This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
On January 28 Praha public transport operator DPP exercised an option for Škoda to deliver a further 31 ForCity Plus Praha 52T trams by October 2027. ‘Domestic references are key for us, and we value them greatly, because they help us succeed in international markets as well’, commented Škoda Group CEO Petr Novotný.
Chennai Metro Rail Ltd has completed the intermediate overhaul of 52 four-car trainsets which have been in service since 2015. Each set has been ‘thoroughly’ dismantled and inspected, with wheels and suspension systems removed, examined and repaired where required. Braking, electrical and air-conditioning units have been serviced, and the trains deep cleaned.
A tunnel boring machine previously used by a consortium of NGE and Webuild on Grand Paris Express Line 16 Lot 2 has been refurbished by Webuild Equipment & Machinery to excavate 7 km of tunnel for Line 15, Lot 2 between Bécon-les-Bruyères and Saint-Denis–Pleyel. This project requires the installation of 23 000 segments, 79% of which will be made of fibre-reinforced concrete, as well as the excavation of around 500 000 m³ of material, 80% of which will be reused.
Operation using coupled pairs of CRRC Changchun’s regional Type C trainsets have started on the Shanghai Airport Link Line, which opened between Hongqiao International Airport T2 and Pudong Airport T1&2 in December 2024. The line is now worked by a mix of four-car, eight-car, and coupled four-car trainsets, enabling flexible capacity allocation to match demand. The four+four and eight-car formations are of the same length, ensuring that the trains align correctly with the platform screen doors.
The Metro Trains West Consortium of MTR Corp and CRRC has awarded Hitachi Rail a subcontract to provide central control systems and integrated communications for the 24 km Sydney Metro West project.
On January 13, the second tunnel boring machine reached Van Mieu station on the 4 km, four-station underground extension of Hanoi metro Line 3. Tunnelling has been under way since July 2024, heading eastbound from Cau Giay to Hanoi station, and is reported to be 75% complete.
New York MTA has completed a programme to install LED lights at all 472 stations across the Subway network. More than 181 000 fluorescent light fixtures throughout the system have been replaced or converted since January 2024. As well as being brighter, the new lighting is expected to save $5·9m/year in running costs.
Philippines’ Department of Transportation says it has opened discussions with the Asian Development Bank to fund the planned Manila metro Line 4. The elevated MRT 4 would serve 10 stations on a 14 km route linking the Taytay area to Ortigas Avenue station on MRT 3.
San Franciso Bay area metro operator BART has added the ability to book short Uber trips of 3 to 11 km to and from its stations within the BART App. ‘Collaborating with Uber will help attract new riders and will simplify the process for those who take Uber to and from BART stations’, said the metro’s General Manager Bob Powers. ‘This partnership will also expand access options as we build more housing in place of parking lots at stations.’