Middle East
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Metro Report InternationalDubai Red Line metro reaches Expo 2020
UAE: The 9 km extension of Dubai’s automated metro network from Al Furjan to the Expo 2020 fairground was opened for revenue service on June 1, in preparation for the delayed start of the world fair being hosted by the emirate. ...
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Metro Report International
Test running starts on Tel Aviv Red Line
ISRAEL: Tel Aviv light rail project promoter NTA has started test running with its Chinese-built LRVs on the first section of the Red Line, which is now under construction between Petakh-Tikva and Bat Yam.
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Metro Report International
Iranian metro train rolled out
IRAN: A domestically-designed metro train with 85% local content has been unveiled by President Hassan Rouhani. Development began in June 2019, when a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Vice-Presidency for Science Technology, Tehran Urban Suburban Railway Co and the ...
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Metro Report International
Tram tracking and depot management contract awarded
ISRAEL: CAF has awarded GMV a contract to supply an automatic vehicle location and depot management system for Jerusalem’s expanding light rail network. Based on GMV’s SAE-R software platform, the system will provide standard functions such as tram fleet tracking, driver communications and passenger information, ...
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Metro Report International
Cfir takes over Jerusalem light rail operations
ISRAEL: The Cfir grouping of CAF and local company Shapir Engineering Ltd took over as operating concessionaire for the Jerusalem light rail network on April 16, succeeding CityPass which had held the contract to operate the Red Line for the past 10 years. Under the ...
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News
AfDB backs Egyptian railway modernisation
EGYPT: The African Development Bank has approved a €145m loan to support reliability and capacity upgrading works as part of the Egypt National Railways Modernisation Project. Rail’s share of the passenger market is predicted to increase from 8% to 15% and its share of the ...
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News
Etihad Rail to operate 500 trains per year for quarry company
UAE: An agreement for the transport of construction materials from Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi was signed by Etihad Rail and quarrying company Stevin Rock on April 1. Etihad Rail said the agreement was of ‘considerable significance’ as it is the first in a ...
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Metro Report International
Dubai RTA picks Keolis-led joint venture to operate metro and tram networks
UAE: Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority has selected a Keolis-led consortium to operate and maintain its metro and light rail networks for nine years with options for up to a further six.
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News
Etihad Rail and Saudi Railway Co sign co-operation agreement
ASIA: UAE’s Etihad Rail and Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Railway Co have signed an agreement establishing a framework for the exchange of services, training and knowledge. The two railways will initially focus on locomotive and wagon leasing arrangements, the purchase of spare parts, special volunteer groups ...
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Metro Report International
Tehran adds more metro stations
IRAN: Two stations at the northwestern end of Tehran metro Line 6 were opened for revenue service on March 13, along with an isolated section of the route. The short section of Line 6 serving Yadegar-e-Emam and Shahid Sattari is being operated as a separate ...
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News
Railway Improvement & Safety for Egypt funding approved
EGYPT: The World Bank’s executive board has approved a US$440m loan to support the Railway Improvement Safety for Egypt project. The RISE programme has a total value of US$681·1m, including a US$241·1m contribution from Egyptian National Railways. It is a continuation of the ...
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News
Persian wonder geckos relocated from Etihad Rail route
UAE: More than 300 animals including Middle Eastern short-fingered and Baluch rock geckos, saw-faced vipers, Cheeseman’s gerbils, scorpions and the rare Persian wonder gecko have been relocated away from the future rail alignment in the Misanad Protected Area by national railway developer Etihad Rail and the Sharjah Environment ...
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News
Delivering coaches from Hungary to Egypt
EGYPT: DHL Global’s complex logistics subsidiary DHL Industrial Projects is managing the delivery of 676 coaches which are being built in Hungary for use by Egyptian National Railways. The 24·5 m long and 4·5 m high coaches weighing 43·5 tonnes are ...
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Metro Report International
RATP to operate Cairo light rail line
EGYPT: National Authority for Tunnels has selected RATP Dev Mobility Cairo to operate and maintain the ‘light rail’ line linking Cairo with 10th Ramadan City and the New Administrative Capital.
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News
Support for Israeli section of ‘Gulf to Gulf’ railway
ASIA: Israel’s National Infrastructure Committee has given its backing to proposals to extend the Jezreel Valley railway to the border with Jordan, in what is envisaged to be the first stage of a possible ‘Gulf to Gulf’ railway linking the Bay of Haifa with Jordan, Saudi ...
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News
Naxçıvan railway reopening proposed as work starts on Baku link
ASIA: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has welcomed proposals for the reopening of a rail link between Iran and its northwestern neighbour Azerbaijan. Speaking at a meeting with the governor of Iran’s largely Azeri-speaking province of East Azerbaijan on February 18, Zarif pointed out ...
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Metro Report International
Dubai’s smarter tram stop saves energy
UAE: Dubai’s Roads Transport Authority has undertaken a green buildings initiative to reduce power consumption at tram stops An evaporation system which uses cooling pads to reduce the temperature of the air entering Marina Towers stop and the tram depot by 8 to ...
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News
Saudi Arabia approves merger of railway companies
SAUDI ARABIA: The merger of Saudi Railways Organization and Saudi Railways Company has been formally approved. The combined entity will be responsible for all inter-city railways in the country, and will use the Saudi Railways Company name, abbreviated SAR. The merger and associated legislative ...
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News
Turkish tank wagons support Iraqi rail freight revival
IRAQ: Turkish pressure tank manufacturer Cryocan has despatched the first 50 of 400 tank wagons which Iraq’s national railway IRR has ordered as part of a project to transfer petroleum traffic from road to rail. Cryocan expects to deliver a further 100 wagons this year, ...
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Metro Report International
Dubai RTA launches metro engineering information platform
UAE: Dubai’s Roads Transport Authority has launched an electronic platform for railway engineering information, containing about 800 000 documents relating to assets on the metro’s Red and Green lines as well as data about the authority, consultants, project contractors, rail operators and other bodies. ...
