THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE

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JUNE 2014 No. 918 TRAM-TRAIN: CREATING MULTI-MODAL MODELS

Case studies from Germany, France and the UK Alstom takeover on the horizon? Edinburgh Trams launch date given Elections dampen French tram plans ISSN 1460-8324 £4.10 Paris T5 & T7 Melbourne 06 Two very different Rebuilding a complex forms of light rail tram interchange 9 771460 832036 Local knowledge Global vision

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232 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org www.ghd.com CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association JUNE 2014 Vol. 77 No. 918 www.tramnews.net EDITORIAL EDITOR Simon Johnston Tel: +44 (0)1733 367601 E-mail: [email protected] 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK 228 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tony Streeter NEWS 228 E-mail: [email protected] Alstom considers a bid to split energy and WORLDWIDE EDITOR Michael Taplin 240 transport business; Edinburgh Trams goes Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight live on 31 May; Manchester expansion PO37 6EA, UK. E-mail: [email protected] TRAM-TRAIN: THE CONCEPT 234 continues; NY subway derailment injures 19. NEWS EDITOR Michael Taplin gives an overview of John Symons tram-train projects – and their DOMAIN INTERCHANGE REBUILD 252 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. E-mail: [email protected] application in Europe and beyond. Transforming a complex Melbourne tram interchange through careful design. SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR Neil Pulling PILOT PROGRESS: A UK UPDATE 238 WORLDWIDE CONTRIBUTORS Network Rail and South Yorkshire PTE SYSTEM FACTFILE: PARIS T5 & T7 255 Tony Bailey, James Chuang, Paul Nicholson update TAUT on the UK’s pioneer scheme. Neil Pulling samples both tramway and (Australia), Richard Felski (Spain), Ed Havens, Bill Translohr lines in the French capital. Vigrass (USA), Andrew Moglestue (Switzerland), NANTES KEEPS THE FAITH 240 Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov (Russia), Vic Simons, Alain Senut (France), Thomas Wagner (Germany). Vic Simons looks at a very different WORLDWIDE REVIEW 261 PRODUCTION tram-train service, the city’s second route. Algiers tram extension opens; Besançon Lanna Blyth completes tram infrastructure; Hamburg’s Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 E-mail: [email protected] LESSONS LEARNT FROM AN LRC 242 further U-Bahn plans; Kansas City commits DESIGN The results of a bid to increase frequency to extending its under-construction streetcar. Debbie Nolan by converting suburban heavy rail to LRT. ADVERTISING MAILBOX 266 COMMERCIAL MANAGER NORDHAUSEN’S UNUSUAL DUO 244 More support for Dundee tram circulator. Geoff Butler Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 E-mail: [email protected] Where else can you find steam trains, CLASSIC TRAMS 268 PUBLISHER diesel railcars and hybrid tram-trains on Howard Johnston the same lines? Tony Streeter reports. Herbert Pence considers the formational Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the years of Maine’s Seashore Trolley Museum. LRTA and LRTA Publishing on the third Friday of each

years of month preceding the cover date. NoTTINGHaM 10 eXPress TraNsIT LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY Brian Lomas Nottingham: Ten Years of NET E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] A decade on from its opening, the UK tramway is expanding into a LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up true system with two new routes. Tramways & Urban Transit celebrates members of the Light Rail Transit Association. this anniversary with a focus on Nottingham Express Transit. SUBSCRIPTIONS LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), In association with 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. BACK ISSUES Tel: +44 (0)1406 373070 Trams. Trains. Why can’t they play together? PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION Tram-train. It’s a term that’s fallen in and out of fashion for the past Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, decade or so as a solution to linking regional rail lines with urban tramway Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. systems and increasing frequencies on expensive-to-run surburban lines. LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, Kent DA16 2BY, UK. At the moment, the mode is very much in vogue in France and Spain Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 (see pages 240 and 234), and the UK is becoming very excited as its very in England and Wales. own tram-train trial is about to get underway in earnest (see page 238). LRTA CHAIRMAN On the other hand, I’m sure that Germany and the Netherlands are wondering what Andrew Braddock all the fuss is about. The Germans have been doing it for over two decades and now have LRTA DEPUTY CHAIRMAN hundreds of kilometres of mixed use lines that serve everything from century-old steam Vic Simons locomotives, to freight services, to diesel-powered railcars and innovative hybrid LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE: tram-train units (see page 244). To this end, it seems that the technical problems are far c/o 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU, UK. Private Limited Company, No. 06169422 from insurmountable with a little joined-up thinking, co-operation and common will in England and Wales. and ambition to develop innovative transport systems. © LRTA Publishing 2014. Then you have LRC – or Light Rail Conversion. When DMUs and EMUs become too Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also impractical, or too expensive, to offer the desired service, why not replace such a system later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the with a high-floor tram? There are plenty of perfectly serviceable vehicles around that opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of could be purchased ‘for a song’ as many systems in Europe cascade their rolling stock LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. eastwards as they seek newer lower-floor rolling stock. One example of a brave local No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including authority that tried to make such a project work is featured within this issue of TAUT. photocopying, recording or by any information storage and Sadly, the inflexiblity of the ingrained and prevailing regulations prevented this from retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from progressing on a number of fronts, but it nevertheless offers some interesting lessons. the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. So I hope you enjoy our ‘tram-train special’ and that it provides a little enlightenment on a few of the systems across Europe and the concept as a whole. We think it’s a great (although far from new) concept that has so much potential in the toolbox of any responsible transport planner when applied correctly. Simon Johnston, Editor COVER: Train and tram in Nordhausen on 19 April. On the right is Combino 109. Tony Streeter

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 227 News Alstom takeover on the horizon? Industry group accepts EUR12.4bn offer from General Electric, but is blocked by French authorities

lstom Group has been Mr Montebourg proposed an seeking a buyer for its “equal partnership… to avoid a transport sector for simple acquisition that would, in some months, amid effect, lead to the disappearance Aconcerns over its cashflow since a of Alstom”, suggesting that GE drop in demand for powerplants, transfer its transport division to which led to a 12% drop in Alstom as part of the deal. profits over the last nine months. After being urged to make In early May the American an offer, Siemens has also company General Electric made reportedly expressed an interest a EUR12.4bn offer for the energy in acquiring the firm’s entire division that makes up 70% of business interests, but was yet to the business’ turnover. Yet while submit an offer as Tramways & accepted by the Alstom board, Urban Transit went to press. matters took an unusual turn Siemens has already stated its when France’s Economy Minister aim to lead the European urban Arnaud Montebourg wrote to the and light rail markets and has US industrial group dismissing seen major success in recent the offer as “not good enough”. years with its new Inspiro metro In an interview the same day, train and Avenio low-floor tram. President Hollande backed his A takeover of rival Alstom would The Alstom Citadis may be marketed by GE, or even Siemens, if takeover talks minister’s actions, adding, see the firm well on the way to are successful. This is Lyon 83 on test between Meyzieu and the new 300m T3 “I would prefer better offers.” cementing this position. park-and-ride spur to Les Panettes on 2 April. Y. Allain Manchester expansion continues Southwest line nears green light The Metrolink extension from The line brings the size of the The new Queens Road stop Rochdale station to Rochdale current network to 78km has significantly boosted The Minneapolis-St. Paul Interchange, UK, opened as (48.5 miles), with 77 stops. ridership on the Bury line. Metropolitan Council has planned on 31 March, with Work on the expansion of During March, 17 422 tickets approved a USD1.68bn design the first tram delayed by nine the Deansgate-Castlefield stop were purchased either to or for the Southwest LRT project to minutes due to the numbers began in early April as part of from the new Queens Road and Eden Prairie, including a shallow of passengers wanting to be the Second City Crossing; a Abraham Moss stops, compared subway through Kenilworth on the first service as well as a new inbound island platform to the 9840 purchased to or Park. The line is to operate minor signalling problem. and a new outbound platform from Woodlands Road in from central Minneapolis This was the first passenger are being provided at the stop. March 2011, the last time that through St Louis Park, Hopkins, tram in Rochdale’s town centre Two new crossovers are also stop was fully open. Woodlands Minnetonka, and on to Eden since closure of the municipal being installed to allow trams Road was situated between the Prairie; 16 new stations are system in November 1932. to turn back in both directions. locations of Queens Road and planned and 25.7km (16 miles) of Abraham Moss. double-track, contributing to an Queens Road, in use since ‘integrated’ system of rail routes. 16 December, was officially Residents of Minneapolis opened by the Lord Mayor of neighbourhoods Kenwood and Manchester, Councillor Naeem Whittier in particular contested Ul Hassan, on 4 April. the route, with the former Only two T68A trams remain citing disruption to natural in service on the temporary Bury parkland and noise and vibration – Abraham Moss service when concerns. Minneapolis City no other trams are available. Council remains opposed to the 3019 departs Rochdale Town Centre It is now expected these will scheme and it is reported that a bound for East Didsbury on 31 March; in be replaced sooner than the third-party mediator has been the background demolition is underway originally intended end of 2014. brought in to help both sides on the former Rochdale bus station and Scrapping of trams is reach a suitable compromise. multi-storey car park. Mike Haddon T68 being carried out by C.F. Booth The next phase is preliminary Single-line services from Shudehill to Ltd at Rotherham; it is expected engineering, scheduled to begin beyond Victoria continue due to work that one tram a week will be in 2015; followed by heavy on the Second City Crossing. N. Pulling transported there by low-loader. construction from 2016-2018. Bremen invites new and refurbished tram bids The German city of Bremen has The tender seeks prices for An order is expected to be finally put its proposed contract 15, 38, 57 and 77 cars, with placed this summer. for new and refurbished trams out delivery required by March 2016. The GT8N tram design is in the to tender. New 100% low-floor Prices are also required for the background in this view of the trams are required, 37m long and refurbishment of 20, 39 and 62 Bremen tramway that also shows the 2.65m wide with about 100 seats GT8N trams, including provision now withdrawn Wegmann four-axle and space for 135 standing. of an onboard wheelchair lift. articulated car. G. Sidwell

228 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org Beijing orders licensed AnsaldoBreda trams Election results dampen CNR Dalian has been awarded a contract for 31 five-section trams, the first of which should French tram expansion be delivered by the end of this year. The 100% low-floor, air- conditioned trams, a licensed Amiens and Caen authorities back-track tramway plans with new regimes version of the AnsaldoBreda Sirio design, will be equipped for both he results of the French election speeches criticising the airport is complete, instead catenary and surface current (the Tramwave system) collection. municipal elections in tramways, including Alain Gest favouring a third VAL mini-metro A 9.4km (5.8-mile) tramline is April, which saw a swing and Brigitte Fouré in Amiens, and line. The further implications are being built as the Xijiao line to the right in many Joël Bruneau in Caen (two cities not yet clear as the tramways are in the western suburbs, and Ttowns and cities, may play a part well into the planning process in the hands of agglomeration should open in 2015 to carry in the slowdown of the era of for new lines). In Toulouse the bodies made up of several passengers to the Xiangshan continuous expansion of new new Mayor, Jean-Luc Moudenc, different municipalities, and new scenic resort in the Fragrant Hills tramway schemes in the country. has said the development of the boards are still being elected. of Haidian district. Many of the new mayors or tramway will stop as soon as the In the big cities such as Paris, Tripoli light rail influential councillors made current construction of a line to Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and proposals launched Strasbourg, the Socialists retain A recent conference in Libya power and tramway expansion showed that light rail has been is likely to continue. They considered to ease congestion in accuse the UMP/UDI right-wing the capital Tripoli since 1983, but councillors of ‘shooting at the never made any progress under the previous regime. ambulance’, while the opposing Now proposals for a system factions say enhanced busways that could reach up to 100km are cheaper and just as effective. (60 miles) are being resurrected, The new Mayor of Paris, Mme and an independent study has Hidalgo, is pro-tram and has been commissioned. initiated a study of a line from BART unveils Pont de Sevres to Maisons-Alfort next-generation cars along the right bank of the river A design mock-up for the new Seine. The Mayor of Nîmes has Bombardier BART (US) trains has similarly said that a new tramway been displayed in ten locations remains one of his priorities. around the San Francisco Bay National priorities are also Area to give passengers a chance changing, as the new French to comment. The first ten trains Government has cancelled the will arrive in 2015. Elsewhere, the 5km ‘ecotax’ and may not be able to (three-mile) Oakland Airport A Bordeaux Alstom short Citadis leaves the terminus of the 600m extension finance projects listed in the third Connector peoplemover from of line C at Berges du Lac, opened on 1 February. Since the second track at the Grenelle on the environment. Coliseum station to Oakland temporary terminus was not yet in use, the tram is departing on the left-hand This may threaten state subsidy airport will open this autumn. track, and will switch to double track at Les Aubiers. Y. Allain for 21 transit schemes.

Luas high on five-year NEWS IN PICTURES funding agenda Portland tram bridge named Portland’s USD134m, 510m Willamette River bridge that will carry both MAX The Republic of Ireland’s As well as the Luas project, Orange line and Streetcar services has been named Tilikum Crossing. Government has confirmed there are proposals to secure the In the Chinook Wawa language used by the native American tribes that funding for the extension of re-opening of the Phoenix Park lived along the region’s waterways, Tilikum means ‘people’. This is the first the cross-city Luas line in its Tunnel link that would avoid bridge to be built across the Willamette for 40 years, and will carry trams, Integrated Implementation Plan Heuston station and improve buses, cyclists and pedestrians when it opens in September 2015. The two 2013-2018 for the Greater rail access for those travelling sides were to be joined in June, marking 80% completion. Dublin area. between Kildare and the city The five-year plan was centre. Delivery of the proposed launched at a ceremony at the Bus Rapid Transit Network to construction site based at the detailed design and statutory Rosie Hackett Bridge, which process stage is also proposed, will take southbound trams although construction is across the River Liffey when the contingent on available funds. new cross-city line opens for The plan also sets out operations in 2017. measures to improve services The plan provides the through greater integration of framework for a capital and modes through ticketing and operational investment fares, customer information, amounting to EUR900m. complementary services Funding up to 2016 is included and improved accessibility. as part of the Government’s This will include fleet and overall capital plan, while the network enhancements to funding for 2017 and 2018 will Luas to improve capacity and The large boat passing under the bridge is the Portland Spirit, a local river be addressed in the next national accessibility together with a new cruise ship. In the background is the Mount St Helens volcano. S. J. Morgan capital investment plan. five-year operating contract.

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 229 News Edinburgh Trams go live on 31 May Long-delayed UK tramway project plans quiet opening for first paying passengers.

dinburgh Trams passenger service will begin on 31 May, it has been announced. The date has been revealed as the trams approach the final stages of vehicle commissioning and driver training. EScottish Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “It’s time to look forward with confidence and for the trams to give something back to Edinburgh. There has been much excitement and interest generated by the driver testing phase and the response on social media suggests that residents and local businesses are warming to the trams.” The first service is set to leave the Gyle Shopping Centre at 05.00 on 31 May, heading for York Place in the city centre. The opening ceremony is suggested to be deliberately low-key: instead of champagne and ribbon-cutting, city residents are to be invited to join the Transport Minister, City Transport Convener Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh Trams 273 (left) and 272 (right) swing into Princes Street on 1 May Transport for Edinburgh Chief Executive Ian Craig and Lord Provost during the final stages of training and testing, prior to the system’s opening on Donald Wilson for the inaugural run. 31 May. Mel Holley First Suzhou New South Wales light rail project to tram rolled out benefit from port lease agreement The Premier of New South major infrastructure projects route that is to be removed. Wales, Australia, has hailed the that will unlock opportunities Planned work also includes lease of the Port of Newcastle for growth, jobs and economic creation of a transport to a consortium – and said that development.” interchange at Wickham. money raised will be used for the Some AUD340m (USD320m) Services are expected to run at city’s new light rail scheme. from the proceeds of the 98-year least every ten minutes. Light rail Mike Baird described the lease lease will be used to help in the is expected to support an extra as “a great result for Newcastle revitalisation of Newcastle, of 10 000 jobs by 2036. and for NSW”. which light rail is viewed as an The harbour’s lease has been The trams built in China by “Transactions such as this important part. granted to the Port of Newcastle CSR Puzhen will be based on the bring enduring benefits to Consultation is already Investments consortium, Bombardier Flexity 2 design. communities and the economy,” taking place on the scheme, whose partners are Hastings CSR Puzhen Mr Baird said, “and build on the with three potential routes being Fund Management and China NSW Government’s successful considered for a line between Merchants. Gross proceeds from The first of 18 trams for track record in recycling mature Wickham and the beach, the 98-year scheme are expected the new system under State-owned assets to deliver which is to replace a heavy rail to be AUD1.75bn (EUR1.19bn). construction in the Chinese city of Suzhou was rolled out at the CSR Puzhen plant 19 hurt in New in Nanjing on 9 April, and NEWS IN PICTURES should be delivered for York derailment testing in May. The vehicle is the result of a Four generations of Toronto cars on parade Some 19 people were hurt when ten-year technology licensing The Beaches Easter Parade in Toronto saw four generations of streetcars a Manhattan-bound ‘F’ service agreement signed between assemble and parade from Munro Park westward to Woodbine on 20 April. Subway train derailed near 65th Pictured at Russell Yard, from right to left, are Peter Witt 2766, CSR Puzhen and Bombardier Street station on 2 May. Around PCC 4549, CLRV 4186 and LFLRV 4402 from the latest-generation order two years ago, and is based from Bombardier. Steve Munro (stevemunro.ca) 1000 passengers were on the on the Bombardier Flexity 2 train; 15 of the injuries were double-ended 100% low-floor judged minor. design, measuring 32m in The derailment took place just length with five body sections after 10.15, causing services on and three Flexx Urban 3000 the Queens Boulevard corridor bogies. The 2.65m-wide tram to be suspended. Six of the train’s features Bombardier Mitrac eight cars came off the track, but traction equipment. all vehicles remained upright. The tram order was placed MTA Chairman and CEO in January 2013 for the 18km Thomas Prendergast said: “The (11-mile) line T1 in the Suzhou focus is on a full and thorough national new and high-tech investigation of this incident”. industrial development zone, Subsequent reports have suggested linking the central area with the cause was a broken rail. the West Lakeside area. ‘F trains’ serve 45 stations on Completion is scheduled for a route running from Queens in 2015, and five more tramlines the north in a dog-leg shape to are planned for the city. Brooklyn in the south.

230 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org Hanoi LRT contract Blackpool extension awarded to Daelim A South Korean firm has been awarded the contract to build the 8.5km (5.3-mile) elevated clears final funding hurdle light rail transit line 3 for the central area of the Vietnamese capital, linking Nhon and Council agrees funding for trams to reach Blackpool North station Daewoo Hotel. Daelim Industrial will start work on the USD84m project in May, with completion ull funding for the It was originally called the However, satisfaction with the programmed for early 2017. GBP18.2m (EUR22m) Talbot Gateway. availability of seating or space to The Hanoi project is part of extension of the UK’s Councillor John Jones added: stand was lower on the tram than the Government’s efforts to deal Blackpool tramway from “The new gateway is looking on the bus (72% and 85%). with increasing traffic congestion FNorth Pier to Blackpool North great and you get a real city feel Blackpool Transport Services on surface alignments, with railway station is in place after there. If businesses move to Ltd has advertised for a new a network of eight lines the town’s council agreed to fund Blackpool they want to see we are Managing Director to replace proposed. Still to be decided is the remaining portion towards moving forward there and that Trevor Roberts who resigned the technology to be used for the segregated line; the civil the scheme. The Department the tram is part of that.” recently. It was expected that an engineering contract is Daelim’s for Transport is providing The newly-refurbished appointment would be made at first railway construction project. GBP16.4m of the funding. tramway scored a 97% satisfaction the end of May. The short extension ties in rate amongst local passengers Heritage operations over the Newcastle University with a proposed GBP220m in a survey carried out by Easter weekend involved trams open for Rail MScs (EUR269m) transformation of Passenger Focus. It found that operating from Starr Gate depot The NewRail MSc Degree Programmes in Rail, at the the northern section of the town value for money between tram due to roadworks still affecting School of Mechanical Systems centre, opposite the railway and bus travel was remarkably access to Rigby Road. The event and Engineering at Newcastle station, now known as the consistent and at 60% was well included the naming of one of University, UK, are now open. Central Business District. above the figure for rail (45%). the heritage fleetWalter Luff. Students will partake in a research-led approach enabling them to gain the skills and qualifications necessary to pursue a career in the rail industry. CTA changes following O’Hare crash More details can be found at www.ncl.ac.uk/newrail/ Following the serious incident The National Transportation further back from the end of education/msc.htm on Chicago’s Blue line at Safety Board (NTSB) released is the platform, to give trains O’Hare International Airport preliminary report on 7 April, more room to stop. Doha Metro contract to station on 24 March, which indicating that in addition to The CTA’s scheduling kick off Phase 1 saw USD9.1m in damage and driver error, the fixed trip stop changes include a limit of 12 A SYSTRA-Parsons joint venture services disrupted for six at O’Hare station is too close to hours of duty in a 14-hour has been awarded the EUR170m project management contract for days, the CTA has announced the buffer stop for any vehicle period, and a minimum of the first phase of the Doha Metro. that the driver who admitted travelling at speed to be able to ten hours downtime between In readiness for the 2022 World falling asleep at the controls stop in time. The CTA has now shifts, up from the current Cup, Qatar has launched plans has been fired and a raft of reduced the entry speed limit eight. All operators would also to develop its capital, of which changes introduced to its from 25mph to 15mph and the have to take at least one day off the new metro network serving operating policies. trip arms have been moved in a seven-day period. the city and its suburbs forms a key part. It is planned to complete the metro in four phases, costing an Oxford looks at expected EUR15bn in total. NEWS IN PICTURES The first phase is due to open tram solutions in 2019 and is planned to be Restaurant tram launched in Den Haag 85km (53 miles) long, including The UK’s Oxfordshire County 55km (34-mile) in-tunnel and 37 Council has produced its The Hoftrammm restaurant tram (3035) was launched at Den Haag’s Frans stations. The finished network Connecting Oxfordshire plan, Halsstraat tram museum on 24 April and entered service on 11 May. A four- will be about 200km (125 miles), course meal is offered during its two-and-a-quarter hour tour that starts proposing a new Oxford Parkway requiring over 120 60m trainsets. and ends at Grote Kerk and visits Scheveningen twice, once on the tracks of railway station on the revived As lead consultant, SYSTRA route 9 and once on route 11. The chef is the celebrated Pierre Wind. will hold responsibility for east-west line, plus development Entrepreneur Bobby van Galen raised finance for the project through signalling, driverless systems, of a car-free ‘boulevard piazza’ crowdfunding that started in October 2013, and drew support from 177 and rolling stock and depots. with transit system for St Giles investors. The city of Den Haag and the tram operating company supported in the city centre. the idea, and eight-axle tram 3035 was rebuilt in the HTM workshops with a Łódź selects tramway City Deal private sector kitchen, toilet, and new seats and tables. For details visit www.hoftrammm.nl Phase 2 constructor investors and operators would The Polish city of Łódź has awarded Mosty Infrastruktura provide funding, according to the contract for Phase 2 of the Council Leader Ian Hudspeth. east-west tramline modernisation Oxford City Council Leader Bob and expansion project. Price has also expressed interest The PLN239m (EUR57m) in the mode in recent months. contract covers replacement TramForward has backed the of 6km (3.7 miles) of double plans, saying: “It is good to know track from ul Kilińskiego to the that Oxfordshire is looking beyond The terminating loop at ul Augustów, repainted and the existing bus-based system in and construction of a new 5km re-equipped (3.1 miles) of double track to the beautiful city of Oxford. GTL8 awaits Olechów. The project is 80% “With many urban areas in the its first financed from the EU 2007-13 UK now subject to EU fines for customers. budget, so must be finished by failing air quality, the time has Hoftrammm the end of 2015. come to put the tram centre stage”.

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 231 IN YOUR NEXT ISSUE OF FloSch

SO, WHAT DO MUNICH S-BAHN TAMPA’S UNUSUAL PEOPLE THINK? SIMULATION TRAMWAY The UK’s Passenger Focus has just carried In peak hours, Germany’s Munich There are heritage lines – and those that out the country’s first full tram passenger Ostbahnhof – Pasing S-Bahn line is the use traditional vehicles on new routes. survey. Senior Research Advisor most utilised in Europe. Punctuality is Vic Simons reports from Florida, and the Keith Bailey explains how the mode critical – and should be helped by a new unusual replica streetcar operation shapes up in the minds of customers. simulation from DB International. This article was held over from TAUT 918 . PLUS... JULY + Herbert Pence continues the Seaside Trolley Museum story. ISSUE + The latest news, rolling stock orders and movements, new technology and innovation, system developments, on sale transport policy and leading industry comment. 20 June

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232 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org Thermit Going the Distance Ad-90Wx127.5H.indd 1 07/05/2014 15:51 2014

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SUPPORTED BY Tram-train

Michael Taplin gives a brief overview of the TRAM-TRAIN: tram-train concept and asks if political and institutional A PROMISE issues form a greater barrier to its further implementation than UNFULFILLED? technical concerns.

