THE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE HEADLINES l Royal opening for Casablanca tramway

l DART becomes USA’s biggest LRT system

l Edinburgh - full speed tests begin

TOURS DE FORCE: NEW LRT SYSTEMS FOR 2013 Hong Kong’s changing transit landscape

Salt Lake City Liberec ’s key player The dual-gauge in the modern network with renaissance high ambitions

of US light rail for the future FEBRUARY 2013 No. 902 WWW . LRTA . ORG l WWW . TRAMNEWS . NET £3.80

TAUT_1302_Cover.indd 1 03/01/2013 13:54 AD URBAN.pdf 2 27/06/12 11:18

C

M

Y

CM With the merger of three of their companies, CAF Group MY has multiplied resources in a single company: CY CAF Power & Automation.

CMY CAF Group promoted the merger of three of its companies (Traintic, Trainelec and DTQ4) K to form a single company: CAF Power & Automation. A new company dedicated to the design and production of onboard power units as well as control and communication systems for any type of rolling stock.

CAF Power & Automation is an evolution in the solution suppliers market for the international rail sector, providing its own technology and human team, which is both adaptable and highly qualified.

60th UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition

# 21 Congress sessions and 10 Regional workshops # 15 Expo forums to share product development information # Platform for innovations, networking, business opportunities # Multi-modal Exhibition, 30,000m² # Over 150 speakers from 30+ countries # A special Swiss Day! www.uitpgeneva2013.org

Organiser Local host Supporters Under the patronage of

42_TAUT1302_layoutpage.indd 1 19/12/2012 10:45 Contents The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association 44 News 44 FEBRUARY 2013 Vol. 76 No. 902 Royal opening for Casablanca’s tramway; Paris opens T3a and www.tramnews.net T3b; Sydney approves second city line; Moscow tramway plans; EDITORIAL Dallas extends LRT to 137km; Edinburgh ‘full speed’ testing. Editor: Simon Johnston Tel: +44 (0)1832 281131 E-mail: [email protected] 48 Dispelling the myth of UK tramway costs Eaglethorpe Barns, Warmington, Peterborough PE8 6TJ, UK. Figures presented to the UKTram Light Rail Summit suggest Associate Editor: Tony Streeter that UK tramways are NOT the most expensive in the world. E-mail: [email protected] 50 is on the right TRAX Worldwide Editor: Michael Taplin 54 Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. Utah’s state capital has opened a new TRAX light rail line, E-mail: [email protected] extended its second and has a streetcar line under construction. News Editor: John Symons 54 Hong Kong: It pays to look forward 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. E-mail: [email protected] Changes over the last 30 years have made LRT the framework of urban transport in this bustling city. Neil Pulling reports. Senior Contributor: Neil Pulling Worldwide Contributors: Aare Olander, Nikolai 59 Systems Factfile: Liberec Semyonov, Sergei Tarkhov (CIS), Mike Russell, Norman Bartlett, This northern Bohemian town with a rich history is also a Thomas Wagner, Pedro Costa, Richard Felski, Jordi Ibanez (Europe), Yoshiri fascinating study in dual-gauge tramway operation. 65 Nogi (Japan), Anthony Bailey, Ian Hammond, Paul Nicholson (Australia), Vic Simons, Charles Lietwiler, Steve Morgan, Tom Swinney (US). 65 New tramways for 2013 Production Executive: Carla Corrado A strong focus on delayed projects in is a feature of Tel: +44 (0)1832 281134 E-mail: [email protected] this year’s review of likely tramway openings. Design: Debbie Nolan 70 Worldwide Review Commercial Manager: Vicky Binley Hangzhou metro operation has begun; Paris Metro Tel: +44 (0)1832 281132 E-mail: [email protected] extended; Mumbai monorail tested; first rail laid for Portland Advertising Manager: Andy Adams T3 70 Tel: +44 (0)1832 281135 E-mail: [email protected] – Milwaukie LRT; Praha marks 50 years of the Tatra . Eaglethorpe Barns, Warmington, Peterborough PE8 6TJ, UK. 74 Letters Publisher: Howard Johnston Why grass track is good for the environment and PR; and Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the LRTA and LRTA more on the repeal of the UK’s 1870 Tramways Act. Publishing on the third Friday of each month preceding the cover date. 76 Classic Trams: Budapest 125th anniversary LRTA Website and Diary: Brian Lomas E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Budapest is a significant Continental tramway pioneer – and celebrated its ‘125th’ in style. LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up members of the Light Rail Transit Association. You are welcome to join the LRTA. SUBSCRIPTIONS: LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), Why comparing costs is a futile exercise 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. SIMON JOHNSTON, EDITOR BACK ISSUES: Tel: +44 (0)1406 373070 PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION: Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. Welcome to 2013 and a Happy New by Paul Grifftiths of the UK’s West LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE: c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, Year from all the team at TAUT – and Midlands Passenger Transport Executive Kent DA16 2BY. Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 what a year it promises to be. (Centro) tell a different story. in England and Wales. In our annual round-up of the new A quick look at the tables of data on LRTA Chairman: Andrew Braddock. LRTA Deputy Chairman: Vic Simons systems opening over the next 12 months page 48 show that it is very difficult to LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE: c/o 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU. Private Limited Company, No. we see the focus has shifted from draw broad comparisons between system 06169422 in England and Wales. to Spain, although many of these systems costs in France and the US and the UK as © LRTA Publishing 2013. are delayed due to the ongoing serious there are so many variables involved in Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also later be used ripples being felt from the financial crisis the construction of each system. on our websites or other media. A contribution is accepted on the basis that of 2008 that are still severely affecting The adoption and repurposing of its author is responsible for the opinions expressed in it, and such opinions public finance five years on. existing railway alignments and rights are not those of LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form The global climate is still challenging to of way, the need for utility relocation, by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording say the least and TAUT Publisher Howard tunnelling or viaduct construction and or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior Johnston reports again in this issue from complex street layouts formed over permission in writing from the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. the UKTram Summit, this time on the hundreds (or even thousands) of years subject of LRT project funding for the UK. all affect the turnout costs and many

With the new tramways examined UK systems actually appear to offer

THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE HEADLINES l Royal opening for in this issue falling roughly between remarkably good value for money. Casablanca tramway

l DART becomes USA’s biggest LRT system l Edinburgh Trams - GBP15-35m/km (commercial Even the ‘expensive’ additions such as full speed tests begin confidentiality makes it difficult to obtain the in-tunnel Bank extension to London’s exact costings for such complex and – covered in Tours’ stylish reflective time-consuming projects), it is now more detail in last month’s 25th anniversary Citadis trams on test in relevant than ever that we look at costs. special issue – can be seen as good late 2012. Read more There is often a claim levelled against value at almost GBP180m/km when you TOURS DE FORCE: NEW LRT SYSTEMS FOR 2013 about this new French UK schemes that they are more expensive understand the additional connectivity Hong Kong’s changing transit landscape Salt Lake City Liberec system and the others than similar projects developed in other that it has brought to this most crucial of Utah’s key player The dual-gauge in the modern network with renaissance high ambitions of US light rail for the future FEBRUARY planned to open in 2013 2013 No. 902 nations, but the actual figures revealed London’s transport systems. WWW . LRTA . ORG l WWW . TRAMNEWS . NET £3.80

TAUT_1302_Cover.indd 1 03/01/2013 13:54 from page 65. Alstom

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 43

43_TAUT1302_Contents v2.indd 1 04/01/2013 15:07 News CASABLANCA’S ROYAL OPENING FOLLOWING three years of construction, Casablanca’s 31km Morocco’s largest city, with a population approaching three million, (19.3-mile) tramway was opened in a ceremony by King Mohammed the city on the Atlantic Coast planned its tramway in 2006, with royal VI on 12 December. approval given in October 2008 and an estimated cost of MAD6.4bn (approx. EUR570m). A consortium of Systra and CID Engineering was appointed as project managers in June 2009 with Yapi Merkezi award- ed the main tracklaying, platform and depot contract in 2010. Construction of the Y-shaped system with 48 stops began in 2009. It runs from the Olympic stadium in the north-eastern suburb of Sidi Moumen through the city centre, serving hospitals, the railway station, the airport and the Sidi Maarouf industrial district before reaching its western terminus at Ain Diab and a southern terminus at the university in the south-west. Tramway development company Casa Transports selected Alstom to supply 74 Citadis trams under a MAD2.7bn (EUR120m) contract that also includes 15 years maintenance. The trams will run as back-to-back 65m sets, matching the rolling stock supplied to Morocco’s first new tramway in Rabat-Salé. In November Alstom was awarded a further two contracts, worth EUR11m, for the power supply network and the signalling. The EUR70m five-year contract for operation and maintenance of the line was awarded to an RATP Dev-led consortium in July 2012. Some 250 000 passengers/day are expected to be carried when the line is in full operation, with service from 05.00 to 01.00. Other guests at the ceremonial opening included Casablanca Mayor Mohamed Sajid, Managing Director of Casa Transports Youssef A standard back-to-back Citadis 302 formation at Abdelmoumen on 13 December, Draiss, RATP Chairman Pierre Mongin and Alstom Chairman & CEO the first day of passenger service on Casablanca’s new tramway. Neil Pulling Patrick Kron. Rideau Transit Sydney LRT to become a network

preferred bidder RELEASING its transport masterplan on 13 Decem- Circular Royal Botanic ber, New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell re- Gardens in Ottawa vealed its plans for a new AUD1.6bn (EUR1.25bn), Quay 12km (7.5-mile) light rail line for Sydney. Stage 2 THE Rideau Transit Group has The new line will have two branches serving the Town Hyde Kings Cross been named preferred bidder to University of NSW (one to Randwick Racecourse), Hall Park build and operate the 12.5km running via Surrey Hills to Central Station to join (7.7-mile) first phase of Ottawa’s the existing line, which is itself being extended at Darlinghurst Edgecliff planned LRT line for 15 years both ends. The University service will run to Circu- Central under a CAD2.13bn (EUR1.6bn) lar Quay via George Street. Paddington fixed-price contract. Plans for a tramway through the city centre along Moore Park Construction work should be George St have been endorsed by a city-led forum SCG completed by October 2017, with that also rejected the concept of an underground bus- Surry Hills and the line opening in May 2018. way proposed in the State Infrastructure Strategy. SFS Demonstration runs may be pos- In the Central Business District, about 40% of Waterloo Centennial sible on Canada Day, 1 July 2017. George Street, between Bathurst and Hunter streets, Stage 1 Park The consortium includes ACS will be open only to pedestrians and trams. Zetland Infrastructure, SNC-Lavalin, Premier O’Farrell said: “This is a once-in-a-gen- Green Square TAFE UNSW Veolia Transportation, Ellis Don eration project to revitalise the centre of Sydney... Kensington Corporation, Thurber Engineer- by offering a fast, attractive option. Randwick Randwick ing, BBB Architects and Alstom. “Over the next four years AUD25bn will be spent Racecourse The selection of the Alstom on transport in this city. Under the balanced an- Citadis low-floor tram marks the nouncement we are making today, 56% will be spent NIDA UNSW first time the platform will be on public transport and 44% will be spent on roads. Rosebury used on a North American light That’s because we understand the need to do both.” Kingsford Prince of Wales rail system. Construction will begin in 2014 and is expected to Hospital The unsuccessful consortia begin on the eastern section from Central Station to were led by Bouygues Traveaux Randwick, although the whole line will open at the Above: The plans for Sydney’s second light rail line. Publics and Vinci Concessions. same time in 2020-21. The new line will be able to carry up to 9000 passengers/hour in each direction. low-floor trams to the manufacturer, which would . The local authority in Vélez-Málaga, Spain, is in in turn make them available as part of its ten tram Innsbruck opens negotiations with CAF to lease its three mothballed commitment to the Sydney extension project. Höttinger Au extension Testing on Innsbruck’s tramway extension to Zaragoza extends wire-free into historic centre Höttinger Au began on 28 November, and crew training THURSDAY 20 December saw into the historic city has seen a 50 000 passengers/day, with a started on 3 December prior line 1 of the Zaragoza tramway further addition to Spain’s long- further doubling expected with to inauguration of passenger extended by 844m from Plaza est section of wire-free tramway. the opening of the final section services on 14 December. de España to César Augusto and The extension is expected to to Parque Goya, now expected to Plaza del Pilar. The extension increase weekday ridership to enter service in April 2013.

