THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE

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MAY 2019 No. 977 stockholm rebuilds city lrt connections

Sweden’s capital invests in the future with new urban rail links Berlin confirms 2035 transport plan Cuenca’s VLT opens to the public Cambridge metro is ‘value for money’

Florence Stuttgart £4.60 T2’s opening and A metro approach plans for the future to light rail safety 2019 Entries open now!

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www.lightrailawards.com CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association 170 MAY 2019 Vol. 82 No. 977 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL Editor – Simon Johnston [email protected] Associate Editor – Tony Streeter 174 [email protected] Worldwide Editor – Michael Taplin [email protected] 184 News Editor – John Symons [email protected] Senior Contributor – Neil Pulling Worldwide Contributors Tony Bailey, Richard Felski, Ed Havens, Andrew Moglestue, Paul Nicholson, Herbert Pence, Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Alain Senut, Vic Simons, Witold Urbanowicz, Bill Vigrass, Francis Wagner, Thomas Wagner, Philip Webb, Rick Wilson Production – Lanna Blyth Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 [email protected] News 164 SYSTEMS FACTFILE: bordeaux 184 Berlin confirms 2035 transport masterplan; A technical pioneer, the greater significance DESIGN – Debbie Nolan Edinburgh approves Newhaven extension; of Bordeaux’s tramway lies in its rapid Advertising GBP4bn Cambridgeshire ‘metro’ claimed growth and place at the heart of its host city. COMMERCIAL Manager – Geoff Butler Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 to be ‘very high value for money’; Cuenca Neil Pulling reports. [email protected] tramway opens for service; Chapel Hill – Publisher – Matt Johnston Durham LRT plan cancelled. WORLDWIDE REVIEW 190 Plans to shorten Mississauga LRT to save costs; Tramways & Urban Transit florence eyes the future 170 Odense opening delayed to late 2021; Caen 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK Alessandro Fantechi and Giovanni Mantovani begins city tram trials; Metro openings in explore the Tuscan capital’s second tramline. Ahmedabad, Delhi and Hyderabad; Karlsruhe Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring partners with Thales for autonomous trials; on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each month preceding the cover date. stockholm’s new connections 174 Funding for Bath/Bristol transit studies. After years of planning, Sweden’s capital is developing tramway connections to create a MAILBOX 195 more coherent network – TAUT reports. Thoughts on the UK ‘Call for Evidence’; why tram-trains are not a new concept! PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION safety in stuttgart 180 Warners (Midlands), Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK Reinhold Schröter of SSB explains how CLASSIC TRAMS: LISBOA 196 LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) previous incidents in the city have driven Mike Tedstone finds that classic trams are Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up technological and procedural solutions. making a welcome return to heritage line 24. members of the Light Rail Transit Association. LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY Brian Lomas Maximising value from public transport funding [email protected] [email protected] When times are tight, we need to demonstrate extra caution with money. Subscriptions, MEMBERSHIP and back issues Planning is vital and a detailed understanding of cause and effect help keep us LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley on track. Never more are these statements true than when governments and Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 transport authorities are balancing millions, or billions, in taxpayer funds. [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info With further doom and gloom coming out of London’s Crossrail project, for CORPORATE Subscriptions VISIT frustrating delays and cost overruns on light rail schemes in Sydney, Odense, www.mainspring.co.uk Frankfurt and others – it seems these concerns make the news far more than the plethora LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE of positive stories. When it all goes very wrong we see schemes cancelled and money 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling DA16 2BY, UK. literally thrown away. Of course there are spiralling costs in major projects everywhere Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 that illustrate how not to do things – anyone want to talk about Berlin’s Brandenburg in England and Wales. Airport, the Airbus A380 or the 2014 Olympics in Sochi? LRTA Chairman – Paul Rowen At times like these, we must ask: Are we controlling our money to the best of [email protected] our abilities or are external factors just working against us? Do we have the proper © LRTA 2019 governance and oversight to recognise early enough when things are going wrong? Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also Are we even spending funds in the right places? No-one likes a white elephant, after all. later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution With the business case for the UK’s planned High Speed 2 line seemingly becoming is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the ever more shaky, one could argue that this plan has passed its sell-by date. While I opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. wouldn’t deny that high-speed rail gives significant benefits to national economies, No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in to maximise these it needs to be linked to regional and city-based transportation any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including enhancements. This is well-proven in countries all over the world. photocopying, recording or by any information storage and After all, the majority of journeys start or end in an urban environment – and most retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from are also commuting journeys. Commuting to work, commuting to education, this the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the forms a large part of our lives. So the question is, how high does the HS2 bill need to magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. be – or how many delays can we accept – before diverting the funding into a range of COVER: Flexity Classic 6 and CAF Urbos 461 in LRT schemes to serve millions more people proves better value? Simon Johnston, Editor central Stockholm in September 2018. T. Johansson

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2019 / 163 News

Funds in place for NET extension bid Berlin’s 2035 transport Nottingham City Council (UK) has GBP50 000 (EUR58 000) masterplan confirmed to prepare a funding bid for expansion of the city’s tramway, 15-year plan includes significant investment in trams and electric buses the Nottingham Post has reported. It is hoped that money for the extensions will be made n 26 February the 2020 to cover the period to 2035, from Warschauer Strasse to available from the country’s EUR28.1bn Berliner but S-Bahn and regional rail Hermannplatz will come in Transforming Cities Fund. Nahverkehrsplan are also included. The tramway 2026-27. A new tramway will link Expanding Nottingham covering the period network will be expanded from Spittelmarkt and Mehringdamm. Express Transit to the west has Oup to 2035 was issued by the 194km to 267km (166 miles), Spandau, where the last trams long been an ambition, with Senate of Land Berlin. The plan much as expected when already on West Berlin’s first-generation light rail being seen as a local was developed to follow the trailed in 2018 (TAUT 967). network ran in 1966, will see transport solution following Berlin Mobility Act, that sets In 2021 trams will reach trams again in 2029, with a the decision to build a station targets for sustainable transport, Ostkreuz, and be extended from line from Paulsternstrasse for the planned High Speed 2 and to ensure the economic Hbf to Turmstrasse and from to Heerstrasse; a branch to line at Toton, mid-way between development of the city region, Adlershof to S-Bhf Schöneweide. Falkenhagener Feld will follow. Nottingham and the city of including elimination of fossil Turmstrasse – Jungfernheide City centre tramways will be Derby. Under the plans, one fuels from the city’s transport will follow in 2024 and a link extended from Potsdamer Platz NET line would reach Derby via energy mix by the end of 2030. to Bhf Mahlsdorf in 2025. The to Steglitz (2030) and Zoo (2035). Toton, with another serving Property development will single-track section of line 62 New depots will be built at UTR East Midlands Airport. be linked to public transport in Mahlsdorf will be doubled Tegel, Blankenburger Süden Toton lies on the eastern leg provision. and there will be a link from and Adlershof. The potential of phase two of the proposed Municipal public transport Pankow to Pasedagplatz. for freight trams will also be HS2 line, which is intended to company BVG (U-Bahn, trams, New construction from investigated. open in 2033. The high-speed buses and ferries) will be directly Alexanderplatz to Potsdamer For the U-Bahn, with the Green project has been controversial awarded an operating contract in Platz, to Kulturforum and party (against expansion) and however, with ongoing SPD holding different views, criticism of the likely costs. market share studies will be launched for Rudow – BER (airport), Wittenau – Märkischen Viertel and Kurt-Schumacher- Platz to UTR Tegel. A second north–south S-Bahn link is planned, as is the revival of the old line from Gartenfeld to Siemensstadt (new technology campus). NET Citadis 216 and 236 at Toton All bus routes will run at Lane terminus. Beyond the trams, the site of the planned Toton HS2 station is least every ten minutes and less than 1.5km away. Neil Pulling 1630 electric buses should be in service by 2030 (the current fleet numbers 45). Daimler Buses handed over the first of 15eCitaro Bologna trams to electric buses on 27 March; each return by 2026? bus is equipped with ten battery modules, providing a minimum Further to previous reports, on BVG Bombardier Flexity Berlin tram 9008 at Hbf. Extensions west from here will range of 150km (90 miles), with 7 March Bologna Mayor Virginio require many more new trams. BVG recharging at the depot. Merola announced that an application for Italian state funding had been submitted for a four-line tramway that could be up and running from 2026. Edinburgh approves Newhaven line Pending approval, it is expected that tenders would Edinburgh’s tramway (UK) will Edinburgh council Transport Venture for the Infrastructure; be released in 2021, with the be extended from York Place and Environment Convener and Systems Contract and first works beginning in 2022. to Leith and Newhaven after Lesley Macinnes described the Morrison Utility Services for With all four lines complete, it is the city’s council approved go-ahead for extending the the Swept Path Contract) will estimated that public transport the Final Business Case on 14 tram as “a crucial decision for work with the council and other share in the city would be 21%. March. Construction could be Edinburgh”, adding “I firmly stakeholders in that time to The first 15km (nine-mile) completed by early 2023. believe the tram project is in finalise construction plans. route, designated as the Red line, The estimated GBP207m the best interests of the city’s The tramway is expected to would serve 29 stops between (EUR241m) extension to the current and future residents and, carry 16m passengers in the first Borgo Panigale in the west existing 14km (8.7-mile) tramline as an Administration, we will do year of operation of the new and Caab in the north-east, will add 4.6km (2.8 miles) and everything in our power to make extension, almost double that via Bologna Centrale railway complete the intended section of sure it’s delivered on time and on predicted for the existing line in station on a mostly segregated the tramway’s original Phase 1a. budget.” the period. alignment. There would also The truncated current line, which A six-month ‘Early Contractor Work to finalise a GBP2.4m be a 1.5km (0.9-mile) eastern opened in 2014 after much- Involvement’ period started at (EUR2.8m) package to support branch to Michelino. City centre publicised delays, runs between the end of March. The contractors local businesses during sections would be catenary-free. the city’s airport and York Place. (Sacyr, Farrans, Neopul Joint construction is ongoing.

164 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Cuenca VLT opens for passengers Ecuador’s first modern tramway, using wire-free technology, opens after years of delays

anta Ana de los Cuatra For the first 60 days passengers Rios de Cuenca is the are limited to invited groups from capital of Azuay Province all sectors of the community in Ecuador, a UNESCO and no fares are charged. Test WorldS Heritage site some 2560m running started on part of the above sea level with an urban line in 2015, but opening was population of about 400 000. delayed by four years due to a The new 10.2km (6.3-mile) series of funding and contractual standard-gauge tramway from problems that led to a change in Parque Industrial to Control Sur contractor in 2017 from CCRC was finally opened for passenger (Alstom/CIM/TSO) to ACTN service on 8 March, using 14 five- (Alstom/CIM/NGE Group). section 32.4m Alstom Citadis 302 Tenerife tramway operator low-floor trams built in France. Metrotenerife is providing An Alstom Citadis in central Cuenca. Metro Tenerife They are equipped with APS three years of technical and surface current collection for use organisational support for running 06.00-22.00; it will be The initial 2013 contract was over 4km (2.5 miles) of track in commercial operation. able to carry 120 000 passengers/ worth USD214.4m but the final the historic city centre. Getzner The end-to-end journey time is day, though only 40 000 are cost of the project was USD282m, vibration protection is provided 35 minutes and a ten-minute peak expected at first. The commercial with 80% coming from the under the tracks here. service is provided with 12 cars speed is 22km/h (14mph). national government.

Ten-point MTA reorganisation plan unveiled

In a rare display of unity, New in the outer boroughs. Tolls All future major projects transportation, engineering and York Mayor Bill de Blasio and will be introduced no later than would be pursued on a government experts to review State Governor Andrew Cuomo December 2020 and are expected ‘design-build’ basis, with MTA the capital expenditure plan, have announced a ten-point plan to raise around USD1bn/year, preliminary designs reviewed by toll and fare increases. The RTC to transform MTA finances. while MTA fares would be construction and engineering will have appointees by the The plan is aimed at proving limited to inflationary increases experts from Cornell School Governor, Mayor, State Assembly dedicated and sustained funding of 2% per year. of Engineering and Columbia and Senate, and representatives for the authority from electronic Other elements of the School of Engineering. This from subway riders groups. congestion charging, a cannabis plan include consolidating group is also to review signalling What the plan means for excise tax and an internet functions such as construction upgrade plans. NYCT President Andy Byford’s sales tax to finance capital management, procurement, The most controversial Fast Forward plan announced expenditure. These ring-fenced legal and professional services, elements of the plan reflect in May 2018 (TAUT 967) is streams will be prioritised engineering, human resources governance. Terms for MTA still unclear as the proposed for subway repairs, including and marketing and advertising Board appointments will be reorganisation moves a new signalling and rolling for all transport services under modified so that they end with significant amount of authority stock, track and vehicle repair, one MTA-managed body. An the appointing elected official’s – over engineering, procurement accessibility improvements, new independent audit of MTA assets tenure and a new ‘Regional and construction management – buses and further expanding and liabilities is to be completed Transit Committee’ (RTC) will to the MTA and its new groups of public transport access to areas by January 2020. be created of independent teams of independent overseers.

DB explores options for NEWS IN PICTURES sale of subsidiary Arriva UK Very Light Rail vehicle Deutsche Bahn AG is to explore TDI – Transport Design International options for the sale of operating design revealed subsidiary Arriva, which it has The Warwick Manufacturing Group has 100% owned since 2010. unveiled the design of the Very Light Rail Arriva, which has its roots in bus vehicle it is developing with Transport services in the UK but has grown Design International. It hopes to have a to include both heavy and light prototype constructed by mid-2020; rail operations internationally, this would then be tested at the VLR generated EUR5.44bn in revenue National Innovation Centre in Dudley. last year. The battery-powered vehicle would have Light rail operations include capacity for 50 passengers and in the Metro do Porto and the Metro Sul longer term would be fully autonomous. do Tejo in Portugal, as well as in The Coventry & Warwickshire Local Stockholm in Sweden, as part of Enterprise Partnership has contributed an integrated transport contract GBP2.46m (EUR2.87m) towards the first (see page 174). phase of research and development, with a further GBP12.2m EUR14.2m) from the West Midlands Combined Authority. DB has reported that selling Subject to successful testing and obtaining a Transport & Works Act Order, construction of a permanent route in Arriva would help limit the rise in Coventry could begin in 2024. the parent organisation’s debt.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2019 / 165 News CAM business case claims scheme offers very high value for money Cambridge centre tunnels proposed for GBP4bn ‘metro’ system that could reach 142km by 2029

he Cambridgeshire The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Autonomous Metro (CAM) as Combined Authority planned includes 12km (7.5 miles) released a Strategic of twin-bore tunnelling under OutlineT Business Case (SOBC) for Cambridge and two underground its 142km (88-mile) autonomous stations, one in the city centre ‘metro’ on 19 March, claiming and another at Cambridge the GBP4bn (EUR4.7bn) scheme station. The CAM would serve offers very high value for money inner transport corridors to when judged against the UK Cambourne, Granta Park, Department for Transport’s Waterbeach and to Newmarket benefit-cost ratio. Road and Trumpington park-and- The authority says that based ride sites. Lines would eventually upon both conservative and extend to St Neots, Alconbury, upper estimates, the economic Mildenhall and Haverhill. The Cambridge Autonomous Metro would use rubber-tyred, tram-like vehicles. benefits of the scheme that would However, lobby group Smarter Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority serve the university city and the Cambridge Transport has been wider region would outweigh highly critical of the SOBC scheme, necessary over the next infrastructure with other rail costs by two to four times, and called for a peer review. ten years before CAM would transport. providing “transformational” Points the group raise include open, would obviate at least If approved, work on the CAM change and supporting further questioning of the assumptions part of the proposed project; could start in 2021, with the core growth for one of the UK’s of the financial case; the extent and arguing that aspects of metro infrastructure anticipated fastest-growing regions. to which any medium-term the project create competing to be implemented in 2023-29.

Canberra light rail opening date announced Stadler owner to sell 40% stake in IPO The new tramway in the Australian capital is to open on Stadler Rail launched its initial and components business (12% MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta 20 April with reorganisation of the public offering (IPO) on the SIX of revenues in 2018, compared Rapid Transit Authority) has city’s bus network from 29 April. Swiss Exchange on 12 April. to 88% for rolling stock awarded Stadler a contract There will be free travel on the The IPO included 35m shares production) as well as investing to supply 127 two-car metro trams over the Easter weekend. from largest shareholder and further in product research trains, with options for up to Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris confirmed the Executive Chairman Peter and development, proprietary 50 additional sets, marking the opening on 19 March, adding Spuhler, with an over-allotment signalling technology and largest order by volume in the that this date is still subject to the of an additional 5.25m shares. targeted expansion into new company’s history as well its first necessary approvals, saying that The price range for the offer regions. for metro trains in the US. “contingencies are in place” if the was set at CHF33-41 (EUR29- Stadler has more than 8500 The 750V dc third-rail trains date could not be met. 36.5), representing a market employees, delivering more than will consist of permanently- Asunción tram-train gains capitalisation of CHF3.3-4.1bn 8000 rail vehicles for operation coupled 45.7m pairs, plus two international interest (EUR2.94-3.65bn) in 41 countries, and has a options each for 25 married Plans are being firmed up for Mr Spuhler will retain 39.70% reputation for rail vehicles that pairs. Designated CQ400, the the 44km (27-mile) USD380m of the company’s share capital present more unusual design trains will have 128 seats and tram-train scheme linking the instead of his current 80%; the challenges or for short-run a maximum speed of 113km/h Paraguayan capital of Asunción other 20% remains with RAG orders, with low lifecycle costs (70mph). Interior features and Ypacaraí. The project Stiftung (10%) and staff-held and high reliability. It is also a include at-seat power sockets, will primarily use an existing shares (10%). leader in the European tram- passenger Wi-Fi and luggage Paraguayan Railways (Fepasa) The IPO is designed to train market, supplying systems racks for services to Hartsfield- alignment, serving stations in Asunción, Puerto Botánico, Luque, unlock the revenue to allow in the Germany, UK, Denmark, Jackson Atlanta International Yukyry, Patiño and Areguá with the company to grow its service Italy and Hungary. Airport. The first trains are due 12-15 demand stops. Signal priority to enter service in 2023. would be given for street-running An artist’s impression of the new Assembly will take place at the urban sections. MARTA metro cars. Stadler new 21 400m2 plant in Salt Lake The route is forecast to carry City, Utah. With 350 employees, around 150 000 passengers a the facility is located on a 25ha day and services will be operated site and has a new spur from the by a fleet of 12 tram-trains with a capacity for 280 passengers. national rail network to allow A proposed tender for the materials shipped to ports such vehicles has attracted interest from as Long Beach or Houston, to six international manufacturers: be transported directly to the Alstom, Bombardier, CAF, factory. A 1km (0.7-mile) test Hyundai Rotem, Stadler Rail and track with overhead catenary, is Transmash Holdings. under construction. The facility was to open officially on 9 May.

