This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
Three sections of metro line in Kolkata totalling 13·6 km were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 22: the 6·8 km first section of the Yellow Line running from Noapara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar Airport; a 4·4 km Hemanta Mukhopadhyay – Beleghata extension of the Orange Line; and the 2·4 km Esplanade – Sealdah central section which joins two previously separate sections to enable through services on the entire 16·6 km Green Line from Salt Lake Stadium to Howrah Maidan.
Subterráneos de Buenos Aires has awarded CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles a contract to supply 174 metro cars to replace the Line B fleet of 60-year old Mitsubishi cars and 20-year old and CAF 6000 cars. Standardising the rolling stock is expected to simplify operation and maintenance. Features will include air-conditioning, CCTV, a passenger information system, anti-vandal LED lighting and longitudinal seats. As part of the project the power supply will be increased from 600 to 1 500 V.
Den Haag transport operator HTM took delivery of its first Stadler TINA tram on August 8. The December 2022 order covers 56 trams with options for 44 more, of which six have so far been ordered. Testing is expected to take about a year, with the new trams entering service during 2026 to replace 40-year old GTL8 trams. The three-section low floor bidirectional tram is 36·5 m long and 2 650 mm wide with a capacity of 230 passengers, including 84 seated.
An Alstom metro train made a first trial run from Mann Depot to Balewadi Stadium on the Pune metro’s 23·3 km Hinjewadi – Shivajinagar Line 3 on August 27, an auspicious day marking Ganesh Chaturthi, the birthday of Ganesh, Hindu deity of new beginnings.
A joint venture of Jacobs and HDR is to provide engineering consultancy services for New York MTA’s Interborough Express light rail project which will use a 22 km freight line owned by LIRR and CSX. The joint venture will lead design development, addressing freight integration, tunnel retrofits and major bridge modifications while also advising on delivery strategy and operational readiness studies. ‘The Interborough Express is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage cutting-edge technology to improve mobility and quality of life’, said HDR Transportation President Tom McLaughlin on August 27.
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority has selected Otis to supply 336 heavy-duty and public service escalators and moving walkways and 186 Gen3 lifts for the Cross Island Line.
Local media report that Turkish construction company Xvav Yapi has been awarded a US$100m contract to build an 8 km three-station extension of the Toshkent metro from Dustlik station
On August 26 a four-car light rail vehicle built by CNR Dalian (now CRRC Dalian) entered revenue service for the first time on the MRT3 light metro line in Manila, which is operated by three-car LRVs.
The ACES India subsidiary of Saudi Arabia-based Advanced Communications & Electronics Systems has signed a 13-year agreement with Bangalore Metro Rail Corp to implement advanced telecom infrastructure across the Namma Metro network in Bengaluru. ACES will deploy, operate and maintain 4G and 5G mobile infrastructure across elevated and underground sections of the metro and 62 stations, enabling all telecoms operators to offer seamless services.
Between July 9 and August 9 passengers using Mastercard contactless payment on the Limache – Puerto suburban service, electric buses, trolleybuses, and elevators in the Valparaíso area enjoyed a 50% cashback with a monthly limit of 20 000 pesos per cardholder.
The 22 km Minneapolis Blue Line Extension light rail project has obtained Federal Transit Administration environmental approval, clearing the way for final design and construction. ‘It is a generational investment in communities where many people rely on transit to get where they need to go every day’, said Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando on August 13. ‘Light rail projects, more than any other mode of transit, generate significant economic and community investment. This project will unlock long-overdue investment in some of our state’s most vibrant communities.’
Blackpool Transport has taken management of tram advertising in-house. ‘It is now easier than ever for other organisations to catch the eye of potential visitors and customers’, said Head of Commercial Jamie Swift.
Transfert Environnement et Société and its sub-contractors Institut du Nouveau Monde, Table Ronde Participation Publique and Cocoriko are managing consultations and public engagement for the TramGO project to develop a 24 km tramway connecting Gatineau in Québec with Ottawa in neighbouring Ontario.