44 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

44-47_TAUT1302_News.indd 1 04/01/2013 15:09 PARIS ENDS 2012 WITH ANOTHER EXTENSION A MONTH after the opening of extensions ro stations, with RER lines C and E and a of Paris tramlines 1 and 2, added total of 43 city and suburban bus routes. 14.5km (9 miles) and 26 stops on 15 De- In contrast to the mainly prosperous areas cember – exactly six years after the first served by line 3’s southern arc, much of section opened. Four weeks marche à blanc the extension serves districts undergoing on 3b and two weeks on the 3a addition redevelopment. RATP expects 165 000 preceded the public opening. Now totalling passengers daily on the extension, with a 22.4km (14 miles), the orbital route largely total 300 000 for the combined line 3a/3b. follows the Boulevards des Maréchaux ring Peak frequency will be four minutes. Above: Citadis 337 leaves Boulevard Soult for the 3a of avenues just inside the city boundaries Joining the original Lucotte facil- Porte de Vincennes stop; connecting track between 3a and and has been split into two operations. ity which will remain for 3a, a new de- 3b can be seen to the left. With the EUR651.9m project, Paris pot operations and maintenance centre Below: Porte de la Chapelle, due to be line 3b’s northern transport operator RATP chose to create 3a has been added for 3b at the Stade Jules terminus until late 2017. Both: Neil Pulling (from original terminus Pont du Garigli- Ladoumègue site at Porte de Pantin. The ano to Porte de Vincennes) and 3b (Porte sports complex is one of many properties de Vincennes to Porte de la Chapelle) to being redeveloped in connection with the provide better operational control. The transport changes. break point is at Porte de Vincennes where Line 3’s Alstom Citadis 402 fleet has pairs of platforms for each line are either been increased to meet the extra de- side of the Cours de Vincennes road. A mand. Two in the EUR86.1m order for 25 connecting pedestrian subway also gives remained due for delivery when the access to the Metro line 1 station. Non- extension opened. Line 3’s orbital progress revenue track connects the two lines just will continue with 3b extending west to east of the Porte de Vincennes platforms. Porte d’Asnières, with an extra 4.3km (2.7 Crossing many existing radial links, the miles) and eight new stations expected to extension provides interchange at 11 Met- open in December 2017.

Boston Green line Moscow tramway work begins A ground-breaking event for expansion plans Boston’s Green line extension ON 26 November Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobya- from Lechmere to Somerville nin used the occasion of a visit to a tramway recon- and Medford took place on struction site in the eastern suburbs to make clear 11 December. Service is not the city council’s intention to expand the network. expected before 2018; 24 “We do not plan to close tramways”, said Mayor new LRVs will be purchased. Sobyanin, “on the contrary, we are continuing work to make Moscow trams more comfortable and quicker”. Tucson chooses operator New tracks will be separated from traffic and The City of Tucson the commercial speed increase from 13km/h to 23- Department of Transportation 24km/h; 600 000 passengers use trams every day. has chosen RATP Dev Moskva KT3R 2300 at Bauman depot about to run on McDonald Transit to operate In 2012 61.7km (38.3 miles) of track was renewed, route 17, was built in 2007 from two ex-Praha Tatra trams and in 2013 this will be upped to 71.4km (44.3 and maintain its 6.2km (3.8- (6532+6686) with a low-floor centre section by Pars Nova. mile) Sun Link Streetcar line, miles), with 55km (34.1 miles) following in 2014. Moscow’s new trams, will be 100% low floor. Guaglione On 21 December the city selected a Uralvagonza- now 60% complete, under vod/Bombardier consortium for the supply of 120 The contract is for three-section air-conditioned a three-year contract worth low-floor trams for RUR8.46bn (EUR210.7m), nar- cars between 25 and 30m long, with capacity for 175 USD2.5m. The only other bid rowly beating a bid of RUR8.5bn from the Trans- to 255 passengers and a maximum speed of 75km/h came from Veolia. mashholding/Alstom joint-venture. Both fell below (47mph). The vehicles will also be equipped with a the city’s estimate of RUR9bn (EUR224.2m). GLONASS satellite-based location system. Bombardier’s second Other shortlisted suppliers included Sinara/Ural- Four prototypes are to be ready in the first quarter Chinese joint venture vagonmash, Ust-Katav and CAF, while Koncar and of 2014, with 70 cars to be delivered by the end of In a further move to cement PESA reportedly failed to submit a final bid. the year and the remaining 50 before the end of 2015. its influence in the Chinese market, Bombardier Transportation announced on 7 December that it will set up US transit year-on-year ridership rises again a metro vehicle maintenance A TOTAL of 7.9 billion trips were taken on US pub- of 28 systems reporting increases. Memphis was up joint venture with lic transport in the first three quarters of 2012, an 33.7%, Salt Lake City 19.7% and Los Angeles 13.7%. Shentong Metro Group. increase of 2.6% on the equivalent period in 2011. Heavy rail patronage grew by 3.6%, commuter Shentong Bombardier Light rail saw the largest increase, 4.2%, with 22 rail patronage by 2.4%, and bus ridership by 1.8%. (Shanghai) Rail Transit Vehicle Maintenance Company will offer technical and Odense LRT project appoints technical consultants maintenance consultancy to metro and light rail operators SYSTRA has been appointed the city centre and the Odense (ODH) in Svendborg, and the across – 36 Chinese technical consultant to the 14km Banegård railway station. University of Southern . cities will have metros in (8.7-mile) LRT system for the It will also link to the devel- A second phase will run from operation by 2020, with Danish city of Odense to im- oping areas in the south, includ- Vollsmose via Vesterbro and on another 13 planned. prove connections between ing the new University Hospital to the Odense Zoo.

www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 45

44-47_TAUT1302_News.indd 2 04/01/2013 15:11 News DALLAS EXTENDS LIGHT RAIL TO 137KM MONDAY 3 December saw the opening of two more segments of light rail in the Texan city of Dallas. The Blue line was extended east from Garland to Rowlett, 7.2km (4.4 miles) built at a cost of USD360m, completing the North East corridor. The Orange line was extended north-west by 6.9km (4.2 miles) to Belt Line Rd in Irving, on the edge of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The USD1.3bn project to take light rail a further 8.4km (5.2 miles) into the airport should be completed in December 2014. These extensions bring the system to 137km (85 miles), making it the largest in the US. In late 2016 DART plans to extend the Blue line south from Ledbetter to the campus of the University of North Texas. Design work on the Oak Cliff Streetcar project has proposed catenary-free operation over 1.6km (0.9 miles) of the 2.6km (1.6-mile) line, including the historic Houston St viaduct. The Brookville 71% low-floor Liberty trams on order will be equipped for battery operation. The opening DART train to Rowlett was provided by Kinki Sharyo LRV 242. DART

Santos trams Track deliveries and ticketing to be supplied contracts for Nottingham extensions DELIVERIES of track for the Nottingham Express for both the existing line and the proposed exten- by Vossloh Transit Phase Two extensions have begun at the sions. This will result in a shift from payment or Wilkinson Street depot site and were expected to checking on the tram by conductors to payment by THE Trenvia Santos consortium last around six weeks, with possible disruption to cash or debit/credit cards and touch in/out on tram of Trans Sistemas de Trans- the access arrangements of the adjoining park-and- stop platforms, as in Croydon. portes and Vossloh España has ride site. Foundations ready to receive track have The contract for 118 TVMs, 204 station- been selected by operator EBTU been laid at a number of locations. ary platform validators and 50 handheld devices to supply 22 light rail cars for However, shopkeepers and the local Broxtowe has been placed with the Nottingham-based UK the future 11.2km (6.9-mile) Member of Parliament have made representations subsidiary of INIT. The system will be compat- SIM network from Barrreiros about the length of time roads in Beeston will be ible with the INIT installation on Wellglade Group to Porto, in a contract worth closed during track construction and concessions buses in Nottingham (that company is part of the BRR284.3m (EUR 104.5m). were made in December and over the Christmas Tramlink consortium), and will see the introduction The new trams, 100% low- period when works were halted in commercial of the Mango smartcard on trams. floor 44m Tramlink cars, will areas and on some roads that had been subject to . The UK’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch is be delivered in 2014-15. Unsuc- lane restrictions. investigating the death of a 13-year old girl in an cessful bidders were Alstom, A major order for new ticketing equipment has accident involving a tram at a surface crossing close CAF and PESA. The BRR800m also been made by the Tramlink consortium to cater to Bestwood Village in Hucknall on 28 November. (approx EUR297m) Santos light The crossing is on part of the line where tram and rail project was approved in Sep- railway lines run in parallel and the accident oc- tember 2010 and should carry 70 curred just four years after a woman and her grand- million passengers/year. son were killed by a train at the same location. Santos operated a tramway In late December it was announced that UK rail system from 1909 to 1971 us- operator Network Rail and Tramlink Nottingham are ing cars built by Hurst Nelson to construct a footbridge at the site, with Network in Scotland. A heritage tramway Rail saying the project is to move ahead “at speed”. service using restored car 46 (lat- er joined by cars 32 and 40 and Left: Viaduct construction underway just south of trailer 01) was opened in 1984. Nottingham railway station on 23 November 2012. When completed, the structure will connect with the bridge to be placed over the station, then take the tramway over Queen’s Road before descending to street level at Arkwright Street. This view is looking north from Waterway Street. Mike Haddon Dijon’s second route completes tramway openings DIJON’S second tram route jon are shared with the 8.5km the most ambitious forecasts of entered service on 8 Decem- (5.3-mile) line T1 which opened the Greater Dijon Authority. Above: The Santos heritage tramway ber 2012, running for 11.5km on 1 September. Two extra cars are to be de- with open trailer 01 and Hurst Nelson (7.15 miles) from Valmy in the Operated by Keolis, T1 has ployed to reduce peak headways car 40, built in Motherwell, Scotland, north to Chenôve Centre in the carried an average of 36 000 pas- on T1, while T2 services now in 1911. Modern trams will soon also south and serving a total of 21 sengers/day during its first two also serve the busiest section be- run in Santos’ streets. G. Krasnikov stops. Three stops in central Di- months, over 16% higher than tween Gare and République.

46 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

44-47_TAUT1302_News.indd 3 04/01/2013 15:13 LONDON COMMITS TO TUBE Bombardier to close Aachen plant Bombardier has announced AND TRAMLINK UPGRADES that its rolling stock facility in Aachen, , will THE Autumn Statement by the UK Government in- between Croydon and Wimbledon; platform close in mid-2013, once an cluded a GBP1bn (approx. EUR1.24bn) borrowing improvements at Wimbledon. order for DB S-Bahn trains is guarantee to allow Transport for London to extend l New trains for ’s Piccadilly, complete; 600 workers are London Underground’s Northern line from Ken- Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & City and employed there. nington to the major development site at Battersea. District lines. The works was acquired Plans include two new Underground stations at l Updating Piccadilly line signalling. when Bombardier purchased Battersea and Nine Elms on what would be a 3km l Continuing the phased improvement of LU’s Talbot in 1995. Many (two-mile) extension (TAUT 901). Northern line, with another 28 stations to be employees were cross- This proposal is related to the latest scheme to de- made accessible by the end of the decade. border commuters from the velop the former Battersea Power Station site. This l Double-tracking the Docklands Light Railway , and a lot of the has lain semi-derelict for many years after ceasing between Stratford and Bow Church. output was to meet NS orders. power generation in the early 1980s, but is pre- l Further development of proposals for Tramlink served as a site of specific cultural and architectural extensions, including looking at how these might CAF SPICE certification significance and is strategically located, although it be funded. CAF Power & Automation has poor transport accessibility. With funding from the UK Government secure has received ISO/IEC Also in December, TfL’s board considered a draft only until the 2014-15 financial year, the new 15504 certification business plan containing a range of new transport ten-year Business Plan will seek to grow the use of based on the ISO/IEC initiatives. These include: public transport in the country’s capital to argue the 12207:2008 Processes l Acquisition of four new trams for London case for a steady stream of funding over the whole Model, corresponding Tramlink and double-tracking key sections plan period. to maturity level 2, also known as “Software Process Improvement and Capability Irish Cabinet approves Luas BXD line Determination (SPICE)”. This certificate provides IRELAND’S Cabinet has ap- Capital Investment 2012-2016 struction costs and to revised pop- an international model proved the EUR370m Luas plan, which gave priority to Luas ulation and employment predic- for the improvement and BXD project – the link between BXD in accordance with policies tions. Current projections indicate evaluation of development the Red and Green lines across to rebalance transport policy in Luas will carry 30m passengers and maintenance processes central Dublin and the onward favour of public transport. this year, increasing to 40m on for information systems and extension to Broombridge. As well as connecting the Red opening of the Broombridge line. software products. Pre-construction works are ex- and Green lines, the new 5.6km In further news, Alstom has With this new certification, pected to start in May, subject to (3.48-mile) line will integrate been awarded two maintenance CAF Power & Automation has the completion of procurement with rail services on the May- contract extensions by the RPA, implemented a quality system and contractual arrangements by nooth and Dunboyne lines as well for infrastructure and the Green on three levels: certification the National Transport Author- as the proposed cross-city Quality line’s Citadis trams. The two as a company – ISO/IEC ity and the Railway Procurement Bus Corridors. Construction of a contracts are worth a combined 15504 (SPICE) based on Agency (RPA). The main con- new bridge over the River Liffey EUR53m and run to 2019. the ISO/IEC 12207:2008 struction period is expected to is underway to carry the south- The company is working with Processes Model at level begin in 2015 with completion bound Luas track from Marlbor- energy services provider Dalkia 2; personal certifications by late 2017. The project is like- ough Street to Hawkins Street. on the infrastructure contract. awarded to engineers, ly to generate up to 800 jobs dur- The project’s updated business Alstom has supplied a total according to the IEC 61508 ing the construction phase, with case takes account of the condi- of 66 Citadis trams for Dublin. functional safety standard; a further 60 permanent jobs. tions attached to the Railway Beginning in 2007, the company and certifications for functional Funding has been included in Order granted recently by An extended 26 of the original trams safety projects by external the government’s capital alloca- Bord Pleanála (the Irish Planning from 30m to 40m with the addi- independent certification tions under the Infrastructure and Board), changes to land and con- tion of an extra 10m car. bodies (TÜV – Rheinland).

