UK urban rail industry news
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Metro Report International
Tram-train scheme guidance issued
UK: The Light Rail Safety & Standards Board has published what it says is a ‘landmark’ document providing guidance for organisations considering the development of tram-train schemes where light rail vehicles run over both tramways and main line railway tracks. Supertram launched the UK’s first modern ...
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Metro Report International
Very light rail and pop-up metro partnership
INTERNATIONAL: US-based international railway investor Railroad Development Corp and British lightweight rolling stock developer TDI Greenway are to join forces in the emerging very light rail and ‘pop-up metro’ sectors.
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Rail Business UK
Network Rail and TfL to collaborate on innovation
UK: Transport for London and Network Rail have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate and share confidential information on asset management, maintenance and environmental issues. Plans include joint research and innovation, promoting the use of new technology and improving data digitalisation. The aims include strengthening ...
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Metro Report International
Green energy sought to power Manchester light rail services
UK: Transport for Greater Manchester is planning to award a virtual Power Purchase Agreement contract for the long-term supply of wind or solar energy equivalent to the energy needs of the Metrolink light rail network. The vPPA would see TfGM buy energy from a generator at ...
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Metro Report International
HS2 invites Birmingham Interchange peoplemover bids
UK: High speed line project promoter HS2 Ltd has invited shortlisted companies Poma and Doppelmayr Cable Car UK to tender for contracts to supply and operate a cable-hauled automated peoplemover to link the future Interchange station with the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham International station and the ...
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Metro Report International
Elephant & Castle passenger tunnel designer appointed
UK: Dragados UK has appointed AECOM as lead designer for the first stage of the construction of passenger tunnels to increase capacity at London Underground’s Elephant & Castle station. In September 2024 Transport for London awarded Dragados UK a contract to design and build 135 m ...
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Metro Report International
Tyne & Wear Metro’s first Stadler train enters passenger service
UK: The first of the 46 custom-designed Class 555 trainsets that Stadler is supplying to replace the Tyne & Wear Metro fleet entered passenger service on December 18. ’We are now witnessing the first steps towards making Metro, once again, a world-class system the whole region ...
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Metro Report International
Driverless London Underground trains are not viable, study finds
UK: The previous government’s proposal for the possible conversion of London Underground lines to driverless operation will not be taken any further, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has confirmed. Conversion to driverless operation is regularly suggested by politicians and commentators, often in the belief that this ...
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Metro Report International
Cardiff Crossrail tramway design and build contract awarded
UK: Graham has been awarded a contract for the detailed design and construction of a tram-train line between Cardiff Central station and Cardiff Bay. This forms Phase 1 of the planned Cardiff Crossrail plan to develop a line running from the northwest of the city to ...
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Rail Business UK
Next London Overground operator sought
UK: Transport for London has invited requests to participate in the procurement of the next London Overground operating concessionaire. The TfL-managed inner-suburban services running on the main line rail network are currently operated by Arriva Rail London under a contract running to May 3 2026. ...
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Rail Business UK
New Elizabeth Line operator aims to offer ‘the best of Tokyo and London’
UK: Transport for London has selected the GTS Rail Operations Ltd joint venture of rail and bus operator Go-Ahead Group (65%), recently part-privatised operator Tokyo Metro (17·5%) and diverse Japanese business group Sumitomo Corp (17·5%) for the next concession to operate Elizabeth Line services. The preferred ...
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Metro Report International
Consultants to support West Yorkshire Mass Transit programme
UK: West Yorkshire Combined Authority has appointed a consortium of Jacobs and Mott MacDonald as its Design Development Partner for the next phase of the West Yorkshire Mass Transit programme, which includes two light rail lines integrated with cycling, walking and rail travel. One line would ...
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Metro Report International
Solar farms could power London Underground trains
UK: Transport for London has called tenders for the development of purpose-built solar photovoltaic farms to generate zero-carbon electricity for the London Underground network. ‘Private wire’ agreements would see the solar electricity produced near the network, bypassing the National Grid’s centralised sources and Distribution Network Operators. ...
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Metro Report International
Vibrations used to provide tramway safety alerts
UK: Testing on the Sheffield Supertram network has found that the VibeSafe portable track vibration detection system developed by Efficiency Ups Ltd could offer a reliable and cost-effective way of alerting pedestrians to approaching trams.
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Metro Report International
London Underground train production underway in Goole
Metro Report International visits the factory in Goole where Siemens Mobility is producing trains for London Underground’s Piccadidlly Line
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Metro Report International
London Underground Bakerloo Line Extension stations study commissioned
UK: Transport for London has appointed AECOM and WW+P Architects to undertake a feasibility study for the four stations on the proposed extension of London Underground’s Bakerloo Line southeast from Elephant & Castle to Lewisham. The studies for the stations at Burgess Park, Old Kent Road, ...
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Metro Report International
‘Critical’ decision on London Underground's Bakerloo Line fleet is needed
UK: Officials across government departments recognise that Transport for London needs a long-term comprehensive funding agreement, but ‘the challenge is the duration and quantum involved’, London’s Transport Commissioner Andy Lord said at the opening of Siemens Mobility’s Goole factory on October 3. The Goole site will ...
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Metro Report International
KeolisAmey retains Docklands Light Railway operating contract
UK: Transport for London has awarded incumbent KeolisAmey the next contract to operate the Docklands Light Railway automated light metro. The contract was awarded following a competitive tender and runs for eight years from April 1 2025, with an option for a two-year extension. The operator ...
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Metro Report International
TfL appoints Elephant & Castle tunnelling contractor
UK: Transport for London has awarded Dragados UK a contract to design and build passenger tunnels to link a new Northern Line station box at London Underground’s Elephant & Castle station with the line’s existing platforms and overbridge. Work on the station box began in January ...
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Metro Report International
Novel software to assess Transport for London clearances
UK: Transport for London is the latest customer to use D/Gauge’s Rift software for in-house structure gauging and track design activities. TfL is a longstanding client of D/Gauge engineering and consultancy services, and is now also using the Cloud-based gauging platform which has been configured to ...