166 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Bangkok’s city Freiburg welcomes new tramway to beat Stadtbahn Rotteckring congestion The President of the Thai Association for Town Planning City centre link designed to ease congestion on German city tramway has proposed two new tram routes to alleviate congestion wenty years after the were free rides on the network for The 2km (1.2-mile) city in the heavily-congested and referendum approved the the rest of the day; about 2000 centre link is designed to free up polluted Ratchaprasong and expansion of tramlines passengers rode on line 5. capacity on the system, which Pathumwan districts of the in the city centre of As with any significant was experiencing congestion capital, Bangkok. TFreiburg-im-Breisgau, the so- tramway event in this south on the traditional ‘cross’ lines Under the proposals of called Stadtbahn Rotteckring German city, official celebrations through Bertoldsbrunnen, where Thapana Bunyapravit, given was opened by the mayor at were enhanced by the Freunde over 1000 tram movements/day to local media on 27 March, 11.00 on 16 March, served by der Freiburger Strassenbahn eV are scheduled. The new section of a 15km (9.3-mile) Yellow line line 5 from Haslach/Rieselfeld with restored museum trams, street double-track tramway uses would start at Ratchaprasong, to Europaplatz (formerly including maximum traction car Kronenstrasse, Kronenbrücke, passing along Ratchadamri Road, Siegesdenkmal). The opening 56 with Verbandstyp trailer 135, Rotteckring and Friedrichring. Rama IV Road and Sarasin Road tram was GT8Z 262 and there Sputnik 100 and GT4 109. Construction work began before reaching a new terminus in 2015 and involved 460t of close to the Airport Rail Link’s track, 16 sets of points, 2300t Ratchaprarop station. This would of concrete and one substation; cost THB5-6bn (EUR140-168m). there is 7000m2 of grassed A second (Pink) route would reservation. The final cost cover 12km (7.5 miles) in a loop was EUR57.5m, with EUR23m around Ratchaprasong, covering coming from federal funds and the busy intersection at MBK EUR25.8m from the Land. Work shopping mall and traversing was completed in time for the the Hua Chang Bridge. This is first test tram on 8 February, estimated to cost THB3.5bn since when 450 drivers have been (EUR95m). trained on the new line. A new bus service is to be At Europaplatz there is a introduced this year on the triangular junction with the proposed routes to gauge existing north–south tramway, commuter demand; sufficient but the double-ended cars on line uptake would determine whether 5 reverse at the terminus stop, so tramway investment – with the triangle is not used in regular 10-12 vehicles planned for a Opening tram 262 in Wethmannstrasse on its inaugural run on 16 March. B. Köhl passenger service. 15-minute service – is feasible.

VDV tram-train NEWS IN PICTURES ‘standard’ to go ahead On 11 March five German transport authorities, members of the VDV organisation, signed an agreement in Karlsruhe for a joint tendering exercise for up to 240 tram-trains, in a move it is hoped will achieve significant cost savings and reduce lead times. RCP Design Global Representatives from VBK (Karlsruhe), AVG (Albtal Verkehrs AG), Saarbrücken (Saarbahn), ENAG (Erms- Neckar-Bahn AG) and VMS (Chemnitz) have been working together since 2017, led by the Karslruhe operators, pioneers of tram-train operation in Germany through the Karlsruhe Modell. VBK and AVG will manage the tendering process Styling for new Nantes tram since they have a requirement for about 150 LRVs. The adopts the ‘Tours look’ first vehicles are expected to enter service in 2025. RCP Design Global has revealed the styling for the The final numbers to be ordered will be determined new trams on order for the French city of Nantes. by negotiation between the consortium partners: Due to be delivered from 2022, the 61 low-floor Karlsruhe and Saarbahn want to replace their first- trams are likely to cost EUR234m and will replace generation tram-trains; Chemnitz needs more 46 high-floor Alstom cars delivered for the vehicles as its scheme expands; ENAG is a new project creation of the system in late 1980s. to convert diesel-operated local railways such as The design was influenced by five RCP-hosted workshops held with local residents in the Metzingen – Urach, Kleinengstingen – Schelklingen and summer of 2018. Each tram will accommodate 50 more passengers than the vehicles they replace and will make the Nantes network 100% low-floor to increase accessibility. Neckarbischofsheim-Nord – Hüffenhardt to dual-system The size of the order will permit network expansion, such as the link between lines 1 and 2 tram-train operation, with tram tracks in town streets to at Babinière in 2024. The manufacturer will be announced at the end of 2019, once tenders bring passengers closer to their destinations (the driving have been evaluated; the successful bidder will be expected to follow the design as closely as motive behind the original Karlsruhe concept). possible. The front end in particular resembles the trams running in Tours since 2013; they were built by Alstom, but Nantes’ latest cars came from CAF (though they were assembled in France). See TAUT 968 for detail on the VDV tram-train alliance.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2019 / 167 News Chapel Hill – Durham LRT cancelled ‘Insurmountable’ funding and planning obstacles end a decade-long light rail dream in North Carolina

he Board of GoTriangle, LRVs did not affect research and the regional agency diagnostic equipment. overseeing transport This, alongside failure to reach development in the agreement with North Carolina TNorth Carolinian counties of Railroad on shared rights of Wake, Durham and Orange, voted way and rapidly approaching to stop work on its USD2.7bn deadlines for both state and light rail project on 27 March. federal funding agreements Politicians and officials have that made up more than half vented their frustrations that it of the project’s funding, led to has become impossible to meet the decision. Durham Mayor increased expenses and address Steve Schewel commented: “We difficulties in acquiring rights of are also spending USD7m per way to deliver the 28.5km month of taxpayer funds and it’s (17.7-mile) line that would not responsible to keep doing connect Chapel Hill to Durham. An artist’s impression of the Chapel Hill – Durham LRT project, now deemed so without a path forward. We Light rail was selected as the ‘impossible’ due to insurmountable planning and funding issues. GoTriangle will be doing our best to preserve preferred alternative over BRT as much of the corridor as we in April 2012, with Durham and With main construction failure to reach an agreement can… and figuring out with the Orange County voters approving expected to begin in 2020, with Duke University over a key community what is the best way a half-cent sales tax to support the for completion in 2028, 2016 section of the line that passed its to get transit in our region.” project so design and engineering ridership projections indicated Medical Centre on Erwin Road USD130m has been spent on could begin. The route would 23 020 daily trips on the line in western Durham. GoTriangle the project so far and neither serve 19 stations, including by 2040. had already committed USD90m county is expected to repeal the hospitals and the campuses of Delays and design to a new elevated section to half-cent sales tax as it is hoped Duke and North Carolina Central modifications added USD267m alleviate concerns about electric this can be repurposed for new University, forming the backbone to the project, and a number of power disruptions and agreed bus services, a Wake – Durham of future public transport plans contentious issues have faced insurance policies to ensure commuter rail line and an for the wider region. the project, including the that vibrations from passing Amtrak station in Hillsborough.

UK passenger satisfaction Brierley Hill extension given go-ahead remains high The West Midlands Combined run southwestwards through DY5 business and innovation Now in its sixth year, the UK Authority has given the final Tipton and Dudley, with some enterprise zone at Waterfront in Tram Passenger Survey was funding go-ahead for the sections expected to be wire-free. Brierley Hill, as well as linking in released on 2 April, covering the Wednesbury – Brierley Hill It will include up to 17 calling with the planned multi-million views of almost 5000 passengers extension of the UK’s West points, with journey times pound transport interchange in across four UK systems: Midlands Metro. Preparatory work expected to halve in comparison Dudley town centre. Blackpool, Sheffield, Manchester on the route that runs in part with travelling by bus. and the West Midlands. on former heavy rail formation The extension will be planned, TfWM has now begun a The key findings of the survey began in 2017, and services are designed and delivered by the feasibility study to investigate are that overall passenger expected to reach Dudley in 2023. Midland Metro Alliance on what mode of transport will best satisfaction remains at 91%, The expected GBP449m 11km behalf of Transport for West link Brierley Hill to Stourbridge peaking at 97% in Blackpool (seven-mile) line is to leave the Midlands, which is part of – whether that is rail, light rail, and Sheffield; the number of existing route near Wednesbury the WMCA. The new line will Metro or bus – to further improve passengers saying they were Great Western Street stop and improve connectivity to the connectivity in the borough. ‘very satisfied’ with their journey increased from 56% in 2017 to 58% in 2018. Other key Capacity, technology and regulation debated in Bilbao performance measures such as punctuality and journey time The 2019 Rail Live! event the implementation of Mobility Under-Secretary of State at the remain high, at 89% and 88% welcomed over 5000 attendees As a Service was also well covered Department for International respectively. to the Bilbao Exhibition Centre amongst the presentations from Trade Graham Stuart MP said that Whilst overall satisfaction on 6-7 March, for two days of over 200 speakers. the UK is still ‘open for business’. was high, 40% suggested debate and discussion alongside Sustainability and long-term Mr Stuart outlined GBP48bn improvements to their journey. an exhibition of 170 service growth was apparent in most (EUR56bn) in overall investment These varied by network but suppliers to the rail industry. presentations and highlighted in in rail, with 12 000 new vehicles mostly concerned capacity, A key theme for this year’s a presentation from Nigel Holness being purchased over the next vehicle comfort and condition, event was how best to focus the (Managing Director of London 30 years; keen to emphasise that and frequency and routes of investment required to cater for Underground) who described his this investment will continue the trams; 11% noted concerns passenger growth in the third agency’s expansion plans, the following ‘Brexit’. related to the behaviour of other decade of the 21st Century – and rise of contactless payments and Another key theme was passengers. beyond – as well as meeting the challenges of investing at the how the liberalisation of rail Read the full report at the needs of more demanding same time as reducing the cost of competition under the EU’s www.transportfocus.org.uk/ passengers in an increasingly journeys in and around London. Fourth Railway Package will research-publications/research/ connected world. The role of Reflecting the key political make rail transport more tram-passenger-survey/ ‘intelligent infrastructure’ and issue of the day, UK Parliamentary competitive with other modes.

168 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org TRACKELAST TEL: +44 (0) 1579 320808 EMAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.trackelast.com Specialist Rail Solutions Experts in noise and vibration attenuation in rail track SYSTEM DESIGN Floating slab track, rubber bearings & steel housings. Noise and vibration evaluation. Transition zones for bridges and turnouts.

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www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2019 / 169 Florence

The Tuscan capital is world- renowned as the birthplace Florence T2: of the Renaissance, but with its latest addition Alessandro Fantechi and A modern Giovanni Mantovani show how the city is becoming a leader in the art of the masterpiece modern tramway. lorence’s long-awaited T2 is equipped with such heavy equipment, lanes, as well as the covering of the bridge’s tramline was initially expected to probably intended to protect the narrower steel structure with a metal shell, remained open alongside the extension to street in front from possible runaways: either incomplete on inauguration day. The San T1 in July 2018 (see TAUT 970), but way this wall makes a visual statement that no Donato – Università stop serves an important a series of delays meant that the tram can trespass into the city’s historic centre. commercial centre, the University’s social Fnew 5.3km (3.3-mile) Santa Maria Novella – A delta junction connects to T1, including science campus, a new development airport route opened on 11 February this year. a road intersection with another immediately including housing and a park, and, slightly Public service followed a formal opening after the delta, making this a critical location further away, the new city courts. ceremony at the airport attended by the for both tram and road traffic. T1 and T2 On its way to the airport, three other stops Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, and other share 370m of tracks, including the Alamanni serve the densely-populated Novoli area. national and local authorities. Stazione stop; this point sees a tram every 130 After passing under the railway line to Pisa, The line, on a fully reserved and paved seconds in each direction, considered to be the tramway heads underground in a 500m right-of-way, features ten intermediate stops the maximum flow supported by the line. cut-and-cover tunnel, including the as well as one that is currently not activated, Shortly after leaving the junction with Guidoni stop, serving a large park-and-ride plus two termini. The end-to-end journey T1, T2 enters an area formerly occupied facility that should remove tourist bus and time is 22 minutes. Trams run every four by railway maintenance facilities, with a car traffic coming into the city. A new stop minutes and 20 seconds for most of the day, spectacular passage through the Mazzoni on the railway is planned, connected by a with 15 days of free travel following the building – a notable example of rationalistic pedestrian bridge. opening. Several bus routes in the area have architecture from the early 20th Century that Just beyond the airport terminus is a short been reorganised as feeder services. is being restored to its original appearance. twin-track area, although it is not clear The line then passes through the whether this would be used for the planned A route through the city construction site of the new underground extension to Sesto due to a possible conflict The Piazza dell’Unità terminus is located station for high-speed rail services. A tramstop with other plans for a new runway for the beside the Santa Maria Novella church; the is already in place, waiting for the completion growing airport. original plans to continue the line through of this highly controversial project for which T2 has taken on the nickname ‘Vespucci’ the historic centre, serving Duomo and it is difficult to predict an opening date – – celebrating the ancient explorer and San Marco squares, were curtailed following and even the kind of service it will host. navigator after whom the airport is also a 2009 decision to pedestrianise the area The next notable location is the 230m San named – while the extended T1 line is known surrounding the Duomo. Donato viaduct that allows passage for the locally as ‘Leonardo’ in honour of famed The tramstop here is equipped with shock tramway across the Mugnone River and an artist and inventor Leonardo Da Vinci. It does absorbers mounted on a low wall built for this important roundabout as well as introducing not seem that these nicknames have entered purpose. No other terminus on the system two bicycle and pedestrian lanes. These common use, however.

Sirio 2026 heads into the underground section after leaving the airport on a T2 service. G. Mantovani

ABOVE: Palazzi Rossi tramstop and the narrowing street ahead caused by to an historical building that has to be preserved. G. Mantovani BELOW: A T2 service approaching the delta junction in front of the railway station on a trial service on 2 February. A. Fantechi

170 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org ABOVE: On inauguration day, two T2 trams in the section common to T1 alongside Santa Maria Novella station. G. Mantovani Far left: Sirio 2028 on the San Donato viaduct, with work ongoing in the foreground. A. Fantechi Left: The main stays of the San Donato viaduct being placed into position in September 2016. S. Melandri

Looking to the future The last section from Piazza della Libertà At Leopolda, the tracks would connect to The current two-line network serves only a to Piazza San Marco will be in two parallel T1 but T4 will stop here with transfers to T1 fraction of the important west and north-west roads for the up and down lines. It is not yet necessary to penetrate the city further. suburban regions of the city, and no service is clear which service would be operated on this This is considered important in reducing offered to the central, east and south areas. branch, most likely an extension of T2 with tramway congestion at the main railway Yet the success of the current network the abandonment of the new Unità terminus. station. There are, however, concerns about the has increased expectations from fiorentini In any case, this will further extend the transfer at Leopolda from the already-crowded excluded from the tramway’s coverage and critically saturated section operated by both trams coming from Scandicci. Contradictory new lines, and extensions are already at an lines and include two new intermediate stops. concerns regard the expected patronage: the advanced stage of design. The first three of alignment is lateral, and a bit detached, from these could see the start of works before T4: Le Piagge, San Donnino and Campi the extensively-built area of Via Baracca, the end of 2019. The scarcely-used railway tracks that leave which is not far from the newly-opened T2. Leopolda (the first station in Florence, The line is planned to be eventually T2 to San Marco terminus of the line to Pisa that opened in extended from Le Piagge by another 6km The decision to truncate T2 at the edge of the 1848 and host to a railway workshop less than (3.7 miles) to serve San Donnino and city’s historic centre has left the main tourist 20 years ago, now an exhibition centre) have Campi Bisenzio; the latter is the centre of attractions some distance from any tramstop. inspired proposals for T4. The T3 designation a municipality of almost 50 000 residents, In an attempt to recover some service without was used for the line to Careggi before its until now with no rail connection. laying tracks close to the Duomo, a U-shaped opening as an extension of T1. This 6.2km branch will link the railway station to Piazza (3.8-mile) route would feature 12 intermediate T2 to Sesto Fiorentino San Marco – 100m from the gallery hosting stops, and for the initial 3.5km (5.6 miles) Building on the latest line, T2 will continue Michelangelo’s world-famous ‘David’. run on a conversion of the railway alignment to the University’s scientific campus close The 1.7km (1.05-mile) extension will start that is currently used by a few local services to to Sesto Fiorentino. As this municipality from a delta junction that is already partially Empoli each day. of 50 000 residents is already covered by installed along T1, close to the Fortezza stop, The line will then pass under the railway regional train services, it is believed that most reaching Piazza della Libertà by a median to join a parallel reservation, serving the Le ridership will be generated by the university. reservation on the large Lavagnini boulevard; Piagge residential area and access to a new Some therefore question whether there will it will then turn back into the centre for a depot. Due to the peculiarity of the route, the be enough patronage to justify the new line, loop in the historic square. line will have just four road intersections. but it can be expected that such a link will

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org may 2019 / 171 Florence

Following the formal revitalise the campus that until now has opening ceremony, suffered from isolation due to its distance the first T2 services are from the other University sites. The extension about to depart will feature eight stops over 6km (3.7 miles). from the airport terminus. G. Mantovani Lines to Bagno a Ripoli and Rovezzano Possibly the most significant development will be the realisation of two lines in the east of the city to serve densely-populated areas and business districts. Furthermore, these lines will at last provide diametrical tram routes, although, probably, without direct services. Technical and economic studies have already been completed and state funding identified under the framework of the recent call for the evaluation of tram and metro projects. Partial European funding is also available through the Tuscany Region. Both lines would originate in Piazza della Libertà, with connections to T2. The first, approximately 7km (4.3 miles) long, will run on the eastern part of the historic ring boulevards and along the Arno River to the existing Giovanni da Verrazzano bridge. A new bridge will be built for diverted car traffic. On the other river bank the line will continue

BOLOGna

SESTO T1 FiOREnTinO Castello T2

T2 extension to Piazza San Marco

T2 cancelled city alignment

T2 underground extension (abandoned)

T4 phase 1 airport T1 Extensions to Campi Bisenzio (T4) Peretola Careggi-Ospedale T2 Aeroporto and Sesto Fiorentino (T2) Eastern extensions Morgagni - Università Guidoni Dalmazia Railway lines Novoli- Palazzi Rossi caMPi Rifredi Vittorio Emanuele II Railway stations BiSEnZiO Novoli-Toree agli Agli Poggetto T4 Le Piagge Cascine Belfiore H. S. Station (under construction) Novoli-Regione Pisacane San Donato Leopoldo Toscana Universitá Muratori - Stazione Statuto Le Piagge Buonsignori Liceo da Vinci Ponte PiSa all’Asse Mugnone River Statuto Piazza della Libertà Strozzi - Belfiore Fallaci

T4 Leopolda Rosselli Fortezza Piazza san Valfonda Marco Porta Cascine al Prato MAIN RAILWAY Sansovino STATION (SANTA Talenti Alamanni MARIA NOVELLA) Campo di Stazione ROMa T2 Marte ROVEZZanO Batoni Historic Unità centre Federiga

MilanMotorway – n a1 Rovezzano Arcipressi

aples

Nenni Torregalli

Aldo Moro BaGnO a RiPOLi Villa Resistenza Constanza T1 DEPOT Scandicci Bagno a De Andrè Ripoli

172 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org along Viale Giannotti and Viale Europa to the border of Florence. There it will enter Bagno a Ripoli, a municipality of about 25 000, where both the terminus and a new depot will be located. An existing but scarcely-used park-and-ride would be revitalised, taking car traffic away from the Chianti region and motorway traffic from the south. The route along the ring boulevards has raised concerns about a supposed loss of ABOVE: Piazza dell’Unità terminus, alongside capacity for road traffic as all other tramway the Santa Maria Novella church. A. Fantechi lines in Florence run on reserved lanes. Another challenge from the Monument and BELOW: The buffers at Piazza dell’Unità, Fine Arts Office has voiced concerns about showing the shock absorber buffers. A. Fantechi tree preservation, so it is very likely that the boulevards section will be constructed without overhead line equipment. The second 6km (3.7-mile) line will run along Viale Don Minzoni, crossing the railway belt at Le Cure and continuing along Viale dei Mille to reach the present football ground (a new one is foreseen in a different location) and other sport facilities, as well as Campo di Marte railway station. This route would serve another densely-populated district, terminating at Rovezzano railway station.

