THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE www.lrta.org www.tautonline.com MAY 2018 NO. 965 NEW ORLEANS’ STEPS TO STREETCAR EXPANSION Bringing light rail maintenance into the 21st Century Quebec City’s LRT-led masterplan New tramways for Izmir and Ouragla ‘Congestion Deal’ to benefit Metrolink Tallinn Darmstadt 05> £4.60 Estonian lessons for The growth of a great free public transport metre-gauge tramway 9 771460 832067 “The presentations, “The 12th Annual Light Rail networking, logistics Conference quite clearly and atmosphere were marked a coming of age Manchester excellent. There was a as the leader on light rail common agreement worldwide, as evidenced among the participants by the depth of analysis 17-18 July 2018 that the UK Light Rail from quality speakers and Conference is one of the active participation of the best in the industry.” key industry players and simcha Ohrenstein – suppliers in the discussions.” ctO, Jerusalem Lrt Ian Brown cBe – The UK Light Rail Conference and exhibition is the transit Masterplan Director, UKtram premier knowledge-exchange event in the industry. With a wide range of presentations, panel debates “An excellent conference and unrivalled networking opportunities, it is as always. Well done for Voices well-known as the place to do business and build such a well-organised and V from the valuable and long-lasting relationships. highly-informative event.” David hand – Global industry… Lead for Lrt & Divisional There is no better place to gain true insight into Director, Mott MacDonald the workings of the sector and help shape its future. “I had a great time in Manchester. Thank you for everything, the conference t o discuss how you can be part of it, ORGANISED BY was a great success.” ana M. Moreno – visit us online at www.mainspring.co.uk General Manager, or telephone +44 (0) 1733 367600 tranvía de Zaragoza SUPPORTED BY CONTENTS 170 T he official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association MAY 2018 Vol. 81 No. 965 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL EDITOR – Simon Johnston [email protected] ASSOCIATE EDITOr – Tony Streeter [email protected] WORLDWIDE EDITOR – Michael Taplin 180 [email protected] NEWS EDITOr – John Symons [email protected] SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR – Neil Pulling WORLDWIDE CONTRIBUTORS T ony Bailey, Richard Felski, Ed Havens, Andrew Moglestue, Paul Nicholson, Herbert Pence, Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Alain Senut, Vic Simons, Witold Urbanowicz, Bill Vigrass, Thomas Wagner, Rick Wilson 173 PRODUCTION – Lanna Blyth IDEAS for THE 21ST CEntury DEpot 182 T el: +44 (0)1733 367604 NEWS 164 Adam Collins of SNC-Lavalin looks at how [email protected] Quebec City masterplan focuses on LRT; technology will shape the way depots will DESIGN – Debbie Nolan Italian government funds six light rail be built and operated in the future. ADVertiSING projects; Sankt Peterburg opens first PPP COMMERCIAL ManageR – Geoff Butler tramline; Manchester plans major new tram OPINION: taKING bacK our CITIES 184 Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 [email protected] order; Metro work divides Kolkata tramway. Bernard Tabary explains Keolis’ part in shaping the future of shared mobility. PUBLISHER – Matt Johnston TALLINN: FREE TRANSPORT FOR ALL? 170 Tramways & Urban Transit Allan Alaküla explains how offering free SYSTEM FACTFILE: DARMSTADT 185 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK rides to residents in Estonia has incentivised Neil Pulling explores Darmstadt’s network, people to use public transport again. a merger of old steam rail lines and 19th Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each Century electric tram routes. month preceding the cover date. EX panSION IN NEW orlEANS 173 Vic Simons reports from Louisiana’s largest W ORLDWIDE REVIEW 190 city, which is keen to expand its streetcar Caen tracklaying begins; Dublin reveals links after a period of reconstruction. preferred ‘MetroLink’ route; Electricity debts PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION curtail service in Oskemen and Taganrog; Warners (Midlands) plc, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK HOCHBAHN GETS EVEN GREEENER 178 Approval for Bern Ostermundigen tram LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Green initiatives take Hamburg Hochbahn’s project; Portland places new Liberty order. Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up new Billstedt depot to the next level. members of the Light Rail Transit Association. MAILBOX 195 LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY ENHANCING CAPACITY ON THE DLR 180 Brian Lomas A 99% railway doesn’t come easy – Simon CLASSIC TRAMS: FRANKFURT 196 [email protected] [email protected] Johnston finds out what it takes to maintain Mike Russell visits the city’s museum and SUBSCriPTIONS, MEMBERSHIP AND BACK ISSUES such a record... and where to go next. describes the annual TdV ‘transport days’. LRT A Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 Cost-free sustainable urban transport for all [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info FOR CORPORATE SuBSCRIPTIONS VISIT Why shouldn’t public transport be free? This is the question posed in this www.mainspring.co.uk issue by Allan Alaküla of Tallinn’s EU Office. There are many challenges in delivering it, but if you weigh up the pros and cons – as they have done in LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling DA16 2BY, UK. Allan’s home city – the decision was a clear one. Increased mobility options Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 are stimulating the local economy, opening up employment opportunites in England and Wales. and creating time and efficiency savings from reduced congestion – all these benefits LRTA CHAIRMAN – Paul Rowen have been delivered to Estonia’s capital city. The best bit is that the policy is also [email protected] generating a profit that is helping to fund service improvements. What’s not to like? © LRTA 2018 This kind of seismic shift is much easier where local and regional governments have Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also control of public transport and can initiate the change. Elsewhere it may be more later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution institutionally challenging, but as a model for future cities it has to be admired. is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the This brings us to another question: should mobility be considered the ‘fifth utility’? opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of A lot is being made of digital connectivity as the crucial driver of the 21st Century, but the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. what about physical movement? If we are to maintain healthy economies, then the need No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including for efficient transportation is a necessity – and car-based policies simply won’t cut it. photocopying, recording or by any information storage and With more and more people being priced out of car ownership, it is up to cities to offer retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from a suitable alternative – if you can make that alternative free then all the better. the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the Elsewhere, Vic Simons returns to New Orleans to discover the progress in developing magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. the city’s ‘heritage’ streetcar service and its plans for the future, and we celebrate the work of the humble depot and the technicians who deliver our fleets into service every COVER: New Orleans RTA car 2014 at Canal Street day. How will technology affect this in the future? Find out on pages 180 and 182. and Baronne Street on 3 March 2018. Andrew Grahl There’s a lot to get your teeth into again – I hope you enjoy it. Simon Johnston, Editor Tallinn image courtesy of Lampros Rousodimos www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2018 / 163 News n 16 March Quebec served. It is hoped that when City (Canada) completed the project will Light rail to lead unveiled its plans for remove 12 600 car journeys from a new transit network the region’s roads each day. Ofor the city region, designed to The proposal has the support increase passenger transit usage of the Provincial Government, Quebec City’s by 29% by 2026. The CAD3.3bn with Quebec Premier (EUR2.1 bn) project includes Philippe Couillard making a 23km (14.3-mile) east-west an initial pledge of CAD215m masterplan tramline, a 17km (10.6-mile) (EUR136.6m). The Federal “trambus” and 16km (9.9 miles) Government is expected to meet of dedicated bus lanes. the majority of the project’s CAD2.9bn in transit enhancements designed to The tramway would run pricetag. Quebec City is to invest boost patronage by 29% by 2026 from Le Gendre via Sainte-Foy CAD300m (EUR190.6m) for and Laval University to Louis urban development, including XIV, with two subway sections, landscaping and road widening. totalling 3.5km (2.2 miles), Annual operational costs have Sainte-Foy- Terminus Sillery-Cap- Charlesbourg and at least three new been estimated at CAD155m Rouge L’ANCIENNE underground stations. (EUR98.5m). LORETTE M SSIPPIISSI According to the plan, By 2019, Quebec City wants Terminus construction could take eight to sign financing agreements Terminus Galeries de years, with partial operation and finalise the business case les Saules la Capitale Terminus beginning in 2025. and design studies for the Le Gendre Featuring conventional infrastructure and rolling ST CHARLES overhead electrification, double- stock. Detailed design will be Terminus RIVER Expo-Cité ended LRVs (with capacity for completed in 2020-21 along SAINTE- 973 FOY 260 passengers) are envisaged to with environmental approvals. Saint- LA CITÉ- run at three-minute headways Construction of the tramline is Terminus 138 Roch LIMOILOU Marly Université 440 during peak periods.