Urban transport industry news round-up

RATP Group has formed a RATP Dev Digital Hub Maroc subsidiary based on its Casaroc Lab R&D activities in Casablanca. This will develop technology to improve the passenger experience on the city’s tram network and potentially on other networks operated by RATP Dev around the world.

Stadler has awarded Croatian company Altpro a contract to supply the automatic train protection equipment for the 42 trainsets is building for the Tyne & Wear Metro. Based on the Indusi cab signalling system, RAS90 provides continuous speed monitoring with automatic braking if required.

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority has awarded Samsung C&T Corp a S$604m civil works contract for the design and construction of Hougang interchange station and tunnels for the Cross Island Line, including alteration of the existing Hougang station on the North East Line. Passenger services are scheduled to begin in 2030.

An extension of Lyon tram line T2 from Perrache to the Hôtel de Région – Montrochet opened on March 24. The extension uses the existing tracks of Route T1, plus a loop built at cost of €11·8m.

Nottingham tram operator NET and Alstom have completed a £3·5m programme to refurbish its original fleet of 15 Bombardier Incentro vehicles, including a mechanical overhaul and replacement of floors and interior fittings. ‘The new look matches NET’s newer Citadis models and research has shown that having a single look across the fleet can help customers with sight impairments to access the network and also makes it easier to use for people with dementia’, said Managing Director Paul Robinson.

Public consultation has begun on revised route options for the proposed Metro Blue Line Extension from downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park. Following what they described as ‘years of unsuccessful discussions with BNSF Railway’, the project promoters last year abandoned plans for the colocation of light rail and freight services.

Transport for the North has commissioned Social Research Associates and Temple to undertake surveys to support a research project which aims to identify and address transport-related social exclusion in the north of England. TfN said there is currently a lack of data which enables the social benefits of improving transport and infrastructure to be taken into account when investment decisions are made.