Following reforms to project financing, Karlsruhe is to revive plans for an extension of Stadtbahn Line S2 from Stutensee-Spöck via Bruchsal and Hambrücken to Waghäusel; a previous study 10 years ago produced a benefit:cost ratio of less than 1. An extension of S11 from Ittersbach to Enzkreis and light rail in Zabergäu are also to be considered.
Proposals for an EU co-funded light rail line linking the main cities and airport were discussed when Cyprus’s Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos met EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean on October 10. Karousos said studies had been undertaken previously, and a rail line could help to ease traffic congestion as well as tackle rising energy prices.
A 1·2 km double-track extension of tram Route 9 in Helsinki opened on October 17, running along Pasilankatu and Radiokatu with a loop in Ilmalantori. GRK Infra was the principal contractor. The project will form part of the future Kalasatama – Pasila tram Route 13 in 2024.
Deutsche Bahn and Berlin municipal operator BVG have jointly opened three Jelbi Mobility Hubs at Zoologischer Garten station. These have rental bikes, e-scooters and e-mopeds. Berlin’s Senator for Transport Bettina Jarasch said up to 150 Jelbi points are planned to open in the coming year.
TMH subsidiary Metrowagonmash has returned a five-car Type 81-717/714 trainset to the Samara metro after a 160m rouble mid-life overhaul at the OEVRZ plant in St Petersburg. This is intended to provide a 15-year life extension. Samara is gradually overhaul its fleet dating from 1977 at a rate of one trainset per year, with the bogies, wheelsets and traction motors replaced, electrical equipment upgraded, CCTV installed and wheelchair spaces created.
The HPH Consortium of Hyundai Engineering & Construction, POSCO Engineering & Construction and Hyundai Engineering which is overseeing the design and construction of the 25 km Phase 1 of Panama Metro’s Line 3 monorail has appointed Ricardo to ensure the design, system integration and final system are in compliance with the reliability, availability, maintainability and safety requirements stipulated by project owner Metro de Panamá. Opening is planned for 2026.
Thales has awarded Rowe Hankins a further order to supply dual speed sensors for the second phase of installation of CBTC on the New York Subway’s R211 fleet, building on a contract for the first phase. The UK-based supplier’s Sales Director Mark Nolan said, ’Thales is a partner we work with closely and it is this type of partnership that will set an increased precedent in the future’.
Toronto Transit Commission has appointed Aecom to serve as the asset owner’s engineer for the Bloor-Yonge Capacity Improvements scheme. This includes construction of a new Line 2 platform at the station, expanding both Line 1 platforms, improving accessibility and safety and enhancing the concourse, entrances and exits.
A year after the launch, 70 transport agencies in the USA, Canada, France and New Zealand are offering passengers free access to the Royale subscription version of Transit’s app, which includes custom branding, extra features, mobile ticketing, microtransit, last-mile connections and rider feedback.