Kaohsiung LRT to Metrolink TMS open in 2015 Edinburgh ‘full speed’ testing The first conventional dispute in court surface light rail system in TEST operation on the extended tramline from Gogar Depot towards Taiwan, serving the port the airport in Edinburgh started as expected at the end of November A UK court has ordered that city of Kaohsiung, is now when the overhead lines were energised. Thales releases documentation scheduled for completion in Tram commissioning and full speed testing began in December with relating to an ongoing dispute be- 2015 after the NTD16.54bn the intention that this section of line would be handed over to City tween it and Transport for Great- (EUR434.7m) project was of Edinburgh Council in March. Maximum operational speeds of the er Manchester over Metrolink’s further underwritten by the seven-section, bi-directional CAF trams are 70km/h (43mph). new Tram Operating System. government, which will At the same time Princes Street in the city centre re-opened to buses, Adjudication is still underway now grant NTD6.36bn taxis and bicycles following completion of the remedial works to the over the new signalling system, (EUR167m) towards the tracks in that street. All other major utility works on the shortened line with Thales seeking an extension project. were also completed by the end of November. for implementation and an addi- The first stage of the Meanwhile, the city approved the “last significant contract” for the tional GBP42.3m (EUR52.2m). standard-gauge line will tram project in mid-December, for the provision and maintenance TfGM Metrolink Director be 8.7km (5.4 miles) from of the network’s ticket machines. The contract has been awarded to Philip Purdy said “We are work- Qianzhen to Xiziwan MRT Parkeon and has a capital cost of almost approx GBP1.2m with an ing with Thales on a daily ba- station, featuring catenary- annual maintenance charge of GBP186 247 for five years. Parkeon sis... and it is important that we free technology. A further currently provides ticketing services for Lothian Buses. have all the facts in front of us.” 13.5km (8.3 miles) will open The final tram from the initial order, number 269, was delivered to As TAUT went to press, Thales in 2019. the Gogar depot on 24 December. was unavailable for comment.

www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 47

44-47_TAUT1302_News.indd 4 04/01/2013 15:20 News Analysis DISPELLING THE MYTH OF THE UK’S ‘EXPENSIVE’ TRAMWAYS REPORT BY HOWARD JOHNSTON

K tramways are NOT the most In his latest report to UKTram, Paul old railway alignments, and Public Private expensive in the world to build, and Griffiths, Midland Metro’s Programme Partnership projects push up the bills because a preliminary study of the numbers Director, points out that Denmark, France private sector financers build in risk factors. Ufrom UKTram proves this. Its report was and Germany have all run up higher bills Phase 1 of Manchester Metrolink, the presented to the latest UK Light Rail Summit, for recent new tramways, and that the UK conversion of two former railway routes, cost held in Birmingham in November. construction industry is also more efficient. GBP7.3m/km back in 1992 despite a major What is clear, however, is that UK Over the last 25 years, London’s DLR city centre crossing in its 31.2km (19.4-mile) Transport Minister Norman Baker’s civil has shown how costs can vary according the length, and the Phase 2 extension in 2000 servants may never get the precise answer project. Adjusted for inflation, it is interesting cost GBP26m/km to complete because of the they have long sought as there are so many to learn that it cost just GBP12.5m/km to large number of new structures to Salford variables in how much a tramway costs. open the first 13km (eight-mile) section Quays, and over the Manchester Ship Canal. The problems associated with not knowing back in 1987, whereas the short 1.6km London (Croydon) Tramlink, built to whether how much – indeed any – new (one-mile) extension to Bank completed just similar rules, was also a bargain GBP9.2/km. investment will be forthcoming over the next four years later cost GBP284.4m because It is acknowledged that commercial decade were highlighted in last month’s issue of the extensive tunneling required. Street confidentiality hampers the release of useful of Tramways & Urban Transit. running is more expensive than taking over data that would make figures more reliable.TA UT

FRENCH SCHEME COSTS TABLE 1: INTERNATIONAL

Length Cost Cost Length Cost Cost CONSTRUCTION COSTS (km) GBPm GBP/km (km) GBPm GBP/km COMPARISON

Bordeaux 1 (‘03) 22.2 513.2 23.1 Nantes 2 (‘94) 13.9 272.3 19.6 Lowest % Highest % Bordeaux 2 (‘06) 18.6 361.2 19.4 Nice (‘06) 8.5 232.2 27.3 Australia 95 131 Grenoble 3 (‘06) 15.2 308.7 20.3 Orleans (‘00) 17.9 279.6 15.6 China 37 52

Le Mans (‘06) 15.4 232 15.1 Paris (‘02) 3 78.7 26.2 Denmark 119 172 France 92 134 Lyon (‘00) 18.7 343.2 18.4 St Etienne (‘05) 8 121.7 15.2 Germany 82 131 Marseille (‘06) 16 331.1 20.7 Strasbourg (‘94) 12.6 283.1 22.5 60 78 Montpellier (‘00) 19 376.3 19.8 Strasbourg 2 (‘06) 13.5 345.7 25.6 78 123 Montpellier 1 (‘00) 15.2 322.1 21.2 Toulon (‘09) 18.3 400 21.9 49 70 Montpellier 2 (‘06) 19.8 364.7 18.4 Valenciennes (‘06) 9.4 215.5 22.9 UK 84 116 Mulhouse (‘05) 19 301.6 15.9 AVERAGE 19.5 USA 68 108

l In France, the sometimes seemingly low price of tramway construction is because most systems do not include the movement of utilities as they are the responsibility of the authority. Civic pride enhancements and wire-free systems often additionally push up the cost, and there is no guarantee that all capital cost savings will lead to long-term operational savings. Similar issues with incomparable variables are seen in US systems, as shown in the table below.. US SCHEME COSTS

Date Length Cost Cost Date Length Cost Cost (km) GBPm GBP/km (km) GBPm GBP/km

Denver Southwest Corridor 1999 13.7 175 12.8 Portland Streetcar Lowell 2007 0.6 9.9 15.3

Hiawatha, Minneapolis 2002 18.7 580.5 31 Sacramento Folsom 2002 20.8 231.6 11.1

Pittsburgh Stage 2 2003 8.7 319 36.7 Sacramento South 2002 10.1 193.2 19.1

Portland Interstate MAX 2002 9.3 296.3 31.9 Salt Lake North South 1998 24.3 300.4 12.4

Portland Westside / Hillsboro 1996 28.5 1035.4 36.3 San Diego Mission Valley 2003 8.9 416.4 46.8

Portland Streetcar 1 & 2 2001 3.9 52.3 13.6 Southern New Jersey 2002 45 603.1 13.4

Portland Streetcar River Place 2005 1 11.9 12.4 VTA Tasman West 1999 12.1 355.4 29.4

Portland Streetcar Gibbs 2006 1 11.3 11.7 AVERAGE 15.9

48 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

48_TAUT1302_Tram Summit v2.indd 1 19/12/2012 10:49 Advertorial

Fund for the enhancement of competition in the French public transport sector: Operators bidding for certain urban transport contracts in France over the 2012-2016 period should be entitled, under certain conditions, to the compensation of all or part of their bidding costs

n the context of the French Competition to contribute to the payment of all or part of number of bidders and enhance competition Authority’s decision no. 10-DCC-198 of outside consulting costs) between them). 30 December 2010, a fund has been put . To contribute to the compensation, by the The above mentioned fund relates to the Iin place to enhance competition in the urban PTAs concerned, of bidding costs incurred by contracts which will be put to tender between transport services sector, with a view: players challenging the incumbent operator 2012 and 2016 for the operation of 44 urban To finance consulting services purchased by (grant of lump sums to the PTAs concerned transport networks, which are currently public. transport authorities (“PTA”) concerned, in order to contribute to the compensation by operated by VEOLIA TRANSDEV and/or its so as to strengthen the role of such PTAs in the such PTAs of all or part of the bidding costs affiliates/subsidiaries. effectiveness of the tender procedures (grant incurred by unsuccessful bidders other than For 2012 and 2014, the contracts of lump sums to the PTAs concerned in order the incumbent operator, so as to increase the concerned are listed below:

URBAN TRANSPORT NETWORK DATE OF EXPIRY OF CURRENT CONTRACT Dunkerque 31/12/2012 Vitrolles Étang de Berre 31/12/2012 Saint-Brieuc 31/12/2012 Roanne 31/12/2012 Bar-le-Duc 31/12/2012 Autun 31/12/2012 Sablé 31/12/2012 Chinon 31/12/2012 Pont-Audemer 31/12/2012 Menton 31/03/2013 Compiègne 13/07/2013 Vendôme 31/08/2013 Laon 31/12/2013 Villeneuve sur Lot 31/12/2013 La Ciotat 31/07/2014 Arcachon 28/02/2014 Louviers 31/08/2014 Saint-Avold 31/08/2014 Annonay 31/08/2014 Chartres 31/12/2014

The detailed description of the fund is attached to For further information, the operators Mr Gilles Panetto / Mme Iris Dahan the decision of the French Competition Authority interested may contact the relevant 01 58 19 30 42 / 01 58 19 46 37 no. 10-DCC-198 of 30 December 2010 relating PTAs or the Manager in charge of [email protected] / [email protected] to the setting-up of a joint venture between the operation of the fund, under the Veolia Environnement and Caisse des Dépôts et supervision of the Trustee appointed Natixis Consignations, available on the Authority’s website: 40 Avenue des Terroirs de France 75012 Paris by the French Competition Authority: http://www.autoritedelaconcurrence.fr/user/avisdec. php?numero=10-DCC-198

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2012 49

p49_TAUT_Feb13_Nataxis Advertorial.indd 1 17/12/2012 15:59 Salt Lake City Salt Lake City is on the right TRAX Salt Lake City has recently opened a new TRAX light rail line, extended a second and completed its 145km (90-mile) commuter rail line, with more on the way…

alt Lake City is the capital and principal city in the US REPORT AND The emergence of TRAX state of Utah; located in the centre of a long flat valley IMAGES BY In 1995 the go-ahead was given, using federal support, to it is a major crossing for important east-west and VIC SIMONS construct the first light rail line from Sandy to central Salt north-southS routes for both road and rail. The city proper Lake terminating at what is now Arena station. has a population of almost 200 000, but the light rail system Named TRAX (Transit Express), the first standard-gauge covers an area that serves approximately 1.5 million. line opened in 1999; with the city winning the bid to host the The valley is bounded by the Wasatch Range (foothills of came the impetus to build the second, the Rockies) to the east, the Traverse Ridge to the south, the the University line, heading east from the city and terminating Oquirrh Range in the west and by the Great Salt Lake to the at the Rice Eccles stadium. In 2003 this was further extended northwest. Although in a flat valley, the city sits more than to its current eastern terminus at the University Medical 1300m (4200 feet) above sea level. Center. The extension provides spectacular views across the Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by Brigham Young valley as the terminus lies in the foothills of the Wasatch of the Church of the Latter Day Saints after having Range. Further stations were added in 2005 and 2006. migrated west to escape persecution. Despite the migration, In 2008 the downtown terminus was extended to the there were still disputes with the US Government and it Intermodal Hub to provide interchange with the main city was not until 1896 that these were resolved and the State of bus and long-distance coach station and AMTRAK, and Utah established with Salt Lake City as its capital. timed to coincide with the opening of the northern portion Electric traction first came to the city in 1891, (the of the FrontRunner commuter rail line. original horse tramway was established in 1872) and after Meanwhile, September 2007 saw a major milestone some mergers these operations grew into the Utah Light & with agreement reached with the Federal Transit Authority Traction Company (UL&T). Establishing a comprehensive (FTA) in approving the ‘Frontlines 2015’ project. This city network, the State Street line was extended to Murray, wide-reaching series of schemes covered the following: Midvale and Sandy to become an interurban serving the A – Extension of the University line (renamed the Red line same communities as the modern TRAX system. This line and numbered 703) to Parkway in South Jordan. closed in the late 1940s and was torn up in the early 1950s. This extension opened in August 2011. Following pioneering trolleybus operations in the 1920s, B – Building the Green line (704) from West Valley City to most of the light rail system had been converted to trolleybus Salt Lake Airport. The line opened from West Valley City or motorbus operation by 1941, and despite a period where the to the Intermodal Hub in August 2011, but was cut back to US Office of Defense Transportation ordered UL&T to restore Arena station in December 2012 prior to it being extended tram service during World War Two, in 1944 the power to the Airport in April 2013. company sold out to National City Lines, which favoured C – Extending the Blue line (the original line and numbered motor buses. 701) south from Sandy to Draper, due to open by the end In 1970 the (UTA) was established of 2013. A further extension is planned, but as yet remains with responsibility for public transit for around 80% of the unfunded, to 14600 South in Draper close to Interstate 15. state. By the mid-1990s it was recognised that continuing D – Extending FrontRunner (numbered 750) southwards to and increased congestion required a new approach and light Provo to provide a 145km (90-mile) commuter rail line. rail was seen as a significant element of the solution. E – Construction of the all-new 3.2km (two-mile) Salt Lake City and county number streets; the start point is Sugar House streetcar line, designed to bring mixed use Temple Square. There are very few street names, so a street redevelopment to a struggling area of the city. described as 2500 south is 25 city blocks south of Temple As of December 2012 the TRAX system covers 56.8km Square. Although this may seem a depersonalised system, it (35.3 miles) with 41 stations and a further nine under does have the advantage of providing an exact location on construction; six on the Green line to the Airport (9.6km, six the city grid and becomes very easy once understood. miles) and three on the 6.1km (3.8-mile) Blue line extension

Left: Salt Lake Central showing a three-car Blue line set led by SD100 car 1004. Spare cars can just be seen in the background. Right: Looking north from Daybreak Parkway station showing the undeveloped nature of the area around the station.