The terminus at Lyon St-Paul with a pair of Alstom Citadis Dualis alongside an SNCF DMU. Rhône-Alpes

uring 125 years of electric most lines survive today as rapid transit from the commercial interests of the operators tramways, the tram as we operations, with some penetration of city (AVG and DB), and work concentrated on the know it has generally been streets or subways. None of the above models legal and technical hurdles to be overcome to developed as a vehicle suited were referred to as tram-trains, though the permit through operation. to alignments on, or based on, principle is not dissimilar. On 25 September 1992 dual-voltage (750V cityD streets. Of course there were interurban dc and 15kV ac) light rail vehicles began lines that ran across country, particularly Germany running between Karlsruhe and Bretten, in North America, where they reached their The modern tram-train concept, which saw switching between city tram tracks and DB apogee in 1915, before being decimated by its inauguration at Karlsruhe in Germany, tracks at Grötzingen. Within a year passenger the inexorable rise in motor vehicles. Some uses a tram-based vehicle capable of numbers were up by 400%, and today the of these originated as steam railroads, and operation on both mainline railway tracks Karlsruhe model works over nearly 500km others entered cities on the tracks of urban and city tram tracks. Track-sharing between (310 miles) of track. There are 151 dual- tramways or rapid transit lines. trams and trains was not unknown before, voltage cars, 121 from Siemens, and 30 just In Europe, particularly Switzerland, but the railways involved could hardly be being delivered by Bombardier (with options such interurbans were called light railways deemed mainline. for up to 45 more). The tram-train model was (to distinguish them from their mainline Karlsruhe had its own interurban operation, truly a success, and good business for the cousins), and again running on to city streets the Albtalbahn, which had track-sharing with Karlsruhe-based consultants involved. was, and is, quite common. The former NZH Deutsche Bahn (DB) on its northern arm. Other German examples followed, in in the Netherlands is another example. The possibility of travelling to the city centre Saarbrücken, Chemnitz, Zwickau, Kassel Japan, with its plethora of private railway without a change of vehicle was very attractive and Nordhausen, though not exact copies. companies, followed the US interurban to passengers. Thanks to the German concept Saarbrücken runs 28 Bombardier Flexity Link pattern, though the boom there coincided of the Verkehrsverbund joint tariff area, the dual-voltage cars through the streets and with the decline in North America, and financial consequences could be uncoupled then on DB tracks south to Sarreguemines,

234 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org “On 25 September 1992 dual-voltage LRVs began running between Karlsruhe and Bretten... within a year passenger numbers were up 400%, and today the model works over nearly 500km (310 miles) of track.”

Alstom Regio-Citadis 759 approaches Wolfshagen running on its diesel engine. It will use tramway overhead when it reaches the city. A. Eastpath

The Vogtlandbahn service is more train-tram, using Duewag diesel railcars to serve a broad area in eastern Germany but also running on the city streets in Zwickau; a service from Irfersgrün in 2008. Karwath

trains run at night – 12 dual-voltage Siemens Avanto LRVs are used. Alstom soon developed its Citadis Dualis dual-voltage tram-train design and secured options from SNCF for no fewer than 200. So far 54 have been delivered for two projects; 24 are being delivered to Nantes. The first four started running over SNCF tracks (25kV ac) crossing the international border to the rail line was closed in 2003 and completely between Nantes and Clisson in June 2011. terminus in France, while Chemnitz rebuilt as a tram-train line electrified at The remainder are for the Nantes – electrified a DB railway line at 750V dc to 25Kv ac; 15 dual-voltage Siemens Avanto Châteaubriant line, where passenger services avoid the need for expensive dual-voltage LRVs were delivered and the new service began in February 2014; 15km (9.3 miles) of cars (the next batch will have diesel engines inaugurated as line T4 in November 2006. the 64km (appox. 40-mile) line features 750V as the project expands). Kassel has Alstom It was always the intention that a 6km dc operation, including a section parallel Regio-Citadis dual-voltage cars, some with a (four-mile) street-based branch to Clichy- to and crossing the Nantes urban tramway, diesel engine instead of dual-voltage, while Montfermeil would follow, with 750V dc but there is no through running. Although Nordhausen uses diesel engines to send its electrification. Political arguments about only seven round trips per day operate the Siemens Combino Duo trams along part of the the route have delayed progress, but a public full distance, an hourly service is planned Harzquerbahn metre-gauge railway (see page inquiry has now given the go-ahead and it is between Nantes and Sucé-sur-Erdre. 244). Zwickau was different again, sending hoped work will be completed in 2017. The second scheme is based on the diesel railcars onto tram tracks into the city More in the classic tram-train mould is Lyon-Ouest network, running out of Lyon (requiring dual-gauge operation); more train- the system at Mulhouse in south-east of St-Paul station, eventually over three lines. tram than tram-train. France. A three route urban system has been Operation started in September 2012 supplemented since December 2010 by SNCF using 1500V dc throughout. Plans for a France tram-trains running from the forecourt of tramway-style operation from St-Paul In France SNCF saw the tram-train concept Gare Centrale over tram tracks (750V dc) at across the river into the city centre appear as a means of boosting traffic on suburban Lutterbach. Here the LRVs switch from 25Kv to have been abandoned. branches and getting a foothold in urban ac SNCF tracks to run north to Thann. These Where else will those Dualis appear? operation. Its first toe in the water was the 8km tracks are shared with DMUs that continue Bordeaux and Strasbourg have plans for (five-mile) Aulnay-sous-Bois to Bondy line in further north to Kruth (the tram-trains tram-train operations, while in Paris the the far eastern suburbs of Paris. This heavy should reach here one day), while freight Tangentielle series of schemes are being built,

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 235 Tram-train

THE FUTURE FOR THE UK With the UK’s new tram-train pilot scheme (Sheffield – Rotherham) finally about to come to fruition, and a line from Glasgow to its airport waiting in the wings, does this herald a new era of flexible rail operation in Great Britain? The answer depends on whether you think European-type rules can be made to work within the British island culture. The technical issues can be resolved with relative ease, overcoming potential bureaucratic and institutional hurdles is another matter. Of the worldwide examples listed in this article, Karlsruhe, Kassel and Mulhouse are the ones that would make the most sense to emulate. And a final point, tram-train vehicles are expensive – a Citadis Dualis costs EUR 3.8m, Karlsruhe Flexity Swift EUR 4.3m, and a CityLink Chemnitz EUR 5.25m. The value of Vossloh’s contract for seven tram-trains for South Yorkshire has not been identified, but GBP58m (EUR70.5m) for a project that otherwise involves construction of 400m of track and electrification of a freight line makes one think that EUR5.3m each is not far off. It needs orders of the scale of SNCF’s commitment to Alstom to bring that price down. starting with the northern suburbs orbital Sartrouville – Noisy-le-Sec (first operations in “Alstom has secured options from SNCF for no fewer 2017), followed by St-Germain-en-Laye – St-Cyr in 2018. than 200 Citadis Dualis dual-voltage vehicles.”

UK abandoned. The trams were sold to Stockholm city from a new depot at El Campello. The Tyne & Wear Metro system, opened in for 750V dc operation on the Tvärbanan. They have run from El Campello to Benidorm 1980, featured joint operation with residual More successful is the RandstadRail project along the coast since 2008, and in the city freight trains on the Bank Foot branch, involving a mixture of Kassel-type LRVs and subway since 2007 (Mercado) and 2010 though this has since ceased. However the Rotterdam metro trains, the former running (Luceros), bringing Line 1 to 44km (27 miles); opening of the Sunderland service in 2002 saw through the streets of Den Haag and then over but they are single voltage cars (750V dc) and the system’s LRVs sharing track with mainline the converted NS Zoetermeer line, the latter there is no track-sharing with mainline rail. diesel trains between Pelaw and Sunderland. over the former NS Hofpleinlijn between Den Nevertheless the project raised awareness The operator of the Metro has been Haag and Rotterdam (diverted into subway at of tram-trains in Spain and led to the DB Regio since April 2010. the Rotterdam end). The completed system development of several projects, none of has minimal residual interface with NS trains which has been completed. These include Netherlands on depot access tracks. Cadiz, León, Manresa and Manacor – Arta, The Dutch became interested in the tram- More tram-trains will appear in the south which for financial reasons have made slow train concept and developed plans to operate of the Netherlands in 2018 when they run (or no) progress. At least Cadiz has a depot and LRVs over the railway line from Alpha aan through the streets of Maastricht, then on seven 1668mm-gauge CAF-built dual voltage den Rijn to Gouda and Leiden, continuing railway tracks across the border to the Belgian (750V dc/3000V dc) tram-trains, although it through the streets of Leiden and on to the town of Hasselt. Belgian operator De Lijn has currently has nowhere to run them. seaside resorts of Katwijk and Noordwijk. still to place an order for the LRVs. In 2003 a trial service wholly on NS North America 1500V dc tracks started using six Bombardier Spain San Diego’s light rail system is based on A32 cars operated by HTM; this service came The Mediterranean city of Alacant (Alicante) railroad alignments, and when the system to an end in December 2009 when a political claimed the title of first Spanish tram-train was built track-sharing by time separation impasse developed over the street operation operation in August 2003 when nine metre- was planned. This is more a ‘short line’ in Leiden, and the Rijn-Gouwe project was gauge Vossloh LRVs started running to the shunting operation however. Diesel light rail with tram-train TOP: SNCF Siemens characteristics is established in Ottawa, Avanto TT23 arriving at Lutterbach on its Canada (the O-Train), Austin, TX (Capital way from Thann to MetroRail Red Line) and New Jersey’s Mulhouse. J. Straathof RiverLine from Camden to Trenton. Time-sharing, in accordance with Federal The CAF-built Railroad Association rules, enforces tram-train for Cadiz track-sharing with freight trains. in its manufacturing facility alongside a Japan conventional There are many private railways that low-floor tram destined for Malaga. share running with tram or metro systems, CAF while in the city of Toyama a poorly- performing 1067mm rail line was converted to tram-train operation in 2006, with electrification changed from 1500V dc to 600V dc and through operation onto the city tramway. There is no railway track- sharing however.

236 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org Advertorial STRAILASTIC: TRACK SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING MOVEMENT AND VIBRATION Taking a look at some of STRAIL’s range of innovative, STRAILastic_USM is an attractively- priced and versatile insulation mat that easy to install and cost-effective can be used in a variety of ways. It can products for the light rail be placed between ballast and sub grade or laid between a structure and trackbed permanent way installer to manage vibration, and provide a layer and engineer. of protection for the waterproofing membrane. Reports on projects can be downloaded n addition to the modular from www.strail.de/index.php?id=961&L=1 STRAILastic_USM under the ballast to protect close-fitting rubber block waterproofing and manage noise and vibration. STRAILastic systems for embedded rail, STRAIL and STRAILastic STRAILastic_USM can also be cast in products for managing noise and to a nested concrete track system between movementI of steel rails of conventional a foundation and a floating track slab. vignole section are also available. Various thicknesses are available from 15mm upwards, and multiple layers can also be built up to provide the required compliance and vibration management. ProfilSTRAIL is a convenient Diagram of STRAILastic_USM cast in as an method of delivering a low- isolation layer in floating slab track construction. maintenance depot track system, STRAILastic_USM offers: where tracks pass across concrete apron Abrasion protection for waterproofing and filter membranes areas and are set into workshop floors. Control of structure-borne noise The units are used to provide the Control of secondary airborne noise shuttering face and allow access to Managing vibration transmitted to nearby structures rail fixings, as well as allowing the It is durable, water permeable and simple to install, extending ballast life at an rails to deflect under the weight of economical cost. the vehicle. This avoids a common problem of crumbling concrete when an apron is poured right up to the rail faces. Variants of this product STRAILastic_KFV should have been supplied to ports and other be mentioned here but also links locations where crane rails can present to next month’s piece on track problems for fork lift and straddle and rail fixings, highlighting carrier trucks. the STRAILastic CLIP and STRAILastic_GRS baseplate which, together with insulated tie bars ensures that embedded STRAILastic_A INOX showing the steel clips and rail can be rapidly installed and moulded-in steel armatures. aligned vertically and laterally. This system deals with risks of rail STRAILastic_A comes in two versions: displacement and rotation that (SYNTH) a completely metal-free system, have been identified as learning and (INOX), a version using stainless steel points from reviews of previous clips with moulded-in steel armatures. tram track installations. Units fit closely to the rail web to STRAILastic_KFV is used increase the mass of the rail and reduce to regulate and seal off the gap the amplification of generated wheel noise between the finished road surface ProfilSTRAIL – where rails are set in to through the rails. Both systems are fast to fit and the steel railhead, over the a concrete apron avoids issues linked to a and remove, but are designed to remain in top of the main STRAILastic_W concrete-steel interface. place for most mechanised track maintenance. or _S blocks that enclose the rail. STRAILastic_KFV provides a low shrinkage, tenacious but flexible joint seal. Usefully, For more details visit www.strail.com STRAILastic_KFV is free of any Contact: +44 (0)1483 222090 or toxic material limitations, and [email protected] curing is enhanced rather than degraded by the presence of water, See us at the UK Light Rail Conference (11-12 June, which is perhaps a useful detail Nottingham, UK) where details of the products mentioned 2014 with current variable climatic will be available. conditions.

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 237 Britain’s tram-train pilot NEXT STOP ROTHERHAM: UK TRAM-TRAIN PROGRESS Simon Coulthard, Head of Tram-Train Projects for Network Rail, and Helen Plummer, Head of Major Projects for the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, update TAUT on the latest developments of the UK’s tram-train trial.

t’s been a while coming, but by the back end of this year, physical progress on the UK’s tram-train pilot scheme A total of seven Vossloh tram-trains have should be obvious. been ordered for the UK’s trial scheme – The first vehicles from Vossloh the design is currently being finalised with EspañaI are expected to start taking shape construction to begin this year. SYPTE in the summer. That will be followed by ‘boots on the ground’ from this autumn, as the Sheffield – Swinton heavy rail line is network that opened in 1994/5 and a heavy Detailed work is currently underway connected to South Yorkshire’s Supertram rail system that has a history dating back with design contractor Carillion – and it is network and adapted to take the new to the 19th Century. The scheme as it expected that a contractor to carry out the technology; most of the work is likely to now stands is expected to cost around physical work will be appointed this summer. take place in the first quarter of 2015. GBP60m (EUR73m). As for the tramway, a track replacement May 2016 is when the first public Aside from the technical aspects of the programme is already underway – and even tram-train services are intended to run, trial, Helen Plummer says the current on lines not currently expected to host tram- seamlessly crossing over between Supertram pilot stretch brings a number of genuine trains, any rails now being laid are of a profile and the newly-electrified Network Rail (NR) advantages in terms of local connectivity – to ensure their compatibility with the project. line as far as Parkgate. because it effectively expands Supertram’s It all means that in around two years “Everyone is committing to delivering coverage to include nearby Rotherham. If time – and eight years after a trial was it, to the point of being quite passionate,” things work out as expected, she says, the first announced – Britain’s tram-train era says NR’s Simon Coulthard. Together with concept could eventually be expanded will arrive. Passengers will be able to take Helen Plummer from the South Yorkshire through the Lower Don Valley, an area that’s one service from the city centre streets of Passenger Transport Executive, Coulthard considered a transport priority. In fact, Sheffield then, via the new Meadowhall link was talking to TAUT about the scheme that she agrees that the tram-train could be between the two, over around 2.5km may decide whether this boundary-breaking “a game changer.” (1.5 miles) of NR line to Rotherham Central, mode has a future in the UK. Alongside those The pilot scheme will only be realised then another 1.6km (one mile) to Parkgate. two organisations it is a project that involves with some significant infrastructure work: Over the following two years, the scheme tramway operator Stagecoach Supertram, as well as providing overhead catenary on will be evaluated and reported on, a process train operator Northern Rail – and of course NR’s currently non-electrified Rotherham that is due to be finished by December 2018. the country’s Department for Transport. line, the project will create a physical For while this particular tram-train scheme is connection between the tramway and intended to be a permanent part of the South How did we get here? railway at Meadowhall South as well as a new Yorkshire landscape, whether any other A quick recap… The current scheme came platform there. Other tasks include creating similar developments take place around the about as the successor to a previously a lower-height platform at Rotherham UK may depend on what is found here. mooted trial on NR’s Sheffield – Huddersfield Central, accessed by a ramp from the ‘Penistone Line’. That was announced in existing platform, to ensure step-free access What will the pilot achieve? 2008 for a planned 2010 start, and was a when the low-floor tram-train vehicles arrive. Despite the fact that tram-trains have run in response to the desire by various parties to At Parkgate a new stop will be provided, as other countries for a couple of decades now, try out tram-train technology in the UK. will a ‘turnback’ facility to allow tram-trains technical issues with bringing them to the However the trial as first envisaged would to reverse and return to Sheffield. In total, UK remain. Coulthard explains that despite have taken place on a railway divorced from a with the loop here and the Meadowhall European integration, “networks – tram and tramway – and in 2009 the idea was moved to connection, some 700m of new track will national rail – have differences.” Sheffield – Rotherham. This will have a direct be laid. There is signalling work to be “We’re not alone in considering a pilot link between the 29km (18-mile) Supertram carried out too. or trial scheme,” Coulthard says, “The

238 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org The tram-train route, showing the new connection to the tramway at Meadowhall. Courtesy of SYPTE

Dutch did it. Even German cities have done “We’re not trying to do something that in the lack of standardisation on the country’s a pilot.” three years won’t work because the rest of the light rail systems, even the rail profile is not Yet both Coulthard and Plummer are keen world has moved on,” she says. the same across the various networks. There to stress that the Sheffield scheme is intended An example of that is the decision to is however some optimism that what emerges not just to prove the technical feasibility of stipulate that the tram-trains being supplied from Sheffield might become a new standard. tram-trains in a UK context. Also important must be dual voltage – 750V for the tramway, Some seven tram-train sets have been is providing extra evidence on the extent to but also 25kV in order that they can run on ordered from Vossloh. Not all are needed for which such schemes can capitalise on many electrified main lines. Rotherham services, and the intention is that of the already-known benefits associated While the detailed specification of the while three will run on that line, three more with tramways, such as modal shift and vehicles is currently being finalised, it’s will provide extra capacity on the tramway. carbon reduction. clear that to be passed out for the UK’s heavy One will be maintained as a spare. Students of railways in the UK will know rail system they will have to be fitted with A further aspect that has taken particular that in comparison to some other national various pieces of country-specific equipment consideration is the interface between systems the heavy rail industry is split into such as the Train Protection and Warning the fully signalled NR route and the a large number of players who have to work System, and Automatic Warning System. tramway, which runs according to line of together. So it is perhaps typical for the They are also to be fitted with the new GSMR sight. That process has been made easier country that the pilot has been set up as a (Global System for Mobile Communications – by the forthcoming presence of the new collaborative scheme; and Plummer says Railway) radio, a system that is in the process Meadowhall South stop, which is where that rather than one organisation being of being rolled out across NR. the transfer from tramway to railway will utterly dominant, the various partners are Plummer says that the “whole concept formally take place. “approaching this as equals.” is to keep this standard, but there are some Coulthard explains that both control Indeed, reports Coulthard, making things we’ll have to have specially designed centres will be able to ‘see’ incoming or the tram-train concept a success within a – and where we can’t we’ll go for deviation outgoing vehicles – and the NR signaller will structure of multiple infrastructure owners, [exemption].” ‘accept’ tram-trains onto the signalled part operators and other bodies is a key aim. However, she says: “It’s pretty much off of the route. “It has a permanence about it,” he says of the peg.” What all this work means is that visible the scheme, “we are leading the learning for A key aspect that will be specific is that of developments should now be clear within the rest of the UK. tyre profile – finding a compromise able to months, and in almost exactly two years’ “If we can provide best practice with how run on both the rail design used by NR and time the UK should join the tram-train age. tram-train fits in the regulated railway regime that of Supertram both safely and without Whether it subsequently becomes a keen I think that will be beneficial.” excessive wear. This is not a new issue, but a user, or the Sheffield – Rotherham scheme Plummer says another key part of the known challenge with melding together tram remains a rarity or even a one off, depends at approach being taken is “future proofing” and train networks; what is new is bringing least partly on what happens next. to ensure that what’s created (and what’s that process to the UK. “It’s an absolutely fantastic project to be learnt) remains as valid as possible for as Plummer says that a wheel profile “bespoke part of…” says NR’s Coulthard, “of course it’s long as it can. to Sheffield” is being developed, since given challenging, that’s why it’s a pilot.”

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 239 Nantes latest tram-train NANTES MOVES ON TAUT last visited Nantes in April 2009, and with the opening of a second tram-train service to Châteaubriant, Vic Simons returned to the city five years later to bring the story up to date.

antes is a busy industrial city All track and much of the overhead speed of 100km/h (62mph). At the terminus some 60km (35 miles) inland line equipment has been replaced over a buffer stop separates tram-trains from the from the Loire Estuary. It is the 64km (37-mile) route – designed to former through route to Rennes; this lies a thriving city built on light be suitable for SNCF services, including within Bretagne and has been unaffected industry with a population of just works trains, although no freight services by the project, with SNCF DMUs operating Nunder 300 000, the sixth largest city in France are planned. The 11 en route stations have seven return trips to Rennes per day. sitting at the centre of a metropolitan region of gained new platforms, car parking, shelters Two maintenance centres in Nantes serve around 900 000. and automated ticket machines. Automatic both Clisson and Châteaubriant. With already well-patronised urban half-barriers have been installed at 30 level tramway and bus routes, on 28 February crossings, with a further 11 crossings closed. The service the city welcomed a second tram-train Two new dedicated platforms, electrified at The new offering is a welcome addition to the operation to join the first service that linked 25kV ac, have been built at Nantes station. region’s transport using four-section Alstom Nantes south-west to Clisson in 2011. After leaving the central station, the Citadis Dualis vehicles with comparatively Although labelled as a tram-train, coupled tram-train units run on a double- more comfortable seats and lavatories. the new SNCF-operated service has little track alignment with 750V dc tramway Current service provision is seven round in common with German or Dutch electrification paralleling Semitan tramway’s trips (Monday to Friday) and six round trips operations, with no track-sharing with the line 1 as far as the Jamet terminus. This (weekends); there are also irregular short city tram network, operated by Semitan. section of line shares five level crossings that workings to Sucé-sur-Endre providing an In reality it would be more accurate to follow tramway practice in having warning approximately hourly service, although there describe the rebuilt route as a ‘light rail lights but no barriers. The only direct are big gaps in the Monday to Friday off-peak. conversion’, similar in more ways to the connection between tramway and tram-train It is understood that service enhancements service in eastern Paris. Promoted as T1 and falls near Haluchère-Batignolles station where are planned for summer 2014. branded as a TER service, it is a light rail there is a flat crossing; this is an unusual Standard Nantes tickets are valid on the electrification of the suburban railway route feature and claimed to be unique in France. tram-train as far as La Chapelle Aulnay that used to link Nantes and Rennes and At Babinière, the next station on from station; beyond this point standard TER closed for passenger service in May 1980 and Halchiere Batignolles, there is a navette fares apply and can be purchased from the to freight in 2008 when the tram-train plans (shuttle bus) connection to tram line 2 at on-board conductor. were unveiled. Recteur Schmidt and from here the line operates as a railway to Châteaubriant, with Reinvigorating a former railway 25kV 50Hz electrification and a maximum Maintaining the original northern alignment, the Nantes – Châteaubriant section of the route has been completely renovated for tram-train services, at a reported cost of EUR210m, including EUR60m for the supply of 12 tram-trains.

One Of Semitan’s original Alstom TFS-1 cars alongside a new paired set of Citadis Dualis tram-trains at Halchiere Batignolles on 24 March 2014. This is as close as the two systems get.

240 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org The route used since February by NANTES’ EXPANDED TRAMWAY Nantes – Chateaubriant tram-trains. Châteaubriant Nantes was in the vanguard of second- generation French tramway openings in the mid to late-1980s along with Lyon and Issé Grenoble, and the network has matured since TAUT’s last visit in 2009. Extensions are now open at both Abbaretz ends of line 1, and lines 2 and 3 have Part of Semitan’s latest order of low-floor trams; been extended and CAF 394 at Francois Mitterand on 21 March. modified, although there is no current There is a passengers returning inter-operation of connection beyond to the main SNCF tram-trains on the the Jamet terminus railway station to go Nort-sur-Erdre urban tramway, to the other branch back to workplaces in operated by public of line 1 linking back other parts of France. transport operator with the Francois Since 2009 line 1 Semitan. Mitterrand branch has been extended to stop at Romanet, its current termini at The lines now although there was no both ends, with a new Sucé-sur-Erdre operated are: evidence of regular bus, tram, and tram- Line 1: Francois use from our 2014 train interchange at La Chapelle-Aulnay Mitterand/Jamet in visit. This link allows Halchiere Batignolles. trams to reverse back Just to the east of La Chapelle-sur-Erdre Centre the east to Ranzay/ Beaujoire in the towards the city but the station there is a La Chapelle Erdre Active north-west close to not outbound. tram/tram-train flat Babinière the tram-train service. Whilst there is a crossing where line 1 La Haluchère Line 2: Gare de Pont frequent service crosses the tram-train Rosseau in the south on all three lines alignment to proceed to Orvault Grand Val Monday to Saturday, to its recently opened in the north. the 15-minute Sunday terminus at Beaujoire. Gare de Nantes Line 3: Neustrie in the headway does lead to The other branch of south with its airport some over-crowding line 1 runs parallel connection to Marcel especially on line 1 with the tram-train Paul in the north-west. with large numbers of service to Ranzay.