BOLOGna

SESTO T1 FiOREnTinO Castello T2

T2 extension to Piazza San Marco

T2 cancelled city alignment

T2 underground extension (abandoned) ABOVE: The twin-track alignment beyond the T4 phase 1 new airport stop; could this be laid in preparation ABOVE: A T2 service from the airport approaches the airport T1 for an extension to Sesto? A. Fantechi main station on the junction with T1. A. Fantechi Extensions to Campi Bisenzio (T4) Peretola Careggi-Ospedale T2 and Sesto Fiorentino (T2) Aeroporto The city centre issue approval, but in 2009 the new municipal Eastern extensions The extension of T2 to Piazza San Marco administration cancelled the central section, Morgagni - Università Guidoni cannot by itself satisfactorily serve the city justifying this as a consequence of a wide Dalmazia Railway lines Novoli- centre – the area inside the ring avenues pedestrianisation zone around the Duomo. Palazzi Rossi caMPi Rifredi 2 Vittorio Emanuele II Railway stations larger than 3km (1.2 square miles). Transfers One must deduce they were not aware of the BiSEnZiO Novoli-Toree agli Agli Poggetto to small buses, already serving some areas full compatibility of trams with pedestrian T4 Le Piagge Cascine Belfiore H. S. Station (under construction) of the inner city, would not be satisfactory areas seen in so many European cities. Novoli-Regione Pisacane Toscana San Donato Leopoldo either due to the excessive number of vehicles For a time, an underground crossing was Universitá required to provide an acceptable service. It seen as a answer but it soon became clear Muratori - Stazione Statuto would also require another change of mode. this wasn’t the right solution due to the Le Piagge Buonsignori Liceo da Vinci The best option would therefore be a many buildings of historic significance and Ponte PiSa all’Asse Mugnone River Statuto Piazza della barycentric tram route and it must be pointed geotechnical factors that would require a Libertà out that good public transport is key to avoid route deep below the surface. The tunnel Strozzi - a negative urban drift, whereby residents would also have to be about 4km (2.5 miles) Belfiore Fallaci and businesses leave the centre, expelled by long in order to reach areas where the

T4 Leopolda Rosselli Fortezza tourism – a phenomenon that has become entrances could be placed – this would have Piazza san more and more pressing for Florence. meant high construction and operation Valfonda Marco Porta The original T2 alignment traversed the costs, unjustifiable for a single tram line. Cascine al Prato MAIN RAILWAY Sansovino STATION (SANTA centre, from the main railway station to Moreover, accessibility would have been Talenti Alamanni MARIA NOVELLA) Campo di Stazione ROMa Piazza Beccaria, splitting into two tracks after poor. It seems, sadly, very difficult to find a T2 Marte ROVEZZanO Batoni Historic passing the Duomo; a perfect diametrical solution that ticks all the boxes. Unità centre Federiga alignment which was unfortunately As an aside, a side-effect of the lack of a incompatible with some very narrow roads. transverse link through the centre is that MilanMotorway – n a1 Rovezzano In the first years of this century a variant the planned new lines to the east will force Arcipressi was defined, turning to the left before the a change of vehicle at Piazza della Libertà aples Duomo and running on Via Martelli to Piazza to reach the main railway station, since the San Marco and then onto Via Cavour to the congested section between Fortezza and Nenni Torregalli terminus in Piazza della Libertà. No overhead Alamanni will be at capacity. The overall travel Aldo Moro line and interlaced tracks were foreseen for time would easily be greater than the time BaGnO a RiPOLi a 300m section near the Duomo. The loss of taken by the direct bus routes ten years ago, Villa Resistenza patronage from the abandoned eastern part was with a potential reduction in attractiveness. Constanza T1 DEPOT compensated by the branch towards the north, One must hope that the passage alongside Scandicci Bagno a De Andrè Ripoli and a stop near the Duomo was at an acceptable the Duomo will be reconsidered, to finally walking distance from many main locations connect tracks in Piazza dell’Unità and Piazza of the historic area. This variant gained San Marco in the not too distant future.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org may 2019 / 173 Stockholm

STOCKHOLM: past, present and future With a proud tramway heritage, Stockholm’s fractured network is on the way to new connections to rejoin the transport network of Sweden’s thriving capital.

t is nearly 52 years since the Dagen H these closures. Although Malmö continued concerns has grown, and while provincial (literally ‘H Day’, where ‘H’ stands for until 1973, the only two other city tramways governments form the pivot in decision- höger, translated as ‘right’) modification from the first-generation that remain today making as to their own needs, they require of road regulations in Sweden that are Göteborg (Gothenburg) and Norrköping. state contributions financially. This it is saw the transition of driving from The opening of Stockholm’s metro prepared to do for projects deemed important Ithe left- to the right-hand side of the road. (Tunnelbanan/T-bana) from 1950 had in meeting national ambitions; the Designed to reduce the number of accidents already removed the need for a number of the government has a target of reducing harmful (it is estimated that 90% of Swedes drove city’s central tram routes, although the last emissions from road traffic by 70% by 2030, left-hand drive vehicles at the time), and align to be lifted was line 20, Ropsten – Kyrkviken, requiring an annual reduction of 8% . the nation’s road traffic regulations with its in 1971, as a result of heavily declining near neighbours in Norway and Finland, patronage. The suburban Lidingöbanan and City, county and national co-operation the move was not widely popular. A 1955 Nockebybanan were important survivors Since 1971, the City of Stockholm has been referendum revealed an overwhelming 83% after the main 4, 6, 7 and 8 trunk lines united with the province of Stockholm against the move, yet parliament confirmed disappeared, although the Lidingöbanan County, often referred to as Storstockholm the decision to go ahead with the controversial route between Humlegården and Ropsten was (Greater Stockholm). plan in May 1963 and drew up a four-year a notable casualty – albeit one that will be Stockholm County consists of 26 implementation programme. replaced in the coming years. communities – Stockholm City being Dagen H marked the final nail in the coffin Yet piece by piece tramways are returning the largest – and one County Council for tramlines across the nation that operated to Stockholm’s streets, part of an ambitious (Stockholms läns landsting, SLL, known single-ended tram fleets, with many closing programme to support one of the world’s from January 2019 as Region Stockholm). in the decade leading up to the change on 3 fastest-growing metropolitan areas (925 000 SLL/Region Stockholm is the authority September 1967. The associated costs with inhabitants, with 2.2m in the wider county) responsible for health and public transport introducing new double-ended cars in the with efficient, sustainable transport links. within the county, the same scenario seen in capital, Stockholm, is one fine reason for Political pressure focused on environmental all 21 counties/regions in Sweden.

174 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org LEFT: The transformed public space at Sergels Torg, showing A34 car 2 negotiating the roundabout on 3 October 2018.

Right: The way we were… A25 Mustang trams pass in central Stockholm in 1967. The year it all changed.

Below right: A pair of 2.4m Flexity Classic cars on a line 7 service in August 2010.

All images courtesy of Thomas Johansson

On 1 January 1967 the name of the urban transport company Stockholms Spårvägar (SS) was also changed to Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL) and it was given wider responsibility for all public transport across the county. In the following years SL took over activities across the county, initially as planner and owner of certain infrastructure and operator, but now as planner, commissioner of traffic (after tendering procedures) and owner of certain infrastructure. SL is still a relatively small organisation and employs 500 people directly, although its services provide employment for over 10 000. At national level, following a review in 2009, a new body was formed to administer the longer-term planning of public transport across Sweden through the merger of various to combat the economic recession and as increased by almost 75% on figures from a bodies. So from 1 April 2010 Trafikverket such the programme is not based around a year before. has assumed responsibility for larger-scale sum of money, but instead a series of essential Essentially a continuation of the heritage projects deemed of national importance, goals. The first is the construction by 2035 Djurgårdslinjen operation that opened in owning all infrastructure, while day-to-day of high-speed rail lines between Stockholm, 1991, public support for an extension into service provision is carried out by SL or its Göteborg and Malmö (the nation’s three the city began in 2010 with the opening of a contracted concessionaires. Trafikverket’s biggest cities); the second is improved rail 400m single-track addition from the terminal remit also applies, for example, to non-state links with northern Sweden; the third is the loop at Norrmalmstorg to Sergels Torg. infrastructure such as the tramways in creation of at least 100 000 homes and the Sergels Torg is one of the city’s showpiece Göteborg, Norrköping and Stockholm, related traffic infrastructure to serve them in public squares that were created in the 1950s Stockholm’s metro and the Roslagsbanan and Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö. but in recent years have fallen downmarket. Saltsjöbanan commuter rail lines. It is within this framework that we can The original environment had a variety of Meanwhile, SL is the owner of the contextualise a series of major investments qualities, significantly a variation in scale ‘blue fleet’ of all rail vehicles across the in Stockholm that will transform the public from the tall buildings down to intricate county, although their management and transport offering within the decade. detail and several attractive meeting places. maintenance is the contractual duty of the In the first part of this review of the Sadly over the years, many of these qualities respective concessionaires. The county’s changing landscape of the capital, we will had been lost through additions and changes buses all wear a red livery and are owned by look at the major tramway projects. of use. The city sought a solution to improve the different bus companies. SL’s contractual arrangements for public transport services Line 7/7N and Spårväg City are detailed in the panel (right). One of the most significant projects STOCKHOLM’S The state, county and city of Stockholm, undertaken as part of the Stockholm TRANSPORT OPERATORS with representatives from other municipalities, Agreement of 2013 has been the short but concluded what is known as the Stockholm significant opening on 3 September 2018 SL holds contracts with five different companies Agreement (Stockholmsöverenskommelsen) for of the 560m prolongation of line 7 service to provide rail and bus services. These are: transport interventions over a period of ten from Sergels Torg to T-Centralen. Providing Arriva Sverige: Tramway operation on the years in December 2007. These mobility plans interchange to the city’s three metro routes Tvärbanan and Nockebybanan; rail operations include all modes and envisage infrastructure as well as heavy rail services, this completes on the Saltsjöbanan and Roslagsbanan; and bus services in Danderyd, Ekerö, Sigtuna, Sollentuna, investment of SEK95bn (approximately the main phase of ‘Spårväg City’ which Solna, Sundbyberg, Täby, Upplands Väsby, EUR9bn) for the period 2010-2021, planned included extensive reconstruction of the area Vallentuna, Vaxholm, Västerort and Österåke. as a 50/50 split between public transport and around the central square at Sergels Torg. Keolis Nordic: Bus operations in central highways. Additional arrangements have been The new terminus is sited in the middle of Stockholm, Botkyrka, Huddinge, Lidingö, Nacka, concluded for other projects, as is the case Klarabergsgatan, which has been closed to Salem, Söderort and Värmdö. with the mid-term review of the Stockholm car traffic to provide room for a new tram and MTR Nordic: Stockholm metro and commuter Agreement in 2013, which has seen significant bus interchange that offers easy access to the rail services. plans developed for metro expansion. metro hub as well as the city’s main shopping Nobina: Bus services in Haninge, Järfälla, In addition to the Stockholm Agreement, district. Work on this phase began in 2012 Norrtälje, Nykvarn, Nynäshamn, Södertälje, Tyresö and Upplands-Bro. in 2013 a national masterplan was agreed with a total cost of SEK390m (EUR37m). Stockholms Spårvägar: Djurgårdslinjen, to realise major infrastructure projects as It has proved an instant success as within a Spårväg City, Lidingöbanan tram services. quickly as possible. The underlying aim was month ridership on the extended line 7 had

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org may 2019 / 175 Stockholm

its appeal and contribute to its regeneration management of the infrastructure was taken Line 7’s operation is itself remarkable. and the tramway was just one of several over by SL in 2005 and the city found a great Proven as a professional outfit with its extensive projects undertaken concurrently, deal of support in making line 7 a regular experience with the Djurgårdslinjen, giving the opportunity to recreate some of service, launching a plan to extend it into Stockholms Spårvägar was granted the the original features. the city. concession to run the new line and a new In the 1950s, the area was optimised for Seen by some as a new tramway link for internal vision was created with the modern car traffic, but today’s planning ideals have the affluent, financing the latest extension service carried out by personnel organised prioritised widened pedestrian and cycle proved more difficult at county and under a collective labour agreement due paths with bus and tram traffic concentrated provincial levels, leading to development to the new vehicles being owned by SL. in the centre – importantly, without altering under PPP principles. Completed in 2010, Volunteers may, as before, drive between the original character of the streetscape from 1 August operation began on the route Norrmalmstorget and Skansen under the and its architectural legacy. Public access to Sergels Torg, now known as line 7. The first line 7N designation; the N refers to the end was maintained throughout the entire six tramcars in service were 2.4m Bombardier point Norrmalmstorg to prevent confusion. construction period thanks to considerate Flexity Classic trams leased on a temporary Operating heritage cars beyond this point planning by the contractors, SL and the city. basis, three from Norrköping and three from requires express consent as most are single- The original 2.9km (1.8 miles) of Frankfurt/Main, pending the introduction in ended and Sergels Torg lacks a turning loop. Djurgårdslinjen tracks (Norrmalmstorg 2011 of Bombardier A34 cars, the same type To the east a much larger project is – Waldemarsudde, line 7N) were laid by ordered by Norrköping. A seventh car is a CAF underway. At Djurgårdsbron, where line Stiftelsen Stockholms Museispårvägar, a Urbos car (A35 class, tram 461), a 2.65m-wide 7 diverges eastwards towards Djurgården, non-profit foundation created by the city three-section vehicle now determined as the work continues on a 4.5km (2.8-mile) and county councils and operated by Stockholm standard. branch to Ropsten to serve new business and members of the Swedish Tramway Society As the line was rebuilt to suit 2.65m-wide residential areas in the neighbourhoods of (Svenska Spårvägssällskapet) through trams, the earlier Bombardier cars have Värtahamnen, Frihamnen and Valparaiso. its operating company AB Stockholms permanently fixed ‘extensions’ below the Almost a kilometre uses the alignment of a Spårvägar. This organisation takes its name doors to close the gap to the platform; former freight line, modernised for light rail from the original public transport operator consequently they have lamps (red or white operation. At Ropsten the line will eventually and was reconstituted in 1987, 20 years after depending on direction of travel) to warn link to the Lidingöbanan – temporarily the name first disappeared. Ownership and motorists not to drive too close to them. repurposing existing freight tracks – and a

LEFT: The fixed extension steps on a line 7 Flexity Classic, installed following the upgrading of infrastructure to suit 2.65m-wide trams.

RIGHT: Inside the cavernous new AGA depot, designed to house trams up to 40m long to serve the Lidingöbanan and line 7.

BELOW: A busy scene at AGA on 24 November 2015; this section of the Lidingöbanan was double-tracked between 2013 and 2015. new double-track Lidingö bridge will replace the existing single-track structure by 2020. A further extension to Lindhagen was once seen as a vital part of the Spårväg City project, but this project is on hold indefinitely so for the time being at least Spårväg City ends at T-Centralen. Options for up to 121 CAF Urbos trams exist for the future eastward route to Ropsten, extensions of line 22 to Sickla, Kista – Helenelund and Solna, as well as to increase capacity across the network. Once sufficient vehicles have been delivered, the A34 trams on line 7 will be transferred to Norrköping.

Lidingöbanan (line 21) ABOVE: The Nockebybanan runs on mainly segregated alignments in the city’s western suburbs; built over a Serving the southern half of Lidingö island, century ago, the line saw major upgrades in the 1990s. the history of the Lidingöbanan dates back to the early part of the 20th Century, gaining a connection to the mainland with the opening of the first Lidingö bridge in 1925. With both freight and tramway services sharing the same tracks, the Lidingöbanan was legally classified as a railway until 31 March 2009, when it was reclassified by the Swedish railway inspectorate. Although freight traffic ceased in 1982, passenger operations have always been provided by tramcars, which prior to 1967 continued onto the streets of central Stockholm. Dagen H had considerable consequences ABOVE Left: Djurgårdslinjen for the Lidingö lines. With the lifting of city service is provided by trams dating tracks, the Humlegården – Ropsten route was from the 1910s, ’20s, ’30s, ’40s, ’50 and cut off, although the extension of the T-bana ’60s as well as modern articulated to Ropsten (the Red line) came into operation units. on the same day, also adding a double- track alignment where lines 20 and 21 (the Above: Bus line 4 is one of the northern and southern Lidingö lines) were busiest in the city, serving as many given their turning point. The Lidingöbanan as 70 000 passengers/day. became part of the SL network in 1972 Congestion and environmental concerns have led some city and although proposals have often been politicians to suggest conversion to made to remove line 21, a combination of tramway. considerable volume and residents’ protests have always seen off such intentions. left: CAF Urbos 459 traverses a Until the early 2010s, rolling stock green track installation on a line 22 provision was confined to theA30/A30B and service in Sickla; this is the first such B30/B30B tramcars introduced in the 1940s. section in Stockholm. Although these underwent interior and control system modifications between 1988 company in its own right, but also granted possibilities for cross-connections. However, and 1994, including a repaint into the the organisation the concession to operate feasibility studies revealed the need for a now-uniform blue SL livery, they remained the Lidingöbanan. On 24 October 2015, high-quality public transport connection the oldest rail vehicles in Stockholm for after more than two-and-a-half years of bus with a three-quarter loop, indicating that a many years. In 2007 a trial was undertaken replacements, tram service between Ropsten new metro line would not provide enough with an Alstom Citadis originally intended and Gåshaga restarted. traffic in the short- to medium-term but for Madrid that led to an agreement between Only after 2020 will it be possible to that patronage would be too heavy for a bus SL and the municipality in October 2009 to establish the desired connection to line 7, service. The logical choice was a tramway, prepare the line for a full upgrade to light rail following the opening of a new bridge (to the although the eventual route is unusual in standards. This was subsequently included in north of the existing one) for tram traffic, that it is a mixture of railway and tramway the 2020-21 investment plan. cyclists and pedestrians. As the reinstatement and so features both line-of-sight and signal The line was closed between the summer of of the connection to Ropsten is at the same controlled operation. 2013 and October 2015 for engineering works, level as the T-bana Red line station, Construction began in 1996 and on signalling modernisation and the installation cross-mode transfers will be easy. This link 8 January 2000 the first section between of new equipment to allow for 2.65m-wide will be co-financed by the municipality of Gullmarsplan and Liljeholmen opened to the trams and low-floor platforms; when Lidingö, which has also indicated that it is in public. Six months later, the route opened reopened, parts of the line had been converted favour of shifting the route to the economic north-west to Alvik. South-east extensions to double-track – west of Baggeby stop (200m), centre of the municipality. For this, the line to Sickla Udde (2002), Solna Centrum (2013) Skärsätra – Kottla (625m), AGA (400m) and will follow the Södra Kungsvägen when and Solna Station (2014) followed. The latest between Käppala and the terminus at Gåshaga leaving the new bridge over 1.9km (1.2 miles) to open was on 2 November 2017, a 900m Brygga (1.1km) – and new CAF A36 trams of new track to reach the existing line at double-track route from Sickla Udde to the were introduced. The former depot at AGA Bodal. Torsvik and Baggeby stops would Sickla Saltsjöbanan station that included the was demolished to make way for a larger then be removed. first installation of grass track on Stockholm’s facility to cater for up to 40m trams to serve light rail network. both the Lidingöbanan and line 7. Tvärbanan (line 22) Although frequencies were improved in In late April 2014 the Council of Transport Many surface journeys in Stockholm are 2013, from 7.5 to five minutes during peak for Stockholm County not only recognised tangential due to the nature of the city’s hours and ten to 7.5 minutes at other times, Stockholms Spårvägar as a public transport waterways considerably limiting the difficulties in integrating a new signalling