50 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

50-53_TAUT1302_SaltLake.indd 1 18/12/2012 11:23 Above: Ex-San Jose cars parked outside the South Salt Lake facility on 9 November 2012. Below: An MP36PH locomotive laying over at Ogden as FrontRunner service to Pleasant View had been temporarily suspended. Service was restored in December 2012.

Above: The first test car on the Airport extension on 400 West on 13 November 2012. This event attracted a great deal of local media coverage.

to Draper. Park-and-ride sites are at many of the stations but FARE next arrival as per the timetable, regardless of whether the although a map is available on the www.rideuta.com website, SYSTEM previous service has arrived at the station – this happens even ascertaining where the car parks are located is not easy. if the train is only a minute or two late. The UTA recognises UTA bus and rail this glitch of the system and is working on improvements. Sound planning and project management services operate Although it could not put a firm timescale on rectification, Michael Allegra, UTA General Manager, explained to TAUT a standard flat the plan is to have this sorted out within 12 months. what he considered to be the keys to the success of TRAX: fare system with Another interesting quirk is the need for drivers to leave sound planning and good project management. He went on discounts for those their cabs and set the route manually at the station prior to explain the importance of bipartite local political support with mobility to the junction station. When asked why this could not be and that such projects also need to be backed from the start challenges and achieved from inside the cab, the UTA again agreed that by the local business community to truly flourish. senior citizens. this was not best practice, but is working on it stating that In terms of funding, Allegra emphasised the necessity of Season tickets are budget constraints had prevented earlier action and that the getting the correct local funding package before seeking also available. new extensions and their integration were the key priority. federal funds. After all, these projects fall beyond just the FrontRunner All lines operate 15-minute headways throughout most of jurisdiction of transportation, but in reality are about investing operates a the working day, reduced to 20 minutes in the evenings and in the city’s long-term future and building the community. distance-based at weekends. Many stations outside the Central Business To this end, Allegra rightly affirmed the UTA’s forward- system with tickets District have both car parks and easy transfer facilities to bus including free thinking approach of buying up large swathes of available transfer to bus routes, many of which have been recast to feed into TRAX. disused railroad track. Most of TRAX was built on these or TRAX, while The first 1999 line (701, now marketed as the Blue line) rights of way and the under-construction Sugar House bus or TRAX runs north from Sandy using abandoned railroad right Streetcar project itself utilises an abandoned stretch of the riders receive a of way now owned by the UTA. It had 16 stations at the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad line. transfer credit to time of opening, with an infill station opened in each of The other key feature to success was the adoption of FrontRunner. 2005 and 2006 and the three-station extension to Salt Lake proven technology and working with other cities to achieve Premium fares Central (the Intermodal Hub) opening in 2008. In addition common aims; Allegra added that the UTA had close are charged on to the transport interchange, this extension provides access relationships with both San Diego and Portland, both of express buses to the large Gateway Mall shopping precinct. which are using Siemens LRVs. Summing up, Allegra and long-distance The line is currently 26km (16 miles) long, with a further said: “This is the renaissance of light rail – let’s seize the services. The 6.1km (3.8-mile) extension to Pioneer Road in Draper due moment and learn all the lessons we can.” basic one-way to open in late 2013. A further extension southward beyond As one of the most progressive transit authorities in the fare as of Draper to 14600 South is projected, but is not yet finally US, the longer range UTA strategic plan calls for 94km (59 December 2012 planned or funded. End-to-end running time is 44 minutes. miles) of light rail, 56km (35 miles) of streetcar operation, was USD2.35 The Red line (703) first opened in 2002 and was 195km (122 miles) of commuter rail and 622km (389 miles) (EUR1.85) with extended to its present University Medical Center terminus of BRT by 2040. a day pass in 2003. It joins the Blue line at Courthouse station in the for USD5.75 south of and shares tracks south Current operations (EUR4.53). Tickets can be to Fashion Place Station in Murray. All lines are double-track throughout and with one bought from bus The August 2011 extension added nine stations on a exception, the West Valley terminus of the Green line, use drivers, ticket 11.7km (7.2-mile) branch to Daybreak Parkway at a cost centre platforms for stations. machines or of USD535m (EUR421m); running time is now about TRAX uses the overhead current collection system online. Credit 63 minutes for a one-way journey. Large swathes of land powered to 750V dc. Passenger information at all stations cards can be at adjoining this extension remain undeveloped, but it is is excellent with next train displays, fare information, both machines clear from riding the length of the line that there is a ticket machines and posted timetables. One issue is that, and online. great deal of construction work currently underway in confusingly, the automated next train displays switch to the mixed-use developments.

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 51

50-53_TAUT1302_SaltLake.indd 2 18/12/2012 11:24 Salt Lake City

BUS IN SALT LAKE CITY TRAX and FrontRunner services UTA has opened one BRT route designated as MAX. Route 35M operates a limited in Salt Lake City. UTA stop service from Millcreek (3300 south) TRAX station to Magna through West Valley City. There is a short stretch of dedicated busway with traffic signal priority, although in practice the busway is too short to have a meaningful impact on journey times.

The Green line (704) opened in August 2011 with four new stations and terminates in West Valley City adjacent to a large shopping mall. The terminus is 8.2km (5.1 miles) from its junction with the Blue and Red lines at the Central Pointe station. There are three intermediate stations. Prior to December 2012, this line shared the Blue line route to Salt Lake Central, but to facilitate testing of the Airport extension (scheduled to open in April 2013), the Green line service was cut back to Arena, the junction station for the extension. Once open, Green line services will leave Arena station, and turn north on 400 West before turning west on North Temple. The first stop will provide a new interchange with FrontRunner. There are a further four new stations before the line turns north and finishes at a stub end terminus next to the Airport terminal building. The double-track Airport line has a couple of unusual features. Firstly, solar panels have been built into the station roofs of all the stations along North Temple; these are expected to generate sufficient electricity to run the station facility and feed surplus back into the grid. The other landmark feature is that all the traction poles on the extension have been colour-coded green. End-to-end running time for the Green line is currently 36 minutes, although the airport extension will add a further 20 minutes. All in all, TRAX offers a very well thought-out, well-planned and subsequently well-patronised system. The minor quirks referred to above do not detract from its success. As stated at the APTA conference (TAUT 901) the UTA estimates that around 71% of the area’s population use LRT on a regular basis. FrontRunner FrontRunner (or route 750) is the 145km (90-mile) commuter rail line running from Provo at the south end of the valley to Pleasant View, just north of Ogden. In addition to the Intermodal Hub there is an interchange with TRAX at Murray station and, as previously mentioned there will be, at North Temple when the Airport extension opens. Whilst not a cross-platform interchange, the Murray station is located less than 100m away from TRAX the station. The northern part of FrontRunner opened in 2008 with the southern portion to Provo in December 2012. Service is hourly Monday to Saturday, augmented to half-hourly at peak times, Journey times are around 105 minutes from Provo to Pleasant View. The service runs in parallel with the Union Pacific route north–south through the valley at a maximum operational speed of 126km/h (80mph). Both the right of way and the rolling stock are owned by the UTA.

A Saturday at the Blue line southern terminus at Sandy Civic Centre. During the week this route is operated by high-floorSD100/160 cars.

52 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

50-53_TAUT1302_SaltLake.indd 3 18/12/2012 11:24 A Siemens-dominated system Above: An S70 Each car has 143 seats, reduced to 135 in cab cars. All When opened in 1999 the Blue line utilised 23 high-floor two-car set at the maintenance is undertaken at UTA's own facility at Warm Siemens SD100 LRVs. Service popularity and the opening Green line terminus Springs just north of Salt Lake City. of the University line required the purchase of a further 17 in West Valley SD160 cars. Although visually similar, the SD100 seats 60 City. This is the Sugar House Streetcar compared with the SD160 which seats 56. only station on the Another key development of the light rail landscape in Each air-conditioned vehicle is 25m long with a width network without an Salt Lake City is the Sugar House Streetcar, a 3.2km of 2.67m and they are all articulated double-ended six-axle island platform. (two-mile) line running east from Central Pointe station vehicles with four sets of double doors on each side. As along a historic railroad corridor at 2235 South with five they are high-floor they require passengers to step up into intermediate stations to a terminus at 1045 East 2225 South. the cars, with disabled access (two wheelchair bays are Top right: Inside The streetcar line is planned to open in late 2013 and will provided onboard) provided at the front entrance by means the South Salt use modified S70 vehicles with their couplers removed and of a ramp built into the station platform. These operate in Lake maintenance running as single units. Appropriate to their environment, up to four-car trains and cars were also used on the Red line facility. they will also be geared down to a maximum operating speed until replaced by Siemens S70 low-floor cars. of 56km/h (35mph). The fact that ‘new’ cars are not required In May 2008 UTA placed an order for 77 S70 LRVs, at a Above right: The not only reduces capital cost but also saves on maintenance; cost of USD227m, similar to those ordered for Portland and control room at three SD70 vehicles are being converted for the service, of San Diego, with an option for a further 180. Each double South Salt Lake, which two are planned to be in operation at any time. articulated double-ended, six-axle low-floor vehicle is air- located within The total project cost is estimated at USD55m conditioned and is identical in dimensions to TRAX’s fleet the main TRAX (EUR43.3m), with funding from a Federal USD26m of SD100 and SD160 vehicles, but is 1800kg (1.8 tonnes) maintenance (EUR20.5m) TIGER II grant with the balance provided by heavier. The cars seat 60 with a crush load capacity of 217. facility. the municipalities of Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake. Three-car trains typically operate the Red line, although at Construction began in May 2012. peak times these can be extended to four-car units. Key to driving development in the Sugar House The Green line only has two-car trains, although the Business District, at the 9 May 2012 ground-breaking US platforms are designed to take four-car trains in anticipation Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said: “If you build it, of further extensions bringing increased ridership. At they will come. You watch what happens along this corridor.” evenings and weekends all lines operate with two-car S70 The Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency claims that over trains. UTA also owns 29 UTDC high-floor vehicles. These two million/ft2 (185 806m2) of development has already been double-ended articulated vehicles were acquired from approved within half a mile of the line, generating USD400m San Jose when that undertaking standardised its fleet to in inward investment for the neighbourhood. low-floor vehicles and are now used to provide additional The line will be largely single-track with a passing loop resources as needed for the Blue line. at 500 East and double- track stub termini at both ends. As The maximum operational speed on the system is mainly vehicles will be maintained alongside the existing LRVs, a 88km/h (55mph), although all LRVs have a 104km/h (65mph) connection to TRAX is being built at Central Point. Service capability (a speed authorised on portions of the Red line.) levels have not yet been finalised, but a 15-minute headway TRAX operates two maintenance facilities, with the is currently planned for the main Monday-Friday service. South Salt Lake facility – formerly a department store The project provides provision for walkways and warehouse, converted by the UTA with Federal TIGER cycleways alongside the streetcar line and will also create funding – also housing the control room. The other facility an additional 5.76 acres (2.33 hectare) of public green space at Midvale is just south of the Red line, and this largely to the area. UTA describes it as “walkable access to transit”. houses the ex-San Jose cars. l Thanks to Gerry Carpenter of the UTA for his help both FrontRunner vehicles are completely different, using as host and facilitator in the compilation of this article. TAUT diesel traction. UTA has purchased 18 MP36PH-3C locomotives built in Boise, Idaho, along with 38 Bombardier FURTHER INFORMATION bi-level coaches – 22 of which have driving cabs – that operate in push-pull mode. A normal train consists of two Transport information: www.rideuta.com coaches and a driving cab coach, although additional coaches Regional information: www.utah.gov and www.visitsaltlake.com can be added to form ten-car trains plus the locomotive.

