IRELAND: SNC-Lavalin has been selected to act as Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s operations adviser for the MetroLink project to build an automated metro line running north–south across Dublin.
Detroit People Mover runs counter-clockwise for first time in 11 years
USA: The Detroit People Mover is operating counter-clockwise for the first time since 2008.
Rhein-Ruhr S-Bahn tendering dispute settled
GERMANY: An out-of-court settlement has been reached over the decision by Rhein-Ruhr transport authority VRR to cancel a contract for Keolis to operate S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr services.
Keolis operating contract terminated because of driver shortage
GERMANY: Rhein-Ruhr transport VRR has decided to terminate a contract for Keolis to operate two S-Bahn services from December, and will instead directly award incumbent DB Regio an emergency contract while it runs a new competitive tendering process.
Open payment coming to Aix-en-Provence as operating contract renewed
FRANCE: The Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis has renewed its contract with Keolis to operate the Métropole Mobilité Aix-en-Provence transport network. The contract announced on July 3 lasts for nine years from November 4.
SFO AirTrain operating contract awarded
USA: The City & County of San Francisco has awarded Bombardier Transportation a new contract to operate and maintain the SFO AirTrain automated peoplemover at San Francisco International Airport.
Accessibility and sustainability at the heart of Berlin transport plan
GERMANY: The Senate of the Land of Berlin on February 26 issued a 2019-23 transport plan, with accessibility and emissions reduction key components.
Extra Stuttgart S-Bahn EMUs will support ATO project
GERMANY: The Stuttgart regional government has approved the purchase of 58 four-car Class 430 electric multiple-units and the installation of ETCS Level 2 and automatic train operation on the entire S-Bahn fleet.
Mumbai monorail operating contract terminated
INDIA: Citing a ‘failure to perform and fulfil contractual obligations’, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has taken over operation of the Mumbai monorail after terminating the contact held by the LTSE joint venture of Larsen & Toubro Ltd and Scomi Engineering.
Keolis wins Nancy public transport operating contract
FRANCE: The greater Nancy metropolitan council has selected Keolis as the winner of a contract to operate its Star urban transport network for six years from January 1 2019.
Orléans renews Keolis operating contract
FRANCE: Transport authority Orléans Métropole renewed its contract with Keolis to operate and maintain the city’s Tao public transport network on November 15. The six-year contract running from January 1 2019 is expected to generate revenue of €395m.