Alstom Citadis Dualis 108 leads a coupled set at Châteaubriant-bound tram-train 106 at the new A CAF Urbos low-floor tram at Halchiere Batignolles Nantes Gare on 22 March; a TGV high-speed service interchange at Halchiere Batignolles on 21 March; a on line 1 heading towards the city on 28 March; this stands in the opposite platform. connecting bus service waits in the background. image was taken from the outbound tram-train platform.

The ride is smooth and easily accessible, protective traffic signals and grade separation All of the original batch of 46 Alstom TFS-1 making a valuable extra mode to the Nantes in the centre of the boulevard. It is well used vehicles built for the opening of the tramway public transport network. with crush loading even in the off-peak are still in operation, having been refurbished Operation costs are put at EUR5.2m despite a nominal six-minute service and use with a low-floor centre section added. annually, excluding the maintenance costs of of articulated buses. As such it is crying out The 1990s build of 33 Incentro vehicles by the rail infrastructure; ridership is predicted for better service provision. Adtranz (now Bombardier) have been an at 11 200 passengers/day. There is one single fare zone which covers effective addition. These vehicles are similar all modes (except LILA long distance buses) to those currently in service in Nottingham, Modal integration including tram-train within the operating UK, and otherwise unique in France. In 2012 The busway starts at Foch Cathedrale bus area. Tickets are time validated. There are 12 CAF Urbos trams were added to bolster station and runs south to Duchesse Anne also 24-hour, seven-day and monthly tickets service and provide additional vehicles for the Château where it crosses tramline 1. It then available from machines at all tramway and extensions. The Incentro and Urbos trams are runs south on an arrow-straight alignment busway stops. Tickets can also be purchased 100% low-floor. along Boulevard de Vendée before turning from bus drivers. All tickets, however east on Rue de Bourdonnières and running purchased (except long date season tickets), www.tan.fr largely in through various estate roads to Porte de Vertou. must be time stamped on first use in Transport information French but with some English translation. The busway is arguably perfect for future the green validators found at bus and tram Tourist information www.nantes-tourism.com conversion to a tramway as it already has vehicle entrances.

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 241 Watford – St Albans ABBEY LINE: LESSONS FROM A LIGHT RAIL CONVERSION Seen as a pathfinder project, five years ago much was made of an innovative plan to convert a suburban heavy rail line in the UK to light rail operation. Alissa Ede, Major Projects Programme Manager of Hertfordshire County Council, looks at some of the challenges of the project.

or many years, Hertfordshire formed with the other local authorities) has and to identify lessons for any future County Council (UK) has had an been seeking to increase frequency on the similar schemes. aspiration to increase the service line to at least half-hourly as it believes this The approach taken – to transfer control of frequency of the Abbey Line, a will provide a more attractive alternative to the line to the county council and to convert single-track heavy rail line that the crowded local roads. An attempt to do the line to light rail – was chosen on the Fruns for 10.5km (6.5 miles) between Watford this via a heavy rail proposal failed in 2008 assumption that it would be relatively simple Junction and St Albans Abbey Station on the as the project did not meet key value for to execute. The intention was to have a simple western side of St Albans in Hertfordshire. money criteria, in part due to the cost of an output-based procurement and leave as The line runs parallel to a congested road additional train and the signalling required. many options as possible up to the industry, network and crosses both the M25 and M1 To this end, in 2009 the county council, considered best-placed to make decisions. motorways. It is electrified at 25kV ac and working with London Midland, Network There was also an aspiration to facilitate operated using a single four-car Class 321 Rail and the Department for Transport (DfT), a redevelopment at Watford Junction. EMU. There is an automatic barrier level commissioned Mott MacDonald to carry out Converting the line to light rail could crossing with a plunger operation in one a review of the potential to convert the line have changed the scope of the proposal direction and two footpath level crossings. to light rail operation using second-hand for redevelopment, potentially eliminating The service is currently operated under European trams. This work showed that it the need for a bridge to cross the line. franchise by London Midland and consists should be possible to run a light rail service The county council, DfT and Network of a single train that runs back and forth every 30 minutes more cheaply than the Rail worked closely together and, following along the single track every 45 minutes (with existing service when operated within the considerable work, the county council and a 17-minute journey each way). It is not existing franchised railway. DfT reluctantly concluded that it was not possible to operate a 30-minute frequency possible to deliver a more frequent service on the current heavy rail alignment without Formation of the project for the same cost as the current operation. the construction of a passing loop, due to the The Abbey Line Light Rail Project began in The decision was therefore taken not speed restrictions at the level crossings and 2009 following agreement between the DfT to proceed further with the proposal; a turnaround time requirements at either end, and the county council. It was envisaged as a forthcoming report will set out in detail even if the train runs as a non-stop express pilot to test whether a low-cost light rail the lessons learned. in one direction. service could be introduced to increase The 45-minute frequency makes the service the service frequency of a route where a Technical obstacles unattractive, both because of the time to traditional heavy rail solution would not offer After having looked into the possibility of wait if you miss the train and because the value for money. taking the line out of Network Rail ownership timetable is difficult to remember. The county One of the main aims for the project and separating it from the London Midland council (and the Community Rail Partnership was also to test the viability of this approach franchise, it became clear that there were

An Abbey Line BREL (now Bombardier) Class 321 EMU at St Albans station; under the Hertfordshire County Council/Network Rail/DfT project, the service would be replaced with second-hand light rail vehicles obtained from Europe. Janet Tyndale.

242 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org RIGHT: The Abbey Line at Watford North; there was an aspiration that eventually the service could be extended to include on-street running. Janet Tyndale.

BELOW RIGHT: One option that was available at the time was the small fleet of Bombardier A32 vehicles that had recently completed a similar trial in the Netherlands. Maurits90. some significant obstacles. The main lessons were around economies of scale and the implications of removing the line from the national rail network. Issues around the structure of the national rail industry and fare structures dating back to British Rail days have also proved very complicated to unpick. Although the Abbey Line is a relatively short branch line with seven stations, it has 17 bridges. Currently, the risk around the bridges (including addressing the occasional bridge strike) and earthworks is carried by Network Rail as national infrastructure manager, and it is able to spread the risk and maintenance cost across the entire network. Network Rail’s budget is significantly higher than Hertfordshire County Council’s, which also manages the risk on similar structures for the local highway. The funding and recovery regime in the case of structural failure is managed differently. Similarly, the larger London Midland franchise provides an economy of scale for overheads (e.g. vehicle maintenance, drivers, management, training and other infrastructure such as ticketing machines and sufficient staff to provide full cover). A small operation would still have the same basic overhead requirements that add expense to the operation and most likely would not scale to the level required. On the technical side, if the line were removed from the franchised railway, there would be a need to establish a separate power supply (or meter the existing supply). There was also the consideration of how to convert the existing 25kV ac to the more commonly main line. Therefore the fares are kept lower the available funding, there could have been used LRT standard of 750V dc. Several options on the branch line but the revenue allocation the possibility of increasing revenue and were proposed, including using onboard to the branch line includes some revenue improving the service by eventually going transformers or building substations and from the main line as a way of recognising on-street or using the future light rail scheme connecting to the National Grid. its contribution. When the branch line is to serve as a park-and-ride to access either Consideration was also necessary of separated from the franchised railway, the St Albans or Watford. These remain potential how to physically separate the line from revenue allocation from the main line must aspirations, provided there is local support the connection to the West Coast Main be commerically negotiated. This creates a and a value for money business case could be Line (WCML) – with options to provide a situation where a very small operator is in a made for the added investment. A feasibility limited connection. Maintenance for the weak negotiating position compared to the study would need to be completed and an proposed LRT system had several potential larger operators, creating uncertainty on the indication of local support would be required solutions, depending on the vehicle chosen. revenue assumptions for the project. for these to progress. It could have required limited access via the The project also assumed that a 22.5-year All parties have recognised the need to WCML, transporting vehicles to a remote concession would be sufficiently long enough improve the service on the Abbey Line, but maintenance facility via a low loader, or by to allow for the operator to invest capital and it is not possible to do this in the current building a local depot. Each option had costs get a return over the period, assuming the franchise. The DfT has also explored other and considerations that depended on the operator took all of the revenue. However, in options for improving service frequency with type of vehicle and what might have been an affordability assessment conducted with London Midland but regrettably, but it has available to the operator. The decision about the bidders, it became clear that the cost of not been able to find a way of increasing the how to operate and maintain the system was financing made the project significantly frequency using the existing infrastructure. going to be left with the bidders. more expensive than originally assumed. There is a desire by all parties to see a Many of the issues raised are surmountable better service and future operators will be Ticketing and revenue allocation with additional funding, and would be worth encouraged to propose their own solutions The combination of extricating the line addressing if the system or operator were for the line; meanwhile Hertfordshire County from the franchised railway, the ambition to larger to provide a better economy of scale. Council remains committed to pushing for retain through-ticketing and the proximity However, the ambition to provide a simple, a more frequent service. It has also decided to London (and the number of commuters) affordable improvement was not achievable to look separately at whether a case can be created a complex situation with regards to within the constraints set out by the project. made to convert the line to light rail if the fares and ticketing and revenue allocation. redevelopment at Watford Junction and the The fare structure, inherited from Commitment to a better service potential for extension at either end into the pre-privatisation, is organised to recognise Whilst the initial position for the Abbey Line towns are included, although this is a much that a branch line brings passengers onto the project was to increase the frequency within longer-term proposition if it is viable.

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 243 Nordhausen NORDHAUSEN: AN UNUSUAL ‘DUO’ Where else can you see ancient steam locomotives and modern innovative technology in service together? Tony Streeter reports on Germany’s ‘Nordhausen Model’.

t’s enough to make you take a second look. On one side of the island platform is a Siemens Combino – rolling in at the other is a steam-hauled train. Each are regular services; both can be usedI with local zone-based tickets. This is Ilfeld in Thuringia, central Germany, and these are the metals of the metre-gauge Harzer Schmalspurbahnen (HSB) – the Harz narrow gauge railways. For a decade now such sights have been a regular part of the timetable. For while the HSB is known the world over for its steam- hauled trains favoured by tourists it also has an important local people-moving function. Where else in the world can you hop off a tram onto a railcar, a bus… or a steam train? The story of how this unusual synergy arose, and the reason for the creation of the Combino Duo hybrid tram, was born in a concerted will to regenerate these former East German systems in the 1990s. For a century the Harz railways and the Nordhausen tramway had coexisted – their metre-gauge rails close but never physically joined. Changing that meant not only connecting the two, but devising vehicles to run on both the electrified tramway, and the non- electrified HSB. The driving force, after a period in which the future of the tramway and railway were both debated, was a real to travel on through the town have had to passengers (27 seated). Compared to the attempt to make both systems relevant in the disembark at the Nordhausen Nord terminus non-hybrid vehicles delivered before them changing years after the GDR became part of then walk out to the tramway or bus stops on they carry fewer people: either 13 or seven (14 Germany’s federal republic. the Bahnhofsplatz (‘Station Place’) outside. or six seated). With a weight of 25 tonnes the On Nordhausen’s tramway, that meant That’s what the ‘Nordhäuser Modell’ – or Duo trams are also one tonne heavier. replacement stock to take over from the Nordhausen Model – has changed. These differences come about because the ageing Gotha fleet – first secondhandGT4 Duos house an eight-cylinder direct injection trams from the ‘West’, then Combinos – Duo decade 3.9-litre diesel engine plus associated as well as infrastructure work including a It’s ten years since the launch of the service equipment for the trams’ diesel-electric 1.8km (1.1-mile) extension opened in 1993. that allows change-free travel across the metals transmission. This has been found room in On the railway, it meant abandoning of both the tramway of Verkehrsbetriebe the passenger area, the motor being mounted previous plans to replace steam locomotives Nordhausen (VBN), and the HSB: the full line inside a box-shaped compartment between with 30 regauged diesels, instead retaining 10 timetable began operating on 1 May 2004. two sets of doors in the middle section. the steam for the increasingly tourist- Core to making it work is the Combino Duo, Externally, the vehicles are marked out by orientated locomotive-hauled passenger of which three examples were delivered by prominent ‘Duo’ markings. trains, while acquiring railcars for quieter Siemens in 2004. The mounting onboard of The Combino Duos are dedicated to line flows and modernising a much smaller fleet of a BMW diesel motor meant that trams 201-3 10, which is effectively an extended version diesel locomotives for a focus on freight work. (187.201-3 in the HSB system) could run away of VBN’s line 1. That runs 3.2km (two miles) The HSB’s local passenger role is most from the overhead wires of the VBN, over a from Nordhausen Krankenhaus (hospital) to important on the relatively flat and industrial new connection between the two systems Bahnhofsplatz, with a one-way loop round southern part of its 140km (87-mile) system, and on the tracks of the HSB. the central area serving Südharz Galerie, well away from the tourist draw that is the Nordhausen had received its firstCombinos Bahnhofsplatz and Atrium-Passage. In total Brocken mountain, northern Germany’s in 2000 – the order for the hybrid version the Nordhausen network runs over three highest and a major source of income. followed some two years later. Closely based routes (1, 2 and 10), and the VBN system itself Here, the railway ends at Nordhausen, on the non-hybrid vehicles previously has a length of 18km (11 miles). a busy town of around 40 000 that makes delivered, the 100% low-floorDuo trams Unlike line 1, line 10 does not terminate at a natural focus for the smaller nearby have three-sections (the initial Nordhausen Bahnhofsplatz. Instead, by changing the Duo communities of Niedersachswerfen and Combinos were the first three-section variants) from overhead electric to diesel-electric mode Ilfeld. Traditionally though, people using and two powered bogies. They are 2.3m and by running over HSB metals services it the HSB line into Nordhausen but wanting wide and 20m long, with capacity for 95 reaches out over a further 11km (seven miles)

244 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org The lines and their fleets Railway and tramway Bahnhofsplatz, 3.2km/two miles, In its current guise the Harz metre- double track but with a loop around gauge railway dates from 1993 when the Südharz Galerie); 2 (Parkallee – operations were transferred from Nordhausen Ost, 4.6km/2.9 miles, the former East German state railway single track); and 10 (Nordhausen Deutsche Reichsbahn to the HSB; Krankenhaus – Ilfeld Neanderklinik, the HSB is owned and supported by 14.6km/9.1 miles, including the local states and communities. HSB section). Most of its roughly 1.1m The depot is on Grimmelallee, on passengers last year travelled in the route of line 2. steam-hauled trains on the section between Wernigerode and the The fleets… Brocken at the northern end of the VBN’s core fleet is now made up 140km (87-mile) system. of Combinos, of which there are The HSB network consists of nine uni-directional conventional three ‘main lines’, the Harzquerbahn vehicles (101-109, delivered 2000-11) (Nordhausen – Wernigerode); and three bi-directional Combino Selketalbahn, which runs from Duos (201-3, delivered 2004). Quedlinburg to Eisfelder Talmühle, GT4 vehicles are no longer in a junction with the Harzquerbahn service. The tramway also (there are also branches); and the maintains ‘bistro’ vehicle 59 (Gotha, Brockenbahn, which runs to the 1961), and the historic cars 23 mountain of the same name and (Wismar, 1934) and 40 (Gotha, 1959). diverges from the Harzquerbahn at The HSB is home to five diesel Drei Annen Hohne. railcars delivered in the 1990s The system’s oldest section (187.015-9) as well as a number opened in 1887, the newest – of older vehicles. It has three the regauged route between operational 199.8 diesel locomotives, Gernrode and Quedlinburg – in plus diesel shunter 199.011. 2005. The stretch from Nordhausen The railway has 25 steam to Ilfeld dates from 1897. The HSB is locomotives – not all operational single-track throughout. – of which the oldest (99.5901) Nordhausen’s tramway opened dates back to 1897 and is primarily in 1900. It is now operated by reserved for special workings. the municipal Verkehrsbetriebe Most locomotive-hauled trains use Nordhausen over routes 1 1950s-designed steam engines from (Nordhausen Krankenhaus – the series 99.7231-99.7247.

Old and new… Combino Duo 202 alongside 1897-built Mallet 99.5901, the oldest locomotive on the Harz system, at Ilfeld. Other than the steam-hauled train, much in this scene is new, including the modern platform installed in 2006. HSB/M. Bein

The core of Nordhausen’s fleet is made up of Combinos. Here a Combino Duo 201 travels between Ilfeld and Ilfeld Neanderklinik on 19 April. The folded pantograph is visible on the middle section, while the vinyl wrap on the vehicle advertises Nordhausen’s swimming baths. Tony Streeter

ABOVE: Having raised its pantograph shortly before at Bahnhofsplatz, 201 threads through Nordhausen’s centre on its way to Krankenhaus. Tony Streeter ABOVE RIGHT: Nordhausen Bahnhofsplatz on 19 April. HSB Railcar 187.019 is on a service to Ilfeld Neanderklinik, while Combino 109 is on line 1. The ochre building on the left is Nordhausen Nord, while behind the railcar is the connecting line to the HSB; this has been used by HSB railcars since it opened in 2002 and Duo trams since 2004. Behind 109, a Duo is just visible. Tony Streeter

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 245 Nordhausen

to the specially opened Ilfeld Neanderklinik stop; 1km (0.6 miles) north of Ilfeld station. To Eisfelder Talmühle, Line 10 services run hourly during Harzer Schmal- Wernigerode and Quedlinburg weekdays, inter-mixing over the HSB with the railway’s own railcars and the one remaining spurbahnen regular return steam-hauled service to Ilfelder Neanderklink use this section. The turnback point, Ilfeld Neanderklinik, Ilfeld is just one of six stops opened since the 1990s between there and Nordhausen Nord. Ilfeld Schreiberwiese The new stops are Niedersachswerfen Herkules Markt, Niedersachswerfen Ilfelder Straße and Ilfeld Schreiberwiese (all opened Niedersachswerfen 1997); Nordhausen Hesseröder Straße and Ilfelder Str. Nordhausen Ricarda-Hucht Straße (2001); and Nordhausen Schurzfell, opened in 2010. Niedersachswerfen Ost Work was also undertaken in the run-up to KEY line 10’s launch at Nordhausen Krimderode 5km (three miles) from Nordhausen Nord and Niedersachswerfen Existing HSB stop 7km (four miles) from Ilfeld Neanderklinik. Herkules Markt This was converted from a single-track halt HSB stop added into a station with a passing loop in 2001, Nordhausen Krimderode since 1997 work critical to creating capacity for hourly tram services. Subsequently, other stations Nordhausen Interchange have been provided with new platforms. Schurzfell Another significant piece of investment was installation of colour light fixed Nordhausen signalling on the HSB line as far as Ilfeld Ricarda-Huch-Str. (Nordhausen Nord itself is still controlled by mechanical signalling from a signalbox). This replaced the former radio signalling and Nordhausen Nordhausen Altentor Nordhausen Krankenhaus was commissioned in April 2004, just before Bahnhofsplatz Duo services started. Additionally, work on the HSB route has Nordhausen been steadily undertaken with the target Hesseröder Str. of having a 40km/h (25mph) line limit on Nordhausen Nord as much of it as feasible. A current example is installation of barriers at two previously ungated crossings (Am Kirchberg and Rosensteg), allowing a further reduction in travel times of up to eight minutes. However, perhaps the most obvious piece of new infrastructure is the 240m connection between the tramway and railway, which opened in April 2002. This deviates from the lines to Nordhausen Nord’s island platform opposite the signalbox and runs roughly parallel to the platform but bypassing it, leaving the HSB boundary through a gap in the fence and running along Oskar-Cohn Straße to VBN’s Bahnhofsplatz stop. It would be another two years until the Combino Duo vehicles entered regular service, but from the time the connection opened HSB railcars primarily ran to Bahnhofsplatz rather than Nordhausen Nord, something they continue to do. Like the Combino Duo vehicles, the 1990s-built railcars are certified ABOVE: The anniversary of ten years’ operation was marked with celebrations on 30 April 2014. HSB to run under BOStrab (tramway) regulations. route are booked to take 40 minutes from the numbers between Nordhausen and Ilfeld rose Continuing improvement Nordhausen Krankenhaus end, 38 minutes in 17% in the year of its launch; in 2013 some Under the 2014 HSB summer timetable, the other direction. 248 000 HSB passengers were recorded in the which runs from 26 April-2 November, line Crews are drawn from both VBN and HSB. Nordhausen area 10 maintains an hourly weekday (two-hourly In addition to the tram of line 10, there are Recognition of all this was marked on 30 at weekends/holidays etc) service with the regular railcar services covering the section April, when revamped facilities were formally first weekday tram leaving Nordhausen between Nordhausen Nord or Bahnhofsplatz opened at Nordhausen Nord, VBN ran Krankenhaus at 04.38 and the last at 19.38. and Ilfeld Neanderklinik. The daily steam historic tram trips and the HSB laid on extra Corresponding departures from Ilfeld service from Nordhausen Nord leaves at 10.25 steam runs between Nordhausen and Ilfeld. Neanderklinik are 05.22 and 20.57, though for Brocken, the equivalent return working Those celebrations illustrate how the some services terminate at Nordhausen arriving at 17.39. various passenger offerings of VBN and HSB Nord or Bahnhofsplatz. A change from this Ten years on from its inception the launch have been made to interact. Nordhausen’s timetable has been moving the crossing of line 10 can be claimed to have helped circumstances are unique, yet they show that point for line 10 services from Nordhausen bring significant changes to public transport with the right parameters, the will and an Krimderode to Niedersachswerfen Ost, in the Nordhausen area, and particularly to ability to innovate, local public transport can reducing standing time at Krimderode and the southern section of the Harz metre-gauge be transformed in imaginative ways even in at Bahnhofsplatz. Journeys over the full railway network. The HSB says that passenger relatively small communities.

246 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org Advertorial CAF: Over a century of experience and innovation rawing upon a rich history of urban rail vehicle manufacture that dates back over 115 years, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) is anD international leader in the design, manufacture and maintenance of rail vehicles and associated systems. With an enviable contracts catalogue that includes new trams and metro cars for systems on six continents, CAF is an organisation that is constantly innovating and driving efficiencies for its customers with six technological centres located across Spain. Recent growth in the tramway and LRV markets has drawn significant interest in its range of Urbos low-floor vehicles, with the company keen to share its expertise and innovation within new regions. The last few years alone have seen orders placed for Urbos trams and LRVs from both new and mature systems in Sydney (Australia), Freiburg (Germany), Stockholm (Sweden), Cuiaba (Brazil), the West Midlands (UK) and Budapest (Hungary) – to name just a few. Earlier variations have seen years of reliable service in Bilbao, Vitoria and Antalya, with the newest versions boasting numerous dynamic ABOVE: CAF and operational improvements. is supplying the As well as its tramway solutions that Midland Metro can meet the need of any city or region, system with a fleet of 20 Urbos trams CAF is also at the forefront of catenary-less to replace applications with its ACR system that is its ageing fleet already in operation in Seville and Zaragoza and to cater and will soon be seen in Kaoshiung, Taiwan. for significant Further to this, proven metro and suburban extensions to the rail systems from CAF are also in operation in UK system. cities as diverse as Algiers, Caracas, Madrid, The five-module Calcutta, Istanbul and Medellin. trams can be easily retrofitted with ACR technology Worldwide development for running away The CAF story begins with the conversion from the catenary. of a former ironworks in Beasain in the late stages of the 19th Century. Meanwhile, LEFT: in Zaragoza the firm of Carde y Escoriaza Stockholm has (fully incorporated into CAF in 1971) ordered Urbos built its first tram in 1897. Throughout the AXL trams – 1970s the consolidated organisation grew featuring bogies with axles instead in both stature and reputation, with the of cast frames – establishment of a new manufacturing and that are specially testing factory in Zaragoza. adapted for the The firm has remained close to its roots, often extreme however, retaining its main production Swedish weather plant in Beasain in addition to new factories conditions. in Brazil, France, Mexico and the USA. This really is a manufacturer that’s on the move. BOTTOM LEFT: Sydney, Australia, CAF is aware that its industrial activities can has also chosen affect the environment, so protection policies the Urbos are identified as some of the company’s key low-floor vehicle priorities. CAF group owns a hydroelectric in a six-car order, plant, integrates solar energy panels at its as well as leasing plants and prioritises renewable energy a further four CAF sources wherever possible, including solar and low-floor trams. wind energy. As a result, CAF has developed the world’s first verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for the Urbos.