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 53

50-53_TAUT1302_SaltLake.indd 4 18/12/2012 11:25 Hong Kong Hong Kong: Intensive growth proves it pays to look forward

n spite of having some of the world’s most intensively REPORT AND IMAGES BY NEIL PULLING settled areas, past and present Hong Kong administrations have implemented housing, education and health When former Hong Kong resident Neil Pulling left the then- regimesI that have made it a very successful expression British colony in 1982, the tramway that crossed much of of urban living. By the 1970s, counterpart measures for transport were underway that would begin being felt in Hong Kong Island’s north shore continued much as it had the next decade. Generally operating at full capacity, since since the 1900s. The Government had, however, already 1972 the first cross-harbour road tunnel had been reshaping travel between Hong Kong Island and mainland Kowloon. begun applying modern measures to tackle escalating Attention had also turned towards far greater use of rail. transport problems. A new approach of making rail the Opened in 1975, Kowloon’s Hung Hom railway terminus framework of urban transport was heralded when the first hosted a stopping service within the territory and infrequent cross-border trains headed for Guangzhou, then more often metro line opened in late 1979. By 1982 Hong Kong’s termed Canton by westerners. Adjoining freight sidings original heavy rail installation was transformed into a high- handled a distinctly one-way traffic of pigs from China frequency suburban service. Visiting for the first time in 30 destined for Hong Kong’s domestic and restaurant tables. Freight and local passenger trains over the 34km (21-mile) years, Neil assesses how those innovations have developed Hong Kong section of the Kowloon Canton Railway (KCR) and explores other transport changes what is now a Special were handled by GM-powered switcher-style locomotives. Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. Speed was not of the essence, but there was no need to go hungry during the 70 minutes to the Lo Wu border station, as onboard vendors offered local favourites. Change, as well as the aroma of live pigs or cooked chicken’s feet was in the air however, as chunky overhead gantries and wires appeared at the throat of Hung Hom station. Making space to grow It was the end of a 99-year lease on the New Territories and outlying islands representing over 85% of the colony’s area that led to the 1997 handover to China. Technically held in perpetuity since the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon south of Boundary Street were no longer supportable in isolation. Expansion in ‘New Kowloon’ around the bays and towards the surrounding mountains had absorbed population growth, but even with landfill and high-rise estates, this had natural limits. Except around World War Two, Hong Kong’s population continued to grow, notably with refugees from China and elsewhere in South East Asia. In 1979 about 98% of Hong Kong’s population was ethnic Chinese, although only 57% were Hong Kong- born. In spite of a low birth rate, long life expectancy and continuing immigration means that population remains projected to increase. HONG KONG POPULATION 1911: 456 739 Projections: 1931: 840 473 2021: 8 228 300 1961: 3 129 648 2031: 8 721 500 1981: 5 183 400 2001: 6 724 900 *HK Census and Statistics 2011: 7 527 600 Department

Well before the handover, Hong Kong’s colonial government embarked on a series of New Territories housing developments, many along the KCR line like Shatin, Sheung Shui and Fanling. The decision to transform a semi-rural operation over the metals of what was primarily a link with China into rapid transit was an essential component in managing population increase. Rebuilt and new stations would make the new towns viable in their own right and as dormitories for those with jobs in the established areas. Consequently, leisured picturesque rail travel ended in 1982 with the first openings under the modernisation project. With the 25kV ac electrification and rebuild of the KCR line complete by 1983, end-to-end domestic journey times were halved, with all services handled by new UK-built Metro Cammell EMU stock. Above: The four mainstays of surface transport on the crowded streets of Hong Kong Island: The KCR transformation was an early manifestation of trams, taxis, buses and light buses at Western Street. a policy summarised by the current Hong Kong Transport

54 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

54-57_TAUT1302_HongKong.indd 1 18/12/2012 12:00 Hong Kong: Intensive growth proves it pays to look forward

Department: “Railways, being the most environmentally- Above: By local friendly form of mass transport, will continue to expand in standards a view network. It will form the backbone of Hong Kong’s transport little-changed over system with other modes playing a supplementary but still 30 years: Hong important role to ensure a choice of services by commuters.” Kong Polytechnic In 2011 an average of 4.73 million daily journeys were University being made on the railways, exceeding franchised bus overlooking Hung operations at 3.79 million. Overall, public transport saw a Hom station and a 2.2% passenger increase over 2010. Contrary to Hong Kong’s Metro Cammell EMU reputation as a crucible of market forces, public transport operates under tight government regulation, with services on 19 October 2012. licensed to various operators and with controlled fares. Top right: From the A lighter touch newest and highest Reconstituted during 1982, the KCR Corporation capacity LRV batch, (KCRC) undertook another aspect of development for the UGL/CSR 1128 government in 1984. New residential areas were planned, leaves Tin Wing. centred on the towns of Tuen Mun and Yuen Long in the far north-west of the New Territories. Although the KCRC Right: Most of Rail interchanges, with further connections provided (later MTR) West Rail line would eventually handle longer the MTR features by MTR’s own feeder bus routes. The service hours Kowloon and Hong Kong commuter journeys, a new light platform edge are approximately 05.30-00.30, with three-minute peak rail network would feed the MTR stations and provide local doors and air frequencies on the busiest lines. Track-sharing substantially journeys, a significant departure from reliance upon buses. conditioned increases frequencies for many of the stops. The first part of the 1435mm, 750V overhead supply stations: This is the In June 2011 the Transport Department identified an system opened in September 1988, with coverage of the Kwun Tong line at average 430 000 daily MTR Light Rail journeys, with a emerging Tin Shui Wai district added in 2003. Now part of Kowloon Tong. 4.4% passenger increase and a 6.1% rise in distance covered MTR operations with 12 regular lines, there are 68 stops per vehicle over the previous year. Yuen Long district had on 36.2km (22.6 miles) of route, uni-directional with high 186 600 residents in 1981; it now has 540 000. Slightly platforms. Stops mainly have side platforms, although smaller Tuen Mun has absorbed a similar scale of expansion. termini feature multiple parallel platforms on a fan with turning loops. Most of the dedicated right of way is at The move to urban mass transit grade, with multiple road and pathway crossings. The cover of the Government Information Services’ The 141-strong LRV fleet has four types, Phases I-IV, review Hong Kong 1980 portrays stylish locals leaving a with capacities from 204 to 252; seating ranges from 26 brand-new Mass Transit Railway (MTR) train. Ten years to 43. They are variously from Australia’s Comeng (the in development and then the largest engineering project original and largest type at 69 examples) and Goninan/ in Hong Kong’s history, the metro’s public opening with UGL, also Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan. The most nine stations over 8km (five miles) was on 1 October 1979. recent build from 2009 is a collaboration between UGL and Around 250 000 journeys were recorded on that day. China’s CSR. These Phase IV vehicles introduced a white Cut back from a more ambitious earlier scheme, this livery and slightly rounded exterior, giving a more modern Modified Initial System (MIS) was managed by the look than the angular stainless steel finish of previous types. government-owned MTR Corporation (MTRC), established All are 20.2m long, 2.65m wide single-cars, operated as in 1975. It extended to 15.6km (9.75 miles) with 15 stations such as paired units. There are four direct MTR to Light by February 1980 and the westerly Tseun Wan line was

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 55

54-57_TAUT1302_HongKong.indd 2 18/12/2012 11:20 Hong Kong

already under construction. If the KCR project was all Around twice the size of Hong Kong Island, Lantau about opening up the New Territories, the early MTR was Island’s development had been restricted by limited fresh to serve existing developments. From an eastern curve water supply and it being only ferry-connected; mass transit around Kowloon Bay to Kwun Tong, the MIS went down helped the new airport built just north of Lantau become the the Kowloon peninsular, shadowing the nightmarish traffic place to get to or away from Hong Kong. Replacing Kai Tak of the main thoroughfare featuring the famed Nathan Road airport (which was never rail-connected) on Kowloon Bay shopping district at its southern end. in 1998, Hong Kong International could only function if, for With the MIS came the first rail crossing of Hong most practical purposes, Lantau ceased to be an island. Kong (Victoria) harbour, with two stations on the Island, As well as road traffic, the cluster of bridges on the 3.5km Admiralty and Chater. The latter become Central, the name (2.2-mile) Lantau Link carries two separate MTR operations. of the core finance district. Although distances in the urban Opened with the airport, the Airport Express mainly runs region are short, the MTR crossing was sufficiently west of parallel with the Tung Chung line, the latter adding a single the road tunnel to provide different coverage for travellers. line branch to the Disneyland Resort in 2005. Hong Kong’s development cycle is extremely short, it The MTRC absorbed rail operations of the KCRC – the being commonplace for modern buildings to be demolished organisation still exists – in December 2007. All services for more intensive or more financially rewarding use: MTR then ran under the MTR identity, including the Light Rail network growth continues to give impetus to this process. system. The original KCR route became the MTR East Rail line, with the initial 30.5km (19.1-mile) KCRC line to Tuen Mun becoming the West Rail line. Operating a mainly 19.5- hour day with peak frequencies as low as Left: Light Rail 2.5 minutes, the MTR has grown to nine lines, each designated by geographical name, and the separately platforms occupy priced Airport Express. a fan of tracks Trains are air-conditioned, as are most stations, which beneath the Tuen feature platform edge doors. The network is far from Mun Ferry Pier complete however, with five new lines or extension projects shopping complex. currently in development. The 26km (16.25-mile) Express Rail Link should relieve East Rail of its long-distance Below left: traffic into China by 2015, freeing capacity for the local MTR stock is role launched in 1982. configured for a Described as a medium-capacity railway, the 7km high proportion (4.4-mile) South Island Line (East) project will introduce of standing fully automatic operation. From new platforms at passengers. Admiralty, it will also take rails to the south side of Hong Kong Island for the first time. Two stations will be on Ap Bottom left: Rebuilt Lei Chau, a small island across the Aberdeen Channel that tram 58 at Whitty even by local standards has an extraordinary population Street stop. density for around 90 000 residents. The MTR crossing that parallels the road bridge is now Below: A under construction, with services due to start in 2015. southbound MTR Modernising the great survivor East Rail service The colony’s first passenger rail service began with the at Fanling, one tramway on Hong Kong Island, opened in 1904. of the string of In spite of the difficult terrain, being a more defendable developments location than the mainland contributed to the island made possible by developing as the administrative centre. The population modernising the first concentrated on the island’s north shore; although the original KCR. slopes would soon become settled, the tramway followed a

56 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

54-57_TAUT1302_HongKong.indd 3 18/12/2012 11:20 low and level path that curved according to the shoreline. Above: The Line extension due to open in 2014 to Kennedy Town will Subsequent landfills mean that much of the route is now set Aberdeen Channel affect ridership remains to be seen. further back from the sea. The double-track 1067mm gauge Bridge to connect What are perhaps Hong Kong’s most famed transport, the route runs about 13km (eight miles) from Kennedy Town at Ap Lei Chau to the cross-harbour ferries, have however suffered as the wider the western end of the island to an eastern terminus at Shau future MTR South network has grown. With the proliferation of road and rail Kei Wan. The depots near these ends are, respectively, the Island Line under tunnels, these have declining passenger numbers. larger Whitty Street and Sai Wan Ho. construction in Star Ferry, a Hong Kong symbol since 1898 and the Contributing to the vintage profile, the entirely October 2012. principal inner harbour carrier, exemplifies the migration double-deck passenger fleet of 163 four-wheel trams – to road and rail. From around 27m passengers in 2004, a two configured for private hire – uses trolley poles for pronounced dip in 2007 led to 20.9m reported for 2010. In the 500V dc power supply. The track enjoys a degree of Above right: Airport March 2011 Star Ferry abandoned the Hung Hom routes, segregation, mainly down road centres, but the profusion Express is the most leaving the shorter services from Kowloon to Central of intersections, traffic lights, extremely dense traffic and luxurious and most and Wanchai. North Point grew overall as a transport closely spaced stops means that progress is slow by expensive of the interchange with the addition of MTR to tram and bus modern standards. MTR formats. routes, but its foot and vehicle ferries have also been Few would normally travel the full distance between adversely affected by the increase of fixed links. the end termini, but those 80 minutes remain crammed with things to see. Service hours are broadly 06.00-24.00, Lengthening the reach of the Octopus with the aim of a tram every 1.5 minutes during the peak Making a single payment for use on different public on shared sections, although in practice bunching is transport modes was as improbable in Hong Kong during commonplace. Six lines normally operate, the intermediate the 1980s as it was elsewhere. The MTR was however an ones using turning loops. By far the longest route at 3km innovator in fare collection from the MIS opening, later (1.86 miles) includes a clockwise single-track circuit of leading to the introduction of the Octopus stored value Happy Valley, the main Hong Kong Jockey Club venue. card in 1997. As the only legal gambling organisation, the Jockey Club’s Claiming a 95% uptake by those aged between 16 and race meetings attract huge crowds; its other track at Sha Tin 65 and with 5400 service providers, Octopus Holdings is has a station on an MTR East Rail loop. owned by MTR (57.4%), KCRC (22.1%), and with the In many respects the tramway remains the least altered of remainder split between three franchised bus companies. Hong Kong’s public transport, with the vehicles retaining Card readers are installed across the transport network, many of their essential characteristics. At the busiest times even including the tourist magnet ‘Peak Tram’ funicular it remains advisable to begin moving to the rear of the serving Hong Kong’s famed night and day look-out. Taxi vehicle shortly after boarding at the front to ensure your operators somehow remain immune to its appeal. intended exit. Part of the Octopus success story is due to the expansion Ownership and operation has changed hands, however, of the payment mechanism beyond transport to cover minor as Hong Kong Tramways became wholly owned by Veolia transactions in shops and restaurants, proliferating card Transport China Limited, a Veolia-RATP Dev joint venture, formats, discounts and promotions. The contactless Octopus in March 2010. All trams have seen modification across the technology has been an export success. Closer to home, years, including electronic controls. A trial installation of like the MTR parent which operates a metro line there, the air conditioning was not successful, and multiple opening Octopus card is also accepted for some retailing in Hong windows remain for ventilation. Kong’s giant northern neighbour, the Shenzhen Special The start of a long-term project, some substantially Economic Zone. rebuilt ‘seventh generation’ trams entered service in 2011. Since the start of mass urban transit in 1979, Hong Kong They feature flusher body panels, new seating, easier to has certainly changed. Continuing land reclamation means negotiate interiors and full-length doors. Onboard and that there is a lot more of it than there used to be. Some trackside passenger information is also being improved by underground railways are not only new – so is the ground the installation of the ‘NexTram’ system to provide audio, that the new rails are under. Road and rail infrastructure has display and online presentations. proliferated, including areas of the New Territories that 30 In spite of stately progress or their representation in years previously were best tackled in hiking boots. Not only some guidebooks, the trams are not a sentimental relic, is public transport more extensive, it is better integrated and nor particularly reliant upon tourism. No public transport Download a generally much easier to use. vehicle over the same ground is likely to be rapid, so only complete route It is also much more agreeable to walk around urban the MTR Island Line offers a significant advantage for map of MTR Hong Kong. Better pavements and elevated walkways longer journeys. Low cost remains, with a HKD2.30 (about services at www. integrated with office blocks and shopping malls have EUR0.23) flat fare; pay by Octopus or exact cash. mtr.com.hk/eng/ distanced pedestrians from vehicles, and long distances can After years of fairly consistent tram loadings, 2011 saw getting_around/ now be travelled without touching ground level. In Hong a 4.6% dip over 2010. To what extent the MTR West Island system_map.html Kong it pays to look forward. TAUT

