LAST MONTH Barcelona transport administration ATM signed the formal concession contracts for the city’s planned 16·8 km light rail line. The GroupTramMet consortium led by FCC Construcción, which includes CGEA Transport and Alstom, will design, build operate and maintain the network, which is due to open between the city and the Baix Llobregat area in 2003. Total cost of the scheme is put at 218m euros (RG 6.00 p337).

At the end of November, the city’s directorate of ports and transport gave its formal approval to the Pts23bn extension of TMB metro Line 5 from Horta to Vall d’Hebron. This 2·5 km extension with two intermediate stations will provide an interchange between Line 5 and the northern end of Line 3. Work is expected to get under way in the second quarter of this year, with opening envisaged by the end of 2003 (MR 00 p30).

ATM also approved the introduction of integrated ticketing for all public transport in the region from January 1. n

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