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2013 / 247 A solution for every situation…

ABOVE: At another recently-opened system, the Urbos low-floor vehicles in Zaragoza, Spain, also use the ACR system for catenary-free running in sections of the city. The trams are recharged from surface-mounted contacts. Neil Pulling

LEFT: Stylish, modern light rail systems add to the attractiveness of forward-thinking cities and using systems such as CAF's ACR catenary-less power supply can respect historic centres as well as delivering efficiencies and lower operating costs. This system in Seville, Spain, has been running since 2011.

ight and urban rail systems are technology and use the very latest techniques becoming ever more important to optimise production, working to either the “To ensure development in cities around the globe, ISO 9001:2008 or IRIS Standards, in addition and evolution in its representing a mobility solution to more specific references for each product that helps reduce traffic congestion and service provided (ISO3834, EN15085, production chain, CAF andL offering passengers a fast, punctual and AAR M-1003, EN17025, DIN6701 etc). The sustainable means of transport. flexibility in the customisation of our projects undertakes continuous Yet while the broad demands of urban and products to meet specific customers’ needs transport solutions are the same, no two cities is an integral part of our business philosophy. monitoring of the offer an identical scenario. For this reason, To ensure that our products always perform CAF offers a range of metro, LRV, tram, and to their optimum, CAF also has its own performance of its tram-train solutions based around common, dedicated laboratories and testing facilities for proven, platforms. the complete range of static and dynamic tests products in operation.” Cities and transport authorities demand and inspections: stylish and robust design, high levels Chemical analysis of steel and alloy visual impact in historic city centres whilst of passenger comfort and accessibility, components. increasing energy efficiency. environmental efficiency, ease of Non-destructive and X-ray testing. maintenance and technological innovation Extensive mechanical and electrical testing. Highlights of the ACR system include: – CAF trams deliver all of the above, giving Metrology lab to control the dimensions Optimisation of the energy supplied. each city its own identity while adapting and calibration of the inspection apparatus. Autonomy to travel on catenary-free seamlessly to the urban realm. sections for distances of up to 1.4km. Each day, CAF vehicles and infrastructure ACR: The technology of the future Hybrid technology. Optimisation of the transport millions of passengers in over 25 that respects the past system in terms of performance and cost. countries – delivering a high-quality passenger Through subsidiary CAF Power and Lower investment in infrastructures. experience and making environmentally- Automation, CAF has developed the Rapid Reduction in the level of visual intrusion. friendly transport to all sectors of society in a Charge Accumulator (ACR), an innovative Non-proprietary system. safe and cost-effective manner. solution for running trams and LRV away from Applicable to any type of rail vehicle. Our commitment to offering products the catenary. This onboard energy storage Approximately 30% energy savings. and services of the utmost reliability is at system stores the braking energy, allowing Ultra-fast charging process, taking just our core. To ensure continuous development trams to separate from the overhead wires 20 seconds. and evolution in its production chain, CAF between stops, and also to save energy due to CAF Power & Automation offers two undertakes continuous monitoring of the the complete recovery of the braking energy. solutions, both of which are applicable to any performance of its products in operation This groundbreaking technology is articulated vehicle platform – Freedrive and through a Quality Assurance Department of already in successful operation in both Evodrive – and as such the latest generation over 170 professionals. Seville and Zaragoza and is playing a major of CAF low-floor trams has the ability to be All CAF manufacturing and maintenance part in helping to improve the integration easily and cost-effectively retrofitted with facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art of urban transport in cities, by reducing the ACR technology.

248 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org Under the skin of the Urbos he Urbos for the UK’s Midland consumption during the tram’s working life. Metro system is a fine showcase Emergency folding couplers are discreetly for CAF innovation and stowed at each end of the vehicle behind the customer focus. main body fairing, with an umbilical cord for Sharing common specifications communication and emergency braking. withT many other systems, the new trams are Braking performance of the Urbos meets being delivered to cater for expansion of the the requirements of EN 13452-1, with a system in the UK’s West Midlands, including deceleration of 1.2m/s² for service braking the Birmingham City Centre Extension. and a capability of 2.8 m/s² on application Here are a few of the vehicle’s highlights: of full emergency braking. The Urbos is a standard-gauge (1435mm), Sanding is available at the leading bogies 2.65m-wide, bi-directional 100% low-floor and applies automatically when low wheel/ The spacious interior can hold 210 passengers. tram with a constant floor level of 350mm track adhesion is detected. Flange lubrication above the rail. The example being delivered systems are optional. The wheel slide to the Midland Metro system consists of five protection system on all bogies automatically modules with four articulations. adjusts the traction/braking effort in low Three of the modules are mounted on friction conditions to optimise performance. bogies, the other two are suspended. The The design of the Urbos tram ensures low powered bogies feature independent rotating noise levels of 70dBA for passengers and resilient wheels, and are constructed from 79dBA externally at 60km/h (37mph). cast steel with welded support plates that use The latest safety and monitoring one traction motor per wheel and a double equipment is also fitted, with an event primary and secondary suspension system. recorder which records vehicle activity and The bodyshell’s modular design combines can be reviewed in the event of any incident; low weight with simpler manufacturing a passenger counting system; external and Roof-mounted equipment for ease of maintenance. processes, using aluminium alloy and internal CCTV cameras; TFT passenger extruded sections complemented by information systems and real-time displays high strength carbon steel and composite for the driver of the status of the tram’s components for the cab ends. primary and auxiliary systems. Placing the majority of equipment on While the UK has ordered five-module the tram roof makes it easily accessible for trams, the Urbos platform has the flexibility maintenance and frees up important interior to easily accomodate shorter or longer space. This equipment includes traction vehicles, such as the three-section vehicles and auxiliary converters, braking resistors, being delivered to Besançon (France) and the pantograph, the battery and HVAC systems. nine-module trams for Budapest (Hungary). This thought for ease of maintenance, As well as the Urbos 100 (100% low-floor), together with lighter and stronger materials, 70 (70% low-floor), AXL (with axles), and ensures reduced downtime and energy TT (tram-train) versions are also available. Besançon's three-module Urbos variant.

A TRUSTED TURNKEY PARTNER The CAF Group also has a global partnership base to deliver full turnkey solutions for The Urbos for Cuiaba, Brazil. urban rail systems, including: > Viability analysis and studies. > System design and engineering. > Design and manufacture of rail systems. > Civil engineering works. > Signalling. > Electrification. > Mechanical and safety systems. > Communications and ticketing systems. > Rolling stock design and manufacture. > Installation and commissioning. > Operation and maintenance.

Following the delivery of successful projects in both Spain and Turkey, references of recent CAF systems include construction of the first phase of the Kaohsiung tramway in Taiwan and delivery of a new low-floor signalling, operational and critical systems; Bureau awarded in 2013. tramway for Cuiaba in Brazil. maintenance workshop equipment; For Cuiaba, CAF will provide the first In Kaohsiung, CAF is delivering nine electrical substations and overhead rapid turnkey tramway system in South America, Urbos LRVs with the ACR catenary-free charge points; communications, ticketing, including civil works, electromechanical system – the first system in the world on a video surveillance and SCADA systems. systems, the supply of 40 Urbos trams using fully catenary-free route; 22km All of this is covered under a project the ACR catenary-free system; equipment (13.7 miles) of embedded street track; management contract with the Kaohsiung for the maintenance workshops; tram traffic design and installation of the tram City Government’s Mass Rapid Transit signalling and SCADA control systems.

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 249 Urbos URBAN DESIGN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE

Urbos responds to the highest eco-design requirements, integrated in the arquitechtonic environment, maintaining a high level of performance

www.caf.net London, 1 October 2014 ENTRIES OPEN NOW Best Customer Initiative Best Environmental and Sustainability Initiative Employee/Team of the Year Manufacturer of the Year Most Improved System Operator of the Year Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award Project of the Year EUR50m Significant Safety Initiative Supplier of the Year EUR10m Technical Innovation of the Year Judges’ Special Award Vision of the Year For advanced booking and sponsorship details contact: Geoff Butler – t: +44 (0)1733 367610 – @ [email protected] www.lightrailawards.com Rebuilding Domain Interchange LOCAL KNOWLEDGE MEETS INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Domain Interchange in 2007 The Domain Interchange redevelopment project combined complex and innovative design, international track fabrication technology and outstanding construction logistics and management. This article describes how GHD’s light rail consultants, in Australia and the UK, worked with Yarra trams to transform Melbourne’s tram network into a world class facility, enhancing the safety of and accessibility for passengers, and improving tram operations.

he Victorian State Government GHD revised its original concept to reduce Ensuring adequate pedestrian refuges is progressively upgrading the road widening, but retain DDA-compliant between tram tracks and road traffic lanes; Melbourne tram network to tram stops and the improved track geometry. Provision of a staff toilet connected to the comply with the Disability existing sewer main in proximity to tram stops; Discrimination Act 1992. Layout design and constraints Providing additional pedestrian crossings TGHD’s initial (2009) concept design for The design challenges at Domain Interchange at the northeast and southwest corners of the Domain Interchange proposed an optimised included: interchange; track curvature through the intersection Layout alterations to allow southbound Adding new dedicated 1.5m-wide bicycle with two six-metre wide DDA-compliant movements from Park Street along lanes in both directions; tram stops. The double-facing island St Kilda Road to future-proof long term tram Minimum traffic lane widths of three metres; platforms maintained St Kilda Road’s four operations and to provide a western diversion Minimising overhead wiring pole ‘clutter’ lanes of traffic in each direction with road route for trams during CBD special events; by maximising joint use poles for overhead widening required. Minimum track radii of 25m (horizontal) wiring, street lighting and traffic signals; In 2012, the State Government confirmed and 300m (vertical); Minimising the traffic signal phases its proposals for the Melbourne Metro rail Designing 4.35m-width tram stops with a (two preferred); project and how this would interface with the minimum accessible length of 56m; Preservation of the ‘green’ nature of the tram network at Domain Interchange. The Providing dedicated track from St Kilda Road St Kilda Road boulevard by replacing trees new proposals, together with planned changes outbound into Domain Road – increasing the and providing new vegetation where possible, in tram routes, required a redesign of Domain number of tracks from three to four; Identifying and accommodating the Interchange to minimise road widening to Provision of an area within the interchange multiple utility services located under the accommodate future Metro construction. for a tram maintenance vehicle; roadway and tram reservation.

252 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org Design requirements Compliance with Yarra Trams design guidelines, the Department of Transport’s accessible platform requirements and VicRoads and AustRoads road and traffic design guidelines was required. The following additional specifications were given: Track: Match the existing rail level and alignment at the extremities and include formation and drainage design. Recognise geotechnical and structural constraints and include civil engineering, structural and track bonding alterations. Civil (Roads): Restrict pavement re-grading to areas where track vertical alignment was altered. New drainage to connect to existing road pits. Road realignment and parking modifications to include Safety Zones, traffic lane/bicycle lane demarcation and alterations to traffic signal pedestals and detector loops. Overhead Wiring: Include internally-fitted pole wiring and rationalise pole spacing by incorporating traffic signal lanterns and public lighting. Sections of dual running wire to minimise the number of overhead The complex track layout of Domain Interchange pre-rebuild. poles required and Yarra Trams standard metropolitan area elastic suspension and auto-tension systems adopted. Rigid fittings at crossing pans, and frogs eliminated to ensure smooth pantograph travel. Electrical: Provide underground feeder cabling throughout, with additional conduits for future electrolysis mitigation. Include new tap to trolley wire connections, feeder cable junction pits for changes in direction, switching and additional electrical sections. Accessible tram stops: Replace the existing platforms with two island platforms, ramps and landing areas. Platform furniture to include passenger shelters, information displays and ticketing machines. Drainage to be routed via grated pits from inverts created at the centre of the platforms.

Track design rationale The track radii of the approach curves from Park St and Domain Road dictated the length of the platforms. Adopting a “desirable” minimum radius of 25m reduced platform length and the capacity to hold B and D class The project constraints dictated curved island platform design. trams; 56m lengths were achievable if track radii between 21m and 23m were adopted. This allowed for B and D class trams and future rolling stock without impeding pedestrian or other tram movements. Straight track opposite platforms is also desirable. However, St Kilda Road curves continuously for almost 450m from Albert Road to Dorcas Street intersection, and so the alignment of platforms on straight track was simply not practical. Platform clearances were analysed for all rolling stock and a new template for the E class tram was developed to ensure future- proofing of the design. Worst-case offsets between the platform and tram doors were determined for each vehicle with departures from the standard minimised (between 3mm and 29mm). Park Street junction was particularly challenging. Here, the vertical gradient rises at 5.4% and tight-radius vertical curves are needed to connect with the relatively flat St Kilda Road tracks. With anticipated vertical curve radii ranging between 270m and 300m, Yarra Trams investigated the operational A temporary crossover was installed north of the main work zone to facilitate reversing of southbound trams.

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 253 Rebuilding Domain Interchange

impacts of this extremely tight vertical increase infrastructure reliability and lower St Kilda Road was closed to all traffic for four curvature on existing and future rolling stock Yarra Trams’ overall track maintenance costs. days over the Easter weekend, with two traffic and completed a risk assessment of adverse CNC crossing manufacture is an entirely lanes in each direction along St Kilda Road impacts on tram operations before approving different process and requires detailed track kept open during the next ten days.To facilitate derogation to their design standard. design geometry information to be provided southbound trams terminating and returning A ‘best-fit’ alignment for all track and road to the fabricator. In embracing this new to the city, a temporary tram crossover was gradients, the design solution called for a zero technology, GHD designers worked with the installed north of the works zone. longitudinal gradient co-planar junction. supply chain to provide accurate fabrication Tram services along St Kilda Road, Skillful resolving of the constraints included detail and streamline the process including Park Street and Domain Road were terminated raising road levels on Park Street by 150mm checking and approving manufacturing at locations adjacent to the site of works and and lowering the junction crossings on drawings prior to fabrication to ensure that passengers were routed around the works zone. St Kilda Road by 250mm. Track drainage no errors were made throughout the course For passengers with reduced mobility, grates throughout the junction are connected of the project. a wheelchair-accessible minibus operated to the Park Street storm water system. between the two nearest accessible tram Lowering the St Kilda Road track crossings Construction stops for passengers travelling on St Kilda altered the longitudinal profile of the traffic Construction works were planned during Road services. lanes. Vertical curves were incorporated in a 14-day period coinciding with 2013 the road pavement by localised re-sheeting, Easter weekend and local school holidays. Conclusions minimising the extent of non-conformance, During the seven-week preparatory period, The redevelopment of Domain Interchange providing smooth transitions and disruption to the local community was was a multidisciplinary project with local maintaining the 60kph (37mph) speed limit. minimised by closing the inner two lanes of know-how and international technology St Kilda Road. contributing to the design and construction Switch and crossing units The major works were carried out in two of complex tram tracks and associated Historically, cast manganese switch and stages by Coleman Rail and associated infrastructure. This included accessible crossing units have been installed and sub-contractors (traffic signals, landscaping) tram stops, overhead wiring, road and arc welded to the adjacent plain line rails. in conjunction with Yarra Trams: drainage provisions, traffic engineering However, this type of weld has low durability Full Road Closure: 29 March to 3 April features, traffic signals, public lighting and when combined with flange-running Removal of existing infrastructure and installations, modifications to utility through the crossing area contributes to a installation of new tracks, resurfacing of services and landscaping. relatively high number of broken crossing the road pavement, overhead wiring and The successful construction of this highly welds in the Melbourne Tram network. traffic signals. complex layout in a heavily trafficked and As a new solution, Yarra Trams proposed Partial Road Closure: 3 April to 12 April constrained environment required design the use of CNC-machined switch and crossing Construction of the platforms, overhead precision, superb construction logistics and units imported from the Czech Republic. wiring infrastructure, traffic signals and outstanding communications. By using steel rather than cast manganese, final road surfacing. Yarra Trams procured The project was delivered on time the new CNC technology allows welding by long-lead time items and managed public and to budget and is testament to the the more durable Thermit welding process. relations including media releases and service excellent cooperation and performance by Reducing the incidence of broken welds will disruption signage. all involved.

Melbourne’s Domain Interchange post-rebuild in April 2013; the improved accessibity for both trams and pedestrians is evident

254 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org Paris

SYSTEMS FACTFILE T5 and T7 -

SPECIAL Paris, France Paris Neil Pulling samples the different modes used on the latest openings of lines identified as tramways in the Paris metropolitan area. FRANCE

n 2013 Parisian public sector Aviation the city’s radial heavy rail pattern using the Translohr rubber-tyred operator RATP added two dominates spreading from the many dispersed system rather than a conventional tram-designated lines, T5 and T7’s southern central termini. In concurrent tramway may seem surprising. The T7, to the transport system, surroundings: the development, T5 and T7 both have a first installation (2006) was in the British Airways core of the STIF Île-de-France mainly north-south axis within ticket French city of Clermont-Ferrand, liveried side of regionalI network. Both addressed zones 3 and 4. Both are outside ‘Paris later systems including Padua in preserved Concorde the need for capacity and quality 102 faces Porte de Ville’ boundaries, widely separated Italy and Tianjin in China. The improvements in areas mainly l’Essonne terminus. yet well within the metropolitan area, abandonment by Bombardier of its dependent upon buses. All pictures Neil with T5 north of the Seine and T7 to rival GLT/TVR system as installed – Although Métro extensions have Pulling, March 2014. the south. and prematurely closed, now to be been added, this system remains Their key distinction is being replaced by a conventional steel wheel substantially a concentrated resource different modes, with T5 a ‘tramway on steel rail tramway – in Caen and the for the capital’s centre. By the 1970s sur pneus’ (rubber-tyred tram) guided 2011 announcement ending French the RER cross-city heavy rail system by a single central rail. This is gripped trolleybus production (Irisbus-Alstom including central stations and Métro on both sides by V-inclined flanged Cristalis as used in Lyon) has since done interchanges were connecting metal guide wheels mounted on the little to advance alternatives to trams. the outer suburbs. A comparative frames of each wheelset, which has However, commitment to the late-comer in 1992, light rail was a pair of rubber tyres. The frames Translohr system for Paris – the 6.6km introduced to improve transport also incorporate a projection to eject (4.1-mile) T5 and the more capacious between communes and as feeders to objects that could derail the guides 14km (8.7-mile) T6 in south-west Paris, the network. and a current return path via the rail. due to open in December 2014 – came The new lines differ from the other Given the success of RATP tramways several years prior to these events and modern Paris tramways which take since T1’s 1992 debut, plus T1 and well before the financial problems at largely orbital paths to cut across T5 being such near neighbours, parent company Lohr Industrie.

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THE FLEET

The 2011 order by STIF/RATP for up to 70 trams included the 19-strong T7 launch fleet and future vehicles for line T8 and the T7 expansion. The final one of T7’s initial batch (numbered 701-719) is the 1500th Alstom Citadis; five-section and 32m long, capacity is for 200, 56 seated. Sections immediately either side of the centre have wheelchair points and only three fixed seats, well-suited for airport users with luggage on this line. Conservative amongst Citadis designs, styling and livery for T7 differs from the other bi-directional302 -type in RATP service on T2. Unlike T2’s normal paired formations, T7 runs single vehicles. With a fully low floor except for the driver cabs mounted over the end wheels, T5’s STE3 vehicles with four wheelsets are the shortest version of the bi-directional modular design. From April 2014 in use for driver training, T6 is equipped with the 250-capacity STE6. The RATP STE features tram-like passenger information systems. Next to the Paris-Nord main railway line, T5’s Pierrefitte depot and control centre is on a non-revenue spur east from near Suzanne Valadon stop.

Steel wheel meets rubber tyre: lines T1 and T5 at Marché de Saint-Denis.

STE3 504 crossing the Paris Nord railway line near Joncherolles.

T5 and cycleway to one side of the road near Gare Garges-Sarcelles.

Internal movement on STE vehicles is constrained by the narrow vestibule between sections.

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In June 2012 a buy-out of this taken into account; the 15 Lohr STE3 BELOW: something the layout encourages. company’s ‘tram’ interests by Alstom vehicles (three-section, capacity 127) The former layout Distributing the load once boarded at Gare Garges- (51%) and French Government cost EUR52m. More subjective is the is deterred by very narrow gangways Sarcelles, institutions was concluded. This passenger experience on T5 relative to April 2008. resulting from the wheelsets being ensured equipment supply to the new a contemporary conventional tram. sited below the connections between projects, support for present users and Air conditioning, quiet operation and BOTTOM: vehicle sections. a continuation of industrial activity a bright interior are welcome features. There is potential The T5 expectation was for 30 000 around its factory near Strasbourg in Riding best at speed on the longer for extension passengers being carried daily, a eastern France. The proprietary system straight sections, a hard ride and some to developing target soon exceeded; from 3 March name remains in use – the vehicles lateral jitteriness accompanies other commercial areas 2014, extra STIF funding allowed for are badged as Lohr – although the T5 conditions: it is as well that there is beyond Gare extra services. Garges-Sarcelles. ownership change has brought a new a generous provision of hand-holds. It takes 22 minutes to travel between corporate identity, styled as NewTL. Although only 0.2 metres narrower T5 termini. The line’s northern Outline approval for T5 came than T7’s Alstom-supplied Citadis end – where there is the potential during 2000, with preparatory works 302 and with a double door in each for eastward extension to Dugny-Le from 2008 and opening throughout section, internal circulation on the Bourget – is on the overbridge also on 29 July 2013. Named after nearby STE is appreciably more restricted. containing the SNCF Garges-Sarcelles market halls, southern terminus The open floor space inside the doors station building. Very shabby before Marché de Saint Denis is at right- seems easily compromised if shopping substantial re-modelling of the angles and very close to T1’s stop of and baby buggies are clustered nearby, area, the incorporation of T5 with the same name. Two stops west on T1, the bustling inner suburb of Saint Denis will add the conventional T8 tramway, known in development as ‘Tram Y’ due to its branching layout. Due to open in December 2014, the 8.46km (5.3-mile) T8 will cross T1 very close to Saint Denis station, the area’s other significant transport hub. Stylish bi-directional vehicles, a dedicated concrete ‘track’, raised in places, overhead equipment and substantial tram-like stops make T5 palpably a fixed link. The Translohr system contributes to reaching emission targets and replicates a tramway’s efficient space use for high-capacity vehicles crossing at speed in dedicated rights of way. It offers low-level passenger access with minimal gaps between platform and vehicle. Infrastructure costs were projected as being lower than for a tramway, although vehicles for this proprietary system are comparatively expensive, especially when capacity is

NETWORK FACTS Opened: T5 July 2013; T7 November 2013 T5 distance: 6.6 km (4.1 miles); 16 stops T7 distance: 11.2 km (7 miles); 18 stops Approx. weekday hours, T5 and T7: 05.30-00.30 Main frequency: T5 – 5 minutes; T7 – 6 minutes Gauge: T7 – 1 435 mm (T5 single guide rail) Power: 750V dc overhead supply T5 fleet: 15 x Lohr STE3 (1 depot) T7 fleet: 19 x Alstom Citadis 302 (1 depot) City network: RATP – www.ratp.fr Area network: STIF – www.stif.info

INFORMATION Civic information: www.paris.fr (Greater Paris www.parismetropole.fr) Tourist information: www.parisinfo.com

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A temporary terminus upon southern extension approval, Porte de l’Essonne looking north to Orly.

the new bus interchange matches Wholly in dedicated space but ABOVE RIGHT: overall to Paris Charles de Gaulle, T7 the urban renewal associated with for road intersections, much of T7’s T7 is a neat and uses pre-existing road tunnels below French tramway projects. Inherently a northern end is straight, following convenient addition the runway. Given the very recent compact mode compared to tramways, the D7 / Route Nationale 7 road. for access to Orly addition of the tramway, good access airport. space for T5 has been taken from The depot is on such a section, very has been made from its platforms to pre-existing roads. Exemplified by close to the revenue track just north ABOVE LEFT: Orly South Terminal and the Orlyval locations like Les Flanades shopping of Moulin Vert stop in Vitry-sur-Seine. T7 trams at northern line, here on elevated track and centre, some sections are on very A lift-linked overbridge connects terminus Villejuif – the free link with West Terminal. restricted sites. Otherwise the line Belle Épine stop with the eponymous Louis Aragon on Westwards from the airport site, is between main carriageways shopping centre across the motorway. 5 March 2014. Orlyval has also been the rail link lined with a mix of residential and The larger of two westward deviations with central Paris via Anthony RER commercial properties. The project from the main road takes T7 through station since 1991. It was the second has incorporated cycleways, improved commercial developments in the application of the Matra/Siemens VAL pedestrian circulation, traffic calming Rungis area. This includes the automatic format originally devised and lineside plantings. concentration of wholesale markets for Lille metro. RATP-operated, it falls Line T7 opened on 16 November begun in the 1960s after those outside the main fare structure and 2013 with an expectation of 36 000 activities moved from central Paris, for some journeys, T7 plus Métro or daily passengers. Serving mixed areas later adding light industry and bus now represents better value for and activities in its comparatively office complexes. Winding through Orly users. short length, it takes only 31 minutes Rungis with track in places wholly Only one stop is south of Orly: Porte between termini. When travelling independent of roads, T7 represents a de l’Essonne terminus in Athis-Mons. from central Paris, T7 begins above high-quality transport alternative to Near another big shopping centre Métro line 7’s underground southern car use for commuters. and adjoining a multi-platform bus terminus, Villejuif-Louis Aragon. The tramway has bus interchanges, terminal, the tramway’s approach There is room for holding several Métro to the north and RER line C at is on the airport’s southern fringes trams near the platforms next to a La Fraternelle. To serve Orly, France’s where space is available for further multi-storey car park. busiest domestic airport and second development. A compound next to

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Paul Valéry Lochères T5 T7 Villejuif Les T 5 Louis Aragon Cholettes Les Flanades T 7 Garges Sarcelles

Butte Pinson Lamartine

Jacques Prévert D RER Domaine Chérloux

T

7 Alcide d'Orbigny Mairie de Pierrefitte Pierrefitte-Stains Moulin Vert

5

T Bretagne Suzanne Valadon

Auguste Perret Joncherolles

Petit Porte de Pierrefitte Thiais

La Belle Epine

Guynemer “The T5 expectation was Porte de Rungis T 7 for 30 000 passengers Place de la Logistique Roger Saarinen Sémat being carried daily, a target soon exceeded; Baudelaire from 3 March 2014, extra Robert Schuman Marché St-Denis T 5 STIF funding allowed for extra services.” Rungis La Fraternelle Hélène T 7 Boucher Caroline Aigle

Coeur d'Orly ✈

Orly Ouest Aéroport Orly Sud d'Orly

T

7

T 7 Athis-Mons Porte de l'Essonne Near the gateway to Rungis wholesale markets, tram 719 is also Alstom Citadis 1 500.