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 57

54-57_TAUT1302_HongKong.indd 4 18/12/2012 11:20 SUPPLIERS To advertise on this page, please contact us on +44 (0) 1832 281135 or e-mail [email protected] & SERVICES

Offering Innovative Solutions THE INFRASTRUCTURE for UK Urban Rail Track systems As part of Vossloh Cogifer and Tata Steel UK Limited, we design, manufacture and assemble all types of light SPECIALISTS rail and heavy rail track layout systems, incorporating Legal | Strategy | Public A„airs | Communications signalling systems and innovative groove rail switches and crossings, individually produced to suit specific geometries and locally hardened to give enhanced product life cycle characteristics. VTS Track Technology Ltd‘The new name for Corus Cogifer’ 80A Scotter Road, Scunthorpe DN15 8EF Tel: +44 0 1724 862131 Fax: +44 0 1724 295243 Web: vosslohtatasteel.com

Personal membership with TAUT subscription: UK International To December 2013 (12 issues) £46.50 £58.50

Tramway Review subscription (Four issues) UK £18.50 International £21.50

Personal membership with TAUT and Tramway Review: UK International To December 2013 (12 TAUT + 4 TR) £61.00 £75.00 Contact Robbie Owen, Partner T +44 (0)20 7783 3425 E [email protected] Bircham Dyson Bell LLP 50 Broadway London SW1H 0BL www.bdb-law.co.uk Personal membership with online access to TAUT subscription: To December 2013 (12 issues) £38.00

For online payments visit: www.lrta.info/personal

IN YOUR NEXT Student membership available online only. ISSUE OF Commercial members (12 issues) UK International £52.00 £64.00 SACRAMENTO Vic Simons reports from Commercial members online only (12 issues) £41.00 California on how the opening of the first stage of the Green Invoices available for Commercial membership only. line in Sacramento marks a new phase of expansion for the city’s For online payments visit: www.lrta.info/commercial light rail system. He examines the current situation and future plans. Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms ...... TRACK CONSTRUCTION Forename ...... The Light Rail Transit Associa- Surname ...... tion’s David Gibson considers the debate on what level of foundation Address ...... is appropriate for modern street- ...... running light rail and asks: Is the UK digging too deep? ...... WORLDWIDE NEWS ...... Postcode ...... AND REVIEW I enclose a cheque £ ...... payable to ‘LRTA From Algeria to Vietnam, TAUT’s Subscriptions’ worldwide news and analysis provides the essential reference Please complete this form and send it with your payment to: point for all the latest rolling stock LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, orders, contract awards and system Sale M33 7AU, UK extension and renewals.

58 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

58_TAUT1302_SuppsServs.indd 1 18/12/2012 11:21 SYSTEMS FACTFILE No. 65 Liberec, LIBEREC This town in northern Bohemia has a rich history in textile, glassware and crystal manufacture – as well as a fascinating CZECH REPUBLIC study in dual-gauge tramway operation. Mixed operations rarely come more mixed than this...

REPORT AND IMAGES BY MIKE RUSSELL

he Czech town of Liberec lies in the Nisa valley, an Above: Metre-gauge glassmaking and crystal, for which this part of north Bohemia attractive setting in the hilly terrain of north Bohemia historic car 117 enjoys a worldwide reputation, and Liberec and its smaller in a salient close to the frontiers with Germany and heading for Lidové neighbour, Jablonec nad Nisou (formerly Gablonz), 12km .T To its north is the Jizera mountain range, whilst Sady at Fügnerova (7.5 miles) south-east, were major producers and exporters. to the south of the town lies the Ještěd mountain (1012m, interchange, with The railway network reached Liberec in 1859 and 3320ft), dominating the landscape for miles around. standard-gauge car eventually radiated both to the capital (Praha) and across The town was founded as Reichenberg in the 14th Century 77 arriving from the border to Zittau, Görlitz and Dresden in Germany; the by Flemish and German migrants. Before 1918 it was part the same terminus difficult terrain made for circuitous, even tortuous, alignments of the Habsburg lands, in the area subsequently awarded on regular line 3 to and even today train travel in this area remains slow. to Nazi Germany under the 1938 Munich Agreement, Horní Hanychov. Metre-gauge tramways arrived in August 1897; the first under which Reichenberg became de facto capital of the lines were electric from the outset, the terrain being too steep Sudetenland. After 1945 the German population was for animal traction. Two cross-town routes developed: one, expelled. Today, Liberec is the fifth largest town in the on a broadly north-east/south-west axis from Lidové Sady Czech Republic, with a population of around 105 000. to the railway station (Nadrazi), extended in 1912 to Horní During the Communist years in Czechoslovakia, Liberec Hanychov, which survives today; and a north-west/south- became something of a time-warp, with many buildings All images provided east line linking Růžodol with Rochlice, closed in 1960. untouched since pre-war days. Today, the centre abounds in by the author Two-axle rolling stock (motor cars and trailers) was the new retail and commercial developments while the old town norm until the first TatraT2 bogie cars arrived in 1959. The to the north, of which the old Town Hall (Radnice) is the and taken 27-29 original lines included a one-way system through the town centrepiece, still exudes a traditional central European feel. September 2012, centre; this awkward layout was replaced in December The wealth of Liberec was founded on the textile industry, except where 1984 by the present double track in Rumunska. A section of today virtually extinct. The other great industry was otherwise stated. track on the old route has been retained as a memorial. ➤

www.tramnews.net www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 59

59-63_TAUT1302_SF_Liberec.indd 1 18/12/2012 11:41 Systems Factfile

Left: Jablonec Neighbouring Gablonz also developed its own electric terminus of tramway, starting in 1900, with several local routes, some interurban quite lengthy; goods traffic became very important. These with cars 36+44. routes were all closed after World War Two, the last in On the right is the 1965, but by this time the two towns had been linked by a pit for emergency new metre-gauge interurban line, initially operated solely by inspections. Jablonec and opened through to Liberec on 1 January 1955. Today the tramways are operated by Dopravní Podnik Middle left: Cars Mest Liberce e Jablonce, a municipal company owned jointly by the two local authorities serving a combined conurbation 56+51 before of around 150 000 inhabitants. The first motorbus route rebuilding, seen began running in 1927 and today the company operates local in the cutting at and long-distance routes centred on Fügnerova interchange. Měnírna heading After 1990 the decision was taken to rebuild the two for Jablonec. surviving tramlines to standard gauge and modernise the entire infrastructure. Later an extensive project for a regional tram- Below left: Car 65, train network with cross-boundary services into Germany and one of a number of Poland was proposed, but its political support did not last. metre-gauge cars Work on the 1990s modernisation programme began with original bodies, with rebuilding the Lidové Sady section for use by on the relaid section standard-gauge cars though the metre-gauge metals were of lines 5 and 11 retained and today this section is dual-gauge, with only near Textilana, the standard-gauge metals regularly worked. Regauging showing the third rail work progessed across the town centre towards the railway laid in anticipation station (Nadrazi), Viadukt, Vápenka and Dolní Hanychov; of conversion to the latter was intended as the southern standard-gauge standard gauge terminus, buses providing a shuttle link to semi-rural Horní and introduction of Hanychov, and whilst this work was proceeding the trams new line to Rochlice. terminated at a temporary reversing triangle at Kubelikova. Such was the success of the conversion, however, that the Note the derelict town council relented and agreed that the outer section to textile mills in Horní Hanychov should also be regauged. Closed in August background. 1998, this section reopened in standard-gauge on 1 May 2005.

Muzeum - výstaviště 12 Botanická-ZOO 3 Průmyslová škola Riegrova Lidové Ulice 5. května Sady

Šaldovo náměstí 10 U Lomu 9 11 Fügnerova Rybníček Viadukt Textilana Nová Ruda 15 12 11 Nádraží Mlynská Ústav sociální péče MRŠTĺKOVA Krkonošská Pivovar Vratislavice nad Staré pekárny Nisou vyhybna Lékárna 5 Vratislavice nad 11 Vápenka Nisou kostel Kyselka

Kolejové propojeni Janův Důl se sítí SŽDC Proseč nad Nisou škola

Kubelíkova

Dolní Proseč Hanychov 2 nad Right: You get Nisou fantastic track pošta Malodoubská layouts with mixed- gauge systems, here Hanychov kostel in granite setts in Spáleniště Tatranska, leading to/from the depot, with car 29. The mixed-gauge scissors crossover has had Horní the standard-gauge Hanychov 3 points removed.

60 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org

59-63_TAUT1302_SF_Liberec.indd 2 18/12/2012 12:09 Left: Cars 55+57 showing the highly- engineered form of the interurban in the Nisa valley, between Jablonec and Proseč.

LEGEND THE FLEET Rozchod 1435mm, elektrifikace 600 V = Gauge Builder Type Electrical equipment Note Total Rozchod 1000mm, 1000mm ...CKDˇ Tatra ...... T2R ...... CKDˇ Trakce (PCC) ...... A ...... 2 elektrifikace 600 V = ...... CKDˇ Tatra ...... T3 ...... CKDˇ Trakce (PCC) ...... B ...... 1 Splítka 1435/1000mm, ...... CKDˇ Tatra ...... T3m ...... CKDˇ Trakce (PCC) ...... C ...... 16 elektrifikace 600 V = ...... Pragoimex ...... T3R.PV ...... Cegelec TV Progress ...... E ...... 5 Splítka 2 x 1000mm, ...... Pragoimex ...... T3R.PLF ...... Cegelec TV Progress ...... F ...... 5 elektrifikace 600 V =

Rozchod 1435mm, ˇ ˇ bez elektrifikace 1435mm ...CKD Tatra ...... T3m ...... CKD Trakce (PCC) ...... C ...... 2 ...... CKDˇ Tatra ...... T3M.04 ..... Škoda Electric ...... D ...... 18 Zastávka neobsluhovaná pravidelnymi linkami ...... Pragoimex ...... T3R.PV ...... Cegelec TV Progress ...... E ...... 7 Točna v mistě kolejového ...... Pragoimex ...... T3R.PLF ...... Cegelec TV Progress ...... F ...... 7 křižení ...... Pragoimex ...... T3R.SLF ...... Škoda Electric-Ganz ...... G ...... 2 ...... Alliance TW .. EVO2 ...... N/A ...... H ...... 1

