The first of the Tina trams that Stadler is supplying to Rostock operator Rostocker Straßenbahn entered service on December 12. A €98·2m contract for 28 trams was awarded in June 2022, and one more subsequently ordered; an order for a 30th was announced on December 12, taking the total order to €107m.
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority has awarded Obayashi Corp a S$281m contract for the design and construction of the North-South Line NS3A station and viaduct, the third MRT station to be built on an existing elevated line. Significant engineering works are required, including a new viaduct to facilitate the staged diversion of services from existing viaducts to allow modification works to be carried out safely on the existing rail infrastructure and systems while maintaining train operations during the period of construction. A siding will also be built for use in the event of train faults. Opening is planned for 2034, serving existing and future residential developments.
The first two of 13 Tramlink trams 42 m long that Stadler is supplying to Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam under contracts signed in 2021 entered service on December 19.
Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is reportedly studying options to buy-out the various urban rail concessions in Bangkok. Redesigned operating contracts could then be awarded to the private sector, with Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand taking on the revenue risk and being able to implement changes such as zonal fares with capping.
Construction of the 3·8 km elevated section of the Wanda-Shulin (Light Green) metro line serving the Taipei area started between Tucheng and Shulin with a ceremony on December 19. Completion is planned by 2031.
In an effort to increase capacity and punctuality, Amsterdam metro lines 50 and 53 are to be merged from mid-December 2027. Services will run from Isolatorweg to Gaasperplas, with passengers travelling from the Gaasperplas area to Centraal making a cross-platform interchange at Van der Madeweg. ‘Amsterdam is growing and changing at breakneck speed’, said Ellen Swinkels, Director of Commerce at operator GVB. ‘The adaptation of our metro lines is a great example of this: it makes travel faster, easier and future-proof.’
The last of 30 Moderus Gamma LF 04 AC BD trams being supplied to MPK Poznań by its in-house manufacturer Modertrans entered service on December 31.
London Underground has awarded manufacturer DISAB a £1·3m+VAT contract to overhaul two Tubevac machines. These specialist rail-mounted vacuum units use powerful suction to remove and handle large volumes of material such as ballast, dust and debris during track renewals.
Amsterdam operator GVB is investigating a proposed extension of tram Route 19 through the Plantage de Sniep residential area and De Sniep business park towards Diemerbos.