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org may 2019 / 177 Stockholm

RIGHT: Tram service reached T-Centralen in September 2018, reconnecting the tramway to the city’s main transport interchange in central Stockholm. system and overloaded power supplies saw long periods of disruption during the first years of operation. These were remedied with a six-month closure and bus replacement service in 2017 while solutions were sought. Now the line has stabilised, it sees around 70 000 passengers per week a day and is the busiest light rail line in the capital. A new depot at Ulvsunda houses line 22 vehicles as well as offering room for the future route to Kista and Helenelund. Work on this 8km (five-mile) line, known as ‘Kistagrenen’, began in February 2018. With a stop at Bromma Airport, the closest of four airports to the city centre, this is due to open in 2022 Bus line 4 is a ‘blue’ (main) orbital route and will also support the development of that runs north around the city from over 17 000 new homes along the route. Radiohuset in the east to Gullmarsplan in IDESIGN’S TRAM CONCEPT the south – it is known as the ‘inner orbital Idesign has many references within the Nockebybanan (line 12) line’, with the Tvärbanan as the ‘outer orbital transportation and industrial design sectors, Line 12 is a remarkable remnant in Stockholm’s line’ – and carries 70 000 passengers per day releasing its innovative concept for a new tram western suburbs, currently running for 5.7km at 5-6-minute intervals. design in 2018. (3.5 miles) between the Green line metro In the days of the first-generation The concept “shows the possibilities for public transportation if we move away from the station at Alvik, where passengers can also tramway, line 4 was until 1952 known as traditional limitations and pre-conceived notions switch to the Tvärbanan, and Nockeby on ‘Ringlinjen’ (Circular line) when it was of how it should look. Interjecting new thinking mainly segregated alignments. It is operated divided into two partially overlapping lines, regarding materials, form and design elements, by Arriva Sverige under a concession that 4 and 8, with different termini. In 1967 we can design public transportation that is not runs until August 2020, although there is an line 4 became bus line 54 and line 8 became only utilitarian and functional, but that people option to extend this until 2024. bus line 48. actually like using and spending time in.” The first section to Alléparken opened in The challenges of providing electric buses The Stockholm-based agency sees mass transit 1914 and was gradually extended westwards, on this heavily-used route are greater than as crucial part to a sustainable urban future, reaching the current terminus at Nockeby others and running along some of the city’s with vehicle design being vital in attracting people away from cars. Idesign’s tram concept in 1929. At the eastern end the line ran into busiest roads makes it sensitive to congestion. uses neutral colours and maximises light to the city to a terminus at Tegelbacken. When Conversion is therefore an ambition for allow not only for a more comfortable travelling the Green line replaced the grade-separated many local politicians, underlined by the experience but also to allow passengers to Ängbybanan tramway between Alvik and fact that three-quarters of its 12km (7.5-mile) greater appreciate the environment in which Islandstorget in 1952 – this line had opened a length was operated by trams until 1967 and they are travelling. few years previously with conversion in mind therefore the space remains available for For more images, including a ‘virtual – the Nockebybanan’s city link was severed. their reinstatement. walk-through’, see www.idesign.se/portfolio_ It now acts as a valuable metro feeder, carrying To give further momentum to this scheme, page/tram-concept/ around 10 000 passengers each weekday. line 4 runs along the Odenplan public In the years following the removal transport corridor on the north side of the of the urban tram network, residents in city centre, currently seeing significant the Bromma garden town served by the residential and office development as well Nockebybanan were successful in preventing as new entertainment venues. The line also its replacement with buses and between offers interchange with no fewer than eight June 1997 and June 1998 it was closed to metro stations. Planning for the conversion permit reconstruction so that 2.65m-wide began a few years ago, but was halted as articulated rolling stock could be used. the programme would involve restricting car traffic at certain places and this is still a Re-converting bus line 4? sensitive political decision. There is extra impetus for new tramway installations as from 2020 all buses in the Grateful thanks to Hans Cruse, Carl country must comply with regulations that Silfverhielm, Thomas Johansson, Viktor limit their emissions of particulate matter Jakobsson of Cactus Rail, Daniel Kack of Sweco NEXT MONTH: Exploring the plans to per kilometre driven. This is part of the Rail and Karl-Johan Tomczak and Lovisa transform the city’s Tunnelbana and rationale behind ambitions to convert one of Näswall of Treeline.se for their assistance in the commuter rail connections. This article will also include a detailed map of Stockholm’s the city’s busiest bus lines. compilation of this article. tramway and urban rail links.

Scandinavian design in public transportation

For over twenty years, our mission has been to improve the design Find us at and passenger experience of public transportation. www.idesign.se

178 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Comment CREATING A NEW BACKBONE Hans Cruse of Spårvagnsstäderna takes us on a short odyssey of trams in Stockholm and their future role in the city's development.

ramways are once again forming an integral part of the also further complementing the metro – where construction is transport system in Stockholm, but they’re hardly new to more expensive. Another important project is the connection the cityscape. The first city lines opened in 1877 and from of Spårväg City to Lidingöbanan that will also alleviate metro T the introduction of the first horse-drawn cars a variety of overcrowding and add a high-capacity option for people moving traction forms were experimented with; petrol and steam power into the newly-developed areas between the city centre and Lidingö. were used in the earliest days and petrol power was used even after The existing tramlines outside the main city boundaries are very electrification in areas where catenary poles couldn’t be installed. important in increasing access to jobs, education and recreation, With electrification came expansion into the growing suburbs and tying together Tvärbanan with both Spårväg City and the future and an increased need for co-ordination. Municipal company Spårväg Syd will play a vital role in increasing resilience in the mass Stockholms Spårvägar absorbed the other organisations to create, for transit system and at the same time adding capacity. Tvärbanan’s the first time, a rational city network. To speed up services through extension to Kista will also vastly improve the flexibility of the system. the city a tram subway was opened in 1933 between Ringvägen (today Skanstull) and Slussen. This was later converted into the Some words for the future Green line of the city’s metro (Tunnelbanan), although the tunnel With so much light rail potential, there is a great deal to be learned and station dimensions are very limited by modern standards as by studying lines being built in neighbouring countries, but also in they were built for the trams of the time. France, Germany and Spain – to mention a few. This includes, for The first comprehensive plan for the replacement of city tramlines example, how trams are included within the streetscape without with trolleybus services was presented in 1939, taking inspiration creating barriers, clever compromises with space and how to operate from similar initiatives in London and Paris, but the outbreak of in harmony with cyclists, pedestrians and cars. While it isn’t always World War Two and fuel shortages made this impossible. The plan possible for the tram to have its own right of way, there are many was eventually carried out when Sweden compromises that will work; German cities switched to right-hand road traffic in have many examples of how to make the September 1967. In the meantime 100 best use of limited street space. new bogie trams, the A25 ‘Mustang’ class Yet it’s also important to keep in mind built by AEA and General Motors, had public transport’s competition. To reduce been delivered as urgent replacements the number of cars in the city, you need a for the life-expired fleet which had been system that suits the needs of drivers, so we overlooked during the war years. need to make it possible to use time spent Once the backbone of public on the tram productively. We already know transportation, the tramlines had all that trams, and other forms of rail transit, but disappeared, although 50 years attract a larger share of car drivers away on one can still see their routes in the from private travel than buses; this is an current metro lines and on some of the advantage that can be improved further. city’s trunk bus lines. And while the initial investment might be higher than for other trackless modes, The return of the tram the operational costs are significantly As in many other cities, congestion lower. This is due to longer lifetimes of in Stockholm became an increasing “To reduce the number of cars rolling stock, the requirement for fewer problem and in the 1990s the tram staff and lower maintenance costs. These started its comeback. The first line was in the city, you need a system combined savings create significant value Djurgårdslinjen, ostensibly a museum over time. We also know that money spent line operated by enthusiasts but one that suits the needs of drivers.” on tramways attracts investment and raises which served a real transport need. property values – so while the initial outlay This short route would, in time, also serve might be high, this shouldn’t be a deterrent. as an important demonstration line for modern rolling stock, Lastly, planning ahead will greatly reduce costs. For example, if a and in 2000 the city’s first modern tramline – Tvärbanan – opened potential tramline is identified then the city needs to ensure space in the southern suburbs. is reserved for it. This means no utilities will be placed underneath The Djurgårdslinjen is now a modern tramway and Tvärbanan future tracks – or current utilities can be moved during normal is finally able to complement the radial metro. The two original maintenance cycles – so they don’t have to be moved later on. tramway survivors are more popular than ever and the Lidingöbanan Likewise, street curves and widths should be dimensioned with was recently modernised with new rolling stock and a new depot. future tram infrastructure in mind. There are many examples where The current system has its flaws however, one of the major this kind of thinking saves money in the initial investment phase. challenges being that there is no coherent network as the lines – While there is no shortage of good ideas however, it must be with the exception of a link between Nockebybanan and Tvärbanan remembered that trams are not a universal solution. They are just through a depot – are not connected. This creates logistical issues, one of the tools in the toolbox for sustainable transportation. from rolling stock movements to staff management, although plans Buses, metros and bikes are just a few of the others; each has its are in place to rectify this by tying together the different lines. strengths and it’s important to use them accordingly. Stockholm’s trunk bus lines (many of which were tramlines Trams – with metro and commuter rail – have the potential to form before their conversion in the 1960s) transport tens of thousands the backbone of public transport in Stockholm once again, unlocking of passengers daily, but they suffer from delays due to traffic, the full potential of the city and its growing population. overcrowding and lack of priority at intersections. Reduced headways and priority at traffic lights will only help so far. Hans Cruse is Director of Spårvagnsstäderna (Tramway Cities of Sweden), a A tram conversion of the most overcrowded bus line, 4, has the non-profit association which facilitates co-operation between municipalities potential to change the public value perception by being faster and that have, or are planning, tramway networks – www.sparvagnsstaderna.se

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2019 / 179 Stuttgart

Above and below: The installation of ATP elements and the separation of light rail services from interactions with other road users in Stuttgart has helped to reduce accidents and increase service efficiency. Safety in Stuttgart Reinhold Schröter of Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen talks to TAUT about how serious incidents in previous decades have helped shape the city’s light rail system of today.

ramways and light rail systems Stuttgart’s Stadtbahn dates back to 1868. standard-gauge in the 1980s (all to heavy are generally considered among Today, the city’s transport network consists of metro standards) with the first standard-gauge the safest methods of transport, light rail, bus routes and a funicular railway. Its lines opening in 1985. Since then, the lines carrying billions of passengers light rail system covers approximately 130.5km have been upgraded, with the latest works every year with relatively low (80 miles) across 18 lines and is continuously finishing in 2007 and lines continuously incidentT rates. This is despite potentially extending, the most recent project being being extended further. The current network facing greater risks and challenges than improved tunnel access in the city centre to is all standard-gauge, except for the heritage heavy rail networks through their interaction allow easier transfers between light and heavy line which uses a third metre-gauge rail. with public and other vehicles, for example. rail stations. The network covers much of However, a number of major incidents Stuttgart, sprawling out to the neighbouring A series of unfortunate events have brought safety to the fore in recent towns of Remseck am Neckar, Fellbach, One major accident took place on years, headlined by the Sandilands (Croydon, Ostfildern, Leinfelden-Echterdingen and 8 December 1970, while the SSB network was UK) tragedy in 2016 that saw seven people Gerlingen. It carried 180m passengers in 2017. still operating on metre-gauge infrastructure killed and 62 injured. It was claimed to be It is operated by Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen and running on line-of-sight principles; at the “deadliest tram accident in the UK since AG (SSB), the result of tram company mergers the time, the 1960s-built tunnels were not 1917”; a number of recommendations have in the early years, and uses 204 LRVs as well as yet equipped with a train protection system. since been made and already implemented. 264 buses and one funicular, a rack tramway One tram was descending a ramp into our The UK is not alone in its continuing line, plus a heritage tramway and a steam- first tunnel station, negotiating a right-hand efforts to keep light rail at the top of safety powered miniature railway at Killesberg Park. curve before stopping at the platform. It was records, nor is it the first country to have Light rail has seen a series of changes over a double platform, and the approaching tram faced tragic accidents. The German city of the years, with conversion to electric traction crashed into the waiting vehicle. Stuttgart has faced similar situations and in 1895, the introduction of tunnel sections The subsequent investigation resulted has instigated a range of improvements that in the 1960s (first to metro standards, then in a number of improvements, including perhaps the UK and others can learn from. to tram operation), switching from metre- to the fitting of a metro-style Automatic Train

180 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Protection (ATP) system in the underground sections. Five years later, this had been installed. However, just weeks before approval was granted for the new system’s use there was another serious accident. On 14 August 1975, a tram began its approach to a 1km straight tunnel at the maximum speed (70km/h - 43mph). The tram was supposed to decelerate at the 50m marker to 25km/h (15.5mph) but experienced a failure in the braking circuit and the driver didn’t manage to operate the auxiliary brakes in time. The tram derailed at the curve, flipping over and killing five people. Running in a tunnel with barely any light, then a sharp curve with a stop at the end – the similarities to Sandilands are striking: Three tunnel sections creating first dark, then light conditions. If ATP had been operational, this accident would not have taken place. ATP monitors the vehicle’s speed at a defined point and, if an excess is detected, will activate the emergency brake independently from human action. Subsequently, the approval processes were accelerated and four weeks later the ATP was running. Certain sections of track feature a third rail to allow the operation of metre-gauge heritage trams; seen here in Such situations are exactly where technical the foreground. elements from metro and heavy rail can be of real benefit to light rail. ATP, in this case, From tramway to light rail now familiar with either situation, following helps to relieve the driver from a high level Collisions between trams are all too common signals or running on line of sight. of responsibility under certain operational around the world. In order to reduce Engineering work, blocked lines, and conditions. SSB took this a step further the potential for collisions at junctions, temporary speed restrictions can throw up and not only introduced such systems to Stuttgart’s solution was to combine the extra safety considerations. For these, SSB its tunnel routes, but also used elements signalisation of the points with the proceed/ devised warning signals with triangles to of ATP on some of its street sections and approach signal of the traffic junction. It is indicate any issues ahead, placed at a distance segregated alignments. An example of where a simple and effective strategy, but still not that will allow the driver ample time to react this has been especially useful in Stuttgart 100% failsafe – in a 2002 collision a driver and decelerate accordingly, 50-200m from is at a location with a 7% downhill gradient mistook a signal and ran into an LRV coming the hazard. This means the driver always has followed by a sharp 50m curve. It can be tricky from the right. Again, SSB turned to the a clear understanding of what is ahead. for a driver to monitor the speed precisely, so heavier rail disciplines for a more thorough The distance between the warning signal at this point we installed a contact telling the solution. The signalisations of points and and the actual point where the speed has to tram to brake down to 30km/h (18.6mph). adjacent traffic junctions were synchronised, be maintained is crucial. For that, we set up The braking curve and maximum speed of the so that a ‘proceed’ signal will be given only to some easy-to-check tables. tram is monitored in the tram, as it is in a train the direction the point is set. However, if works are ongoing beyond a protection system. If driving properly the Further, we like to treat our point sharp corner the tram driver won’t have a operator will not notice the system’s presence, signalisation as main signals. A special red chance to see them in time. In that case we but if not, the system will reduce the vehicle’s designation sign, indicating ‘main signal’ as announce that the track will be blocked so the maximum speed to the top speed permitted. well the ‘name’ of the signal, means ‘do not driver is ready to stop in time. When the tram Our network sports even steeper gradients pass’ whenever the signal is set at ‘danger’. If a arrives at such a situation, someone will then – up to 8.6%. Such sections are likewise vehicle overruns at ‘danger’, the ATP contact lift the stop signal to allow it to pass safely. equipped with this device. will bring it to an immediate halt. Drivers are Other features that have helped maintain SSB’s excellent safety record in recent years include infrastructure upgrades to meet modern light rail standards. Since the early 1990s the length of ‘tram’ routes has decreased from 40km (25 miles) to zero (since 2007), while at the same time the total network has increased from 110km (68 miles) to 130km (81 miles). The amount of segregated alignment, tunnels, and grass reservation has also been increased. On-street running is now limited to just 7.8km (4.8 miles). The number of level crossings has also been limited – fewer crossing points means fewer potential interactions with pedestrians and other road users. These improvements have been borne out in lower incident figures, a decline that directly corresponds with the upgrading of the system – between 1990 and 2007, the total number of accidents almost halved from over 300 to around 180: a clear indication that traffic segregation will improve safety.

A question of responsibility Although in more recent years the overall Tunnel sections with steep gradients pose some of the biggest safety challenges – one major incident took accident rate has started to climb again, the place in 1970 before the installation of ATP, which could have helped prevent a collision between two trams. figures are slightly deceptive. In relation to

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org may 2019 / 181 Stuttgart

increases in distance covered and passengers about one minute, leading to a 1:10 chance occur. We are offering a service and so are carried – as well in road use in general (with of a difficult situation. The remaining 90% of quite often held responsible for something more car drivers and cyclists) – the figures the time, when no trams are approaching the connected to our service, but which does not actually show a decrease. crossing, is completely harmless. lie within our sphere of responsibility. The backbone, the way of thinking, is to Warning signs, right of way, visibility, There is also a real gap between ‘safety see infrastructure and vehicles as technical vehicle deceleration properties, infrastructure delivered’ and ‘safety perceived’: the higher hardware; meanwhile, the driver’s skills in design, the shape of the vehicle, and the safety record (which remains very high in operating trams and infrastructure, and the emergency procedures are all factors that tramway and light rail operations), the more regulations, all work together as a system, impact on the safety of any potentially people focus on individual incidents. This leading to maximum reliability. Reliability dangerous situation. However, we notice is something we on the technical side are and safety correspond. some kind of barrier between what we as an unable to address – it is something for our PR The German word for safety – Sicherheit industry may influence, and what we cannot. departments and our marketing teams. – encompasses not just the safe interaction For instance, the initial event at a of technical elements, but also elements of pedestrian crossing will put the responsibility An integrated approach security, avoiding fraudulent use, protecting on the pedestrian/s to obey the warning Technical aspects are just one element of the system against attacks, and compliance signs – will they, or not? If yes, there is no the focus on improved safety, which also with the rules. So, Sicherheit suggests a problem. If not, then it is down to the right require close consideration of the interaction multi-level interaction, reflecting the of way. Will the pedestrians notice that the between what is being done at a technical integrated approach of tramway operation. tram has the right to proceed, and that they level and the operator running the system. To check these measurements, SSB uses have to wait? If not, then for the first time, it The regulations governing the SSB are the ‘Swiss Cheese Model’, devised in 1990 is in the driver’s sphere of influence to control all contained within BOStrab (the German by James Reason of Manchester University. the situation. Then deceleration rates, the ordinance governing the construction Several elements or safety barriers form in a shape of the vehicle and so on come into and operation of street railway systems), consecutive line to prevent an incident from play, which puts the responsibility on us as cf. TAUT October 2010. For an English causing harm. The first element of this is time operators. However the initial responsibility translation, see www.railforthevalley.com/ separation. A level crossing with no tram on it for an incident potentially developing into wp-content/uploads/2010/10/BOStrab-EN_ is, of course, deemed a ‘safe’ situation. If you something unsafe is still with others. Version_2008-05-12.pdf. add two trams each running to a ten-minute Regardless of where responsibility lies, the BOStrab describes not just separate headway, they will occupy the crossing for operator may still be blamed when accidents components, but also focuses on functional interactions. Several elements are regulated twice – for example, platform height and height of the vehicle floor correspond, and so consequently the regulations of platform height and vehicle floor height are dealt with in two corresponding places. This approach allows us to harmonise the integration of these elements, shaping the respective elements and their interaction in the best possible way to deliver high reliability and safety. You have to ensure these elements interact properly, and it is rewarding to follow such an integrated approach. It allows us to steer Above left: The metro-style ATP system uses trackside equipment to communicate with vehicles to those points which we, as technicians, may determine safe operating speeds. Above right: Complex junctions that feature curves are often most influence, and to address others such as dangerous scenarios; careful consideration of signal arrangements help to protect all road users, with many road users and the public in terms of proper ideas carried over from the heavy rail industry. behaviour at level crossings, and so on. Education is also at the heart of SSB’s work and recent initiatives have seen incident figures start to drop again. For example, a recent campaign centred on ‘how to behave at a level crossing’ (www.sicherzufuss.de), and a subsequent survey of around 30 000 pedestrians was undertaken to see how this information had been absorbed. Almost everyone knew about the campaign, and although not all of them behaved properly, that is an issue of personal freedom. Ultimately, that is something that neither SSB nor any other operator has much influence over.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Reinhold Schröter has been SSB’s bus and light rail operations manager since 2013. While studying civil engineering at the universities of Vienna and Hannover, he joined Üstra in 1995 as a part-time draughtsman in the LRT division, later becoming its Bus Product Manager. In 2004, Reinhold joined the team of the Schöneiche-Rüdersdorf tramway as local manager and in 2009 he became head of the training and safety department at SSB. He is a member of several committees of VDV, the German Public transport Association, and has been a member of the LRTA since 1989. Clear signage and signals are a key element of the safety system in Stuttgart.