NOTES: Liberecká A - Original T2s with CKDˇ PCC-type electric control identical to T3 (new T3 equipment fitted in Ostrava in the 1980s). Brandl B - Original T3s with original bodies, original CKDˇ PCC-type electric control and only Kyselka minor updates to the original layout. ˇ 11 C - Original T3s with original bodies, original CKD PCC-type electric control, modernised interior and some updates to the original layout. Proseč nad D - Modernised original T3s with original bodies, new interior and Škoda IGBT Nisou škola Měnírna Zelěne electrical equipment. údoli E - New cars with VarCB3 body (without low-floor section) and Cegelec TV Progress Proseč nad electrical equipment; refurbished PCC bogies. Nisou vyhybna F - New cars with VarCB3LF body (with low-floor central section) and Cegelec TV Proseč Novy Svět Progress electrical equipment; refurbished PCC bogies. nad Nisou G - New cars with VarCB3LF body (with low-floor central section) and Škoda-Ganz pošta electrical equipment; refurbished PCC bogies. H – Prototype of new six-axle two-section articulated low-floor tram for the new line to Rochlice (contract is for eight cars). WORKS CARS: 125, trailer with special platform for overhead wire construction – historical vehicle; 128, trailer – freight lorry; 129, trailer – for paying out of overhead wire during construction; 130, battery-operated works shunting car; 214, Tatra T4D ex-Gera, rail-grinding car. WITHDRAWN CARS IN STORE: 20 and 22, bodies only of withdrawn Tatra T2Rs; 82, incomplete modernisation to T3M.04.; 85, Tatra RT6S low-floor prototype in storage for probable display in the new museum; 105, Tatra KT4D ex-Gera, former driver training car, intended as a ‘party-tram’. ➤

www.tramnews.net www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 61

59-63_TAUT1302_SF_Liberec.indd 3 18/12/2012 12:12 Systems Factfile

The Horní Hanychov section provides transport for those Above: Cars 23+21 During the modernisation period, the depot was wishing to walk in the hills south of the town or ascend the in the foreground completely rebuilt. It remains on its original site off Ještěd; the terminus is close to the base station of a cableway with part of the Tatranska close to the town centre, with the head office in that operates daily to the summit. For several weeks of the rebuilt depot Mrštíkova. A viewing platform near the top of ul. 1 Máje year this area is above the snow line and the whole network complex. provides spectacular views over the facilities. traditionally endures heavy snowfalls each winter. Liberec was traditionally a big operator of the older T2 Another remarkable feature of the relaid Horní Hanychov design of bogie car. All its own cars were withdrawn by section is the provision of two accommodation crossovers 1988, but to ease shortages during the early years of the on Stará Ještědská – an installation that harks back to modernisation programme, eight similar cars were acquired early tramway days, facilitating removals and deliveries to from Ostrava in 1995-96 and regauged. Two (18 and 19, frontagers’ properties, where double-track tramlines now formerly 26 and 27, ex-Ostrava 613 and 694), remain as occupy the full width of the carriageway. the last T2 cars in regular service anywhere. They are used The future plan is to relay the Jablonec interurban to on routes 5 and 11 on weekdays and due to the extensive standard-gauge, but although work has started on a piecemeal rebuilding in Liberec are likely to remain so for several years. basis, lack of funding means the timescale for completion is An initial attempt was made to introduce a low-floor car indeterminate. This line was originally single-track-and-loop in 1996 with the Tatra RT6S prototype, 85. This vehicle for its full length; redevelopment in Liberec has permitted was unsuccessful and is currently stored. A recent arrival is the first 1km (0.6 miles), between Fügnerova and U Lomu, the prototype EVO2 car (84), supplied by Alliance TW in to be relaid as mixed-gauge double-track, and at U Lomu a September 2012. It is the first of a planned order of eight trackbed alignment for a new standard-gauge route to housing such cars for the new line to Rochlice. developments at Broumovská and Rochlice has been created. DPMLJ has two serviceable metre-gauge museum cars Rolling stock has been transformed since the Communist – 78 (Bovera), a wooden-bodied two-axle car from 1929 era, when Tatra T2 and T3 products in red/cream livery were acquired from Ústi nad Labem in 1969, and 117, a former the norm. Today, Tatra clones belie a recent modernisation. Jablonec two-axle 6MT car built at Česká Lípa in 1953, one Most cars appear in the new livery of green and white with Liberec tram of only two known survivors (the other is in Bratislava). yellow doors and lower band, others carry overall advertising. network On seven fixed-date public holidays each year, one of these The transformation has been facilitated by the need to schematic: www. cars operates ‘historical line’ 1 between Lidové Sady and provide standard-gauge cars for urban lines 2 and 3. To doprava.unas. Viadukt, the metre-gauge museum tram happily co-existing distinguish between similar cars for each gauge, metre-gauge cz/schemata/cz/ with standard-gauge service cars on line 3. More recently stock carry small blue front and rear roundels inscribed liberec_ed.pdf DPMLJ has introduced its first standard-gauge museum 1000, with red roundels for the standard-gauge cars. car – 17, a Tatra T2R, originally Ostrava 640, restored to the The majority of the fleet has been modernised For assistance in condition in which it arrived at Liberec as works car 213. and rebuilt to varying degrees, some of it several times. the preparation Even more exciting is the prospect of the establishment Upholstered seating is now the norm. To provide cars with a of this article, of a national metre-gauge museum on the former exhibition low-floor centre section, longer car bodies outwardly similar the author is grounds site in Masarykova on the Lidové Sady route. to the T3 design have been produced by Pragoimex. These indebted to Projected to have three tracks of covered accommodation, are mounted on reconditioned Tatra bogies with electrical Robert Mara this will bring together a large number of salvaged metre- equipment based on IGBT technology from either Cegelec or of Praha and gauge trams, including some venerable stock from the earliest Škoda Electric. An older version of this upgrading involved Thomas Krebs of days, for restoration by members of the highly-motivated new bodies without a low-floor section. Weekday daytime DPMLJ. Current local Bovera Club, with support from DPMLJ management. operation involves coupled car operation on all routes except fleet details were The museum will be connected to the metre-gauge rails 5, with the leading car in some pairs being one with a low- kindly provided of the Lidové Sady section, permitting more extensive floor section. Evening and Sunday services use single cars. by Petr Dvorský. historic car operation in future years. TAUT

62 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org

59-63_TAUT1302_SF_Liberec.indd 4 18/12/2012 11:43 Above: Cars 37 and 54 pass in Masarykova whilst working standard- gauge line 3. The magnificient buildings here pre-date World War One, when the town was Reichenberg. The Franz-Josef-Bad building on the left is undergoing a major renovation.

Above: Sunshine on LIBEREC: 9 February 2009 ESSENTIAL FACTS illuminates the Ještěd, dominating Local travel this view of cars Single tickets can be bought from drivers 80+77 loading but at a premium fare. The cheapest at Kubelíkova for single tickets are obtainable from kiosks Lidové Sady, whilst adjacent to most stops, but not all stock the full range. Day and season tickets 67 continues its can be obtained from the DPMLJ office steady upward at Fügnerova interchange. climb from the town There is an overlapping tariff centre towards the boundary on the interurban line (11) Hanychovs. between Liberec and Jablonec at Prose and tickets issued for travel Below: In wholly within Liberec or Jablonec are Masarykova, not valid for cross-boundary journeys. near Lidové Sady, Tickets validated in Liberec (Zone 1) are valid up to Prose vyhybna. Tickets heading for Horní validated within Jablonec (Zone 2) are Hanychov, with valid up to Kyselka (one stop south-east prototype EVO2 car of Vratislavice turning-circle). More Lidové Sady-bound Above: A meeting of the gauges: Viadukt, with metre-gauge car 35 awaiting its next expensive cross-boundary single tickets alongside at the departure to Jablonec on line 11, whilst on the left standard-gauge car 46 hauls 80 back to are issued and 24-hour and season Botanická-ZOO stop. depot out-of-service. Viadukt is now the southern limit of metre-gauge rails. tickets permitting unlimited travel on the whole system are also available (see below). Single advance tickets range from CZK18 (EUR0.71) to CZK34 (EUR1.35) and these must be validated on boarding with 40 minutes maximum validity from time-stamping (60 minutes at weekends). 24-Hour ‘ride-at-will’ tickets start at CZK70 (EUR2.78,two adults and three children) for Liberec OR Jablonec only, or CZK100 (EUR3.97) for both. Two days for Liberec or Jablonec costs CZK110 (EUR4.37), a week costs CZK220 (EUR8.73).

What is there to see? The old town, with its neo-Renaissance Town Hall, is well worth a stroll (tram routes 2/3 to Šaldovo námeští, then a short walk). The Zoological Gardens at Lidové Sady were the first and are the biggest in Bohemia; on the way, admire the magnificent merchants’ mansions in Masarykova from Reichenberg days, many now serving as museums. For the energetic, take tram route 3 to Horní Hanychov terminus and then the cableway to the top of the Ješt d; on a clear day it is possible to see Poland and Germany.

www.tramnews.net www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 63

59-63_TAUT1302_SF_Liberec.indd 5 18/12/2012 11:43 SUPPORTED BY

London, UK 2 October 2012

ENTRIES FOR THE LIGHT RAIL AWARDS OPEN 1 MARCH 2013 FORMS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM WWW.TRAMNEWS.NET

TAUT1302_LRA.indd 1 04/01/2013 12:36 New tramways for 2013 NEW TRAMWAYS FOR With a strong focus on delayed systems in Spain and exciting developments in North Africa, Michael Taplin reviews the new 2013 systems due to open this year.

Above: Tours redictions for 2012 made a year ago (TAUT Citadis 51 on test crisis has been to slow down the release of funds and 890) turned out to be pretty accurate, although on Avenue de the award of contracts. At least these projects appear as the start of revenue service on the new l’Europe on 14 to be surviving to achieve completion. PCasablanca tramway just squeezed into this year by North Africa, despite political troubles, seems to November 2012 virtue of its December opening (see News, page 44), be fertile ground for the French tramway industry, it could have been included. in northern Tours. with Alstom and RATP Dev to the fore. The Sicilian If 2012 was a year for new French tramways, in Padicha / http:// city of Palermo is inching towards completion of 2013 the focus moves to Spain and North Africa. All letramdetours.net its first sections of tramway first mentioned in our three Spanish lines due to open in 2013 should have tramways to open in 2011 article, in large part due to been finished earlier, but the effect of the economic EU funding.

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 65

65-69_TAUT1302_New tramways 2013.indd 1 18/12/2012 12:40 New tramways for 2013

CÁDIZ The is on a narrow isthmus A new service would run on the main surrounded by the sea, which accounts for .5km (6.5 miles) from Cádiz to La its railway geography. The main line runs Ardila, and then on 13.7km (8.5 miles) of The Spanish city of Cádiz is said to be south from the RENFE station along the new construction through the streets of San the oldest continuously inhabited city in peninsular (including a 2.5km, 1.6-mile, Fernando and on to the town of Chiclana de Iberia, founded by the Phoenicians in 1194 section put into subway ten years ago) la Frontera, a municipality with a population BC. Today it is one of eight provincial before swinging east through the town of 81 500, hitherto served only by buses. capitals in Andalucia, a port on the Bay of of San Fernando, and then north to run Work on the EUR140.5m project began Cádiz, with traditional naval connections, towards Jerez and Sevilla, in 2008, originally for completion in 2010, and a city population around 130 000 (but The Junta of Andalucia has been keen but Andalucia soon became engulfed in the with 630 000 in the metropolitan area). It to promote new tramway systems and Spanish economic crisis, slowing down is twinned with Brest in France and the decided in 2006 that Cádiz offered a good the rate of progress. The scheme survived Medway towns in the UK. opportunity to test the train-tram concept. however and services should start in 2013, perhaps as early as March. In 2009 a EUR43.3m order (including five years’ maintenance) was placed with CAF for seven tram-trains, notable for being the first broad gauge (1668mm) trams built for a Spanish network. The 37.7m cars have high-floor (760mm) and low-floor (380mm) sections and are dual voltage (750V and 3000V dc) with a top speed of 100km/h (62mph). The first car, 801.001, was tested at Irun in April 2012. By November two cars were available for testing on the new line in San Fernando. What is less certain is whether the second phase of Metropolitano Bahia de Cádiz will go ahead. This is to be a new line across the narrowest point of the bay to provide a much shorter connection to Puerto Real and then on the main line to Aeropuerto de Jerez. Left: CAF tram-train 801 undergoing tests on the Cádiz – La Ardila line in September 2012. Mikel Quintana Perez

Although referred to as light rail or metro, low-floor trams (with an option for a most of the infrastructure is of tramway further four). The contract price includes type, but in the city centre a 2.7km (1.7- maintenance for five years. The first was This Spanish city, capital of the province of mile) subway has been built to avoid the delivered in June 2012, eight months Granada, has an urban population of narrow streets. Underground stations have later than originally envisaged. The depot 472 600 and is best known for the Alhambra 65m platforms to accommodate a coupled and workshops have been built by the palace, dating from the Moorish occupation set of five-section cars. ring motorway on the boundary between (1228-1492). In the first half of the 20th The standard-gauge line is 15.9km (9.9 Granada and . Century Granada had an extensive network miles) long, 63% in the City of Granada With a capacity for 33 cars switched in of urban tramways and the famous Sierra and 37% in the adjacent municipalities of November on the southern 4km (2.5 miles) Nevada interurban line. The urban network Armilla, Maracena and , with 26 of line to permit vehicle testing to begin. was closed from the 1960s and the Sierra stops and an end-to-end Nevada in 1974. journey time of 47 minutes. In 1998 the city council and the Junta The northern terminus is at of Andalucia started to develop plans Jacobo Camararo in Albolote for a north-south light rail line, and after and the tramway serves the consultation it was agreed to go ahead bus station and the university in 2005. A financing agreement totalling before entering the subway EUR460m was put in place in 2006, on to the underground stations the premise that it would be a publicly- Mendez Nunez, Recogidas financed project under the sponsorship of and Rio Genil, surfacing the Government of Andalucia (which was again at Hipica, continuing to promoting several tramway and light rail Parque Tecnologico and the schemes). However the Spanish financial southern terminus Poniente. crisis meant the amount of public funding There is a section of single available was sharply reduced, so in track near the southern December 2010 the public-private company terminus in Armilla where Granada Metro SA was established with up the line uses a rebuilt to 49% private sector involvement. By 2012 pedestrian underpass below the cost estimate had risen to EUR502m. the N-323 highway. There Construction work started in April are interchanges at the 2007, and should have finished in 2012, railway station and at Los but financial problems have delayed Caármenes for local buses. completion. Although planned to open this In April 2010 CAF was The first of the 15 trams ordered for the Granada tramway was year, local reports speculate that public awarded a EUR43.9m delivered from CAF’s Santana factory on 7 September 2012. service may not start until early 2014. contract for 13 32m Urbos 3 CAF/Metropolitano de Granada