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 259 Paris the tracks is home to the preserved development Concorde supersonic passenger airliner F-WTSA (102). Porte de l’Essonne will become a through-stop with the 3.2km (two-mile) extension of the line to Juvisy-sur-Orge. Approved by the STIF Council in October 2013, work should begin in 2015 for a 2018 opening. With a ten-minute transit over the extension, T7 will gain six new stops, a short tunnel section and an RER interchange at the new terminus. Twelve extra trams are expected to be added to handle traffic growth and the extension. In the longer term, T7 would gain interchanges under the Grand Paris Express project for over 150km (over 93 miles) of new automatic metro lines, the first openings expected in 2017.

Line diagrams and maps, including English version: www.ratp.fr Immediately north of Orly Airport, T7 serves the freight zone and a developing commercial district.

A veteran amongst automatic metro installations, Orlyval is both the inter-terminal link and a connection with the Paris transport system.

The park and ride above Métro line 7 Villejuif – Louis Aragon terminus pre-dated T7’s addition.

ESSENTIAL FACTS Local travel: Zone-based tourists and includes sights, the majority on with tickets requiring entry discounts for the Seine’s north (right) validation, some by designated attractions; bank. The Eiffel Tower name/date identification. Mobilis is a transport-only is a notable exception, Except for T3a/T3b, Paris counterpart: one-day near Bir-Hakeim station tramways (including zones 1-4 version costs on elevated Métro line 6, SNCF-operated T4) are EUR11.20. Multi-language usually crowded but good mainly in zones 3 and 4. ticket machines are for sightseeing. ‘Ticket t+’ for single trips excellent, alongside a range Less mobile overviews for up to 1.5 hours cost of very good free RATP of the city from the Eiffel EUR1.70 each or EUR13.70 maps from staffed kiosks. and Montparnasse towers, for ten; transfers are or free from the balcony possible, but check for What is there to see? below Sacre-Coeur limitations. Amongst the world’s basilica in Montmartre ‘Paris Visite’ is promoted most visited tourist cities, and the steps at Grande as the rover ticket for Paris bulges with famous Arche de la Défense. Southbound tram 702 slows to cross the junction for the depot in Vitry-sur-Seine.

260 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org Worldwide Review

ALGERIA Three are being built in Valencia, AL-JAZAER (ALGIERS). and the remainder assembled in The 4.2km (2.6-mile) tramway Brazil. Testing will start in June. IRJ extension from Bord El Kiffan to Kahouat Echergui (Café Chergui) CANADA opened on 16 April. Seven more MONTREAL. New metro trains Alstom Citadis trams have been will enter service this autumn put into service. after infrastructure alterations are Testing is now in progress made to accommodate them. on a further 2.7km (1.7 miles) Journal de Montréal to Dergana, due to open in TORONTO. Launching his October, three months later than campaign for the next mayoral planned. A. Senut elections on 27 October, Mayor Ford revived his pledge to replace AUSTRALIA all trams with buses. CANBERRA. During a trip to The first seven new Bombardier Shanghai, the ACT government low-floor trams will enter service team invited Chinese investors to on route 505 Spadina on 31 August. The first Melbourne W8 tram, 946, at Spring Street. This is a rebuild of an SW6 tram with many technical improvements but a traditional look. M. Rowe become involved in the proposed However, the Presto smartcard light rail project. Canberra Times readers will not be working until has increased from MOP4.2bn from Colombes to Rueil- MELBOURNE. The three- 3 November, raising the potential (EUR0.4bn) to MOP11bn Malmaison-Les Joncheres, which quarters grand union at the for fare evasion for two months. (EUR1bn). Macau Business Daily will bring the length of the whole intersection of Victoria Parade/ Delivery of the new fleet of 204 SHANGHAI. An Environmental line to 33km (20.5 miles) by 2021. Victoria St and Nicholson St was cars will be complete in 2020. Impact Assessment has been Work is in progress on the 4.3km renewed over 17-25 April, resulting Ten more TR metro trains have launched for 28.5km (17.8 miles) (2.7-mile) extension of line T3 in extensive temporary changes to been ordered from Bombardier of street-based tramway in the from Porte de la Chapelle to routes 24, 30, 86 and 96. for the Spadina extension Songjiang district. If approved Porte d’Asnieres, due to open in The Australian Government opening in 2017. There is an open construction should start in December 2017. has promised that if re-elected it day at Russell depot on 24 May, October and finish in 2017. Line T9 has been announced will make all tram travel in the 11.00-16.45. Shanghai Daily as a tramway between Porte de central area and Docklands free The Ontario Government has Choisy and Orly-ville, to open from 1 January 2015, costing said CAD29bn (EUR19bn) will be DENMARK in 2020, while line T10 will link AUD100m (EUR67m) . The State spent on Toronto’s transit system KØBENHAV N. The automated Anthony and Clamart (Place de of Victoria has committed to in 2015-24. The new TTC Chair metro is to be refitted with Garde) via Croix de Berny, also build a commuter rail link to has proposed restoring the bus and platform doors, permitting in 2020. A. Senut Tullamarine Airport, giving a tram cuts made in 2012. D. Drum the too-sensitive infrared TOURS. A motorist was killed 25-minute journey time to the WATERLOO-KITCHENER. obstacle warning system to be on 11 April after colliding with city centre. M. Rowe, J. Chuang The province of Ontario abandoned. At present only the a Citadis tram near Place Jean- NEWCASTLE. The Renewal has contributed CAD300m nine underground stations have Jaurès, derailing the first section Taskforce is backing the Hunter (EUR196m) to the Ion light platform doors. of the tram. The automobile Street alignment for the proposed rail project. E. B. Havens subsequently caught fire. tramway starter line. ABC ETHIOPIA Local media reported the CHILE ADDIS ABABA. Electrification accident was a suicide. Four tram AUSTRIA IQUIQUE. The city was hit by a work on the new 34km (21-mile) passengers and the driver were INNSBRUCK. Bombardier has 8.2-magnitude earthquake on tramway system began on 13 hospitalised for shock and fume upgraded a Flexity tram with LED 1 April, resulting in flooding April after delivery of equipment inhalation. Le Parisien lighting, hoping to save EUR5700 from the related tsunami, and has and materials from the port of VALENCIENNES. In the early annually, while bulbs will last 100 been declared a disaster area. The Djibouti. Eighteen sub stations are morning of 11 April tram 17 times longer than at present. RGI heritage tramway service will not being built, and opening is being suffered a derailment outside WIEN (Vienna). A1 ULF operate until further notice. BBC touted for August 2015. Anzin depot due to a combination 100 entered service in March. VALPARAISO. Alstom has been Ethiosports of excessive speed and a facing Withdrawn were E1 4534/7 and awarded contracts worth EUR70m point moving, splitting the C2 1205/14. to supply and maintain 12 two- FRANCE tram in half. It took 24 hours to car X’trapolis suburban EMUs, BESANÇON. Tracklaying for recover the individual sections BELGIUM including eight to run on the the new tramway was completed and replace 1500m of damaged GHENT. To prepare for ten 42.6m Valparaiso surface metro. Alstom on 31 March. By this time the overhead. G. B. Skelsey Bombardier Flexity trams arriving 14th tram had been delivered by at the end of this year, 43 tram CHINA CAF, named Toussant-Louverture GERMANY platforms along route 1 are being DALIAN. The first of 20 six-car (a hero of Haitian independence BREMEN. Route 4 will be lengthened at a cost of EUR1m. metro trains built by CNR Dalian who died in prison in Pontarlier). extended from Borgfeld to LIEGE. Two consortia have for metro line 2 (due to open by A. Senut Lilienthal from 1 August. DS been shortlisted to build the the end of the year) was unveiled GRENOBLE. Tramline E from DRESDEN. The Loschwitz new tramline. Legiaexpress on 21 April. Eighteen more trains Louise Michel to St-Martin le cable funicular re-opened on 18 includes Vinci, CFE, Bombardier will be delivered to line 1. J IR Vinoux will open on 28 June. April following overhaul work. DS and Meridiam Infrastructure LANZHOU. Construction of the urbanrail.net FRANKFURT-AM-MAIN. Finance; MobiLiege includes 34km (21-mile) metro line started LYON. TCL services were free of The first of 91ET430 four-car EMUs BAM, Alstom, DG Ingra and on 28 March, with completion charge on 13-14 April following for S-Bahn service in the Rhein- STIW Environment. Best and final scheduled for December 2017. RGI the declaration of a smog alert. Main area was displayed to the offers are due in September; 19 MACAU. Although rolling stock It was hoped to open the extension public at Hbf on 11 April. RGI 45m trams will be needed. RGI for the automated light metro will of tramline T3 to Metzieu- HAMBURG. On 9 April plans begin deliveries this summer, the les-Panettes park-and-ride in were announced for a new U-Bahn BRAZIL project is behind schedule, with mid-April. E. Stuart line U5, from Bramfeld in the east SANTOS. The first Vossloh tram passenger service unlikely to PARIS. Consultation has started to Osdorfer Born in the west. Also left Spain for Brazil on 8 April. commence until 2016. The budget for an extension of line T1 to be completed by 2040 will be

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the southern extension of line U4 IRAN Hiroshima low-floor trams need to be completely relaid before to Wilhelmsburg and Kirchdorf, TEHRAN. The 12km (7.5-mile) 1003-5 from Kinki Sharyo/ through operation can resume. and the south-east extension of extension of metro line 3 from Mitsubishi. Likewise, reconstruction of the line U2 to Lohbrugge. BS Azadegan to Vali-e-Asr in the city Osaka (Hankai) second low- east-west line between Chebzie, KARLSRUHE. The first Vossloh centre opened on 22 April. RGI floor tram 1002 from Alna Sharyo. Ruda Południowa and Zaborze (ul. Citylink low-floor tram was Sapporo second low-floor tram Lompy) is proceeding slowly and undergoing dynamic testing in ISLE OF MAN A1202 from Alna Sharyo. much work remains to be done on Spain in April. Six of the 25 on SNAEFELL. Snaefell Mountain TAKAOKA. The JR station has the western section. order are due to arrive in Karlsruhe Railway tram 1 has returned been rebuilt and Manyosen tram Piling works on the underpass this summer (one will come via the to service sporting the blue terminus is now situated under near Chebzie remain to be Wien climate chamber). DS livery applied last year, and cover within the new building. completed, but once overhead MAGDEBURG. On 3 April MVB now offers a recorded on-board Y. Nogi wiring is run and some work at officially rescinded the withdrawal commentary giving historical Ruda Południowa finished, it of its Tatra trams and said two and operational information to NETHERLANDS should be possible for route 18 T6+B6 sets would operate on line 8. passengers at selected points on DEN HAAG. The first of 60 to resume its full operation and Two low-floor articulated cars are the 8km (five-mile) journey. Siemens Avenio trams left the shuttle service 10 to be withdrawn. awaiting a place in the workshop’s A programme of gastronomic factory in Wien on 26 March This section has been rebuilt with repair programme. The Tatras have events at the Summit cafe has been for trial operation at Wegberg- raised platforms at stops on the been running intermittently since organised for the season, following Wildenrath test track. reserved-track portions. In the withdrawal in January. DS their success in previous years. meantime, to increase capacity MÜNCHEN (Munich). Plans to NORWAY between Bytom and Bobrek, route put the first SiemensAvenio into ISRAEL TRONDHEIM. A s t h e 30 (Bytom – Biskupice) has been passenger service on 28 April were TEL AVIV. Cost of the proposed Gråkallbanen tramline marks discontinued and replaced by a postponed as further testing was Red LRT line has increased its 90th anniversary in 2014, full 30-minute all-day service on required. DS from ILS10.7bn (EUR2.23bn) consideration is being given line 18 working Stroszek depot – PLAUEN. The third Bombardier to ILS14.4bn (EUR3bn) – with to how it may be made more Bytom – Bobrek – Biskupice. Flexity low-floor tram, 303, was opening predicted as 2022. Globes accessible by replacing the high- In the central part of the delivered on 27 March. DS floor LHB trams. It is likely that one network, extensive relaying STUTTGART. On 28 April work ITALY of Plauen’s new Bombardier Flexity continues in Chorzów Batory with started along line U12 to extend VENEZIA. At a ceremony on 14 cars will arrive for a period of trials single-track working. East of there, platforms at nine stops to 80m in April Mayor Giorgio Orsoni made and demonstration. Lokaltrafikk a section of track foundations on readiness for the use of three-unit the last weld in the rail for the the reserved-track section in Stadtbahn sets when the line is extension of the Translohr rubber- PANAMA Chorzowska has collapsed, extended to Remseck. DS tyred tramway to Piazzale Roma, PANAMA CITY. The 13.7km resulting in further single-line and a car was then towed to the (8.5-mile) section of north-south working being introduced in early HUNGARY new terminus. The first powered metro line 1 between Albrook and April. On the main line between DEBRECEN. The last four-axle tests are expected in September Los Andes was inaugurated by Katowice and Bytom used by cars articulated Bengali trams were with passenger service from President Martinelli on 5 April. on lines 6 and 19, relaying with withdrawn from regular service January 2015. The Venice Times Construction took 38 months. A single-track working in the vicinity at the beginning of May. DS 2.1km (1.3-mile) extension from of Chorzów stadium continues. JAPAN Los Andes to San Isidro is under Route 33, which used this section INDONESIA FUKUI. Ex-Stuttgart 1965 construction. Alstom has supplied on its itinerary between Chorzów BANDUNG. The Panghegar Esslingen GT4 735 arrived from 19 three-car Metropolis metro (ul. Metalowców) and Słoneczna, Group of Indonesia and China’s Kochi and entered service as a trains to permit a 3.5-minute peak was withdrawn from 14 February; CNMIE have announced details tourist tram on 12 April. The tram headway. Plans for a 24km (15- there is thus currently no regular of a privately-financed 83km has been in Japan since 1990. DS mile) line 2 are likely to be put out use of the curves for west/north (52-mile) five-line monorail. They GENERAL. For financial reasons to tender shortly. IRJ movements installed in recent will break ground in August. J IR Japanese systems usually take years at Katowice Rondo. Within JAKARTA. Tunnelling work for delivery of new trams just before PERU Katowice itself, the main works are the first metro line started on the end of the fiscal year, and 2014 LIMA. The 35-year BOM now concentrated on relaying in 4 April. Completion of the is no exception. Deliveries are: concession for the 27km (16.7- ul. Kosciuszki, again involving 15.7km (9.8-mile) line is expected Hakodate third low-floor car mile), USD6.5bn, east-west metro single-track working on the main in 2018. RGI 9603 from Alna Sharyo. line 2 has been awarded to a line south to Brynów. consortium including Ansaldo From 24 March, a reorganisation STS and AnsaldoBreda. The of services and terminal consortium will put USD1.2bn arrangements resulted from the into the project. There is provision reconstruction of the single-track for an 8km (five-mile) branch to section at the north end of this the airport, as part of what will street and the breaking out of the eventually become line 4. IRJ turning facility at plac K. Miarki. Southbound services to Brynów POLAND were rerouted via yet another KATOWICE. Reconstruction section of temporary single-track work at Chebzie railway bridge working involving northbound was completed in March and lines track in ul. Kochanowskiego, 9, 11 and 17 resumed their full whilst journeys on line 19, itineraries on 15 March. Progress normally terminating at plac on other trackworks, however, has K. Miarki, were rerouted at Katowice slowed. Rynek to plac Wolnosci. Routes 35 Line 7 has not yet been and 36 are also terminating here reinstated through to Bytom temporarily to relieve occupation and because of changes to track of the Brynów section during the separation and geometry on reconstruction works. the reconstructed section, it is In the east of the system, route Recovery of Valenciennes 17 in progress after the derailment on 11 April. probable that the junction at 26 has resumed its through J. Jannick Bytom station bridge will first working to Mysłowice now that

262 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org the viaduct at Niwka has been 6 on 27 April. This tram, built in reconstructed. From 8 March, 2012, ran briefly in Yekaterinburg however, the whole network was as 991. Its initiation was marred by again split into two disconnected a derailment. transphoto.ru sections owing to the progress VOLCHANSK. The tramway of major track reconstruction continues operation but declining works in the Szopienice area. passenger numbers have resulted No tram services are currently in a much-reduced service and working east of Zawodzie, and trams no longer operate during this is expected to be a medium- the main part of the day. Service term service suspension; bus is now hourly, with departures substitution is provided by various from the depot (Yuzhnyi convoluted routes to Mysłowice Posyolok) at 07.03, 08.03 and and also to Milowice (in lieu of 09.03, then 16.03 and hourly to Sosnowiec), to which point line 22.03, returning from Severnyi 15 has been diverted. The far Posyolok 27 minutes later. eastern section of this route to During a visit in January, only Zagorze, closed for long-term KTM-8M car 1 and KTM-19 3 were Historic rolling stock gathers together for Moskva’s 115th anniversary parade. A. reconstruction, has now reopened serviceable, all other cars being Ryabitsev after rebuilding for operation by parked up in semi-derelict state the new low-floor PESA Twist cars, on the depot tracks. M. J. Russell metro station from 31 March. at the end of the year following but the rerouting to Milowice has The ex-Most (Czech Republic) six months’ experience of thwarted this plan as track on the SAUDI ARABIA Tatra T3 has entered service as Kyiv operating the existing line. latter section is not in a suitable MAKKAH (Mecca). Te n 5648. transphoto.ru GLASGOW. While supporting condition for use by such cars. consortia have been shortlisted LVIV. Germany will provide a in principle further work on the It seems unlikely that low-floor to build two metro lines. A final EUR5m grant for the construction development of a tram-train cars will be deployed on line 15 decision on the award of a contract of the extension of tramline 4 to serve Glasgow Airport, the until service between Sosnowiec, is expected in July. IRJ to Sykhiv. kyivpost.com Scottish Government has Szopienice and Katowice can be RIYADH. Metro construction indicated that there is no plan reinstated. M. J. Russell started with a ground-breaking UNITED ARAB EMIRATES to implement it; the proposal ceremony on 3 April. The network DUBAI. The second phase of was prepared by the airport. This RUSSIA of six lines should be completed tramway testing began on 16 also indicated that short-term KRASNOTURINSK. T h e by 2019. RGI April, when trams reached Palm measures to secure improved north-south line from Railway Jumeirah. The final stage was access to the airport could be depot (ZhD Depo) to Bolnichnyi SERBIA planned to start on 14 June. made by buses and the Scottish Gorodok has been closed and most BEOGRAD. 15 out of the 30 new Government was prepared to of the overhead removed. low-floor trams were withdrawn in UNITED KINGDOM support a bus ‘fastlink’ that could The east-west line from BAZ to April after suffering from broken EDINBURGH. Approaching be achieved at low cost, while r. Turya remained in operation bolts, probably caused by poor public operations on 31 May, Transport Scotland works with in January, with only KTM-5 rail conditions. The remainder tram testing was continuing over the airport and the local councils cars serviceable. Basic service is have had a speed restriction a full seven-day-a-week period on the feasibility of a tram-train every 45 minutes with one car; a imposed on curves. InSerbia.info in April. This was accompanied link. However, the Government second appears at weekday peaks by a safety campaign to target is unwilling to announce any to provide a 15/30 or 20/25 minute SINGAPORE both drivers and pedestrians who timeframe or costings. service interval. All Spektr cars MASS RAPID TRANSIT. On ignore the presence of the trams or TramForward, the campaigning appear to be withdrawn and sit 21 April the Land Transport take unnecessary risks. Problems arm of the Light Rail Transit on the depot track. M. J. Russell Authority awarded contracts have also occurred when cars Association, has invited Transport MOSKVA. The 115th anniversary worth SGD1.15bn (EUR0.66bn) have been parked blocking tram Scotland to investigate funding for of tramway operation was marked for stations and signalling on the tracks. Vehicles have had to the scheme as part of its review. on 7 April (its exact date according Thomson and Eastern Region be towed away and a GBP180 To enhance the business case it is to the new Gregorian calendar) metro lines. Three stations on the (EUR219) recovery charge has suggesting that an extension to at Krasnoprersnenskoe depot and Thomson line will be completed been introduced. serve Renfrew would help ensure attended by Mayor Sobyanin, by 2021 by local civil engineering Without any guarantee a more consistent traffic flow. who drove Alstom Citadis contractors, while a GE-led of funding for the proposed LONDON (DOCKLANDS). demonstrator 0201. consortium will supply CBT train extensions to Leith and Granton, Work to complete the new DLR The following day (12 April control, computer interlocking the city council has been forced Pudding Mill Lane station and according to the current calendar) and platform screen doors. RGI to refund some of the planning connect it to the wider network 15 old and new trams were shown gain monies paid by various is nearing completion, following to the public at Chistye Prudy TAIWAN developers. A refund has already an extended suspension of services before a parade through the streets KAOHSIUNG. Tracklaying for been made to Miller Homes, and between Stratford and Bow Church featuring double-deck horse tram the new tramline started on 24 other contributors to the Roseburn from 18-25 April, and then from 35 leading electric trams F 164+ April. The first CAF tram should corridor line (Granton) have been Stratford to Poplar on 25-28 April. trailer 1113, BF 932, KM 2170 with arrive in September. Passenger invited to contact the council. The The Pudding Mill Lane Station bogie trailer 2556, MTV-82 1278, service is set for June 2015 on the council has said that it will revisit project is being undertaken RVZ-6 222, Tatra T2 378, T3 481, T6 initial 8.7km (5.4-mile) section of the Roseburn corridor (Haymarket together with Crossrail, which 7005, T7 0001, KTM-8 1252, KTM- the 22.1km (13.7-mile) line. RGI – Granton) “as soon as economic has caused its location to move. 19 2121, and PESA 0004. The first conditions improve”. The works will help to increase PESA-built low-floor trams should THAILAND Likewise, the extension to Leith passenger capacity by an extra enter service on route 6 in July. BANGKOK. The cabinet has remains in doubt as Transport 1100 people per hour and The city’s oldest tram depot, approved THB17bn (EUR0.4bn) Minister Keith Brown has ruled will give the station the biggest Ulitsa Lesnaya dating from 1874, for completion of the Purple, Blue out any possibility of the capacity on the DLR network. is threatened with demolition for and Green rapid transit lines. RGI city council getting Scottish Crossrail will serve its station redevelopment. N. Semyonov Government cash for the from 2018 and there is expected NIZHNY NOVGOROD. UKRAINE extension. The council has asked to be considerable interchange Uraltransmash 71-409 low-floor KYIV. Tram routes 8, 29 and for a report on feasibility for of passengers between the two car 2016 entered service on route 32 were extended to Lisova this extension to be compiled systems.