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Rosehill Rail - TAUT Half page Ad_185x130mm_MAY2019.indd 1 03/04/2019 16:09 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2019 / 183 Bordeaux

Technical innovation distinguished systems Bordeaux’s tramway upon FRANCE opening, although factfile greater significance lies in its rapid growth Bordeaux No. Bordeaux, and contribution to 139 France the host city.

ordeaux was the capital providing the original Tram et bus de Place du Palais make the city more appealing, partly of ‘old’ Aquitaine and la CUB (TBC) identity. The tramway stop, part of line A’s to stem central depopulation and became the principal city is now part of Transport Bordeaux east-west coverage deter suburban spread. In its setting, of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Metropole’s (TBM) coverage of around of central Bordeaux. buildings and culture, Bordeaux also the biggest by area 750 000 inhabitants. The original had significant tourism potential, but Bamongst France’s post-2016 regions. TBC operators were Connex/Veolia traffic and pervading shabbiness made The city-proper (256 045 population Transport, replaced from May 2009 such factors difficult to appreciate. in January 2016) is one of 28 by Keolis under a contract with TBM The tram project was approved communes which have constituted until the end of 2022. in 1997 and all three present lines Bordeaux Métropole since 2015. Much of the urban area and most became active in 2003-04 covering an The city introduced electric tram of the tramway is on the Garonne’s approximate 22km (13.8 miles) that services in 1900, but the system which west bank. The river is the city’s main link points like the historic centre, covered around 200km (125 miles) in geographical feature and an historic Bordeaux Saint Jean, the central 1946 was closed by 1958. Except for source of wealth, including its key Mériadeck shopping complex and limited trolleybus use by the tramway role as the trading hub for the area’s university campuses in the south-west. operator (TEOB) between 1949 and 1954, many vineyards. Of exceptional width It also became the principal public motor buses prevailed in local public by European standards despite being transport between the Garonne’s east transport. They were supplemented by 100km (62 miles) from the sea, the and west banks. With extensions, the several stations on lines mainly serving Garonne and the use of its bridges system has developed the type of radial the main station, Bordeaux Saint Jean. still influence transport and can thus configuration more usually associated Some of these later became suburban arouse local disputes. with first-generation tramways and interchanges with the modern tramway. Like similarly-sized Strasbourg the convergence of lines A, B and C After discounting metro options, and the smaller city of Grenoble with is arranged as three stops where the the reintroduction of trams in 2003 earlier tram projects, Bordeaux adopted intersecting lines have dedicated was under the Métropole predecessor, the mode and complementary works Words and pictures platforms: Place des Quinconces, Communauté Urbaine de Bordeaux, on an ambitious scale. The aim was to by Neil Pulling. Porte de Bourgogne and Hôtel de Ville.

184 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org

THE FLEET The main fleet difference is that should be complete during 2019, TBM’s 2.4m-wide, bi-directional taking the overall fleet roster to 125. Alstom Citadis assembled in Styling has remained consistent La Rochelle are in two lengths. since opening, although with TBM There are 12 five-section 32.9m trams logos replacing TBC. External of type 302, with the remainder being advertising is confined to tram sides, seven-section 43.9m 402 variants. with some carrying the names of Trams are used in single formations. places twinned with the Bordeaux The 302 models were originally communes. for the then-shorter and least busy The three depots, although far line C, although such conditions apart by track access, are only no longer apply. Later 402 vehicles about 5km (three miles) apart. have two rather than one single set Connected from a junction near of doors in the central module; this Thiers-Benauge stop, Bastide for line version has 288 capacity, 73 seated. A also originally provided for the Numbering indicates the build other, then much shorter lines. year, albeit with a different notation Line B’s Achard was added in 2008 as the decade changed. The earliest and is the only depot near revenue are the 22xx series from 2002, with track. Opened in 2015, La Jallère the newest being 18xx. These are is located beyond line C’s Parc des in the current order for 25 which Expositions terminus.

ABOVE: The Girondins monument, with tracks crossing for lines B and C near Quinconces stop, one of the system’s main public transport interchanges.

LEFT: Bassins à Flot dock area seen from La Cité du Vin. Track to the right of 2201 is part of the circuit allowing service to continue if a lock gate is open.

BELOW LEFT: A clear visual beneficiary of ground power supply, Place de la Victoire is however on a line B section prone to service interruptions.

BELOW: Much of the system is in reserved space, although limited vehicle access is allowed on the Rue D’Ornano APS section.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org may 2019 / 185 Bordeaux

network facts

Original system: 1880-1958 (electrified from 1900) Current system: 2003- Length: 66.4km (41.5 miles) Approx. weekday hours: 05.00-23.30 Core line frequency: 3-5 minutes Gauge: 1435mm Power: 750V dc, overhead and APS ground supply City network: Transports Bordeaux Métropole – www.infotbm.com Operator: Keolis Bordeaux Métropole – www.keolis.com Civic information (city): www.bordeaux.fr Civic information (metropole): www.bordeaux-metropole.fr Tourist information: www.bordeaux-tourisme.com ABOVE: Line B’s Achard depot, sited between revenue tracks near Rue Achard stop and the Garonne.

Far left: A tram-only viaduct crosses the railway at the south end of Bordeaux Saint Jean station. Line D will add to line C coverage as far as Carle Vernet.

Middle left: The important tram/bus interchange at Buttinière park and ride, east of the Garonne.

Above left: Le Haillan Rostand terminus on single track at the end of a 2015 line A extension.

Below: Citadis 1305 heads to the holding siding at La Cité du Vin on 22 November 2018.

ABOVE: A June 2004 opening took line B through the university campus, seen here near Montaigne-Montesquieu.

ABOVE: Initiated by order of Napoleon Bonaparte and completed in 1822, Pont de Pierre is now restricted to use by public transport, emergency vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

LEFT: A city- bound service leaves the former railway alignment near Cracovie, a stop which was added with the junction for the northern line C arms.

186 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org

Non-revenue connections allow stock At the time of opening, the feature legacy can best be appreciated within transfer between the lines. that set Bordeaux apart was an the city’s core, as around the cathedral, Incorporating the first section as obligation to have a wire-free capability. Quinconces and along the riverfront opened in December 2003, line A It was the first service installation of quays. Used to cross the Garonne, the is the longest at 24km (15 miles). Alstom’s APS ground-based power 487m Pont de Pierre (Stone Bridge) first Coverage east of the Garonne is supply, totalling around 12km used in 1822 was a clear APS candidate. distinguished by significant gradients, (7.5 miles). Being the pioneer, early Further protection of the bridge came notably up to Buttinière and on the problems required remedial works and with a trial closure to private vehicles, two line A arms beyond there. The line B’s Saint Nicolas-Peixotto section made permanent in July 2018. system has to date continued the has remained particularly troublesome. Since 2016 the flamboyant riverside original premise of each line having In March 2018 the operator reported Cité du Vin building has become a its own track, thereby containing any ground-based supply as being ten times showcase for produce associated with disruption to that line. As with line A less reliable than overhead equipment Bordeaux. Cité du Vin replaced the from the beginning, B and C now each and that 1200 APS control boxes name Bassins à Flot at the nearest have two branches at one end. needed replacement. The positive visual tramstop, next to the access channels

Gare de C Blanquefort

Frankton

DEPOT

Parc des Expositions - Cantinolle Stade Matmut-Atlantique C D La Gardette - Bassens - Palais de Congrès Carbon Blanc Les Sources Gare de Bruges Berges de la Garonne A B Eysines - Centre Picot Quarante Carriet Journaux

Ausone Berges du Lac Lauriers Toulouse Lautrec Claveau Mairie de Hippodrome Lormont Les Aubiers Bois Fleuri La Vache Brandenburg Le Sulky Gravière Sainte New York Germaine Cracovie DEPOT Les Écus Place Ravezies Iris - Le Bouscat Rue Achard Buttinière Mairie du Bouscat Place de Grand Parc Palmer Grand la Bourse La Cité du Vin Le Hailland - Rostan Théâtre Calypso Les Hangars Carnot - Mairie Gambetta Émile Counord Pelletan A Cours du de Cenon Les Pins Courbet Place Camille Godard Médoc Cenon Gare du Palais Jean Zay Barrière Place Jean Jaurès La Morlette Paul Doumer Chartrons du Médoc DEPOT Sainte- La Marègue Frères Robinson Catherine Porte de Jardin CAPC Bourgogne Marie Brizard Public (Musée d’Art Galin HôtelMusée de Contemporain) d’AquitaineVille Gruet Floirac - Pin Galant Thiers - Benauge Dravemont Quinconces Hôtel de Ville D Jardin Botanique A Mérignac Mérignac Centre Saint-Bruno - Mériadeck Stalingrad Hôtel de Région Lycées de Hôtel de Mérignac Quatre Stade Police Palais Saint-Michel Chemins Chaban- de Alfred Delmas de Vigny Saint- Gaviniès Justice Victoire Sainte-Croix Pierre Augustin Aéroport de Mendès- Hôpital Saint-Nicolas Bordeaux - Mérignac Peychotte Tauzia France Pellegrin Gare Saint-Jean A Fontaine François Bergonié d’Arlac Mitterrand Belcier Barrière Saint-Genès Carle

Vernet La Garonne Roustaing Terres Neuves

Forum La Belle Rose Arts et Stade Musard Métiers Peixotto Pessac Centre François Béthanie B Bordes Calais Centujean France Alouette Camponac Médiathèque Doyen Brus B UNITEC Gare de Bègles Saige Montaigne Châtaigneraie Montesquieu Parc de Mussonville Gare Pessac Alouette Bougnard

Cap Métiers Hôpital Haut-Lévêque Lycée Václav Havel C

Aristide Briand 0 1 2

Kilometres Pyrénées C

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org may 2019 / 187 Bordeaux

for the eponymous dock. Tracks Above left: two years. With finite capacity and and the person most attributed with around both ends of the lock chambers Gare de Blanquefort service saturation, TBM has initiated a the city renaissance for which the enable continuation of services handles SNCF train campaign to influence user behaviour tramway has proven fundamental. should either end be barred by ship and line C tram that includes encouraging passengers The new line D is scheduled for movements, also important due to services. to move away from doors and giving a 2019 opening and will introduce Achard depot being north of the locks. Above middle: up folding seats for better use of space. track-sharing for the first time. It will System growth has brought a more The extension south In 2017 trams carried 65% of TBM use an initial 9.8km (6.1 miles) of new complex service, including some of Lycée Václav Havel passengers. Its buses are grouped route north-west from Quinconces, single-track working. Despite the in November 2018. according to service level, with then extend south through the branches and services terminating ‘Lianes’ (1-16) most approximating city to Carl Vernet; this will bring at intermediate points, the same Above right: to tram frequencies. Added to the much-needed extra coverage of designation applies throughout for a Citadis 2210 near network in 2013, ‘Bat3’ foot ferries Bordeaux Saint Jean. Demand will Quinconces Fleuve. given line. This gives timetabled peaks Not on system maps, link five points either side of the further increase in this area due to the of three minutes on core sections platforms here were Garonne; TBM also has an extensive Bordeaux-Euratlantique development, with capacious trams, yet extreme built for use by short cycle hire operation. There are also anticipated to add 40 000 extra crowding is still evident. In 2017 workings, event 25 park-and-ride sites – some very residents and 30 000 new workplaces. TBM reported that tramway traffic traffic or if needed close to the city centre – where charges A 4.7 km (2.9-mile) extension is increased by more than 21% over during disruptions. include public transport use. projected take trams to Bordeaux’s Line C accounts for most of the airport by 2021. This will extend recent route growth. Bordeaux’s from line A between Quatre Chemins exhibition centre and new football and Lycées de Mérignac, the latter stadium were linked to the system in currently the recommended bus/tram January 2015. Once identified as the transfer for airport users. With the Médoc tram-train project, the more many services routed through westerly line C arm between a new Quinconces and limited coverage stop at the junction, Cracovie, and east of the river, another scheme Blanquefort opened in December 2016. is for a more northerly Garonne At 7.2km (4.5 miles), this is the longest crossing using a lifting bridge opened single extension to date and uses a in 2013. That bridge is now named combination of abandoned railway after Jacques Chaban-Delmas, the alignment and dedicated mainly Bordeaux major who promoted the single-track on a shared route. Train to original tramway’s closure. tram transfers are possible at Gare de ABOVE: During the 22 November 2018 evening peak at Stalingrad, an APS/overhead changeover point just east of the Garonne. Blanquefort and Gare de Bruges. In Tram 1830 (left) entered service that September. February 2019, 1.4km (0.9 miles) and essential facts two new stops were added to line C’s BELOW: Railway alignment created the Blanquefort extension. southern end, opened by Alain Juppé, Local travel: In print, at stops and SNCF trains use the track to the right as viewed from Ausone stop. President of Bordeaux Métropole online, Bordeaux provides the breadth of information that characterises French public transport. Staffed TBM information points include Quinconces, Buttiniere and Bordeaux Saint Jean. Single journey tickets (one-hour duration) with transfers cost EUR1.70 (two for EUR3.10). Day tickets are EUR4.70, with a seven-day pass costing EUR13.70. Journey durations are determined from initial onboard validation. A City Pass (24/48/72-hour, from EUR29) adds tourist attractions. What is there to see? Much of the historic and commercial centre is within the area contained by the crossings of lines A, B and C. The 2007 UNESCO World Heritage site listing is ‘Bordeaux, Port de la lune’ in reference to the crescent-shaped Garonne curve north of Pont de Pierre. Points of interest are scattered along the western bank. The widely-available ‘Le Map Bordeaux’ and TBM’s own ‘Tourist Map’ places attractions in the network context. The Bat3 ferries (included in day tickets) offer distinctive views. Many wine-related tours originate in Bordeaux.

188 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org in your next issue of

modernising next-generation systems factfile: SCHöNEICHE driver aids PRAGUE Berlin’s only metre-gauge tramway has TAUT examines the range of solutions Neil Pulling takes a detailed look at perhaps been seen as something of a that are currently available to assist Prague’s extensive and varied tramway backwater – but it is now undergoing drivers and operators in their roles, operation, explaining how it fits into modernisation with low-floorArtic trams including those technologies migrating the wider context of the Czech capital’s acquired from Helsinki. from other sectors. public transport provision. PLUS... JUNE 2019 + Classic Trams: Germany’s Schönberger Strand tramway issue + The latest news and analysis, rolling stock orders, system developments, and transport policy and industry comment from On sale around the world 17 May

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Technical innovation systems distinguished Bordeaux’s tramway upon www.lrta.org factfile opening, although FRANCE www.tautonline.com greater significance lies in its rapid growth Subscribe now! No. Bordeaux, and contribution to Bordeaux MAY 2019 N O. 977 139 France the host city. STOCKHOLM REBUILDS CITY LRT CONNECTIONS Now in its 82nd year, Tramways & Urban Transit is

ordeaux was the capital providing the original Tram et bus de Place du Palais of ‘old’ Aquitaine and la CUB (TBC) identity. The tramway make the city more appealing, partly stop, part of line A’s became the principal city is now part of Transport Bordeaux to stem central depopulation and of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, east-west coverage Metropole’s (TBM) coverage of around of central Bordeaux. deter suburban spread. In its setting, the biggest by area 750 000 inhabitants. The original buildings and culture, Bordeaux also amongstB France’s post-2016 regions. TBC operators were Connex/Veolia had significant tourism potential, but The city-proper (256 045 population Transport, replaced from May 2009 traffic and pervading shabbiness made the world’s leading monthly publication dedicated solely to in January 2016) is one of 28 by Keolis under a contract with TBM such factors difficult to appreciate. communes which have constituted until the end of 2022. The tram project was approved Bordeaux Métropole since 2015. Much of the urban area and most in 1997 and all three present lines The city introduced electric tram of the tramway is on the Garonne’s became active in 2003-04 covering an services in 1900, but the system which west bank. The river is the city’s main approximate 22km (13.8 miles) that covered around 200km (125 miles) in geographical feature and an historic link points like the historic centre, 1946 was closed by 1958. Except for source of wealth, including its key Bordeaux Saint Jean, the central limited trolleybus use by the tramway role as the trading hub for the area’s Mériadeck shopping complex and operator (TEOB) between 1949 and 1954, many vineyards. Of exceptional width university campuses in the south-west. motor buses prevailed in local public Sweden’s capital invests in the future with new urban rail links by European standards despite being It also became the principal public transport. They were supplemented by 100km (62 miles) from the sea, the transport between the Garonne’s east several stations on lines mainly serving Berlin con rms 2035 transport plan Garonne and the use of its bridges and west banks. With extensions, the the main station, Bordeaux Saint Jean. light and urban rail developments. still influence transport and can thus system has developed the type of radial Some of these later became suburban arouse local disputes. configuration more usually associated Cuenca’s VLT opens to the public interchanges with the modern tramway. Like similarly-sized Strasbourg with first-generation tramways and After discounting metro options, and the smaller city of Grenoble with the convergence of lines A, B and C the reintroduction of trams in 2003 Cambridge metro is ‘value for money’ earlier tram projects, Bordeaux adopted is arranged as three stops where the was under the Métropole predecessor, intersecting lines have dedicated

