Canada: Toronto city council has given its approval for TTC to sell and lease back all 372 T1 metro cars being supplied by Bombardier Transportation. The transaction is expected to generate savings of between C$50m and C$80m over the 50-year life of the cars.
China: With the breakthrough of the 8 km Black Hill tunnels on July 27, MTR Corp reported that bored tunnel work for the Tseung Kwan O extension was over 90% complete.
MTR has awarded the Shun Hing/Sanki joint venture a HK$172m contract to design and build interchanges at Hang Hau, Tiu Keng Leng and Tseung Kwan O on the Tseung Kwan O extension.
France: RATP has awarded Ascom Monétel a Fr50m contract to supply 286 ticket vending machines, to be installed at all stations next year. They will be able to accept payment in euros and recharge contactless smart cards (RG 8.00 p461).
Great Britain: London Underground began preliminary site works under a programme to increase capacity at King’s Cross station on August 21. Work to build two additional ticket halls and a new pedestrian subway is expected to take seven years to complete.
Ireland: CIE has ordered six additional Citadis 301 LRVs for Dublin Line A from Alstom, due for delivery from July 2002 at a cost of 8·4m euros. From September 2002 Alstom is to deliver 14 partial low-floor 40m Citadis cars for Line B, ordered under a second option worth 28m euros.
Israel: The municipality of Jerusalem has shortlisted five consortia for its 14 km light rail project (RG 8.00 p462). The Moriya Group was unsuccessful in its attempt to make the shortlist.
Poland: Ascom Monétel has been awarded a 100m zloty contract to supply a fare collection system for Warszawa’s metro, tram and bus networks. Magnetic stripe cards are due to make their appearance in October.
Spain: Barcelona transport authority ATM has approved a 10-year plan that will see 47route-km and 49 stations added to the metro and FGC networks at a cost of Pts300bn (MR 00 p30). These works, two light rail routes and a Sant Boi - Castelldefels line are due to form part of a 2001-10 infrastructure plan, costed at Pts750bn and to be funded by central and regional government and the European Union.
South Korea: The government has selected a consortium of Bombardier Transportation, Kumho Industrial, Lotte Engineering & Construction, Iljin Electric and Econ International for a 30-year concession to design, build and operate a 24 km automated metro between Pusan and Kimhae (RG 7.00 p402). With 18 stations and 46 vehicles, the line is expected to take four years to build at a cost of 1·07bn euros.
Switzerland: Zürich Transport is investigating extensions of its tram network from Escher-Wyss Platz to Altstetten and from Oerlikon to Holzehurd. Part of the former Line 1 from Burgwies to Hardplatz via Hbf may also be reinstated as a route from Hbf to Eurogate, Altstetten and Farbhof.
USA: Port Authority Transit of Pittsburgh has selected CAF for a $151·3m contract to supply 28 LRVs and overhaul 55 U3 vehicles over the next four years.
Maryland Mass Transit Administration has approved construction of a $22m car maintenance depot for Baltimore’s Central Light Rail Line adjacent to Cromwell station in Glen Burnie. Twigg Corp is due to complete by December 2001 the new facility, which will relieve North Avenue during double-tracking.