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The Passenger Focus tram Nevertheless the city council has survey has shown 92% satisfaction awarded USD249.8m contracts rates. This compares favourably for the 14.9km (nine-mile) LYNX with other recent Passenger Focus Blue line extension project, with surveys, which found that 88% of the aim of carrying passengers bus and 83% of rail passengers in spring 2017. E. B. Havens in the Centro area were satisfied CHATTANOOGA, TN. The city with their journey. council has voted in favour of a WEST YORKSHIRE. The Public USD700 000 feasibility study for Inquiry into the Leeds New a light rail line linking the city Generation Transport (NGT) with the airport, utilising unused trolleybus scheme started on 29 freight tracks. The estimated cost April and should conclude in June. is USD35m. E. B. Havens A number of minor amendments DALLAS, TX. The first test train have been made to the proposals on the Orange line extension to as a result of representations, Dallas-Fort Worth international A sad end for ex-Melbourne W2 553 on the Madison Avenue line in Memphis on the most major being over the airport was operated on 16 7 April – see story, below right. CA compulsory acquisition of land April. Passenger service starts on from the Leeds College of Art. 18 August. E. B. Havens LONDON (UNDERGROUND). had been allowed compensation An amendment has been proposed DENVER, CO. The refurbished Bond Street station, a key West but Tramlink Nottingham that leaves a larger area outside Union Station transport End stop, is to be enlarged to and construction contractors the main entrance, although still interchange was opened on accommodate more shoppers Taylor Woodrow Alstom have smaller than currently exists. 9 May. E. B. Havens and businesses from 2017 as joined Nottinghamshire On 1 April the West Yorkshire HUDSON-BERGEN, NJ. Twelve part of London Underground’s County Council to provide Passenger Transport Executive municipalities are presenting GBP10bn (EUR12bn) programme additional measures. and the West Yorkshire Integrated a united case for the light rail of continuous improvement. It is expected that most of the Transport Authority became line to be extended north to This will allow for the expected work in Beeston and Chilwell will the West Yorkshire Combined Englewood in Bergen County. increase from 155 000 to 225 000 be completed by August. Authority, covering the Bradford, KANSAS CITY, MO. With the daily passengers when Crossrail Overall satisfaction amongst Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds 3.5km (two-mile) starter tramway arrives the following year. NET customers stands at 96%, and Wakefield districts and starting construction, the city The station will gain a new according to the new Passenger the City of York Council area. council has approved plans to ticket hall and a new entrance on Focus survey, well above the The new authority brings together add another 12.5km (7.8 miles), on the north side of Oxford Street industry average of 90%. key powers into a single body. Independence Avenue, Linwood with new lifts – construction Some 98% expressed satisfaction Metro branding is to be retained. Boulevard and Main Street. The of which requires Central line with tram stops and 94% said they Metro has commissioned starter line will cost USD102m. trains not to stop until late June. were satisfied with punctuality. a GBP30 000 (EUR36 400) Herzog Transit has been awarded Jubilee line trains will not stop TYNE & WEAR. Trials have makeover for a Grade 2 listed the USD2.8m/year contract from July until early December started of the ‘pay as you go’ Pop former tram shelter on Halifax to operate the line. E. B. Havens due to escalator relocation. The card, which can be topped up Road in Huddersfield that dates LOS ANGELES, CA. Tracklaying improvements are part of an using cash, credit or debit cards. back to 1896. The shelter has been for the Expo light rail extension overall transport vision for the The current trial will be with a dismantled to allow refurbishment project began on 21 April. The line West End with major expansion limited number of passengers, of the foundations; reassembly should open in December 2016. A also taking place at Tottenham but it is expected that a full launch is expected to take place in June. joint venture of Traylor Bros and Court Road. will take place later in the year. Skanska has been selected to build A GBP330m (EUR401m) The use of smartcards on the USA the 3km (two-mile), USD1.42bn programme will see upgraded Metro system continues to increase ANAHEIM – SANTA ANA, CA. regional connector linking the flooring, walls and ceilings, with 100 000 Pop cards and other Orange County Transportation Blue/Expo and Gold lines. CCTV systems and energy- smartcards (for example English Authority has endorsed the A county judge has rejected efficient lighting installed at 70 National Concessionary Scheme planned modern tramway linking a motion by Beverly Hills High stations over the next seven years. passes) currently in circulation. Angel Stadium, Disneyland School to prevent construction Major stations to be addressed WEST MIDLANDS. C A F and Santa Ana railway station, of the metro extension to include Embankment, Urbos tram 20 was displayed at estimated to cost USD238m, and Westwood under their property. Paddington, Earls Court, South Birmingham’s Snow Hill station partly on former Pacific Electric The USD5.6bn line to the Kensington and Charing Cross. on 5 April. Seven of the eventual right-of-way. E. B. Havens Veterans Administration Hospital Work to improve reliability fleet of 21 are currently undergoing ATLANTA, GA. A new opening is planned to open in 2035. and renew old infrastructure on testing, which is to be followed date for the central are tramway The Angels Flight funicular the Uxbridge branch, which is by a period of driver training circulator has been announced, up Bunker Hill, closed since a served by both the Metropolitan before they enter service between 31 December 2014, although 5 September 2013 derailment, and Piccadilly lines, is to take Snow Hill and Wolverhampton service may well commence will not be allowed to re-open place between 19 July and 10 prior to the line being extended before then. E. B. Havens until a track-adjacent walkway is August when 6km (four miles) of to New Street station next year BUFFALO, NY. Saturday 29 built to permit evacuations. track, points and track drainage and subsequently to Centenary March saw the start of the USD21m Kinki Sharyo has leased two will be replaced under a block Square. Further displays of the project to re-rail Main St light Palmdale buildings from the closure. Trains will be suspended new trams will take place at rail tracks and provide for Los Angeles Board of Airport on the Metropolitan line between Wolverhampton St Georges and the return of motor traffic to Commissioners to provide an Uxbridge and Ruislip, and on Wednesbury depot. the precinct. A single-track assembly plant for 78 + 97 new the Piccadilly line between Work is progressing on laying arrangement is in operation for LRVs. E. B. Havens Uxbridge and Rayners Lane. the on-street tracks for the New six months. E. B. Havens MEMPHIS, TN. Another NOTTINGHAM. Tr a d e r s Street extension, particularly in CHARLOTTE, NC. Mayor Patrick ex-Melbourne tram has been in Beeston, which has been the Snow Hill area and through Cannon resigned in early April destroyed by fire on Madison affected by tram construction Bull Street. A length has also after just four months in office, Ave, this time car 553, which works, will be allowed to apply been laid in Stephenson Street following his arrest by the FBI caught fire early on 7 April. for compensation over loss of outside New Street station, where on corruption charges linked to The previous incident was on earnings. Previously only those a GBP600m (EUR728m) rebuild land deals on property along the 4 November 2013. Service on the within a Financial Assistance Area is due for completion next year. starter tramline. Madison Avenue line has been

264 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org suspended indefinitely pending PROVIDENCE, RI. A n Crich Stand memorial, although line was built to serve the West an inquiry. E. B. Havens application for TIGER federal this is currently closed for repairs. Yorkshire beauty spot. MILWAUKEE, WI. T h e funding of USD29m has been Restoration of Sheffield 510 has Downtown Streetcar project has filed to help meet the cost of a been completed. The tram was to CONTRIBUTORS won a USD3.18m state operating USD114.37m city centre tramway be officially launched at a ‘Best of Worldwide items should be sent to grant; the USD64.6m project is in project. Tax Increment Financing Sheffield’ event that runs 17-23 Worldwide Editor Michael Taplin the engineering study process. bonds would meet 56% of the cost, May. On 17, 18 and 21 May 510 was at Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, The Public Service Commission and state funding the remainder. expected to be in service alongside Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK – has ruled that the city must pay The earliest date the tram could Sheffield horse tram 15. Fax: +44 (0)1983 862810 or for utility relocation, but a legal be running is 2018. E. B. Havens MROZY (PL). The horse tramway e-mail: [email protected]. appeal is planned. E. B. Havens ST LOUIS, MO. Kwame Building season started with operations on UK and Ireland items are NORFOLK, VA. The city of Group has been selected for 6, 13 and 27 April. A new timetable welcomed by the Home News Virginia Beach, which is the a construction management was due to be posted for May. DS Editor, John Symons, 17 target for an extension of the contract on the USD43m Delmar SEATON (UK). Work to reinstate Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Tide light rail line, has received Loop tramway. E. B. Havens the 0.8km/half-mile of ballast Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 0LW, UK. an offer from American Maglev SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Muni). washed away by storms overnight E-mail [email protected] Technology and ACS Industrial New schedules from 14 April on 14 February was completed to Contributors this month Services to pay for a 1.3km (0.8- boosted the frequency on heritage allow the full line to reopen on include Helen Baxter, Richard mile) maglev demonstration line tramline F to a tram every five 29 March. A temporary truncated Buckley and Mike Haddon. between 19th St/Artic Avenue and minutes daily between 11.00 service had been provided in the Acknowledgements are also due the Convention Center. However and 19.00, requiring 24 cars (21 interim. The flood also affected to Arabianbusiness.com, Blackpool the state of Virginia has offered PCCs and three ex-Milano Peter the company’s Riverside Depot. Transport Services, BS Blickpunkt USD155m towards the project to Witts). Additional journeys may SHIPLEY GLEN (UK). The 118- Strassenbahn, Canberra Times, extend The Tide light rail line to be operated by museum trams. year old Shipley Glen Tramway Ethiosports, DS Drehscheibe Virginia Beach, with the proviso SFMTA has budgeted for line on the outskirts of the Saltaire Strassenbahn, Fylde Tramway that maglev technology is not used E (Embarcadero) to be operated World Heritage Site continues Society, Globes, InSerbia.info, IRJ in the seaside resort. E. B. Havens from spring 2015, with weekend to operate with volunteer staff International Railway Journal, PHILADELPHIA, PA (PATCO). service 11.00-19.00. Full-time every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Journal de Montréal, kyivpost.com, A USD7.5m contract has been service would start a year later. Holiday afternoon (12.00-16.30) Lokaltrafikk, Birmingham Mail, awarded for train information Plans to triple the fare on the F line during the summer season, which Cambridge News, Edinburgh Evening displays, and safety cameras in have been abandoned. J. E. Pappas lasts through to Santa Specials in News, Irish Times, Liverpool Sunday stations and car parks. There will be SAVAN NAH, GA. Ex-Melbourne December. Echo, Macau Business Daily, RGI a full-time repair team for elevators W class tram returned from Dating from 1895, it is the Railway Gazette International, and escalators. J. W. Vigrass overhaul on 31 March and was oldest working cable tramway in Shanghai Daily, The Venice Times, PHILADELPHIA, PA (SEPTA). placed on new bogies. It was hoped Great Britain, cliff lifts excepted. transphoto.ru, urbanrail.net and All-night service will be restored to resume the heritage tramway The near 0.4km (0.25-mile) Wolverhampton Express & Star. on the Market Frankford and service in April. E. B. Havens Broad Street lines in June, for the WASHINGTON, DC. A planning first time since 1991. E. B. Havens permit has been issued for a PHOENIX, AZ. Valley Metro is temporary tram storage yard on installing a 780kW solar energy Benning Road NE, next to the plant to provide power for its light site of the permanent depot. Four rail line – 1.19MkW hours will be tracks will be laid within a couple produced annually. of months. A superior court has cleared the The Silver metro line to Dulles funding for the USD112m, 3km Airport is reportedly USD150m (two-mile) light rail extension over budget, but the 18.7km to Gilbert Road in east Mesa (11.6-mile) phase 1b to Wiehle- following a challenge by the owner Reston East should open this of a car sales site. Mesa will issue summer. The remaining 18.5km 2014 bonds known as transit project (11.5 miles) to the airport and advancement notes. E. B. Havens route 772 is due for completion in PORTLAND, OR. TriMet has 2018. E. B. Havens awarded INIT a contract to WINSTON-SALEM, NC. implement smartcard ticketing The city council has endorsed the for its services, using an open tramline proposal between Wake architecture approach. Forest Baptist Medical Ctr and The delay in trucking Gomaco- Martin Luther King Drive/5th built Brill replica trams 511/2 to St St via the Convention Center. Louis is giving TriMet the chance USD1.5m funding is needed for to schedule two more days of engineering studies. E. B. Havens Vintage Trolley operation, on MUSEUM NEWS 25 May and 6 July. The Vintage 4795 trolley runs every 35 minutes CRICH (UK). Blackpool- from 10.30 to 17.00 serving ‘widened’ Balloon 711 arrived at all MAX stops on 5th and 6th the National Tramway Museum Avenues between Union Station in early April for loan; it is to take and Portland State University. part in the celebrations to mark City auditors have criticised the 50 years of operating electric 10am - 5pm 19/20 July Full £7.50 Concessions £6.50 administrative structure of the tramcars at the NTM. Portland Streetcar, and accused The facility to alight from trams Museum of Transport it of awarding contracts without at the Glory Mine terminal was Boyle Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M8 8UW going through a bid process. brought into operation from the They call for greater clarity and opening of the museum for the Free heritage buses serving Victoria Station accountability under a strategic summer season on 29 March. Website: www.tramwayinfo.com facebook.com/tramwayfestival plan. S. J. Morgan, E. B. Havens The stop will give access to the

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 265 Letters

MAILBOX Get your views into print Letters should be clearly typed and preferably not handwritten. [email protected] +44 (0)1733 367615 We reserve the right to shorten contributions for publication.

Developing Dundee: Showing support for a circulator tramway I was interested in seeing the pieces on the proposal for a Dundee Circulator Tramway in past issues of TAUT. “Dundee can grow into an attractive The proposal is certainly very interesting and could serve to ‘tie together’ the various developments in Dundee. Dundee 21st Century city, but it must have has a magnificent setting, with views along the Firth of Tay from the Perthshire mountains in the west to the North Sea the infrastructure to meet the in the east, and it is a great pity that the city’s planners and developers do not make much more of the setting. ‘quality of life’ issues that are so The city already has two notable Universities, and it is also important for today’s professionals.” the birthplace of the Scottish video games industry. Some of the world’s biggest titles, including Grand Theft Auto, started built on the Riverside would give Dundee a real sense of their lives here – if you’re into games, Dundee is the place to ‘place’ and help it to attract – and retain – modern businesses. be. With more than a dozen such companies based in the city, It is my understanding that the idea has not been rejected Dundee continues to support a booming high-tech economy. by the City Council, it has merely received opposition from A state-of-the-art robotic drug treatment lab at the University some Council Officers. This is a pity, but need not mean the of Dundee will help to develop new drugs after a GBP8m end. The Chamber of Commerce seems to be interested and a (approx. EUR9.8m) investment by the Scottish Government. groundswell of public support for such a project could see it On top of this the V&A at Dundee will be an international having the success of the new circulator systems in the USA. centre of design for Scotland, in a stunning new building at the A concerted effort to develop the scheme from a brilliant heart of Dundee's waterfront. Dundee also has a growing tourist idea into a solid proposal, carefully benchmarked against industry and can grow into an attractive 21st Century city, similar schemes elsewhere, would be worthy of support by all but it must have the infrastructure to meet the ‘quality of life’ who believe that small tramways have a significant part to issues that are so important for today’s mobile professionals. play in the regeneration of our cities and all who wish to see A tramway that would link the historic city centre, Dundee prosper in the increasingly-competitive 21st Century. including the part pedestrianised High Street, with the I hope the Chamber of Commerce, local Civic Society, LRTA Universities, the high tech workplaces, the city car parks, and others can work together to see the scheme delivered. Railway and Bus Stations and the new attractions being Robert Davidson, Edinburgh (UK)

Route numbering confusion the line diagrams in the cars and at the Tramway Review correction Recently, whilst visiting Sheffield and stops show the routes unnumbered and in I would like to take this opportunity for Manchester, I have been asked “which various shades of green! incorrectly reporting the death of LRTA number tram takes me to Donetsk Way?”, Eddie Dawes, New Malden (UK) member and Salford tramway expert Ted or “Besses o’ th’ Barn?”. I replied, “Look at Gray in the latest issue of Tramway Review. the front and see if it is going to Halfway,” Chicago ‘L’ safety issues We only found out the happy news or “Bury”. In Sheffield I added, “It will also Setting aside any possible failure of safety once the issue had gone to press, but have a blue square”. systems, and also any unreported relevant readers will be glad to know that Ted is This is frequently met with a fair amount information, words fail me to express my alive and well and indeed responding to of incomprehension, as it must have been astonishment at the working and rest hour correspondence! in London when people were told to catch arrangements stated for Chicago’s Blue line. Richard Buckley, Hon. Editor, Tramway Review a ‘red red red’ for Blackfriars, a ‘red blank I am not familiar with any of the rail red’ for the Borough, or a ‘blank red blank’ operator regulations, but I am familiar Besançon tram fleet for Westminster in the days before route with regulations relating to road vehicle I was in Besançon on Wednesday 2 April numbers were introduced 100 years ago. drivers as I hold current licences for both and found trams on test. I was very curious So, will history repeat itself? I urge LGVs and PCVs, where the subject affects to find that the vehicles bore no obvious British operators to number their routes moving masses up to 44 tonnes and numbers, just names applied in a very as soon as possible. It would simplify probably no more than 80 passengers; both flowing script to each side of the cab ends. travel in Manchester (especially with the figures are often greater in the case of rail. I cannot see how this will enable traffic forthcoming alternative routings through For very good reasons road drivers in incidents to be dealt with, but then again… the city centre), in Sheffield (does the the EU are limited to a daily maximum of Bryan Rayner, by e-mail colour-coding fall foul of the disability eight driving hours, or nine once a week, rules concerning colour blindness?), in subject also to a minimum of eight hours Birmingham (where alternative extensions sleep, plus enforced short rest and meal and routings are now being investigated), breaks. Additionally a full day’s rest once a in Nottingham (where four possible week in principle is also mandatory. routes could be in operation soon), in The hours allowed are based on both Blackpool (where different services to experience in the industries concerned and the North Station will hopefully soon be the insurers, plus a great deal of readily operational), and on the Docklands Light available data relating to the effects of Railway (where the routes taken are quite fatigue and rest patterns on attention, complicated and vary during the day). reaction times, and general health – Even in Croydon, where the routes are incidentally also relevant to car driving. Besançon's appear to have a somewhat anonymous numbered, the cars show the numbers but Eur.Ing.Howard C.Burford, by e-mail identity: beautiful script-work, but no numbers. B. Rayner

266 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org The full list of the year’s meetings and meeting places MEETINGS & EVENTS can also be found at www.lrta.org

MAY 2014 JUNE 2014 (Southwick) 19.40. John Blackwell: Thursday 19. Dartford 19.30. Ann Thursday 29. Manchester Monday 2. Barnstaple. Visit to Nigel Colonel Stephens. the man and his Watkins: Dartford and Gravesend 19.00. Tony Williams: Metrolink Jackson-Stevens garden tramway, light railway (TLRS) tramways. (TLRS) Developments Details from Mark Blackstone – Saturday 14. Sussex, Kent Saturday 21. Taunton 14.00. TBC. Saturday 31. Beeston 14.00. Ken 0117 962 3288 (TLRS) and South East London groups. (TLRS) Grainger: County Donegal Joint Tuesday 3. Southampton 19.30. Afternoon visit to John Buckle's Thursday 26. Metrolink ride. Railway. (TLRS) Members' slides. garden tramway. (TLRS) Meet at St Peter's Square 18.30 for Saturday 31. Garstang 14.00. Saturday 7. Brighton (Southwick) Monday 16. Wickham 19.30. Brian 19.00. Oldham and Rochdale. Model tram workshop session 19.40. Proposed visit to La Coupole Boddy: U-Bahn, S-Bahn and Saturday 28. Beeston 14.00. and running day. (TLRS) and Valée do l'Aa railwa. (TLRS) Strassenbahn, Berlin. (TLRS) Tony Stevenson: Blackpool Saturday 31. Norwich 14.30. Monday 9. Richmond 19.30. Geoff Monday 17. Liverpool 19.30. tramways. (TLRS) Leon Labistour: Budapest and San Tribe: Recent trips and the "Len Hodges Outdoor meeting. Venue tbc. (TLRS) Saturday 28. Garstang 14.00. Francisco. (TLRS) Trophy" model competition (TLRS) Tuesday 17. London 19.00 Nick Geoff Price: G-scale garden tramway Wednesday 11. Brighton Britton: 40 Years of visiting Swiss party in Halton, Lancaster. (TLRS) tramways and light railways SUBSCRIBE NOW! Now in its 77th year, Tramways

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Michael Taplin gives a & Urban Transit is the world’s TRAM-TRAIN: brief overview of the tram-train concept and asks if political www.lrta.org and institutional www.tramnews.net A PROMISE issues form a greater barrier to its further implementation than 2014 N o. 918 leading monthly publication JUNE UNFULFILLED? technical concerns. TRAM-TRAIN: CREATING MULTI-MODAL MODELS dedicated solely to light and urban rail developments. We deliver comprehensive news

The terminus at Lyon St-Paul with a pair of Alstom Citadis Dualis alongside an SNCF DMU. Rhône-Alpes

uring 125 years of electric most lines survive today as rapid transit tramways, the tram as we operations, with some penetration of city from the commercial interests of the operators know it has generally been streets or subways. None of the above models (AVG and DB), and work concentrated on the developed as a vehicle suited legal and technical hurdles to be overcome to and analysis, incisive technology were referred to as tram-trains, though the to alignments on, or based on, permit through operation. cityD streets. Of course there were interurban principle is not dissimilar. On 25 September 1992 dual-voltage (750V lines that ran across country, particularly Germany dc and 15kV ac) light rail vehicles began in North America, where they reached their running between Karlsruhe and Bretten, apogee in 1915, before being decimated by The modern tram-train concept, which saw its inauguration at Karlsruhe in Germany, switching between city tram tracks and DB the inexorable rise in motor vehicles. Some tracks at Grötzingen. Within a year passenger of these originated as steam railroads, and uses a tram-based vehicle capable of operation on both mainline railway tracks numbers were up by 400%, and today the others entered cities on the tracks of urban Karlsruhe model works over nearly 500km tramways or rapid transit lines. and city tram tracks. Track-sharing between Case studies from Germany, France and the UK trams and trains was not unknown before, (310 miles) of track. There are 151 dual- In Europe, particularly Switzerland, voltage cars, 121 from Siemens, and 30 just features and key interviews with such interurbans were called light railways but the railways involved could hardly be Alstom takeover on the horizon? deemed mainline. being delivered by Bombardier (with options (to distinguish them from their mainline for up to 45 more). The tram-train model was cousins), and again running on to city streets Karlsruhe had its own interurban operation, the Albtalbahn, which had track-sharing with truly a success, and good business for the Edinburgh Trams launch date given was, and is, quite common. The former NZH Karlsruhe-based consultants involved. in the Netherlands is another example. Deutsche Bahn (DB) on its northern arm. The possibility of travelling to the city centre Other German examples followed, in Japan, with its plethora of private railway Saarbrücken, Chemnitz, Zwickau, Kassel Elections dampen French tram plans companies, followed the US interurban without a change of vehicle was very attractive ISSN 1460-8324 to passengers. Thanks to the German concept and Nordhausen, though not exact copies. £4.10 pattern, though the boom there coincided Saarbrücken runs 28 Bombardier Flexity Link 06 with the decline in North America, and of the Verkehrsverbund joint tariff area, the financial consequences could be uncoupled dual-voltage cars through the streets and Melbourne then on DB tracks south to Sarreguemines, leading industry figures from Paris T5 & T7 Rebuilding a complex 234 / JUNE 2014 Two very different 9 771460 832036 www.tramnews.net. www.lrta.org forms of light rail tram interchange across the globe each and every month.

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www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 267 Classic Trams 75 YEARS OLD AND STILL TICKING OVER In the first of a two-part series, Herbert Pence examines the early days of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, as it celebrates its 75th anniversary. 1

he year 1939 was not a kind vowed to save it. Of course, college students and laid metals, all in preparation for one for North American never have enough handy money, so the operations. The right-of-way was formerly interurban and streetcar eight set about to raise the USD150 required. that of the Atlantic Shore Line, between lines. The decade-long Great By the time they had done so, the car had Biddeford and Kennebunkport, and initially Depression was having a sinister been sold to a scrapper, who eagerly made members felt that Seashore’s focus should be effect:T low revenues from fewer passengers, the sale to the men. on New England equipment and history. the tentacle-like spread of paved roads, worn The City of Biddeford had an ordinance The change came with the availability infrastructure and rolling stock and the effect (by-law) forbidding out-of-service streetcars of Lehigh Valley Transit car 1030, a 1931 of political decisions, especially those taken in the town. In many locations, old streetcars product of the American Car & Foundry by the United States Congress. When interest were reclaimed for housing with many Co. of Jeffersonville, IN, and originally 55, payments could not be made on company desperate during the Great Depression for a a parlour car of the Indiana Railroad (IR). gilts, their holders forced the businesses into roof over their heads; Biddeford did not wish The IR was an amalgamation of a number administration. Auctions were commonly such people on its census rolls. Decades later of electric lines, cobbled together by the held on the steps of the county courthouse, these cars were acquired by rail museums Chicago rail and electric utility financier, with the winner eager to maximise the and given second lives. Samuel Insull. The LVT acquired 55 to financial potential as soon as practicable. replace a Cincinnati & Lake Erie Railroad This usually took the form of a quick “The local streetcar high-speed car that had burned, held in conversion to motorbuses by the company. high regard due to its history. Now that the Scrap equipment, metals, copper wire, real services could no longer LVT rail service was closed, the car was for estate and anything convertible to cash was sale. In 1951, the New England-only shield used to pay down legal debt and purchase have the security of being for the Seashore collection was breached and new equipment. Without infrastructure, the just three years later the Atlantic Ocean was property tax liabilities plummeted – another part of a larger business.” bridged with the arrival of Blackpool 144, plus. Off to one side of this situation stood proving that when it comes to acquiring the electric rail enthusiasts, impotent as their The new owners of car 31 had to move it exhibits, Seashore is nimble. hobby crumbled. Last trips became the norm out of Biddeford and were able to secure a The museum is proud to claim that it and instead of looking forward to a streetcar plot of land in the nearby seaside town of has the largest collection of Canadian electric ride, these men and women reluctantly paid Kennebunkport. Using their collegiate skills, railway equipment outside that country. their fares to say goodbye to fond electrical the men incorporated The New England The jewel is car 2 from Montreal Tramways, and mechanical friends. Electric Railway Historical Society, Inc. a theatre-ramped seating arrangement In addition, a harsh piece of anti-electric on 5 July 1939 – this makes the NEERHS the vehicle, called A Golden Chariot. Besides railway legislation was passed by the US oldest incorporated museum dedicated to Montreal, equipment comes from Toronto, Congress: the Public Utility Holding Act the preservation and operation of street Oshawa, Cornwall, Quebec City, Edmonton of 1935. This required that electric public railway equipment in the world. In time rapid and Halifax. utilities divest themselves of local transit transit cars were added to the collection, The coast of Maine, in the area south operations; the local streetcar services, which now included motorbuses and trolley of Portland, is an attractive warm-water already under assault from the economy, buses. A new focus emerged, ‘The National destination for visitors from Canada. could no longer have the security of being Collection of American Streetcars’. At the museum, they are pleased to introduce part of a larger business. Sadly, many streetcar Streetcars from all of the large city operations their children to native streetcars or relive lines had created the power companies to in the country were desired. With the their own memories. provide electricity to move their rolling stock eclectic collection growing, the catchphrase An unusual arrangement exists at the so now that their offspring were grown, the became ‘The Museum of Mass Transit’. National Park Service streetcar line in Lowell, Government forced divesture. In many cases, In the state of Ohio, the Lake Shore Electric MA. There Seashore has loaned (and its the power companies stripped all possible Railway was a favorite of Mr. Santarelli. members drive) former New Orleans car 966, assets from the streetcar operations and He proposed the name of The Seashore for operation on NPS metals. It runs with saddled them with liabilities before finally Electric Railway for the new venture, which three NPS streetcars built by GOMACO in cutting the family cord. was adopted and which then morphed into the 1980s. The success of this arrangement One day in May 1939, a group of eight The Seashore Trolley Museum. is leading the City of Lowell towards college-age men from Boston were in the state Suddenly all plans were placed on hold as establishing a vintage streetcar service of Maine to ride existing electric lines. the United States entered the Second World for general public transportation. Their leader was Theodore Santarelli de War and members of the group joined the To be continued… Brasch, a student at Harvard University. Armed Forces and went away to fight. In 1945 They were told that the Biddeford & Saco as the men returned to pick up their lives, Thanks to James Schantz, Chairman; Railroad had ordered J. G. Brill (Philadelphia, war-weary streetcars were being replaced Sally Bates, Executive Director; Randy Leclair PA) buses and was planning to immediately by shiny new buses or modern Presidents and Donald Curry, for assistance in preparing convert the service. One of the vehicles in the Conference Committee (PCC) cars. this article, and to the members who make fleet, car 31, was a Brill bogie open car dating Eager members hoovered up available Seashore possible through their contributions from 1900 and one of their favourites – they streetcars, prepared the right-of-way, of knowledge, money and hard work.