£4.60 the mode and complementary works Communauté Urbaine de Bordeaux, on an ambitious scale. The aim was to Words and pictures platforms: Place des Quinconces, by Neil Pulling. Porte de Bourgogne and Hôtel de Ville. Florence Stuttgart A metro approach 184 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com T2’s opening and . www.lrta.org plans for the future to light rail safety

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AUSTRALIA linking the Sukharevo district BALLARAT. Ex-Melbourne and Kalvariiskya Ulitsa, near W3 661 was decorated as the Molodezhnaya metro station. floral tram for the 2019 Begonia Stadler has unveiled the first Festival (9-11 March), recreating four-car train of a batch of ten it is a 1930s tradition. Unfortunately building for line 3. traminfo.pl it was withdrawn on the second day due to a road traffic accident. BELGIUM P. Nicholson ANTWERPEN. De Lijn has MELBOURNE. The federal announced that 22 new CAF and state governments have low-floor double-ended trams agreed a joint contribution of will be delivered in 2023 to AUD10bn (EUR6.3bn) to finance operate line 12 and provide greater the Melbourne Airport rail link flexibility on the network. as a 27km (17-mile) branch The system is already taking from Sunshine. P. Nicholson 23 single-ended cars from CAF, NEWCASTLE. The new tramline arriving from 2022, as part of the An artist’s impression of the new Alstom rolling stock for Montreal’s Réseau carried 108 000 passengers in the framework contract signed in Express Métropolitain automated light metro. Alstom first month of passenger service, October 2017 for up to 146 trams. Aeromovel traction equipment, The Rideau Transit Group double pre-opening forecasts. Each 31.4m low-floor tram will was originally designed for a missed the 31 March deadline for SYDNEY. The NSW Government replace two PCC cars, providing project in Canoas that required handing over Confederation line has confirmed that it hopes to 54 fixed and 22 folding seats and six vehicles, but that is currently on Stage 1, the third deadline missed inaugurate tramway operation room for 126 standing passengers, hold due to disputes within the city by the consortium. No new date between Circular Quay and with the capability of running in government. RGI has been set, but the end of Randwick in December, with the multiple units. T-2000 June seems likely. Ottawa Citizen Kingsford branch following in BRUXELLES/BRUSSEL. New BULGARIA TORONTO. TTC Flexity deliveries March 2020. Driver training is to plans have been published for SOFIA. A further ten three-car from Bombardier Thunder Bay start in June. Sydney Morning Herald the arrangement of station and Siemens Inspiro metro trains have reached 4535 by the end of March. tracks around Midi/Constitution been ordered for line 3, adding to Metrolinx took delivery of three AUSTRIA when the north-south subway the 20 being delivered. The line LRVs by the end of February (this GRAZ. The tram fleet at 1 January is converted from tram to metro should open later this year. IRJ should have been 1 February). consisted of cars 201-45 (Stadler operation. The existing Lemonnier VANCOUVER. TransLink has 2009-15), 501-10 (SGP 1978), station will be replaced by the CANADA issued a request for qualification 601-12 (SGP 1986-87) and 651-668 new ‘Constitution’ station under MISSISSAUGA. Metrolinx is for contractors to design, build (Bombardier 2000-01); 501-10 Ave de Stalingrad. The Lemonnier aiming to reduce the cost of the and finance the SkyTrain Broadway are being refurbished for a further station under Blvd du Midi will be planned Hurontario light rail subway (5.6km/3.5 miles from ten years’ service. EB retained, as will the four-track tram project by cutting out the city VCC-Clark to Arbutus St). Work is SALZBURG. Federal government, subway leading to Midi. A new centre loop, eliminating three expected to finish in 2025. I. Fisher Land and city officials signed a tramline will be built along Rue de stops, removing plans for a WATERLOO-KITCHENER. An letter of intent on 25 March l’Argonne to link Avenue Fonsy pedestrian bridge at the Cooksville announcement about the opening to extend and upgrade the and Blvd Jamar. Avenue du Roi stop, and changes to urban realm date for the 19km (11.8-mile) ION Lokalbahn. An extension is depot is being modified to accept improvements along the corridor. light rail service was expected in planned from Salzburg Hbf south low-floor trams, the last STIB depot The line is planned for 2022, but early April. All 14 Bombardier – Mirabellplatz; further stages to be rebuilt for this. 2023 is more likely. P. Webb Flexity Freedom were on test in late would see the route upgraded Bourse metro station was MONTRÉAL. The design for the February, but modifications were to permit higher frequencies renamed Bourse – Grand-Place on Alstom Metropolis destined for in progress pending acceptance. and improve reliability. It is 7 February. the Réseau Express Métropolitain hoped to secure funding to begin The first M7 metro train was metro was on 29 March; 106 CHILE construction in 2020. unveiled at CAF’s facility in two-car trains are to be delivered SANTIAGO. The 21.7km Former Lokalbahn and Salzburg Beasain, Spain, in March. The 43 by the Alstom-led Groupe PMM (13.5-mile) metro line 3 from Los AG Director Gunter Mackinger six-car trains will enter service on consortium. The 67km (42-mile) Libertadores to Fernando Castillo was presented with the Golden lines 1 and 5 in 2020. T-2000 light metro will be one of the Velasco opened on 22 January; Seal of the City of Salzburg by GENT. The Flemish Minister of world’s largest automated CAF has supplied 22 trains Bürgermeister Harry Preunder on Mobility, Ben Weyts, has declared transport networks when it is equipped with ATO. IRJ 1 March, in recognition of his that he is in favour of a new 6.7km complete, connecting the south service to local passenger transport. (4.2-mile) tramway between shore suburbs in the east with the CHINA ET47 (SGP/AEG 1986) is the St-Pietersstation and Dampoort city and having western branches HOHHOT. CRRC Changke first of three more Lokalbahn rather than Bus Rapid Transit, to the airport, Sainte-Anne-de- is delivering six-car trains for articulated cars to be rebuilt as recreating the former line 7, but Bellevue and Deux-Montagnes. the 23.1km (14.4-mile) metro, eight-axle cars with a low-floor elections on 26 May will clarify Opening of the first section is expected to open in December. BS centre section by Inekon/KOS in the chances for the project. T-2000 planned for mid-2021. RGI TIANJIN. Tenders have been Krnov. ET49 will follow. HAN-SUR-LESSE. AR159 has OTTAWA. The CAD4.66bn invited for 19 six-car metro trains WIEN (Vienna). Work has returned from rebuilding in Liege (EUR3.1bn) contracts for the for the extension of line 4, and 22 started on the extension of as an autorail électrique, leaving Stage 2 light rail expansion were six-car trains for the first phase of line D to Gudrunstrasse, to open just ART 90 AR1 68 diesel formally approved by the city line 10, opening in June 2021. IRJ in September. powered. T-2000 council on 6 March. Alstom will WENZHOU. Metro operation Withdrawn at the end of 2018 supply an additional 38 Citadis started on 23 January on a 34.4km were E1 4509 and 4791 plus c4 BRAZIL Sprint LRVs for the east-west (21.4-mile) line from Tongling to trailers 1308/15, leaving 34 E1 INDUSTRY. Bus manufacturer Confederation line, while a new Olympic Center. BS and 30 c4 cars in the fleet. EB Marcopolo displayed a batch of Stadler Flirt diesel LRVs prototype lightweight driverless will be ordered for the Trillium CZECH REPUBLIC BELARUS peoplemover at the NTExpo trade line. The province is contributing LIBEREC. Ex-Olomouc T3 MINSK. Plans have been fair in São Paulo on 19 March. CAD1.2bn (EUR801.8m), trams 169/79, built in 1987, have announced for a light rail line The two-car vehicle, which uses matching the federal contribution. joined the fleet as 14/15. Three

190 / MAy 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org more (Olomouc 180/1/4) will change saw lines 1 and 2 cut follow. BS back to Zentralhaltestelle, saving one tram and five driver duties. DENMARK FreiePresse ODENSE. The opening of the COTTBUS. An open day at city’s 14.4km (nine-mile) tramway Schmellwitz depot is scheduled has been delayed until the third for 18 May, 10.00-17.00, with quarter of 2021 due to planning historic trams providing a link to issues in the city centre. Bytrafik the Parkeisenbahn in Sandow. BS DÜSSELDORF. The city council EGYPT has given the green light for new ISKANDARIYAH (Alexandria). line U81 linking Freiligrathplatz The first Tatra-Yug K1E6A tram and Flughafen by 2024. carried passengers for the first A solution to the problem time on 18 March; 15 trams of this with the new HF6 trams has been type are being delivered. traminfo.pl identified with manufacturer The new Caen tramway has reached the Place de la Résistance in the city on trials of its Alstom Citadis. Caen La Mer Bombardier. It is expected that FRANCE the first ten will enter service in (ex-2101/11/13/92). The INDIA ANGERS. On 11 March the city late summer. BS programme will be brought to a AGRA. A two-line 29.4km council awarded the operating FRANKFURT-AM-MAIN. It has close once the 28th car is rebuilt. DS (18.3-mile) metro project has contract for the city’s Irigo tram been revealed that the extension LEIPZIG. On 15 February Land been approved by the Indian and bus network to RATP Dev, of line U5 to Europaviertel will Sachsen announced a EUR13.4m Government for completion taking over from incumbent cost three times as much as was grant towards buying a further 20 within five years at a cost of Keolis on 1 July and running until planned (EUR373m) and will not Solaris XL trams (1042-61). IRR83.8bn (EUR55.6bn). RGI 30 June 2025. A second tramline is be ready to open until 2024. On 19 May the tramway museum AHMEDABAD. On 4 March under construction and expected The Stadtbahn line between Hbf re-opened at its new location, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra to open in 2022. IRJ and Heddernheim will be closed former Wittenberger Strasse depot Modi inaugurated the first 6.5km CAEN. The first trials on new for renovation work for six weeks on line 9. BS (four-mile) section of metro track in the city centre (Place from 1 July: U1 and U8 will be MANNHEIM (RNV). O n between Vastral and Apparel de la Résistance) took place on withdrawn, U2 will be operated 15 January revised plans for the Park. Hyundai Rotem is supplying 19 March; a dummy service between Riedwiese and Nieder- new Škoda trams were unveiled 32 three-car trains. urbanrail.net should be operational by the end Eschbach, U3 between Oberursel with two sets of interior steps BENGALURU (Bangalore). of May. There was an open day and Ginnheim and U9 between replaced by ramps and a revised Seven six-car metro trains at the depot and workshop on Ginnheim and Gonzenheim. interior design. The tram station have been ordered from BEML 24 March. Ouest-France A five-minute service of articulated at Hbf is to be rebuilt in 2021-24 in a contract worth IRR4bn NANTES. The 12 CAF-built buses will take passengers to and with four instead of three tracks (EUR84 517). IRJ low-floor trams returned to from the city centre. and 70m platforms. BS DELHI. Two metro extensions service from 4 March following HALLE. The timetable change NÜRNBERG. From 7 January to were opened on 8 March: the Blue software upgrades to address an in May is expected to see the end the end of July the section of line 5 line continues 6.6km (4.1 miles) intermittent braking issue. T-2000 of operation with Tatra trams; between Mögeldorf and Tiergarten from Noida City Centre to TOURS. Tramline A is to be the weekend will be marked by is serviced by buses to permit the Noida Electronic City, and extended from Vaucanson to a celebration of 50 years of Tatra turning circle and overhead to be the 1676mm-gauge Red Line the airport, and construction of trams in the city. BS rebuilt. An order has been placed (9.4km/5.8 miles from Dilshad a second line (14.7km/9.1 miles, HAMBURG. The 100th DT5 with Siemens for seven more Garden to New Bus Adda). La Riche – Chambray-les-Tours) U-Bahn set (400) entered service on four-car U-Bahn trains, bringing the urbanrail.net is planned to open in 2025. TR 26 February after a short ceremony total order to 34. BS HYDERABAD. The western at Barmbeck workshops. BS STUTTGART. SSB has said it section of metro line 3, from GERMANY KARLSRUHE. Dual-voltage tram wants to buy 120 new tram sets Ameerpet to Hitech City, was AUGSBURG. Plans are being 808 is being used by Thales as a by the end of 2028. VVS has opened by the state governor on developed for a new tram fleet, testbed for autonomous operation, agreed to convert the former rail 20 March. RGI consisting of 21 low-floor cars with initially aimed at automating line Ludwigsburg – Möglingen – LUCKNOW. The 23km (14.3-mile) an option for a further six. BS depot shunting operations. Markgöningen to a new Stadtbahn Phase 1 of the metro was BERLIN. Plans have been revealed Tullstrasse depot’s 1913 hall will by 2025. A second stage will completed on 8 March when the for the new north-south S-Bahn, be open for visits to the museum run from Bhf Ludwigsburg to existing 8.5km (5.3-mile) line due to link Wedding/Westhafen tram fleet on every other Sunday Remseck-Pattonville via Oststadt was extended 2.6km (1.6 miles) stations via a triangular junction from 14 April to 13 October. and Grünbuhl. BS south to Chaudhary Charan with an underground station Eight tracks accommodate 23 WIESBADEN. The route for the Singh International Airport at Hbf. A second stage will run preserved trams. IRJ, BS planned Citybahn in the central and 12.6km (7.8 miles) north 1.2km (0.75 miles) further south JENA. The city council has area will be on the surface from to Munshipulia; 20 four-car to link with the existing line narrowly approved a proposal Hbf to Rhein-Main-Hallen, standard-gauge 25kV ac Alstom north of Potsdamer Platz. A third for a cost-benefit analysis for Ringkirche and Hochschule Metropolis trains are in service. RGI stage will extend the line by the restoration of tram service RheinMain. It is hoped to operate MUMBAI. The 11.3km 2.1km (1.3 miles) to Yorckstrasse, to Jena-Ost and extension the line without overhead current (seven-mile) extension of the avoiding Anhalter Bhf. At present to Himmelreich. DS collection by using batteries and first monorail line, from Wadala finance is only confirmed for KIEL. Despite a tram-train scheme supercapacitors. Two protest to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk, stage 1. BS being rejected in 2015, the city groups have formed to fight the was opened on 3 March. The BRANDENBURG. The first council has now come up with proposals. BS Mumbai Metropolitan Region MGT6D tram to receive a mid- plans for a city tramway aimed Development Authority took life overhaul, tram 100 of 1995 at reducing pollution. The aim is GREECE over the line from the LTSE with 1.6m km (approximately 1m to start construction in 2023. The ATHINA (Athens). The 7.6km PPP concessionaire in December miles) under its wheels, returned original 1100mm-gauge system (4.7 miles) extension of metro 2018. RGI to service on 22 March painted was closed in 1985. Tram für Kiel line 3 from Aghia Marina to NAVI MUMBAI. CSR Zhuzhou in an advertising livery for KÖLN (Cologne). The 24th Piraeus is due to open in June. is delivering eight three-car Brandenburger Bank. DS rebuilt Stadtbahn-B will be 2408, The next extension to the trains for the 23.4km (14.5-mile) CHEMNITZ. Due to staff originally 2108. Already in the city’s municipal theatre will be metro line under construction for shortages, the 4 March timetable workshops are 2401/11/3/8 delivered in two years. DS completion in 2020. IRJ

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hydroelectric and geothermal signed with Japanese companies power from Tohoku Electric. in January and the Japan The 1372mm-gauge line is International Co-operation electrified at 600V dc and consumes Agency is providing finance of 2.16MkWh each year. PHP365bn (EUR6.2bn). RGI The Ueno Zoo monorail will close in October due to a lack POLAND of finance to refurbish the 2001 GORZÓW WIELKOPOLSKI. rolling stock. BS The first of 14 new Pesa Twist trams, 001, was delivered in April. KAZAKHSTAN It is hoped the system will be ASTANA. The capital city, which carrying passengers again in is planning a new tramway system, September, after two years of has been renamed Nursultan, closure. transport-publiczny.pl in honour of retiring President ŁÓDŹ. When interurban tram Nursultan Nazaebayev. service 43 was withdrawn in Daily Telegraph February, city tramline 7 was The Japanese city of Okayama has redesigned its four-axle articulated tram 1081 in the image of the children’s TV programme Chuggington, and offers group rides. split into 7A (Koziny) and 7B It even has its own fan club. Okayama Electric Tramway KENYA (Zdrowie); second-hand Duewag NAIROBI. During a visit by French cars can be seen on these services. NAGPUR. Limited metro the Strathallan depot, prior to President Macron on 13 March The tracks between Zdrowie and operation started on 8 March construction of a new depot on the a partnership was announced to Brus depot (home to the museum on the 13.5km (8.4-mile) same site. Although the tramway is complete an airport rail link by fleet) are still being maintained. north-south metro line from due to partly re-open on 25 April, 2021. IRJ The city is planning to rebuild Sitabuldi to Khapri. urbanrail.net this is dependent on progress on 11km (6.8 miles) of tracks in 2019- reconstruction of the Promenade. MEXICO 20 and modernise Chocianowice INDONESIA SNAEFELL. GPS data suggests GUADALAJARA. Opening of depot. A tender is being prepared JAKARTA. The first metro line tram 2 reached around 71km/h light rail line 3, which is entirely for 30 new trams. opened on 24 March, though (44mph) in the runaway incident grade separated, is now targeted for M. J. Russell, traminfo.pl passengers had been riding the of 4 August 2017, 48km/h (30mph) January 2020. El Informador WARSZAWA. Although its line on a trial basis since 12 March. more than the line speed. The initial objections to the award of a The 15.7km (9.8-mile) line tram had 50 people onboard at NETHERLANDS 213-tram order to Hyundai Rotem connects the city centre with Lebak the time, including two crew AMSTERDAM. Plans are being were overruled by The National Bulus in the southern suburbs. members. Nobody was injured in developed for a new tram depot in Chamber of Appeal on 27 March; Nippon Sharyo is delivering the incident, which led the tram to the eastern suburbs: the terminus a new appeal has been raised 16 six-car trains. An 8.7km run away for approximately 1.4km of lines 7 and 14 at Flevopark is by Pesa. traminfo.pl (5.4-mile) northern extension is (0.9 miles) and has led to moves one site option, or the loop next WROCŁAW. The city is working under construction. RGI to fit Snaefell vehicles with new to the A10 motorway slip road, or with the Association of Polish ‘fail-to-safe’ brakes. on Strandeiland. de Brug Architects on a competition IRELAND The information is included in DEN HAAG. A dummy service for ideas for the design of the DUBLIN. A reprieve has been won the Health and Safety Investigation from Javaplein to Lansingerland new tramway depot to cater for for the southern section of Dublin’s Report, which has been released in Zoetermeer started on expansion. transport-publiczny.pl Luas Green line, which had been as a result of a Freedom of 20 March. digitaletram.nl planned to be converted to metro. Information request made by Isle UTRECHT. At 10.45 on 18 March PORTUGAL The shift has followed public of Man newspapers. a gunman opened fire onboard LISBOA. P ubl ic t ra nspor t consultation on the intended route a sneltram (5011+5014) shortly operator Carris has announced a for the planned MetroLink scheme, ITALY after departure from Centraal tender for 15 new low-floor trams. a revived and modified version of BOLZANO. A consortium Station. Three people were The new low-floor vehicles are the former Metro North/Metro including Italian construction killed in the attack, with a fourth required for the line 15 extension South projects. Rather than taking company Salcef, French operator succumbing to injuries ten to Cruz Quebrada, Santa Apolónia over the Green line formation RATP Dev and Spanish rolling days later. The tramset halted at and Parque das Nações and will between the southern terminus stock manufacturer CAF has 24 Oktoberplein as police be funded by EUR45m from the at Sandyford and Charlemont, presented proposals for a attended, and SUN service was Lisbon Chamber. They will be the new line is now to terminate PPP to take on the design, suspended for the rest of the day. Lisboa’s first new trams since 1995. at Charlemont where interchange construction, equipment and De Telegraaf Monday 1 April saw the will be offered between the two operation of the new 13.7km introduction of new monthly modes. MetroLink’s tunnelled (8.5-mile) two-line tramway. NORWAY passes. Navegante Metropolitano section will run as far as Ranelagh. The anticipated cost of EUR245m, OSLO. From 7 January there costs EUR40 and covers all Public consultation on the planned would be financed 51% by the is no T-Bane service after regular public transport in new route is to take place until May. consortium and 49% by the public 21.00 between Majorstuen 18 municipalities; Navegante Red line tram 3005 was derailed sector (through a combination and Stortinget to permit track Municipal covers just the in a collision with a bus on Queen of state, provincial, municipal and renewal. A supplementary tram Lisboa city area and costs EUR30. Street on 16 March. Trams were European Union contributions). service 15 Majorstuen – Frogner – A single tram ride costs EUR3 unable to reach The Point or La Volce Di Bolzano, TR Jernbanetorget was introduced to from the driver or EUR1.35 with a Connolly for much of the day, with MESSINA. Tram service continues carry displaced passengers. BS Zapping smartcard. BS services terminating at Museum. to operate Monday-Saturday Nine people, including four ticket (excluding public holidays), PHILIPPINES ROMANIA inspection staff, were injured. but only eight of the 15 Alstom MANILA. The ground-breaking BUCUREȘTI. Tenders have Cityway trams are serviceable due ceremony for the first underground been invited for the construction ISLE OF MAN to a decision not to order spare metro took place on 27 February. of the southern section of metro DOUGLAS. A planning parts. TR The 36km (22-mile) north-south line M6 from a junction with line application has been submitted line will link Quirino Highway M4 at 1 Mai to Tokyo. for a temporary marquee on JAPAN in Quezon City with FTI in REȘ IȚ A. Trams could be the former Summerland site to TOKYO. The Setagaya tramline Taguig City via Aquino returning to this city of 73 000 provide a depot for six horse will become the first in International Airport from 2025. in western Romania; the city trams. It follows demolition of Japan powered by renewable The design-build contract was had one of the new systems built

