Coventry prepares for Very Light Rail demonstration
A project which aims to develop a more affordable alternative to traditional tramways is taking its next major step. Andrew Grantham reports from the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre.
Croydon tram control system to be replaced
UK: Transport for London is to call tenders in July for a contract to replace the control system on the Croydon tram network.
Medellín’s ‘Metro de la 80’ makes progress
COLOMBIA: Siemens Mobility has selected Spanish company GMV to supply service planning and vehicle location technology for the Metro de la 80 light rail project in Medellín.
Light rail: France's modern role models
No fewer than 28 cities in France have built modern light rail networks in the 40 years since Nantes turned the tide on post-war car-centricity. With 115 km of new line now under construction and 276 vehicles on order, the outlook remains bright, even if political headwinds are starting to be felt. Michael Dreyer reports.
Multimodality: Carrying parcels on tram tracks
Using autonomous pods to transport parcel shipments and other goods on existing tram infrastructure could help to mitigate the traffic jams caused by growing volumes of delivery vehicles, suggests Fragile CEO Lukas Kauer.
Wien pilots parcel delivery by tram passengers
AUSTRIA: The city of Wien and municipal operator Wiener Linien have launched the Öffi-Packerl trial that will see passengers transport parcels on selected tram routes in the north of the city.
Early morning launch for Liège tram services
BELGIUM: The Liège tramway has opened to passengers, with the first commercial service leaving Liège-Expo at 04.22 on April 28. The 11·7 km line connects northern termini at Coronmeuse and Liège-Expo with a southern terminus at Sclessin-Standard, with 23 stops.
Procurement of £1·6bn Manchester Metrolink O&M contract begins after in-house operation rejected
UK: Transport for Greater Manchester has launched the process of appointing the next operating and maintenance contractor for the Metrolink light rail network, after the decision was made to opt for a revised franchising model rather than take operations in-house.
Bergen light rail expansion signalling contract awarded
NORWAY: Stadler has announced a ‘significant’ contract to supply signalling systems for the expansion of Bergen’s Bybanen light rail network.
Riverside tram link to open in Lisboa by 2028
PORTUGAL: A project to build the first new tramway in central Lisboa for more than 60 years has been formally launched at a ceremony held in the Parque das Nações.
Construction of tram-train stop gets underway
UK: Work has begun to build a stop and 100-space park and ride facility at Magna on the Supertram tram-train route from Sheffield and Meadowhall to Rotherham.
Tram manufacturer plans restructuring
GERMANY: A court has approved tram manufacturer HeiterBlick’s application for ‘self-administration’ as part of plan to restructure and regain its competitiveness.
Kraków agrees 90-tram framework contract
POLAND: Kraków city council signed a 1·8bn złoty framework contract with Pesa Bydgoszcz for the supply of 90 Twist 3.0 light rail vehicles on April 3.
Rebuilt Praha tram depot commissioned
CZECH REPUBLIC: Praha transport operator DPP has completed a six-year project to rebuild Hloubětín tram depot.