Urban transport modes – Page 339
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NewsBangkok Suvarnabhumi airport rail link opens
THAILAND: The 28·8 km airport rail link connecting Bangkok city centre to Suvarnabhumi International Airport started commercial operations on August 23. State Railway of Thailand had been running a free trial service since June 1 carrying around 17 000 passengers/day.Express and stopping services are available on the route, which operates ...
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NewsTianjin metro cars unveiled
CHINA: The first of 23 six-car stainless steel bodied trainsets for Tianjin metro Line 2 rolled off the assembly line at CNR Dalian on August 6. This followed the unveiling of the initial six-car set for metro Line 3 by CSR Sifang on July 16. Both lines are due to ...
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NewsTram order announced as Spårväg City launched
SWEDEN: Trams returned to central Stockholm with ceremonies to launch Spårväg City on August 21, and free rides were provided before the start of revenue service two days later. The Spårväg City project has seen the 3·2 km Djurgårdsstaden heritage tram line modernised, rebranded as Line 7 and extended a ...
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NewsGold Coast groundbreaking
AUSTRALIA: Queensland Premier Anna Bligh turned the first sod on the A$949m Gold Coast Rapid Transit project at the site of the new Gold Coast University Hospital in Southport on August 1. The event marked the start of work by Leighton Contractors on the shell of the terminus station at ...
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NewsEagle P3 takes off
USA: The Regional Transportation District has given Denver Transit Partners the official notice to proceed on the Eagle P3 commuter rail project following financial close by the Fluor-led team. Groundbreaking is scheduled for August 26. As part of RTD’s FasTracks expansion programme, DTP will design, build, operate, maintain and finance ...
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NewsRail expansion in Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA: Government infrastructure company Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd has obtained approval from the Department of Railways to expand the Kelana Jaya automated metro and Ampang light rail lines in Kuala Lumpur. Tenders for rolling stock and E&M equipment for the first phase are due to be issued next month. ...
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NewsCairo orders metro trains
EGYPT: The National Authority for Tunnels has awarded a Japanese consortium a contract to deliver 88 cars for the Cairo metro. The vehicles will be supplied by Japanese trading group Mitsubishi, working with rolling stock manufacturer Kinki Sharyo and Toshiba which will provide electric systems and lighting. The ...
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NewsKraków rolls out rebuilt tram
POLAND: MPK Kraków has rolled out the first EU8N tram to be built at the operator's own workshops using components from former Wien E6 and C6 vehicles. An E6 car was extended with using a 290 mm entry height low-floor section supplied by Polish bus manufacturer Autosan, with bogies ...
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NewsBerlin S-Bahn control update
GERMANY: DB Netz is to replace mechanical train stops on the Berlin S-Bahn network. Over the next 10 years, electronic speed supervision using balises will be introduced at a cost of €130m. Tests have been carried out between Hermannstrasse and Sonnenallee on the southern ring, and the first part ...
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NewsChennai Metro Rail orders Alstom trains
INDIA: Chennai Metro Rail Limited has selected Alstom Transport to supply 42 four-car trains for the two-line metro network which is now under construction. The contract awarded on August 2 is worth Rs14·7bn, and includes the supply and commissioning of 168 vehicles along with associated spare parts, specialist tools and ...
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NewsTube locomotive modernised
UK: The prototype for the refurbishment of 29 battery-electric locomotives used on London Underground engineering trains is now undergoing trials. The locomotives each have 168 vented lead acid cells to provide power for traction and wagon-mounted equipment when the fourth-rail supply is turned off. Modernisation is being undertaken by LU's ...
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NewsUrban rail news in brief
Société de transport de Montréal has decided to re-tender the procurement of up to 1053 new metro cars. CAF will be allowed to participate along with a consortium of Alstom and Bombardier, after a special board meeting on July 14 confirmed that CAF had demonstrated ‘full ...
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NewsDART PPP attracts four consortia
IRELAND: Iarnród Éireann announced on August 3 that four consortia had submitted responses for the prequalification phase of the DART Underground public-private partnership project. The deadline was July 20.The consortia are: BBI: comprising Balfour Beatty Capital Ltd, BAM PPP Investments Ireland bv and Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras SA;City Connect: comprising ...
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NewsManchester Metrolink Phase 3b confirmed
UK: Confirmation that Phase 3b of the Manchester Metrolink light rail expansion programme is fully funded came on July 30 when the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities met to agree a £500m contribution from the Greater Manchester Transport Fund. The £1·5bn fund was created in May 2009 by AGMA and ...
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NewsThe coolest ride in London
UK: London Underground’s first air-conditioned S-Stock train departed Wembley Park shortly after 10.30 on August 2 bound for Watford. Joining passengers on board the Metropolitan Line train were Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy and Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer of LU. Boris Johnson described the ...
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NewsAttiko Metro opens Holargos station
GREECE: Attiko Metro Chairman Christos Tsitouras officially opened Holargos station, between Nomismatokopio and Ethniki Amyna on Line 3, with a ceremony on July 23. The new station 22 m below Messogion Avenue is expected to handle 20 000 passengers/day. Holargos is one of three intermediate stations being built on Line ...
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NewsChicago benefits from job creation funding
USA: More than $500m has been allocated to public transit infrastructure improvements throughout the state from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction programme. Over $442m will be spent in the Chicago area, with $253m going to Chicago Transit Authority and $157m to the Metra commuter rail network. The CTA ...
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NewsDelhi metro expands Movia fleet
INDIA: On July 23 Bombardier Transportation announced that Delhi Metro Rail Corp had decided to buy a further 40 Movia cars worth €43m, exercising an option in the €83m contract for 74 Movias placed by the operator in June.Delivery of the latest batch will follow on from the previous order ...
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NewsTram bogie turntable
UK: Mechan has supplied two bogie turntables for installation by specialist contractor Trackwork at the Starr Gate tram depot which Volker Fitzpatrick is building at Blackpool in northwest England. The turntables will be used when transferring bogies to the maintenance areas of the seafront depot, which is being built to ...
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NewsKraków orders 24 Flexity trams
POLAND: Kraków transport operator MPK has placed an order for a further 24 Bombardier Flexity Classic trams to be delivered from March 2012 to 2013. A partnership of Bombardier and Vossloh Kiepe was the sole bidder for the €58·7m contract signed on July 22. Bombardier's share is worth €40m and ...