192 / may 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org in the Ceauşescu era, but this SWITZERLAND closed in 2011. Now the mayor is AARAU (AVA). Stadler has planning to re-introduce delivered ABe4/12 70-74, 60m trams on a 10km (6.2-mile) three-section cars, and there was north-south line with the help a public presentation at of EU funding (EUR40m). Schöftland on 18 May. EA Tenders for 13 double-ended BASEL. Plans published for the 18m cars are included in the development of the tramway up Ministry of Regional Development to 2040 include new tracks along initiative currently underway. SV Claragraben (line 8), Petersgraben (line 16) and through Klybeck RUSSIA (line 14), line 14 will run to KAZAN. Low-floor Kleinhüningen and line 16 to Belkommunmash BKM84300 Bahnhof St Johann. BS articulated tram 1302 (delivered NEUCHÂTEL (TN). 2013) was burnt out following Ex-Trognerbahn Be4/8 31 and a fire in Prospekt Yamasheva on 32 were delivered to Neuchâtel 18 March. transphoto.ru in April after refurbishment by KURSK. Two-axle works car Stadler at Kreuzlingen. They will GS-5 has been converted into not enter regular service until all The Ukrainian city of Zaprozhye is putting seven ex-Berlin 1982 Tatra KT4D trams into service after refurbishment and repainting. S. Dovgal a replica of one of the Belgian five cars have been delivered and trams that opened the system commissioned this summer. EA Sufouh tramway that opened in District, Hammersmith & City to support celebrations of 120 ZÜRICH. An emergency 2014. and Metropolitan lines under years of tramway operation, and timetable on lines 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13 Transport for London’s Four Lines numbered C-4. transphoto.ru and 17 was introduced from 22 UNITED KINGDOM Modernisation programme. VOLGOGRAD. Tram 5834, built March after an incident involving BATH/BRISTOL. Funding worth The rolling stock and in 1984 and the only double- a broken articulation rod on a GBP1.95m (EUR2.27m) has been infrastructure renewal scheme is ended Tatra KT8 in Russia, which Cobra tram. These are now limited secured from the West of England planned for completion in 2023, was tested in Moskva in the early to 42km/h (29mph) on the Combined Authority (WECA) with the resignalling element 1990s before being operated in main running lines and 12km/h for a study into mass transit for intended to support an increase Volgograd, is being returned to (7.5mph) at pointwork. DS Bristol that would include a line from a maximum of 28 to 32 trains/ the capital for preservation. to Bath. A further GBP450 000 hour from 2021. This tram started life as a Tatra TURKEY (EUR525 000) has been secured Transport for London has issued demonstrator in Praha as 0018. ESKIŞEHIR. The 3km (1.86-mile) from WECA to investigate mass a Prior Information Notice in its N. Semyonov eastern extension of the tramway transit in Bath. search for new solutions to prevent from Açelya to Sehir Hastanesi LRTA Campaigns Group Chair suicides on its rail networks. SPAIN was opened on 10 March, bringing Jim Harkins said that “this grant The notice seeks to engage the BARCELONA. Tenders have the system to 48km (30 miles). RGI is the first step towards achieving industry in defining the design and been invited for 42 five-car metro ISTANBUL. The first test what others on the continent take procurement of a ‘totally new and trains to replace stock from the run of Istanbul’s future 10km for granted.” innovative solution’; including late 1980s on lines 1 and 3; 18 (6.2-mile) line T5 took place on GREATER MANCHESTER. infrastructure modifications or will be standard-gauge with 24 19 March. Bursa-based Tram 3006 has become the first engagement and training tools for being 1668mm gauge. manufacturer Durmazlar is Bombardier M5000 to amass one staff and passengers. Provençana station on metro building 30 trams that will feature million km in service. The tram was LONDON (CROSSRAIL). line 10S was opened on 2 March. Alstom’s APS surface current one of the first to be brought into Transport for London has IRJ, R. Felski collection system for the 14-stop use in February 2010. completed the sale and return BENIDORM – DÉNIA. The line from Eminönü to Alibeyköy A special event for transport and lease of its Bombardier Class first two of six electro-diesel Cep Otogari that is due to open in business leaders has been held to 345 EMUs for the Elizabeth line tram-trains for the 50.8km June 2020. view progress on Metrolink’s with the 345 Rail Leasing (31.6-mile) line have been delivered The first test run on automated GBP350m (EUR408m) Trafford consortium of Equitix Investment by Stadler; the remaining four metro line M7 (24.5km/15 miles Park line. Platforms and shelters Management, NatWest and will be delivered throughout the Kabatas – Mahmutbey) took place have been installed at five of the SMBC Leasing. course of the year. on 19 March; Hyundai Rotem is 5.5km (3.4-mile) line’s six stops, The 20-year deal will release FGV has launched tenders for supplying 95 four-car trains. with the final platform due to be GBP1bn (EUR1.16bn) for the remodelling of platforms and The Marmaray commuter rail lifted into place near EventCity in reinvestment in the city’s stops to allow greater accessibility project was completed with the April. Contractor MPact-Thales has transport network, including on line 9 (Benidorm – Dénia) opening of stage 2 on 12 March. laid around 60% of the track. the new Underground trains for and line 1 (Benidorm – Alicante); Service now runs over 76.6km The project is being funded by the Piccadilly line that are being the works are estimated to take (47.6 miles) of line from Halkali Greater Manchester’s Devolution supplied by Siemens. These are 15 months from contract signature, on the European side to Gebze Deal, signed by the city-region’s planned to enter service in 2023. to a value of EUR17.15m. on the Asian side. Hyundai leaders in 2014. Trafford Council TfL retains an option to purchase ArcelorMittal has been awarded Rotem has supplied 88 five-car is providing GBP20m (EUR23.3m). the Class 345 stock at the end of a EUR1.19m contract for new rail EMUs assembled in Turkey by Erection of the steel the term; 57 of the 70 nine-car units to be laid between Teulada and TÜVASAŞ. RGI superstructure for Ashton’s new have been delivered. Dénia. TR transport interchange has been NOTTINGHAM. Local supplier UNITED ARAB EMIRATES completed. The new GBP32.7m Robin Hood Energy has won a SRI LANKA DUBAI. Serco has been awarded a (EUR38m) facility is due to open contract to supply 100% green COLOMBO. An agreement two-year AED680m (EUR165.5m) in spring 2020. electricity to power the tram has been signed with the Japan extension of its contract to LONDON (UNDERGROUND). network from 1 April. International Co-operation operate and maintain the Dubai The first section of the network, SOUTH YORKSHIRE. Two Agency for a 40-year JPY30bn Metro until September 2021. between Hammersmith and Citylink tram-train sections (EUR239.7m) loan to finance It has operated Dubai’s two metro Latimer Road, was switched over damaged in separate accidents at the planned 15.7km (9.8-mile) lines since their openings in to a Thales signalling system on Woodbourn Road in October and light rail line in the country’s 2009 and 2011, with engineering 17 March. The Thales SelTrac November have been returned largest city. The latest estimate and maintenance responsibilities IS Radio CBTC system is to to Stadler for repair. They will for completion is 2026. RGI from 2012, also operating the Al be installed on the Circle, be numbered 399 204. The two

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org may 2019 / 193 Worldwide Review

trio of stripes on each of the two 16 has returned to service following main body sections). repair of a failed resistor grid, The first LRV to receive the and Manchester 765 has seen design will be SD660 315, as the service as part of its commissioning first prototype for the Type 2/3 process. overhaul programme. S. J. Morgan The focus of the loan of 40 and ST LOUIS, MO. Contrary to the 765 has been April’s ‘Great North news headline in TAUT 973, the Steam Fair’, adding capacity to name of the new heritage tramway the four currently operational that opened in November is the members of the regular fleet. Loop Trolley, not the Delmar BYLANDS (AU). Three privately- Loop. The latter is the name of the owned trams were delivered in business district through which the January, Adelaide H 368, and line passes on its western portion, Melbourne W2 568 and 650. TW and which acquired its name more CRICH (UK). Track re-laying than a century ago from a tramway at the Glory Mine terminus was turnaround loop (on Delmar Blvd) completed in March but finishing that has been gone for decades. of items including re-installation Also, further to TAUT 976, car of trolley wire required the service A CRRC-built metro train for the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation 003 is not an ex-Portland car. It to be curtailed at Wakebridge Authority) Orange line undergoing trials on 1 March. P. Ehrlich has yet to enter service. S. J. Morgan when the museum re-opened undamaged sections joined as NEW ORLEANS, LA. The two SAN BERNADINO, CA. to the public on 16 March. 399 202 will continue as such. tramlines that normally end at Construction of the 14.5km The re-opening after the winter Track replacement is to take the foot of Canal St (Cemeteries (nine-mile) light rail line linking break also saw the unveiling place on 19 April-2 June between and City Park) have been extended San Bernadino and University of of a new exhibition devoted to Hillsborough Corner and over the eastern Riverfront tracks Redlands will start this year, using a pioneering electrical engineer Middlewood Road. to French Market. The western former Santa Fe freight alignment. Michael Holroyd Smith. TYNE & WEAR. The GBP350m Riverfront line is not operating Three two-section Stadler FLIRT SIMPELVELD (ZLSM) (NL). (EUR408m) Metro: all change due to construction of the Four trains have been ordered to provide 1931 bogie tram LTM 610 has modernisation programme has Seasons hotel. J. May a half-hourly service. RGI returned to South Limburg after passed the GBP300m (EUR350m) PORTLAND, OR. In early March, WASHINGTON, DC. The first spending time in Den Haag, mark with the completion of two TriMet signed a USD105.6m, test trains have run on the 18.4km where it masqueraded as HTM bridge replacement schemes, at seven-year contract with Siemens (11.4-mile) extension of the interurban 90. digitaletram.nl Burnside Road in Cullercoats and Mobility to carry out a ‘mid-life Silver metro line from Wiehle- Beach Road in Tynemouth. The overhaul’ of all 79 of its SD660 Reston to Ashburn via Dulles investment in infrastructure will LRVs. The 52 Type 2 cars were built Airport, as part of a long continue over the next two years; in 1996-2000, while the 27 Type 3 commissioning process. Passenger Transport Executive cars were built in 2003-04. For 77 of Passenger service is not expected Nexus remains in dialogue with the the 79 cars, Siemens has agreed to until 2020. ERA www.idesign.se Department for Transport about carry out the work in the Portland the need to extend the programme area, and has tentatively reached VIETNAM beyond 2021. agreement with Oregon Iron DA NANG. Seoul Metro has signed CONTRIBUTORS Liberal Democrat politicians Works to use the former United a Memorandum of Understanding Worldwide news items for have called for a Metro extension Streetcar facilities in Clackamas. with the People’s Committee of inclusion should be sent to to Doxford Park, expected to cost Work will begin in spring 2021. Vietnam to design and build a metro Michael Taplin at Flat 8, Roxan GBP200m (EUR233m). First, two prototype overhauls network under a PPP concession Villa, 33 Landguard Manor Rd, WEST MIDLANDS. Councillor will take place at Siemens' with Korean construction firms Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 Roger Lawrence, leader of City of Sacramento plant. Type 3 car 315 Lotte Engineering & Construction 6EA, UK. Fax: +44 (0)1983 862810 Wolverhampton Council and West left for Sacramento on 14 March, and Saman. or e-mail [email protected] Midlands Combined Authority and is due for completion The first stage involves feasibility UK and Ireland items are portfolio holder for transport, is to in November. Alstom and studies to inform more specific welcomed by John Symons, 17 have a tram named in his honour KinkiSharyo also bid for this work. network plans and public-private Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, when he steps down in May. Cllr On 27 March, the TriMet Board operation models. Korea Times Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 0LW, UK. Lawrence has led Wolverhampton approved plans to contract with E-mail [email protected] City Council for 15 years and held Siemens for 26 S70 LRVs, TriMet’s MUSEUM NEWS Acknowledgements are due the WMCA post for four years Type 6 (to be numbered 601-626), AMSTERDAM (NL). The Council to Blickpunkt Strassenbahn (BS), – overseeing major investment to replace the 26 Bombardier LRVs. of State has rejected a zoning plan Bytrafik, Daily Telegraph, de Brug, across the region’s networks. The only other qualifying offer was for 500 new homes and a primary De Telegraaf, digitaletram.nl, received from CAF. It was expected school at the Havenstraat land Drehscheibe (DS), Edinburgh Evening USA to be some weeks until the contract currently occupied by the EMA News, Eisenbahn (EB), Eisenbahn BOSTON, MA. Type 9 CAF-built was finalised and signed. Options tramway museum, because the Amateur (EA), Electric Railroaders’ Green line LRVs 3900-04 had been for up to 60 cars are included. city council failed to take sufficient Association (ERA), El Informador, delivered by the end of February. Delivery of the initial 26 is expected account of the interests of the FreiePresse, International Railway The MBTA has awarded a joint from mid-2021 to mid-2022. museum tramway. No appeal is Journal (IRJ), Irish Independent, venture of Alstom and Barletta Following the recent retrofitting possible. R. Deacon Korea Times, La Volce Di Bolzano, a resignalling contract for the of ice-cutting pantographs to the BALTIMORE (US). On 15 March a Manchester Evening News, Red and Orange subway lines 18 Type 5 S70 (TAUT 976) vehicles, CSX freight train derailed on tracks M. J. Russell, Nottingham Evening worth more than EUR80m. The all LRVs under this contract are to at the top of the embankment by Post, Ottawa Citizen, Ouest-France, signalling upgrade covers 72km be so-equipped. Unlike TriMet’s the Baltimore Streetcar Museum. Railway Gazette International (RGI), (45 miles) and will be completed previous two orders of S70 LRVs, Falling railcars destroyed the Rollsign, Stadtverkehr (SV), Sydney in 2022. Rollsign, IRJ these will have operating cabs at museum’s substation as well as Morning Herald, The Chronicle, CHICAGO, IL. Metra has issued both ends. They will also wear a damaging poles and overhead. Today’s Railways (TR), Tram für Kiel, a Request for Proposals for 200 new new livery, which TriMet adopted BEAMISH (UK). Blackpool traminfo.pl, Tram 2000 (T-2000), commuter rail cars, with an option in 2018 and thus far has appeared & Fleetwood Box 40 arrived at transphoto.ru, Trolley Wire (TW), for a further 200. A deal should be only on its buses: all-over blue with Beamish on 4 March and joined urbanrail.net and Wolverhampton finalised by December. D. Drum semi-vertical orange stripes (one the operational fleet. Sunderland Express & Star.