268 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org 1. Freight and express services were the lifeblood of electric railways. Powerful express motors could pull as many as 12 freight cars, substituting for traditional freight motors. Car 300 at Oshawa Railway in Ontario, in 1920.

2. Private cars such as the City of Manchester, 1896, were found on most lines. They were for company management use to inspect improvements and incident sites. They were available for charter, in this car’s case, for USD5 per day in 1900. Under contract, Seashore’s Town House Shops is building a replica for a private Florida house to beach service.

3. 2 Montreal Tramways, Montreal, 1906. Open air cars such as this were popular in Canada, as well as at Seashore. Only thee similar cars operated in the US.

4. An interurban car with 2 the size and weight of a mainline passenger car, 454 Quebec Railway Light and Power Co. car, from 1930, and classmates transported pilgrims to the holy site of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.

5. Rapid transit cars are a strong part of the Seashore collection. They include car 1023 from the Delaware River Joint Commission, Philadelphia. Cars are on the roster from the three Boston rapid transit lines, as well as from New York City, Cleveland and Chicago. 3 4 6. The car that started Seashore: 31, Biddeford and Saco Railroad, Brill, 1900. This is a typical turn of the century (1900) open car as used throughout the US.

7. 0622 and 0623, Boston Blue line rapid transit train, built by Hawker-Siddeley, 1978-80. 190 cars were built to the same design, 70 for the Blue line and 120 for the Orange line. In the rear is the Highwood display barn.

5 6 8. 4175, Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway, nee Bay State Street Railway, Laconia Car Co., 1914 and 2890, Toronto, Peter Witt, Ottawa Car Co., 1923, undergoing restoration in Town House Shops. 4175 represents the largest street railway company in the world when built. 2890 represents the iconic Toronto Transit Commission, North America’s largest traditional street car system.

7 8

www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 269 BOOKSHOP Order online from lrta.info/shop – or by post from: LRTA Publications, 31 Ashton Road, Wokingham RG41 1HL Postage & packing – Any UK address: Add 10% (minimum £2.00, maximum £7.50) All addresses outside UK: Add 20% (minimum £4.00, maximum £15.00)

STILL AVAILABLE PCCs of Western Europe 1950-2010 – The tram that Belgium made

By Geoffrey Skelsey & Yves-Laurent Hansart

These authors are well-known for their previous work on the Brussels and Belgian Coastal tramways. Here they vividly describe the development of the PCC car in post-war Western Europe right through to the demise of this iconic type in recent years. Softback, A4 size, 84 pages, with over 150 black & white and colour photographs. Price: £14.50 – An LRTA publication. Trade rates available to bookshops, libraries and museums. Contact [email protected] for more details.

STILL AVAILABLE Innsbruck’s Alpine Tramways By Ray Deacon

This new book from Innsbruck enthusiast Ray Deacon features all aspects of this fascinating system, where city trams link directly with surrounding upland villages, in particular Fulpmes and Igls. With details of cars present and past, descriptions of routes, depot information and much more. Softback 160 A4 pages, around 300 photos and seven maps, gloss cover. Price £17.50 – An LRTA publication. Trade rates available to bookshops, libraries and museums. Contact [email protected] for more details.

LIJNENSPEL 150 jaar tram in de Haagse regio

Respected Dutch tramway author Maurits van den Toorn has put together this celebration of a century and a half of trams in The Hague, from the first horse-drawn line in the city (and in The Netherlands) to Scheveningen, opened on 23 June 1864, to the modern light rail network of today. The story is set against the background of the socio-economic development of the city and the importance of the public transport system to its residents. Dutch text. 225 x 225 mm hardback; 180 pages, 135 photographs mainly in colour. Published by HTM. Price: £17.0 0

La Belgique au fil du Rail SNCB – SNCV Années 1950-1960 A superb photo album from the camera of Jacques Bazin, who was a passionate follower of the Belgian Railways and Vicinal secondary lines throughout two decades of their operation. The book is roughly one-third heavy rail and two-thirds Vicinal – highly recommended. B4 hardback; 152 pages, 374 black & white photographs (72 SNCB; 302 SNCV) Price: £41.50 SRS Road Rail System International Limited OVERHEAD ELECTRIFICATION

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All McCulloch Rail equipment has been designed and manufactured specifically with the rail industry in mind and can operate without isolation and under ALO conditions. All equipment has full Network Rail approval. ‘NET: A SHINING EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS’ AN INTRODUCTION FROM COUNCILLOR JANE URQUHART It is fitting that this year Nottingham is hosting the 9th Annual UK Light Rail Conference soon after the tenth anniversary of the opening of Line One of Nottingham’s tram system. Both have grown, year on year, to become shining examples of success. Nottingham Express Transit (NET) was, at the time of its opening, one of the largest and most innovative Private Finance Initiative projects in Britain. It has provided some 90 million passenger journeys over the last decade and is received positively by passengers, as highlighted in the recent Passenger Focus Tram Passenger Survey. The widespread economic benefits Street life: Between Lace Market and Old Market Square NET has supported continue to be seen today. Nottingham is now a thriving economic engine and areas to the north “Nottingham is a forward-thinking city... But if the of Nottingham – which suffered much deprivation following the decimation of city is to grow, we must continue to invest.” Nottinghamshire’s mining communities – have been stimulated by new housing and ng2 business park and many other transport growth through the WPL is retail in part because of better transport workplaces, to which around 55 000 evidence of this. But if the city is to grow, links to Nottingham city centre thanks to employees commute, will benefit. we must continue to invest. the tram and the Robin Hood line. In total, over GBP750m (approx. We have worked hard to secure However, NET Line One was never EUR915m) is currently being invested investment to expand our tram network, intended to be built in isolation. into the city’s road, tram and rail redevelop the railway station, provide It was always envisaged as part of a infrastructure. The redevelopment of electric buses and free-to-use cycles, more expansive network. Years of Nottingham’s railway station is almost and to improve our roads. This is all thoughtful planning, political stability, a complete. Its integration with the part of our commitment to laying the can-do attitude and good partnership extended tram network and new facilities foundations for future growth so that working are leading to a transformation for cyclists and motorists transform it the city is well-placed to respond to a of Nottingham, spearheaded by the into a genuine transport ‘hub’. recovering economy, and to create a construction of two more tramlines. The expanded tram network and more prosperous Nottingham for those The network expansion in Nottingham railway station redevelopment wouldn’t who live and work here. is one of the largest rail construction have been possible without Nottingham’s projects in the country, and the biggest Workplace Parking Levy (WPL), the civil engineering project in the East first and only such scheme in the UK Midlands. The addition of two new lines that places a levy on city employers will mean that over 30% of Greater who provide 11 or more parking places. Councillor Nottingham’s population will live within Introducing this required strong leadership Jane Urquhart 800m of a tram stop. Some of the in the face of opposition, but cities don’t Portfolio Holder city’s largest employers, including the benefit without making tough decisions. for Planning and Transport, Queen’s Medical Centre, the University Nottingham is a forward-thinking city. Nottingham of Nottingham’s main campus, the Our innovative approach to funding City Council

WORDS AND IMAGES: Neil Pulling (unless otherwise stated) COMMERCIAL: Andy Adams, Geoff Butler DESIGN: Debbie Nolan PRODUCTION: Lanna Blyth EDITOR: Simon Johnston. With grateful thanks to Councillor Jane Urquhart, Chris Deas and Sarah Alton at Nottingham City Council; Phil Hewitt and Richard Horsley at Tramlink Nottingham; Paul Robinson of Nottingham Trams, Alistair Gordon of Keolis; Pat Armstong. COVER CAPTION: 75 years separate the completion of Nottingham’s Council House and of its tramway.

A special publication from Tramways & Urban Transit © 2014

Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 3 BACKGROUND TO THE TRANSFORMATION

On 9 March 2004, tram 203 formed the The official launch on 8 March was first Nottingham Express Transit (NET) by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and, BOTTOM: Then UK Transport Minister Alistair Darling on launch day, public service. The 05.58 from Phoenix with some irony, Alistair Darling, a 8 March 2004. Nottingham City Council Park was shortly followed by departures Secretary of State for Transport who from the two other termini. Since 2004, presided over several tram project BELOW: Alistair Darling with the about 90 million trips have been made cancellations. The country’s systems each Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Derek Creswell. Nottingham City Council over a largely unchanged infrastructure. took their own often difficult path into It is the shortest of British light rail existence, something contributing to their operations at 14.4km (9 miles), of which many dissimilarities. about 4km (2.5 miles) is on-street. It has, Except for Blackpool, there have however, undergone organisational change been no legacy systems in the UK to and by late 2014 NET will have more than modernise, exemplified by Nottingham’s doubled its length and tram fleet. The way original electric tramway lasting only from it functions will also have altered. 1901 until 1936. Neither has there arisen Indicative of challenges for the UK’s LRT the consensus or the momentum needed industry, upon entering its tenth year, NET to install new systems, as apparent in remained the country’s newest system. France and Spain. The time between construction starting Nottingham is the only modern UK in June 2000 and the 2004 opening closely system not in a metropolitan county, matched a Labour Government policy thereby not having a Passenger Transport shift from support for up to 25 tramways Executive (PTE). Most of NET as opened to dismissing the mode in favour of buses. in 2004 is within the City of Nottingham

4 / 10 YEARS OF NET Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT

boundaries, now a unitary 207 nears the Old Market non-metropolitan district council. Square stop in June 2010. The urban spread includes boroughs within Nottinghamshire’s county administration, the ‘two-tier system.’ This exists in a context of national Government retaining powers over local transport, yet also with independent, competing, bus operators. Such circumstances influenced how NET originated, developed and functions.

ASSETS UNDER THREAT The East Midlands city enjoys recognition out of proportion to being the UK’s ninth most populous continuous urban area with 729 977 residents (2011 census), 305 700 within City Council boundaries. Coal mines remained active around the city’s edge into the 1980s, yet when the ‘Holy Trinity’ employers still British cities, and Nottingham was Nottingham has never been an archetypal held sway, with Raleigh cycles, John Player no exception. industrial city. Much remains to convey tobacco and Boots the Chemist taking With the Victoria and Broadmarsh its long history. Street names like Nottingham’s name around the world. centres, Nottingham was an early adopter Poultry, Beastmarket Hill and Bridlesmith Vigour and income came from a large of shopping malls. Unlike later competitors Gate truthfully suggest the antiquity student presence and being a retail and like Sheffield’s Meadowhall and Leicester’s of a settlement begun on high ground entertainment centre. Fosse Park (both within 65km, 40 north of the Trent’s flood plain, with A regular test cricket venue, Trent miles) that were more accessible by car, Castle Rock a reminder of its strategic Bridge has also spread the city’s name Nottingham’s equivalents were firmly importance and growing as a centre for internationally, as for a briefer period central, reached via off-putting clogged an agricultural hinterland to the east. did football club Nottingham Forest’s roads. The old employment base was also Once large and made complex by two European Cup wins. A strong focal withering, with the remaining coal mines competition, the railway network point, Old Market Square – ‘Slab Square’ scheduled to go. Once employing over contracted as freight and passenger to generations of locals – is overlooked 8000 people, Raleigh’s decline saw 280 demand fell. Passenger traffic is by the classically-styled Council House jobs left when Nottingham production resurgent however, with the main station (city hall) and distinctive Watson ended in 2002. At the end of a long run- (formerly Nottingham Midland) being Fothergill buildings. In spite of its assets, down, final John Player (Imperial Tobacco) an interchange for east-west routes and Nottingham faced growing challenges as closure was announced in April 2014. services to London St Pancras, 202km the 21st Century drew closer. Of symbolic local brands whose (126 miles) to the south. neon-signed pubs once punctuated the The international fame of Nottingham COMPETING WITH THE city, even Home Ales and Shipstone’s and its county rests partly on legend NEIGHBOURS breweries had closed. New employers and literature, with Robin Hood, Byron History and visual appeal – the bringing new types of employment were and D. H. Lawrence amongst such proud latter damaged by fast-ageing 1970 sorely needed; to restructure the local associations. Alan Sillitoe’s novel and the developments – were not enough economy and reverse growing social film Saturday Night and Sunday Morning once out-of-town shopping and leisure problems, there had to be better access portrayed a post-WWII industrial city complexes began draining activity from from outside and within the city.

The viaduct kept NET clear of congestion on Canal Street near Opened in 1900 and closing in 1991, Shipstone’s Star Brewery Broadmarsh bus station. near Wilkinson Street depot is part of Nottingham’s heritage.

Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 5 LINE ONE BEGINNINGS

Nearing the end of the single-track section for northbound trams at Shipstone Street.

A key figure in NET’s history, the extra input as required, was assigned to greatest challenges yet to come and initial Project Director Pat Armstrong the project. about ten years before trams carried says that a modern tramway was first With British light rail history as paying passengers, Pat Armstrong recalls: seriously considered in 1988. It stemmed hindsight, the multi-route vision may “The project enjoyed belief and strong from work done by the city and county seem fanciful, but there was, however, the support, with a very necessary level councils with Nottingham Development drive and continuity needed for handling of patience and fortitude, from board Enterprise (NDE), a private sector body lengthy processes. The councils and members, councillors and senior charged with promoting regeneration. NDE created Greater Nottingham Rapid personnel within NDE and the two Feasibility studies of potential Transit to handle preparatory processes, councils. Close involvement of the private modes and routes indicated a strong including developing the public-private sector provided many benefits along the light rail case, recommending an initial partnership underpinning NET’s delivery. road to successful implementation.” development corridor as a precursor to Royal Assent in July 1994 gave powers NET Project Director, Chris Deas, a prospective six-route network. A core to the promoting councils for building was in the development team. He says team of five or six council officers, with and operating Line One. With the that installing a comprehensive network as one project was not possible, but the Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge is NET’s benefits from the first phase alone would gateway to the new southern lines. be worthwhile: “The impetus to do a ‘Big Bang’ was not there. It was pragmatic to do what we could realistically achieve at the time with the first line, but there was always a network vision. The first line was intended to maximise the drawing power of the city centre.” Of course, business and civic authorities were not allowing decline to go unchallenged: ‘Let’s improve Nottingham – because we’ve got to’, summarised the prevailing mood. Nottingham’s German twin-city Karlsruhe is famed for extending a regional tram-train system from its tramway. Deas says the link has helped NET: “It’s been ongoing co-operation

6 / 10 YEARS OF NET Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT

LEFT: March 2007 at Station Street terminus – Loxley House to the right is now Nottingham City Council’s main premises.

BELOW: The short retained section of GCR viaduct crosses the Nottingham Canal.

The Forest is the largest of the five original tram park-and-ride sites, with 950 spaces.

“To some extent the service was built on park-and rides... to get people out of their cars.” Chris Deas, NET Project Director since early conception. They’ve been would see the tramway reaching the prominent building works evidently engaged with system modelling, operating street level near the former Carrington deterred some users, but by early simulations, design and for general station site, then run west alongside 2014 more spaces overall were taken advice.” It is thus particularly appropriate Forest Recreation Ground. However, up, particularly early in the working day, that the connection enabling NET’s this would only peripherally meet the which suggests rising commuter use. southwards expansion is named the key objective of serving the city’s core. It The original project promoters, Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge. also introduced costly challenges, mainly Nottingham City Council and the vast Victoria Centre, a concentration Nottinghamshire County Council, ‘HOW DO WE GET TO THE of shops, flats, parking and bus station awarded a Private Finance Initiative STATION?’ filling the cutting that once housed (PFI) concession contract to Arrow To bolster the city centre, trams had to Nottingham Victoria station. Light Rail Ltd on 31 March 2000. serve locations with passenger potential Such considerations led to the present Arrow’s 31.5-year contract included Line along a route that was viable to install. route, offering multiple stops and bringing One’s design, construction, financing, From the outset the station was an passenger convenience and the visibility maintenance and operation to agreed essential target. Chris Deas says it was afforded by a street presence. specifications. unthinkable for it not to be included, but Having already worked with the answering ‘How do we get to the station?’ ENTER ARROW LIGHT RAIL development group at their own financial was not straightforward. Nottingham had its first park-and-ride risk, partners in Arrow’s winning bid – The once main route from the station (P&R) site by 1972, with the format identities would change with business along Carrington Street and Lister Gate embraced by NET from the outset. reorganisations – included finance had been blocked by the Broadmarsh Chris Deas: “To some extent the service funds, equipment suppliers Adtranz development and interrupted by Canal was built on park-and-ride facilities – it (Bombardier), constructors Tarmac Street, by then a busy main road. was to get people out of their cars.” (Carillion) and transport group Transdev Clearing both obstructions, the chosen NET’s original operators recorded 20% with the city council-owned bus operator route used the former Great Central of passengers using the 3000 P&R spaces Nottingham City Transport (NCT). Railway (GCR) alignment abandoned in on the five secure sites, free to use for As Nottingham Tram Consortium, 1966. An option was to continue north tramway users. Combining this with other the last two became NET’s operator, through the GCR tunnels to serve the parking, over 30% transferred from cars. bringing some integration with NCT’s shopping district at its eastern edge. This When enlarging Wilkinson Street depot, bus services and cross-mode ticketing.

Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 7 TRAVELLING ON NOTTINGHAM’S LINE ONE

The term ‘Line One’ is not in viaduct had gone, its function replaced system’s biggest park-and-ride site with widespread public use and trams are by steel and concrete structures, skewed 950 spaces – the P&R sites and city centre identified according to their destination. to bring the tramway onto the road on stops are the busiest of the route, with The two regular routes, Station Street rising ground. A projected rebuilding for those out of the city (such as Butlers Hill – Hucknall and Station Street – Phoenix an extended Broadmarsh Centre may see and Cinderhill) being least busy. Unusual Park, share tracks as far north as a stop added near here. in having three platform faces, trams can Highbury Vale junction. Trams skirt the historic Lace Market, a be held at The Forest, as when serving Southern terminus Station Street is district reinvigorated by an influx of small nearby events or during driver training. the most elaborate and only elevated businesses and entertainment venues. Tracks diverge between The Forest and stop on the original system. It combines Continuing in shared road space, a tight Wilkinson Street, running northbound a short GCR viaduct section with modern curve descends towards Old Market along Noel Street, with city-bound services additions including stair and lift access; a Square, rebuilt in 2007. A long climb running to the west along Radford Road double crossover near the side platforms passes Theatre Royal and Nottingham until curving past the Hyson Green Market allow trams to be held over. Until removed Trent University until a crest near High site. Noel Street crossover is a rare for Phase Two works, a footbridge linked School stop, then the line drops towards modification to the original installation, the platform level with Nottingham Forest Recreation Ground, Nottingham’s relaid for noise reduction in this residential station’s pedestrian overbridge. Beyond biggest central park. With inclines in both area. The five stops on the uni-directional the canal crossing, the original railway directions, The Forest stop adjoins the sections have single platforms.

As indicated here in the Lace Market, vehicle access restrictions apply in the central area.

Incentro 202 with a southbound training duty in June 2010 at Noel Street junction, since rebuilt.

Mixed sections of viaduct north of Station Street.

Summer 2008 in Hyson Green Market, with trams an established part of Nottingham life.

8 / 10 YEARS OF NET Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT

PARTNERING THE RAILWAY Wilkinson Street roadside. This applies between Station Street and Highbury Just over 4km (2.5 miles) from Station as far as Hucknall tram terminus, one of Vale with alternate trams giving a Street, Wilkinson Street stop adjoins two stations with both modes. 12-minute frequency for Hucknall and NET’s main compound. Connected by The other is Bulwell, north of which Phoenix Park. First services are from a delta junction, the operational centre are four single-line tram sections with 06.00, the last around 00.30. Sundays have houses maintenance facilities, storage intermediate stops allowing trams shorter hours and a 7-8 minute frequency sidings and the control centre plus an to cross around island platforms. on the core route. The longest journey, adjoining park-and-ride site. In areas north Although Hucknall and Bulwell have Hucknall – Station Street, is scheduled to of Wilkinson Street, trams are cleared long-established central areas, there has take 31 minutes. for the 80km/h (50mph) maximum; here been substantial residential and retail City Council Transport Portfolio the overhead supply uses catenary rather development along this dual rail corridor Holder since 2008 and an enthusiastic than simpler installations seen elsewhere over the last decade. supporter of tramway expansion, that use poles and/or wall fixings. Diverging from the much longer Councillor Jane Urquhart says “One of Like many such projects, Nottingham Hucknall line at Highbury Vale, a 1km the greatest benefits is that it enabled relied upon space previously assigned to (0.6-mile) spur to Phoenix Park terminus us to reshape the city centre, especially railways – about 70% of its length. Less and P&R uses a rebuilt former colliery Old Market Square where it was made usually, the railway here remained open. branch. Highbury Vale is north of the possible to increase pedestrianised space. It is a former freight route that gained junction and has separate island platforms Trams are now the way to get into the passenger services, expanding from 1993 on each line, making David Lane stop heart of the city centre.” to 1998 from Nottingham to Worksop. convenient for changing between Phoenix An ex-Hyson Green resident, With NET and Network Rail having Park and Hucknall line trams. Councillor Urquhart cites the revival of separate infrastructure responsibility, In the final months of purely Line One that area and developments along the trams run alongside ‘Robin Hood Line’ operations, the main Monday-Saturday line’s northern reaches as examples of trains from near where NET leaves the daytime pattern is every six minutes light rail’s regenerative power.

By favouring street-running over re-using the GCR alignment, Nottingham provided better tram access.

NET tracks around Bulwell’s island platform, with the Robin Hood Line and station to the left.

Southbound 205 crosses beyond the Wilkinson Street delta New development around junction to join the single track section on Radford Road. Hucknall station was already evident in this 2010 view.

Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 9 Courtesy of NET Courtesy

10 / 10 YEARS OF NET Tramways & Urban Transit ADVERTORIAL THE ROSEHILL BASEPLATED CROSSING SYSTEM: IDEAL FOR COMPLEX CROSSINGS

Rosehill Rail is the only manufacturer Road crossing installed on the Sheffield of rubber rail crossing systems in the UK Supertram network – the ideal system for road, pedestrian, and depot crossings. and has been supplying panels for city railways and depots for nearly 20 years. The Rosehill Baseplated system is the perfect solution for complex crossovers, turnouts and tight curves, all commonplace in tram and city rail systems and something few other systems can accomplish. Very easy to adapt to individual on-site circumstances, the panels can be precision-cut for use at depots and stops where other rubber and concrete systems are too complex to use. The Baseplated system also helps to reduce traffic noise – especially important in an urban environment. We have a close working relationship with Level Crossing Installations Limited, Used by many tramway networks, the by Network Rail last year) incorporates and their experienced and skilled staff crossings can be supplied in different more diverse mouldings, making them work to high standards, delivering grades depending on their end use. both a physical and visual deterrent for installations and tailored ‘cut-to-fit’ The Rosehill Baseplated crossing system people or animals straying onto the solutions in a professional and safe is also used in depots, at level crossings track or into prohibited areas. manner. and on pedestrian crossings to provide Rosehill traffic calming products safe access to busy city locations. complement our rail crossings and are THE BENEFITS While the Baseplated system is ideal very effective at slowing the speed of Another advantage of Rosehill Baseplated for shorter crossings, we also offer the vehicular traffic in and around depots, panels over other railway crossing Premium Rosehill Rodded system, which distribution centres and terminals. systems is their cost-effectiveness. is especially suitable for long crossings The Rosehill Rail product range is This is primarily due to their reliability and those at an acute angle to the road. well-proven and we are working with and durability under all kinds of load, and Neither of our systems are fixed directly an increasing number of new partners the speed of installation and removal to the sleeper, which means individual around the world to develop new of individual panels for inspection that panels can be removed for inspection or markets. This will not only lead to ensures track maintenance work can maintenance without having to dismantle Rosehill Rail crossings being seen more be carried out without lengthy traffic the entire crossing. widely in use, but it will also help railway interruptions. Both systems are quick and simple administrations and others achieve to install, as demonstrated by the initial savings by introducing more competition installation for the Premium Rodded into the marketplace. system’s Network Rail trial, which can be viewed on the Rosehill website at www.rosehillrail.com where all the timings Future rail exhibitions are logged. where Rosehill Rail Every panel is marked when moulded will be present are: for clear identification with the crossing grade, rail type, sleeper type, fastener and UK Light Rail Conference year of manufacture. This makes it easy (UK) to check on site that the panels meet the InnoTrans (Germany) required specifications. Transport Security Expo (UK) and various others. THE REST OF THE RANGE Rosehill Anti-Trespass panels are another Rosehill Rail looks forward to innovative product, available for over welcoming new and existing Durable and easy to install, Rosehill ten years and becoming increasingly customers to its stand at these products are ideal for tramways and popular worldwide. Three versions are and other major rail events. light rail networks. available; the improved design (approved

Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 11 A PATHFINDER FOR PFI; A NEW ASSET FOR NOTTINGHAM

Original NET Project how much of my professional life it would got your hands dirty in a depot or driven Director Pat Armstrong absorb… I was told: “It will be a high a Duewag GT6 on the Albtalbahn from profile job. You will need a smart office Karlsruhe to Bad Harrenalb). explains the system's because Councillors and other senior development – in his people will be coming to see you”. Then CREATING A CLOSE TEAM the portable buildings arrived in the car Throughout the process, the NET team own words. park, taking up about ten spaces of the has been very small – a core of five or limited office parking area – what was six council officers with input of Although I had no previous light supposed to be a six-month ‘home’ for colleagues from within the wider rail experience, my bosses thought my the team turned out to be three years. responsibilities of the councils, and background in transport economics and But it was an enjoyable start, learning specialist external advisers and urban traffic management meant I had something new every week – chopper consultants with skills appropriate to relevant understanding of likely issues and control, bogie configuration, stray current each stage of development. The ever- potential economic benefits. leakage, pantograph deflection – and also a changing nature of the work has meant The tramway project appealed to me few trips abroad (you can’t talk convincingly many of the team have stayed with as an exciting challenge – little did I know about trams if you haven’t ridden them, the project right through Line One

“The next five years were the most difficult… On many occasions people said we would not succeed.” Pat Armstrong

Station Street in August 2013, with Phase Two works underway.

12 / 10 YEARS OF NET Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT A PATHFINDER FOR PFI; A NEW ASSET FOR NOTTINGHAM

development and the current Phase Two. Nottingham City Council Trackbed laying on I was most fortunate to pull in Chris Goldsmith Street. Deas as my deputy and now, following my retirement in 2012, the NET Project Director. Also, many of our consultant advisers have wanted to retain long-term involvement, giving them an element of ‘ownership’ that ensured very high levels of commitment. The close involvement of the private sector provided many benefits along the road, including a focus for independent comment and advice and a presentational plus for promotion to Government. It also helped gain high levels of support from the local business community

which, together with widespread public Government Reorganisation that saw information and consultation from the Nottingham City becoming a unitary early stages, identified issues and helped council, taking on transportation to create positive public views and responsibility, including the NET team. maintain broad local political support The period also saw the adoption through the lengthy Parliamentary process by Government of the Private Finance and the distractions of Local Government Initiative (PFI), creating substantial Reorganisation in the mid-1990s. additional work to significantly alter The process for obtaining necessary contractual documents and bidding powers and funding commenced with a arrangements. This involved ground- private Bill being set before Parliament breaking process development, closely in November 1991. NET was the last shadowed by HM Treasury officials, keen rail project to pass through Parliament, to see NET as a pathfinder project for before the requirement for a Private Act local government involvement in PFI. was replaced by Orders made under the A, substantially lengthened, procurement Transport & Works Act. After a lengthy competition resulted in the Arrow process the Greater Nottingham Light consortium selected as Preferred Bidder Rapid Transit Act was given Royal Assent in September 1997. However, it wasn’t in 1994. until December 1998 that Government The next five years were perhaps approved the NET Line One project the most difficult, maintaining local under PFI, and it took a further 17 months commitment and enthusiasm while to achieve commercial and financial close. trying to convince successive Transport Ministers (I have lost count of the A CONCESSION UNDER PFI number of changes of Secretaries of State At GBP200m (approx EUR285m), and Ministers of Transport during the life then the largest local authority of the project) of the schemes’ worth. PFI arrangement, the contractual On many occasions during this period arrangements for NET Line One were people said we would not succeed. complex. Contractual complexity was Much time was spent waiting for exacerbated by the number of parties decisions while thinking what more involved: On the Arrow side the project we could do to provide the convincing involved a dozen banks, two third- case and ensure the project structure party equity investors, the four Arrow remained consistent with a rapidly companies as equity investors and in changing finance environment. We also combination as Arrow itself, the turnkey had to deal with the local structural design and construct and the operations changes brought about by Local and maintenance subcontractors.

Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 13 Nottingham City Council The public sector participants included Line One construction outside the City and County Councils as Nottingham Trent University. Promoters and as statutory Highways and Planning Authorities, the Department for Transport and HM Treasury. In addition there were two other local planning authorities as well as third-party interests including Railtrack, the utility companies, HMRI, the Rail Regulator, Train Operating Companies, the Office of Fair Trading, the EU (in respect of ERDF funding) and numerous land interests. At the close there were over 200 agreements, schedules and related documents. Due to a fluctuating interest rate market (subject to major impacts such as the multi-billion pound mobile phone deals then being done), the cost-benefit case had to be continually reviewed right up to financial close and instant decisions were needed from all parties, including HM Treasury officials. contribution of 25% (increased for NET respect within Government departments PHASE TWO to over 30% following the Government’s which helped facilitate the successful While work progressed on building Comprehensive Spending Review in completion of Line One and the the first line, part of the NET team 2010) necessitating the development of development, seemingly against all the commenced the process of feasibility the Workplace Parking Levy (another odds, of Phase Two. and public consultation on options for innovation for the NET team); the Line One has been a substantial further lines. Over the period 2001-4 removal of support from the County success and has introduced a new options were narrowed down to two Council following local elections in 2009 and vital element into the economic routes, south to Clifton and south-west and the change of national Government well-being of Nottingham. Phase Two is to Beeston and Chilwell. in 2010; the international financial crash building on this beneficial effect. I feel The progression of these routes severely impacting on the ability to secure very fortunate and proud to have been through to the current build period bank funding; and the existence of the involved in this endeavour, and for being involved a similarly exhausting process as Line One contract, which included a long responsible for the development of such Line One: obtaining Government support, operating concession for the incumbent a successful team. necessary powers (a Transport & Works which had to be terminated and the My final involvement in Phase Two was Act Order and a large number of private existing consortium compensated. the signing of the contracts and hosting land agreements) and a commercial Looking back, Line One seems a visit by the then-Transport Minister, procurement arrangement. relatively risk free by comparison! Norman Baker, who came to offer his Yet this process was hugely give congratulations on our work – a exacerbated by a combination of factors, A NET SUCCESS fitting finale to my career. including the more complex nature of the NET has received widespread praise, Having retired from the pressure of new lines, involving major new structures receiving numerous awards. The project the work, I am very pleased to view and substantially more highway running team’s thoroughness and flexibility in an construction progress from the sidelines and property acquisition than Line One; ever-changing financial and procurement and look forward to the opening of the the new requirement for a local funding environment has, I believe, ensured strong Phase Two services.

Pat Armstong (centre) was Project Leader of NET for Nottingham City Council from 1988 to 2012 and oversaw the development of Line One and Phase Two. He was recognised for his determined efforts at the 2013 Light Rail Awards with the Lifetime Achievement honour.

14 / 10 YEARS OF NET Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT

ENTER PHASE TWO

Alstom-liveried 211 at Wilkinson in March 2014 with the new machines installed for transition to off-tram ticketing.

One of the two Highbury Vale stops, this one being on the Alstom Appitrack equipment in use in Queen’s Walk for the Phoenix Park branch. Clifton line during August 2013.

By Line One’s opening, expansion into competition for a new approximately Wellglade, parent of local bus company preferences had narrowed to two routes, 22-year contract, but this time with a Trent Barton, with investment bodies 7.5km (4.6 miles) south to Clifton and different outcome. On 29 March 2011 Meridiam Infrastructure and InfraVia. 10km (6.2 miles) south-west beyond the Tramlink Nottingham consortium Beeston. Favourable experiences of the was named preferred bidder, thereby BUILDING ON SUCCESS original PFI led Nottingham City Council, becoming part of NET’s first decade. NET’s first decade has included stages to the sole NET promoter since December Final Government approval and change it from being a largely interurban 2009, to adopt similar arrangements transfer of responsibilities to the new operation, albeit one with crucial for Phase Two. The go-ahead required concessionaire came in December 2011. street coverage at one end. Tramlink that responsibility for its creation and Tramlink Nottingham, which as the Nottingham’s Chief Executive Phil Hewitt operation would be allocated through concession holder carries the revenue is appreciative of the system it is building competitive bids for the concession, a ‘risk’, consists of VINCI (parent of Taylor upon: “Nottingham as a city, as opposed process beginning in September 2009. Woodrow, whose name is prominent), to a PTE, has managed to get a tramline The original concession would be equipment suppliers Alstom, operators in place. It’s been innovative in getting bought out and incumbents Arrow went (as Nottingham Trams) Keolis and funding and has understood managing

Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 15 the risks – and has now done it twice. It is well built – a highly-polished light rail Alistair Gordon, operation that works. It’s a good-looking and reliable system.” CEO, Keolis UK With the two new lines set to greatly increase street running and improve “Looking at the success of passenger access, Hewitt believes NET, it’s easy to see why light “Phase Two turns it into a tramway.” rail is enjoying a resurgence in To help fund its 34% contribution the UK. to Phase Two’s estimated GBP570m cost, plus assisting Nottingham station rebuilding and bus link support, the The new Basford substation was one of “A recent Passenger Focus the Phase Two works that has modified Council deployed Transport Act 2000 Phase 1 infrastructure. study, which found a 96% powers to introduce a Workplace Parking satisfaction rating on the Levy (WPL). This operates as a licensing of Berryman Solicitors, focused on network – and similarly high system for businesses providing 11 or collective identity: “The tram is hugely ratings across other UK tram more workplace spaces, the 2014-15 WPL valuable to help promote Nottingham systems – demonstrates being GBP362 per place. Cllr Urquhart and increase inward investment. You can says: “It was a bold decision to introduce look at the promotional material of any why the networks of many the levy to contribute to the transport large organisation in the city and the European cities have long been infrastructure – we stuck with it because tram appears in it.” the envy of their UK peers. we knew we needed to improve public Professor Clair Chilvers of It’s clear that light rail is transport. Employers are paying it and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust popular with the public. Trams there has been no campaign organised further assessed the community impact: deliver the practical benefits of to resist it. The compliance rate has been “The first tramline has made a significant very high and no penalty notices have difference to people. It has freed up speed and reliability, but also a been issued.” congestion; people can park and get the much more intangible quality There has been opposition voiced tram into town.” as a marker of civic pride. however, as there has been to tramway expansion. Beeston has been a particular THE MOVE TO OFF-TRAM “As an international business, origin for complaint, often regarding the TICKETING we’ve drawn on our own effects of construction on shopping access Tramlink Nottingham’s appointment European roots to deliver and the related compensation scheme. brought changes to fare arrangements. In contrast there has been significant Through the first ten years there was no ongoing improvements for support from the general public, major inspection system except for conductors NET. These have included employers and the business community. (dual trained as drivers) who sold tickets. innovations in the reliability of In the 2009 NET bidders’ brochure, At busy times, especially between each tram, an increase in depot Richard Brackenbury, Managing Partner closely-spaced stops, reaching passengers space and new control systems – resulting in an increase in the number of trams on the system from six to eight per hour. This is continuing into Phase Two where our experience and expertise will help to shape the ongoing development of the network.

“With GBP300m of annual economic benefits forecast as a result of the extensions, NET is working for Nottingham – creating jobs, driving investment and delivering a more integrated city. For this reason, the fundamentals of light rail have maintained a strong pull factor for other local authorities across the UK.” Bringing trams to Old Market Square was a prime objective of NET PhaseLine One. One.

16 / 10 YEARS OF NET Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT

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before they got off was difficult. integration, something manifest in some Phil Hewitt says, “The reality was coming patchy representation of the transport up with an economic, effective system – options, an example being the NCT and conductors are not that.” office by Old Market Square stop not There is no pretence that the alternatives having tram information, although happy are 100% secure, but NET was joining to direct enquirers to NET’s own travel the international – if not British – light centre nearby that opened in July 2013. rail industry standard. Even with dispersed control of the Tickets were increasingly being bought network, Nottingham has emerged as away from the system and would soon one the UK’s least car dependent cities. be sold through newly-installed platform Around the time of the Tramlink handover, machines. A NET revenue team was a ridership dip was partly attributed to introduced from June 2013, now numbering the withdrawal of cross-mode tickets. over 40 and usually operating in pairs. Phil Hewitt explained: “Obviously the Initial low-level checking was followed by figures are disappointing, but they are full sweeps of trams and stops, some with broadly in line with what might have security staff and police involvement. been expected year-on-year as a result Legal weight increased with a by-law of Easyrider, Cityrider and Grouprider enabling issue of Penalty Fare Notices tickets no longer being valid on trams. The NET information centre in King (GBP50, increased for non-compliance). Tightening competition rules meant that Street, opened in July 2013. Those accustomed to European whoever took over the operation of the urban transit would now recognise how network, this type of ticket was going to ticket (www.kangaroo.co.uk) – currently tickets are sold and checked, yet might be withdrawn from the tram.” the second-most popular ticket be surprised by a less than integrated Recognising the influence of fare purchased (30% of sales) – which allows network. An outcome of the UK’s arrangements upon city network unlimited travel on most buses, trams and deregulated public transport scene, patronage, Nottingham is moving towards trains within Greater Nottingham. Nottingham’s principal urban operators stored-value smartcards to promote The most popular ticket option is – NET, NCT and Trent Barton – are in public transport use by making currently the pay on the day single and direct competition for all or part of some multi-operator journeys simpler and day ticket (40%), while concession-holders journeys. There is no mechanism to force cheaper by building upon the Kangaroo make up a quarter of customer trips.

Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 17 Smartcard Ticketing.

Our understanding of public transport helps us to make mobility easy. For the users of our systems as well as for passengers. INIT‘s ITSO smartcard ticketing solution will provide a more efficient service for Nottingham travellers.

0870.8904648 | [email protected] | www.init.co.uk

Tramlink_Nottingham_publication_2014_05.indd 1 08.05.2014 14:22:19

18 / 10 YEARS OF NET Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT THE TRAM FLEET

Wilkinson Street depot within its original compound area.

Formed through mergers, Arrow (64 mixed seats) and have four double- consortium’s Adtranz inherited several leaf and two single-leaf doors per side. tram designs offering low access with A peak vehicle requirement for 13 low-floor space. trams from the 15-strong fleet leaves Ultimately not widely adopted, its little margin. With Phase Two works Eurotram had been a design showpiece taking place during service, as when on the Strasbourg system since 1994. Station Street had only one usable However, the later more conservatively platform, some frequencies were reduced styled Incentro offered speedier access to maintain stock availability. Phil Hewitt and was adopted for Nottingham, says that the Incentros have, “Not been which became one of only two Incentro that heavily worked. They look good operators with the French pioneer of and run well.” Components are bought new tramways, Nantes, which eventually from the original manufacturers or bought 33 Nuremberg-built AT6/5L. re-engineered, increasingly from nearby Also bi-directional with five sections, sources. He believes that operators gain 2.4m-wide but 3.4m shorter and with as much as the suppliers by encouraging detail styling differences, NET’s AT6/5 local expertise in this field. became something of a local product. Final assembly in 2002-03 was at AN EXPANDED DEPOT AND THE Litchurch Lane works in Derby, about ARRIVAL OF A NEW FLEET 24km (15 miles) away from Nottingham. Under a GBP300 000 project delivered By then Bombardier had absorbed at Wilkinson Street, the Incentro fleet Adtranz, thereby joining Arrow. received new LED lights, internal deep Original fittings: an un-refurbished The air-conditioned, 100% low-floor cleaning, new signage and different Incentro interior complete with conductor, a role disappearing in 2014. trams can accommodate around 200 upholstery for some consistency with

Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 19 Paul Robinson, General Manager, Nottingham Trams Ltd “NET has been responsible for its fair share of industry- leading developments, including the use of former-railway alignment and extensive shared-street running. The future for the tram network is extremely healthy and we will be working hard to deliver the world-class service the people of Nottingham deserve.”

“However, the second phase represents a huge transition for the network. The addition of two new lines – and ten million passengers per year – will see the tram fleet double in size, with two new park- and-ride schemes and a new state-of-the-art control centre created. Further down the line some exciting innovations NET’s incoming Citadis. Transformation to time with the Tramlink Nottingham bid in smartcards and off-tram a dominant silver exterior was by Stewart incorporating 22 Type 302 trams. The ticketing will follow. Signs, with vinyl over the original paint first of the 32m vehicles from Barcelona finish. Keeping fleet numbers above cab arrived at the depot in September 2013. sides, those above the end doors and the The external contrast with Incentro is “This all means growth for cab front have gone, the latter space now considerable in body shape, the bigger Nottingham Trams Ltd too. sporting a NET logo. Names are retained. glazed area and livery, with the Citadis We’re looking forward to The first completed was tram 215 in restoring a prominence for green lost creating over 100 new jobs March 2013, with the old livery becoming with the Incentro refurbishment. within NET when we deliver extinct within a year. The Incentro, subject Internally however, Nottingham’s the expanded network, and to a mid-life rebuild around 2017-18, will Citadis approximates to the older operate services in random turn with the trams through upholstery and seat are increasing the size of Citadis. Many advertising schemes have configuration. AlthoughCitadis fleets have our workshop and offices been carried, promoting all manner of been lengthened on some systems to to incorporate new revenue organisations, events and causes. handle increasing demand, this will not protection and customer Alstom’s international Citadis sales happen in Nottingham due to the scale of service departments.” success extended to the UK for the first infrastructure modification required. Courtesy of NET Courtesy

Nottingham City Councillor Jane The only other Incentro operator is TAN: Continuing the existing number series, Urquhart with Paul Robinson and 364 of the longer AT6/5L type on Nantes’ Alstom Citadis 216 and later deliveries the first reliveried Incentro tram Quai de la Fosse in December 2008. at Wilkinson Street in March 2014.

20 / 10 YEARS OF NET Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT

What's in a name? A durable piece of public relations was tram naming (for more details see www.thetram.net/tram-names), with local communities involved in the process. Names have Nottingham or Nottinghamshire associations, a mixture of the famous and/or locally The locally-renowned and internationally-famed are respected, living or dead, with some commemorated on Nottingham’s voted for in local media campaigns: fleet of trams.

Fleet number Name 201 Torvill and Dean – Former British ice dancers and European, Olympic and World champions. 202 D. H. Lawrence – (1885-1930). Novelist, poet, playwright and essayist. 203 William ‘Bendigo’ Thompson – 19th Century bare-knuckle national boxing champion. 204 Erica Beardsmore – Hyson Green-based supporter of Nottingham In Bloom. 205 Lord Byron – (1788-1824). English poet and leading figure in the Romantic movement. The NET control room at Wilkinson Street. 206 Angela Alcock – Nottingham charitable worker who has raised countless funds for Oxfam. 207 Mavis Worthington – Local charity volunteer with family support charity Home-Start. 208 Dinah Minton – Co-founder of Headway, a leading UK brain injury support charity. 209 Sid Standard – Beeston bike shop owner and President of the Beeston Road Club. 210 Sir Jesse Boot – (1850-1931). Son of John Boot, founder of Boots the Chemist, who transformed the firm into a national brand. 211 Robin Hood – Legendary outlaw and heroic figure. 212 William Booth – (1829- 1912). Methodist preacher and founder of the Salvation Army. 213 Mary Potter – (1847-1913). Founder of the Little Company of Mary, a Roman Catholic organisation dedicated to caring for the suffering, the sick and the dying. 214 Dennis McCarthy MBE – (1933-96). Radio presenter and personality, broadcasting on BBC Radio Nottingham for almost 30 years. 215 Brian Clough – (1935-2004). Footballer, football manager and winner of two European Cup titles Refurbished tram 205 on the wired with Nottingham Forest. track inside Wilkinson Street depot.

Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 21 THE NET WIDENS NET has received widespread industry praise, winning many awards and with its users registering high satisfaction ratings. ‘Winter 2014’ is the target for opening the expanded tramway with 28 new stops accommodating up to 23 million passengers a year. From Station Street a new structure will give access to its replacement, the new Nottingham Station stop on the Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge. Beyond here NET’s two new lines will extend from a The prospective viaduct site of a new stop to serve Broadmarsh Centre redevelopment. junction in the Meadows district. NET will soon put 30% of the Greater Nottingham population and 20 of its 30 NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT – QUICK FACTS largest employers within 800m of a tram Public opening: Promoters from Operator December stop. With two new P&R sites, NET-based 9 March 2004 December 2009: 2011 - date: parking spaces will rise to 5400. The Length: 14.4km (9 miles) Nottingham City Council Nottingham Trams Ltd Beeston line alone will serve two of the Lines: 1 (two routes) (www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk) (Keolis and Wellglade) biggest regional employers, the University Gauge: 1435 mm Concessionaire Fleet: 15 Bombardier of Nottingham and the Queen’s Medical Power: 750 V d.c. 2000-11: Incentro AT6/5; ordered, Centre. With a high residential coverage, overhead supply Arrow Light Rail Ltd deliveries from the Clifton line adds an important high Line One cost: Concessionaire: September 2013, capacity link over the River Trent. GBP200m 2011-date: Tramlink 22 Alstom Citadis 302 Centre for Business and Economics Phase Two cost: Nottingham Ltd (www. NET information: GBP570m tramlinknottingham.co.uk) www.thetram.net Research findings suggest that the Original promoters: Operator 2000 - Greater Nottingham combined phases should generate Nottingham City Council December 2011: transport long-term employment growth of up and Nottinghamshire Nottingham Tram information: to 8000 jobs. The increased service and County Consortium The Big Wheel its outcomes will be part of NET’s (Transdev and NCT) (www.thebigwheel.org.uk) second decade.

The Forest hosts old and new Incentro liveries in August 2013.

22 / 10 YEARS OF NET Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT

CONGRATULATIONS TO NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT ON 10 SUCCESSFUL YEARS! For the last ten years, Bircham Dyson Bell’s specialist government and infrastructure practice has helped Nottingham City Council with the authorisation and implementation of the NET system. Our work has involved advising on the legal aspects of scheme initiation, development, consultation, planning and authorisation and, following authorisation, on aspects of funding, land acquisition and implementation as well as a range of related public law issues. We also designed and promoted the Council’s innovative Workplace Parking Levy to help fund the NET Phase Two extensions to Chilwell and Clifton. We continue to act for the Council on NET Phase Two, and have very much enjoyed working with them over the past ten years. We look forward to sharing with the City Council the challenges and successes of the future!

Contact Nicholas Evans, Partner E [email protected] T +44 (0)20 7783 3416 Bircham Dyson Bell LLP 50 Broadway London SW1H 0BL www.bdb-law.co.uk

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Tramways & Urban Transit 10 YEARS OF NET / 23 Congratulations to NET on 10 years of outstanding transport service

Keolis is the world’s leading tram operator, carrying more than 470 million passengers every year on light-rail networks across the world.

As both a founding partner of the Nottingham Tramlink consortium and the network’s operator, we’ve helped to make NET one of the most advanced and popular light-rail schemes in the UK, with a customer satisfaction rating of 96 per cent*.

By continuing to draw on best practice from across our international operations and working closely with our partners, we’re looking forward to delivering a better, more integrated NET and another decade of innovation.

www.keolis.co.uk

*Passenger Focus 2014

Kelois-FINA-Advert-NET-200x287-1a.indd 1 22/04/2014 13:53