Stockholm metro train digital support agreement signed
SWEDEN: Transport authority Storstockholms Lokaltrafik has awarded Alstom a contract to support and develop digital systems on the Movia C20 and C30 metro trainsets it supplied for the Stockholm metro.
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.
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.
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.
London Underground electrical upgrade works begin
UK: UK Power Networks Services has begun work on a £24m project to upgrade sections of London Underground’s high voltage power network to support the introduction of Siemens Mobility trains on the Piccadilly Line.
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.
High speed rail grinding on the Stockholm metro
SWEDEN: Stockholm metro maintenance contractor Strukton Rail has awarded Vossloh a subcontract to use a High Speed Grinding machine to remove corrugations, slip waves and other signs of rail wear.
Systra to support Stockholm driverless metro project
SWEDEN: Systra has been awarded its first major metro contract in Stockholm, supporting the control system and rolling stock elements of the 8 km GoA4 driverless Yellow Line from Fridhemsplan to Älvsjo. Construction is due to start in 2025. Trains will be just 75 m long, but more frequent, reducing waiting times.
Madrid and Delhi metros join forces to study urban freight shipments
INTERNATIONAL: The operators of the Madrid and Delhi metros have agreed to co-operate to assess how far their networks could be used for urban parcel distribution.
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.
Metro project approved to keep København as an attractive city for everyone
DENMARK: Construction of København metro Line M5 has been approved as part of a wider agreement for the development of the artificial island of Lynetteholm as a new urban district.
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.
Napoli metro network edges towards the airport
ITALY: A 1·9 km one-station extension of Napoli metro Line 1 from Garibaldi to Centro Direzionale opened on April 1, as work progresses to take the line to the airport.
Rebuilt Praha tram depot commissioned
CZECH REPUBLIC: Praha transport operator DPP has completed a six-year project to rebuild Hloubětín tram depot.
Next Docklands Light Railway operating contract begins
UK: KeolisAmey’s latest contract to operate the Docklands Light Railway automated light metro in east London came into effect on April 1.
AI project aims to boost tram crossing safety
UK: Cameras are to be installed at foot crossings on several tram networks and the footage analysed by AI tools to identify opportunities for safety improvements.
Viewpoint: Winning the battle against antisocial behaviour
Keolis UK operates the Nottingham Express Transit network, where an array of enforcement and outreach policies have been used to cut antisocial behaviour on and around trams. Chief Executive Alistair Gordon explains the company’s approach.