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Light rail development needs to follow the money It seemed apt to me that the latest issue included a large lead to more new lines if the current expansion is delivered story on the UK’s latest ‘Call for Evidence’ into new light rail well and to timetable. No-one wants another Edinburgh. schemes, but also, a few pages later, a well-reasoned plan for a As much as the gospel of ‘connecting people to opportunity’ new urban/interurban tramway for the Potteries. is heard, you need to start by pairing well-off neighbourhoods The UK now has over 25 years of experience with ‘modern’ with those less fortunate areas and the city centre to establish a light rail, so we have a reasonably good idea of what works and ridership base – this must be quickly followed by links to other what doesn’t in terms of construction and ridership. under-performing areas and development sites. The DLR is one In Edinburgh, the contractual arrangements and governance of the world’s finest examples of this working brilliantly. of the construction of the initial line from the airport to the city Building tramlines that link uniformly poor areas will centre led to major delays and cost overruns. This doesn’t mean always take much longer to pay back their investment, leaving the scheme was flawed, just its execution. As an affluent city, them open to criticism when they aren’t an immediate success. the tram connects key passenger generators and proves that One of the key socio-economic drivers of good public transport public transport will get people out of their cars if it delivers a is when you link neighbourhoods with few employment high-quality, convenient, comfortable service. This comes at a opportunities or amenities to places a few miles away that have premium over other modes in the first instance. In Edinburgh them. Linking in the city centre, major onward rail links and it’s been a fantastic success, which is why I’m not in the least key educational institutions and hospitals along the way is also surprised that the extension to Newhaven has been approved. vital to drive regeneration and growth. That is what leads to The original Midland Metro was a valiant attempt, but always vibrant cities and why so many European systems work so well. seemed to me to be the connection that was built first – of the We need to think about large groups of people who have the many plans released in the 1980s and ’90s – because it was the ability or desire to use our new service and connecting them easiest to build. Lacking a core base of well-off customers and comfortably and conveniently to where they want to be – or a way to take them to where they wanted to go, as well as a where you want them to be if you are using light rail as a tool further lack of proper intermodal connections, it was always for development. Incentives need to be provided to those going to struggle. Now it reaches the centre of Birmingham organisations that will benefit most to get them to contribute. (and soon more prosperous areas such as Edgbaston and It’s not rocket science, you just need to ‘follow the money’. Solihull) I am sure that ridership will boom. This will surely T. Briggs, by e-mail

From Sandilands to San Francisco Even the name hints at the backwater status Start sensibly and add the detail later As an LRTA member since 1962, I have of the location. But don’t let me complain: Vic Simons’ article on the reborn El Paso followed the impressive development of the entire system is a pleasure to ride, and it tramway (TAUT 975) demonstrates the your magazine for over 55 years. Bravo! It’s is grotesque that there are still no solid final compromises which have to be made when generally excellent. plans to extend it. building a tramway to a tight budget. But it One interesting anomaly crept into the This all has particular resonance for me as is always better to have a tramway than not, April (TAUT 976) issue, however. At the bottom I grew up near Sandilands, and often cycled even if some of the more elaborate additions left of page 136, the caption suggests that the out into the country, past Loyd Park (yes, need to be sacrificed. Many can be added later. Gravel Hill tramway to New Addington was the spelling is correct), along Coombe Lane, One cannot help asking how many built on an old railway alignment. over the top of Gravel Hill, past Addington accurately-costed tramways could be built in In fact, only about half a mile (1km) of this Palace (a rural residence of Archbishops of the UK under similar budgetary constraints route (the initial part, through the tunnel) Canterbury) and then off into the green lanes for the price of the HS2 rail scheme and how was built on an old railway right of way – and of the Surrey/Kent border. If any prophets in much more beneficial they would be to the the sharp curve at the northern end was the 1955 had foreseen that there would one day towns and cities they served. site of the tragic Sandilands accident. But by be trams out there in the greenery, I would David Edwards, by e-mail far the longest part of the New Addington have considered them insane. I remembered Ed: Some readers may remember our rough branch was built on virgin parkland and at the mighty Felthams looming up in the rain sums on this a few years ago. Assuming a the edge of greenbelt fields, up hill and down in Croydon’s North End in 1950-51, and that cost of GBP500m (EUR582m) for an effective dale and through the thick woodland of the was my image of a proper tram! starter line, including vehicles, a depot and Shirley Hills. Hence the splendid ‘interurban’ I now live just north of the Golden Gate sensible provision for expansion, the GBP27bn feel of the journey from East Croydon to the Bridge, and am lucky enough to be able to (EUR31.5bn) reported for the first phase of eventual terminus, the somewhat dour 1940s support Market Street Railway in helping to HS2 would put a decent line in every UK town new town of New Addington. keep vintage streetcars running from 05.00 or city with a population above 175 000... and One might well ask how the decision was to 01.00 in San Francisco. If any members leave GBP6bn (EUR7bn) in change. So why made to give London its first modern tramway are considering a foreign trip somewhere, not a tramway system in Leicester, Aberdeen, in such bucolic surroundings. Planners said possibly permanently after the excitements of Middlesbrough – or even Peterborough? that New Addington residents ‘felt isolated’. Brexit, I heartily recommend San Francisco. The 130 bus route took too long to get them Even the vast trolleybus network brings The tram-train concept is far from new! to work. Well, maybe... but think how many delight: unimaginably complex overhead It seems to be thought that tram-trains started other candidates there were for ‘tramstitution’. wiring at Grand Union junctions, and the in Karlsruhe. One much earlier example was The Wimbledon-Croydon section (95% svelte, articulated New Flyers just coming into Vienna route 18G which started in the 1920s on which is on former rail alignments) is of service... Plus the swish new Siemens trams and lasted at least until the 1960s. Part of the course heavily patronised. The other sections alongside the heavy old Ansaldo Bredas... route was shared with other normal trams of London’s modest network far less so. And did I mention the cable cars? and part was between trains on the Stadtbahn. Do many people need to get to Elmers End? David Kennard, San Francisco (US) J. R. Batts, Banbury (UK)

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2019 / 195 Classic Trams lisbon’s line 24: a classic revival When line 24 services were suspended in 1995, there seemed little hope of them returning. Mike Tedstone finds that trams are traversing the route in Portugal’s capital once again. 1

he concept of the tourist tram route In subsequent years reports emerged that the predominantly locals as the new service is in Lisboa (Lisbon) is by no means line might, one day, enjoy a reprieve. not yet promoted as a tourist attraction, nor is new. The 1995 edition of the As recorded in TAUT 966, a substantial its route traversed by the red or green tourist LRTA handbook The Tramways of portion has been reinstated, but not until trams. This may change when the missing Portugal noted that operator Carris well over two decades later. This might be section up the hill from Cais do Sodre, Tintroduced such services in the Portuguese considered a long wait for regular users, but along Rua de Alecrim, is reinstated, but no capital as long ago as 1965. The two vehicles many believed that even this might never reduction in parallel bus services has yet been used then were certainly classics, being happen. Revived in part, might be more implemented; passengers boarding a bus at original 1901 cars. They live on at the excellent accurate – although the track had been largely Cais do Sodre would hardly be expected to get Carris transport museum at Santo Amaro. left in situ, the overhead wiring and some of off to board a tram for the same destination. The mid-1990s saw substantial cutbacks to the pointwork had been removed. Until at least Once clear of the busy terminal loop the city’s tram network, whilst at the same 2014-15, the routes line 24 crossed had been Remodelados power up the hill, rattling time some 45 cars dating from the 1930s were plain-lined, at Cais do Sodre (the southern loudly over the surviving trailing crossover at rebuilt for use on the five routes that survived. terminus, intersecting lines 15 and 18), and Principe Real. They take time to traverse Largo These four-wheel ‘Remodelados’ retain their most (but, crucially, not all) fittings had been de Rato in the absence of any traffic priority original character, albeit with an added removed at P. Luis de Camoes on line 28. measures, then continue to climb past the pantograph, and are currently complemented This note describes the heritage route, a Aqueduct, through an unaltered and elderly (on the coastal line 15 to Belem and Alges) by sort of truncated line 24, which has great interlaced section under a huge arch and on ten modern Articulados. character with its vibrant street scenes, past the left-hand facing double junction for Today, two distinct routes enable visitors sweeping views and abundant architectural Amoreiras. The final stretch to Campolide to sample either the Hills (Linha Colinhas), delights. Scheduled services are usually is where most roadworks have taken place, or Belem and the coast. As these services – provided by three Remodelados, which, until giving an almost new appearance to line 24, deploying heritage trams with multi-lingual further reinstatement takes place, are limited particularly in the opposite (southbound) commentaries – cover a high proportion of to the section between P. Luis de Camoes and direction. Little remains of the old loop, above the network, it might be said that this is an the new turning loop at Campolide. Our map the new underground car park, but about a almost entirely classic network for, as the LRTA gives an idea of the revived line’s proportions third of it appears to be on original alignment. handbook put it over 20 years ago, “Lisboa’s relative to where it used to continue further The stop at the new terminal loop gives the yellow trams have become a symbol of the city to Alto De Sao Joao in the north, as well as the Carris driver a well-earned break as the tram is and a major tourist attraction”. Regular services other inner-city route closures of the 1990s. wholly off-road here, whereas at the other end on the four hilly routes, Linha (lines) 12, 18, only a snatched stop can be made between 25 and 28 are operated solely by yellow cars, A year-round delight frequent but irregularly-spaced line 28 trams. while those on the tourist routes are red, more An important aspect of Lisboa’s tourist trams Travelling on a 1930s Remodelado on the recently supplemented by at least one other is the high proportion of passengers using revived line 24 makes for a very rewarding 1930s vehicle, carrying a newer green livery. them year-round. It is common for shore experience, taking around 15 minutes. As of One of the route closures of the 1990s was excursions from cruise ships to include a November 2018, it appeared that the the very long line 24, then operating from Cais tram ride in a half-day sightseeing package. necessary trackwork alterations at Cais do do Sodre (near the busy terminus of the coastal On days when a couple or more ships are Sodre had been completed in readiness to Estoril Railway, running along the coast to moored at the berths near Sta. Apolonia accommodate the extension of the line once Cascais) to Alto De Sao Joao in the north-east railway station, it can be a challenge to get the overhead is reinstated, and the missing of the city. It began as a radial route, ascending on a regular line 28 or a 12 service owing crossovers put back at P. Luis de Camoes. steeply from sea-level and crossing line 25 at to the crowds, or because of traffic delays The extension of line 25 towards Sta. right-angles on a high bridge. It continued exacerbated by narrow streets. Apolonia will take time, but the fact that so to climb and crossed line 28 at Praca Luis de Arriving by sea, visitors currently have much has already been done is encouraging. Camoes, an important interchange. Further to make do without the availability of the Elsewhere in the city, it is not too far- up, line 24 passed the Ascensor da Gloria nearest tramstop (Alfandega) as a turning fetched to imagine that the section between (another interchange, for the funicular down loop is pending the reconstruction and Prazeres/Campo de Ourique (near the western to the lower city). It then proceeded to Principe extension of line 25 eastwards to a new end of line 28) and Amoreiras could one day Real, crossed the Largo de Rato, and ran up terminus much nearer to the railway station also return to life, as an estimated 90% of the towards Amoreiras, close to the magnificent and cruise liner terminal. Line 25 is diverted track between the double-junctions at each Aqueduct to eventually reach a loop at to run to and from P. da Figueira, but from end is still there. Finally, an extension of line Campolide. Here, plans existed for major there it is just a few stops on to Cais do Sodre. 15 beyond the current terminus at Alges to roadworks and a large underground car park. A short yet stiff walk up the tracks (minus its proper terminus at Cruz Quebrada may, It continued, more as an arterial than a overhead) of the to-be reinstated portion of perhaps, not be fanciful either, given the radial route now, passing the Arco do Cego line 24 brings one to P. Luis de Camoes. achievements made with line 24. tram depot (then earmarked as a future It currently starts at the eastbound 28 stop museum site) on to its terminus at Alto De Sao in the busy square, giving rise to friendly Joao. When line 24 services were suspended banter between drivers as manual point- SOURCES in August 1995, it was initially said to be setting is now frequently necessitated The Tramways of Portugal, B. R. King/J. H. Price, temporary to permit the construction works between services. The frequency of the LRTA, 1995 (4th edition); Tram Tours of Lisbon, at Campolide. A year later it was reported that revived line to Campolide is approximately Joseph Abdo, pub. Carris, 1996 Carris regarded the closure as permanent. every 20 minutes. The passengers are

196 / MAY 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org

acle! www.holding-graz.at/graz-linien.html and www.tramway-museum-graz.at 1. Modern Lisbon: the reinstated alignment looking south from the Campolide terminal loop.

2. A northbound line 24 tram has just left P. Luis de Camoes. The original line 24 (here looking downhill) was plain- lined, where line 28 crosses from the city towards Prazeres (left to right).

2 3 3. Points duty; a line 24 tram has arrived from Campolide at the stop in P. Luis de Camoes shared with the westbound line 28. The driver of the next line 28 service from Martim Moniz will similarly have to reset the points after this vehicle has gone round the Largo (behind the camera) to return uphill to Campolide.

4. Looking downhill, at the interchange with the Ascensor da Gloria funicular, below the graffiti, middle-left. This view 5 illustrates the steepness of Lisbon line 24, on its original alignment, and only the minimum of clearance with parked cars.

5. Evidence of the popularity of the heritage Lisboa tram providing tourist services, with three pulled up together at the Estrela loop on 28 November 2018. Green-liveried 722 is from the batch 701-735, built for the hilly routes in 1935-39, with refined braking system, 4 6 described as a ‘universal service car’. The Estrela loop enables a short break to be inserted into tourist tram schedules, as (at end-2018) both lines 25 and 28 were running through to the Prazeres ALTO DE terminal loop. SÃO JOÃO Estefânia Incomplete route 24 6. Original elegantly interlaced Services withdrawn Penha de track, line 24 underneath one in the 1990s França of the huge aqueduct arches, Operational pre-route São Sebastiao here looking downhill. 24 revival 24 Railway Campolide

Anjos Avenida da Liberdade

Campo de Ourique Graça Rato MARTIM MONIZ Principe PRAZERES Real 17 28 SÃO Estrela 12 25 28 TOMÉ 15 Alfama P. Luis de PRACA DA Camoes FIGUEIRA Sta. Apolonia 28 (CP) Madragoa

ALFANDEGA Continued (inset/right) Lapa 25 CORPO SANTO 18 24 AJUDA CAIS DO SODRÉ 15 CRUZ QUEBRADA/ Boa Alcântara ALGES Belém Hora All photography by Mike Tedstone.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAy 2019 / 197 NEWS FROM THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT ASSOCIATION LRTA AGM Are we on the verge of a to take in two new UK tram renaissance? birthdays

ith annual UK tram and light rail Nottingham Express Transit passenger numbers now counting over has released a short video to W275m a year, and the new Transport celebrate 15 years since trams Focus Tram Passenger Survey again showing trams returned to the streets of outstripping all other public transport modes in Nottingham after an absence terms of popularity (see News, page 168), LRTA Chair of 68 years. Paul Rowen has posed the question “are we heading The video, which includes for another renaissance of light rail in the UK?” facts and figures about the His comments came in the same month as the system’s growth and highlights City of Edinburgh Council confirmed its plans of some of the engineering feats to extend its tramway system to Newhaven, and involved in the construction of Nottingham putting forward its own ambitious the Phase 2 lines, can be viewed plans to take trams to the neighbouring city of at: www.thetram.net/videos.aspx Derby and the future HS2 high-speed rail station. Just 32km (20 miles) to the At the same time, the West of England north of Nottingham is another Combined Authority (WECA) has announced UK success story – the National GBP2.4m (EUR2.8m) in funding for a new mass Tramway Museum. This year ABOVE: Nottingham Express Transit could see its services transit study and business case for a system for reach Derby under newly-announced plans. TAUT marks the 60th anniversary of Bristol including a spur to Bath. the opening of the museum “Since its inception in 1937, the LRTA has BELOW: Chesterfield Corporation No. 7 is a veteran and its home at the Crich campaigned for the retention and return of the performer at Crich, arriving over 20 years ago and restored Tramway Village (pictured tram to UK towns and cities,” said Paul. to immaculate condition. Neil Turner / CC BY-SA 2.0 left). Several LRTA members “Our Campaigns Group assisted Bath Trams were involved in its creation at their recent conference and we were delighted and a spectacular weekend of to see the article in the last issue of TAUT on the celebrations is planned. feasibility of trams returning to the Potteries. LRTA members will get the “It’s been too long coming, but it seems that opportunity to sample the we are at long last seeing new tram systems very best of the UK’s trams, headed for the UK.” both classic and modern, in Nottingham and Crich as part of the AGM weekend on TRAMFORWARD: Regular readers of TAUT will 21-23 September. have noticed that news and views from the LRTA Full details of these now appear under the TramForward banner. events are included in the flyer This follows the decision at last year’s AGM to sent to members with this retain the LRTA name, but to use TramForward issue, and can be found on the for news and campaigns. Association’s website at www.lrta.org.

Compiled by the LRTA. For a full list of the year’s events and MEETINGS & EVENTS meeting places please visit www.lrta.org

APRIL 2019 Saturday 27. Beeston 14.00. Wednesday 8. Brighton 19.40. Saturday 18. Beeston 14.00. TLRS Robert Pritchard: Trams of the Czech TBA. (TLRS) AGM, Liverpool (outing). (TLRS) Thursday 25. Manchester 19.00. Republic & Slovakia – Pt. 1. (TLRS) Saturday 11. Taunton (one week Monday 20. Liverpool 19.45. Martin Arthur: Denia in Spain and Saturday 27. Garstang 14.00. Vernon earlier than usual) 14.00. Robert Merseyside Branch AGM. Lisbon (including the refurbishment Linden: First-generation trams. (TLRS) Manders: Eastern Germany and (TLRS Merseyside) of the Benidorm – Denia FGV line, the Poland (then and now). (TLRS) Monday 20. Wickham 19.30. Paul reopening of route 24 and updates on MAY 2019 Saturday 11. West Midlands 14.00. Coles: Works trams. (TLRS Solent) the Sintra Atlantico tramway), then General modelling meeting. (TLRS) Tuesday 21. London 19.00. Alan Brian Yates: A film of Lisbon in 2003. Tuesday 7. Southampton 19.30. Monday 13. Thames Valley 19.30. Pearce: Australia 2017. Friday 26. Leicester 20.00. Trams Bob Hodges: Tramway video: TBA. Anne Watkins: Rome and Athens. Saturday 25. Beeston 14.00. Outing on DVDs and the Internet. (TMS) (LRTA/SEG) (TLRS) – Carlton Colville. (TLRS)

For more information on the Association and its activities visit www.lrta.org Bookshop Order online from lrta.info/shop – or by post from: LRTA Publications, 31 Ashton Road, Wokingham RG41 1HL Postage included (2nd class UK; Airmail Europe; Economy rest of world).

Belgium Underground Nach Mödling mit der Straßenbahn Pre-Metro and Metro, 1957-2017 Special issue of ‘Die Schiene’ magazine

This new book from the LRTA records the The history of one of the last lines to close development of tram subways and light rail in the Austrian capital from its origins as concepts in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and a steam tramway through to its demise in the Charleroi area. 1967. German text.

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Mit dem Obus durch Solingen U-Bahnen in Deutschland + U-Stadtbahnen

A history of the tramway system and A handbook describing the underground its trolleybus successor in Germany’s railways of Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and ‘blade city’, detailing each of the routes Nuremburg and the tramlines in tunnels now operated and the vehicles used in Bielefeld, Bochum, Bonn, Cologne, from 1951 to date. German text. Dortmund, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen/ Mülheim, Frankfurt, Hannover and > A4 hardback; 128 pages, Stuttgart plus the ‘Schwebebahn’ in 182 colour and 75 black & white pictures, Wuppertal. English and German text. statistical tables and ten maps. £29.50 (UK addresses); > B5 softback; 160 pages, 300+ colour pictures £35.50 (outside UK); £41.50 plus 20 maps. (Airmail beyond Europe), £19.00 (UK addresses); £21.50 (outside UK); LRTA Members: £2.65 discount £24.00 (Airmail beyond Europe, LRTA Members: £1.70 discount

Tramwaje powojennej Warszawy Trambahnreise durch Chemnitz 1945-1975 und das Umland

Describes the reconstruction of the A route-by-route description of the network Polish capital’s tram system after massive in the former Karl-Marx-Stadt covering the destruction of the city at the end of World transformation from 925mm to standard War Two, to emerge as one of Europe’s gauge and the development of regional most efficient networks. Polish text. tram-train services. German text.

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UK Light Rail and Tram Museum Guide 2019 Düwag tramstellen in Rotterdam Seventh Edition The history of the Dutch port city’s This useful book tells you everything adoption of the famous German you need to know about UK (plus Isle of articulated tram and the contribution it Man and Irish Republic) tram networks, made to the renewal of the network over heritage operations, museums, cliff lifts more than 40 years. Dutch text. and pier railways.  > A5 softback; 120 pages, 64 colour pictures > 380x260 mm hardback, landscape format; 130 pages, and 23 maps/route diagrams. fully-illustrated in colour and black & white with several £13.50 (UK addresses); £16.00 (outside technical drawings. UK); £19.50 (Airmail beyond Europe) £31.00 (UK addresses); £34.00 (outside UK); £37.50 LRTA Members: £1.15 discount (Airmail beyond Europe), LRTA Members: £2.85 discount TWO days of interactive debates... EIGHT hours of dedicated networking... ONE place to be

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EU Light Rail brings together leading opinion-formers Our partners at STIB-MIVB are hosting a special tour and decision-makers from across Europe for two days of of the Marconi tramway depot as part of EU Light Rail debate around the role of technology in the development 2019. The 27,000m2 depot opened in 2018 and of efficient and sustainable urban travel. features state-of-the-art maintenance facilities, 22 tracks and provision to stable 75 trams. With presentations and exhibitions from some of the industry’s most innovative suppliers and service providers, this event also includes over eight hours of invaluable networking sessions.

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