66 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

65-69_TAUT1302_New tramways 2013.indd 2 18/12/2012 12:40 MANACOR – ARTÀ The rural tram-train alignment between Manacor and Arta. SFM Mallorca is the largest of Spain’s Mediterranean Balearic islands, best known for tourism, and by tram fans for its historic Palma – Soller electric railway with its tramway extension to the seafront at Soller. Half the population lives in the capital city, Palma, which has had a metro service to the university since 2007. The metro shares its Palma Plaça d’Espanya terminus with the Serveis Ferrviaris de Mallorca SFM metre-gauge railway. The Mallorcan rail network was originally built to the three-foot gauge (914mm) with the fi rst line from Palma to Inca opening in 1875. Lines were extended and reached Manacor in the east, continuing to Arta in 1921. The single-track system was nationalised in 1951 and became part of the FEVE narrow-gauge operation in 1961. A closure programme was started, which saw Manacor – Arta services cease in 1977, leaving just Palma – Inca with diesel trains. Responsibility was transferred to the regional government, which adopted a programme to revive the network, and converted the Palma – Inca line to metre-gauge in 1983. In 2001 the Inca – Sa Pobla section reopened, and trains reached Manacor again in 2004. The busiest section, Palma – Incas was doubled and electrifi ed at a cost of EUR30m in 2011. SFM has run the system since 1994 and today markets the network under the Transports de le Iles Balears (TIB) designation. A scheme developed to reopen the 30km (18.6- mile) from Manacor to Arta at a cost of EUR150.1m, with tramway sections to bring service closer to the centre of the towns. This tram-train scheme was approved before the collapse of the Spanish economy, and a foundation stone was laid by the islands’ President on 29 March 2010. The contract to clear the alignment and renovate platforms and buildings was completed in June 2011, but no track or electrifi cation work had taken place, and all work was then suspended for fi nancial reasons. Meanwhile, in 2009 Vossloh-Kiepe was given an order for six 37m three-section 1500v dc tram-trains, based on the Alacant design but with a new drive system featuring IGBT direct pulse thyristors to control three-phase asynchronous motors. All were delivered in 2011, and after time in storage were used in service in 2012 to provide supplementary express service to cater for increasing passenger numbers. A contract for tracklaying and electrifi cation has now been let, and SFM is forecasting that passenger service will start in 2013, though without giving a date. Son Carrió depot seen on 28 March 2011; major structural works are complete. J. Seidel

The fi rst of the Vossloh-Kiepe tram-trains for the Manacor – Arta line at the electric train depot outside Palma. J. Seidel

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 67

65-69_TAUT1302_New tramways 2013.indd 3 18/12/2012 12:41 New tramways for 2013

ORAN

Oran is Algeria’s second city, on the Mediterranean coast 350km (approx. 220 miles) west of the capital, with a population of 760 000 (though 1.5 million live in the metropolitan area). Horse trams appeared in 1886 and electric trams were operated from 1899 to 1955, during the period of the French colonisation of Algeria. Today it is a major port and commercial centre, with three universities. The city is benefiting from a national revival of interest and resources for public transport, with a new tramway already open in Algiers and another also under construction in Constantine, and planned for several other cities. An obvious beneficiary has been the French group Alstom, which has supplied its Citadis low-floor trams and taken a leading role in the construction consortia. Announced in 2005, the standard-gauge tramline will run for 19km (11.8 miles) from Es-Sénia in the south to Sidi Maarouf in the The first gauging trial with an AlstomCitadis on the Oran tramway. W. L. Mic east, passing through the city centre and serving the university, with 31 stops. Although the foundation stone was not laid by President January 2011 and was completed in July. The first trials on 4km (2.5 Bouteflika until 16 December 2009, work began at the end of 2008, miles) of tramway near Sidi Maarouf depot (at the east end of the with a budget of EUR355m, and a hope that public service could line) did not take place until 20 February 2012. A four-minute peak start in 2012. However the construction consortium Tramnour frequency is planned with a commercial speed of 20km/h (12.5mph). (Alstom plus the Spanish isolux Corsan group) encountered delays, A dummy timetabled service is planned to start on 5 March 2013, and it was not until May 2012 that RATP Dev was announced as with inauguration of passenger service at the end of May. operator and maintenance provider, although officially it has a 49% There are plans for a 48km (25-mile) network. Already approved share in the company, Metro d’Alger holds 30%, and Entreprise de are two extensions, in the east by a large loop to the university at transport urbain et subirbain d’Alger (the Algiers bus operator) 21%. Belgaid (16km, ten miles), and in the south to the airport (4.5km, The tramway will be worked by 30 43.9m Alstom Citadis 402 2.8 miles). A third line is planned to link the city centre with El trams. Delivery from Alstom’s plant in Spain began at the end of Hamri suburban bus station (8.6km, 5.3 miles).

PALERMO

Palermo is the capital of the Italian island of Sicily, noted for history, culture, architecture and gastronomy. The population is 855 000, with 1.2 million people living in the urban area. The city has a significant underground economy and is struggling to cope with sprawling urban growth and horrendous traffic issues. Commuter rail service has been provided since 1990. Metre-gauge trams were operated from 1887 to 1947, began in 2006. At that time the 15km (9.3- Above: A Bombardier Flexity Outlook in the when trolleybuses took over. mile) system with 44 stops should have been workshop at Roccella depot in Palermo. Mediomen Plans for a three-line modern tramway carrying passengers in 2011, but there have were discussed from 1996 and approved in been endless construction delays, and now Above left: Bombardier’s Flexity Outlook trams for 2002 and work on the EUR194.8m scheme it is hoped to finish work on lines 1 and 2 Palermo in storage at Simmering in Wien, awaiting transfer to Palermo in late 2009. D. Sparing Teatro Palermo’s commuter rail is shown Massimo in October 2013 (Palermo’s new mayor in red; grey is the main line rail stated in November 2012 that he hopes to STAZIONE network. Tramway line 1 is the have line 1 open in July 2013) and line 3 in Borsa CENTRALE Randazzo to the south-east, 2016. The EU regional development fund is Ingrassia while the yellow line is the contributing EUR68.7m. GIULIO Tiro a Segno southern end of a proposed Line 1 runs from Stazione Centrale to CESARE automated metro. Roccella (Forum Palermo, 5.6km, 3.5 miles), Ponte Ammiraglio with a depot at the outer end. There is no Oreto Nord San Giovanni del Lebbrosi connection to lines 2 and 3. links Amedeo d’Aosta Piazza Armerina in the S. Paolo district with Reber Di Vittorio Missori Bione Stazione Notarbartolo (4.8km, three miles),

Oreto Sud Sperone with a depot near Castellana.Line 3 (4.5km, Laudicina 2.8 miles) runs from Stazione Notarbartolo Brancaccio to Terminal CEP, and shares the line 2 XXVII Residenziale Bacile depot. The standard-gauge system is mostly Maggio street track, with reservation where possible. C Ordered in 2006, 17 32m five-section Oreto M Bombardier Flexity Outlook 100% low- Svincolo ROCCELLA floor trams were built at the former Rotax factory in Wien, with delivery to Roccella BRANCACCIO INDUSTRIALE depot starting on 18 May 2011.

68 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

65-69_TAUT1302_New tramways 2013.indd 4 21/12/2012 09:49 TOURS

The city on the river Loire will be the only new French tramway to open in 2013, compared with three new systems in 2012. The north–south tramway was planned because the matching bus route 1 was heading towards saturation, something recognised in the community transport plan of 2003. The choice of a new tramline was made by the politicians in 2007, and one of the factors in this choice was the possibility of running trams with surface contact current collection in the historic centre. A public inquiry in summer 2010 led to a declaration of public utility in December, and work started in early 2011. The EUR370m project has received EUR33m state grant and EUR150m from the EU. The region is contributing EUR22m, the Département EUR14.6m and the city EUR50m. The balance will be a loan Above: Works on Rue de la fi nanced by the product of a 1.8% versement Rotière in the south of Tours on transport employment tax. 19 November 2012. Trackwork is The 14.8km (9.2-mile) line links Lycée almost complete; grass track has Vaucansson in the north (including a park- been used extensively. Padicha / and-ride site) with Lycée Monnet in the http://letramdetours.net south, via two bridges (across the Loire and Cher rivers) the city centre (with 1.8km, 1.1 Left: On the same day, this view miles, of APS surface current collection) of Avenue de la République on the and Gare SNCF. In September 2010 Alstom north side of the River Loire shows was chosen to supply 21 Citadis 402 100% trackwork still well underway. low-fl oor trams for EUR73m, the fi rst order Padicha / http://letramdetours.net for 43m cars by a French provincial system outside Bordeaux. The fi rst was delivered in September 2012 as car 51, following on Park-and-ride R from the fi rst generation fl eet that ran for the last time in September 1947. The trams Coppée Marne Lycée Vaucansson will carry 55 000 passengers/day according Beffroi to estimates. A depot and workshop have Monconseil been built at the south end of the line. Trois-Rivières Opening is expected to take place on Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire 1 September, and like the bus it replaces, R Pilorget the tramway will be marketed under the name fi l bleu (the representing the Tranchée River Loire). The tram livery is nominally Mi-Côte black (with LEDs to make it visible to other Choiseul road users), but with silver side panels to give a stylish refl ective effect. Special La Loire A. France equipment will maintain the exterior fi nish (the area is known for its hard water). Nationale La Riche Jean-Jaurès Gare SNCF Saint-Pierre-des-Corps Tours Palais des sports Liberté Sanitas Charcot Valadon Verdun Le Cher Deux-Lions Université Pont-Cher Joué-les-Tours Gare SNCF Saint Avertin Mairie Gratias Rabière Chambray-Lès-Tours The maintenance centre in Tours is state of the art Stade Jean-Bouin and already complete. Seen here on 28 September R The route of the north–south tramway in Tours. 2012. Padicha / http://letramdetours.net Lycée Monnet

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 69

65-69_TAUT1302_New tramways 2013.indd 5 21/12/2012 09:50 WORLDWIDE REVIEW ALGERIA

MOSTAGNEM. Tenders were invited for the construction of two tramlines on 19 November. It is hoped to start passenger service in 2016. A. Senut

AUSTRALIA

BENDIGO. The Bendigo tramway is to receive an AUD8800 (EUR7110) Federal Community Heritage Grant to archive its collection accumulated during its 42-year history. TW BROADBEACH – SOUTHPORT. Surfboards have been sent to Bombardier’s factory in Germany to ensure the 14 Flexity 2 trams under construction for the Gold Coast line have the correct interior dimensions. ABC News CALOUNDRA – MAROOCHYDORE. The Queensland government is earmarking AUD4m (EUR3.2m) for a feasibility study of a tramline serving the Sunshine Coast. The business case should be presented in June. TA

AUSTRIA Manchester Metrolink car 3033 crosses the extensive road junction level crossing at Oldham Mumps whilst WIEN (VIENNA). The 650m tramway operating a pre-opening ‘ghost service’ from Shaw & Crompton on 10 December 2012. Mike Haddon extension for line D to Hauptbahnhof-Ost opened on 9 December. The timetable change to 69th St W began regular passenger service on receive their low-floor centre sections in 2013; saw S-Bahn station Südbhf renamed Wien 10 December. E. B. Havens 9048 will instead join the museum fleet. DS Quartier Belvedere. EB HAMILTON. Metrolinx has announced that the 14km (8.6-mile) Hamilton LRT project has ECUADOR AZERBAIJAN been given a high priority in its 15-year plan. Local councillors are concerned the CAD1bn QUITO. The BAKU. Polish company Tines has presented (EUR778m) project is unaffordable. E. B. Havens has agreed to provide EUR200m loan to the proposals to the city to participate in the MISSISSAUGA. The proposed 23km (14.2- government to help finance the construction of extension of the metro network, which is due to mile) light rail line is now part of the official the city’s first metro line. RGI open five new stations by 2016. A. Bailey plan of regional transit agency Metrolinx. E. B. Havens EGYPT BANGLADESH CHINA EL QAHIRA (CAIRO). The European DHAKA. Japan has agreed to provide a Investment Bank has signed the first EUR200m USD2.7bn loan to permit construction of a DALIAN. CNR Dalian is to supply 38 six-car tranche of a EUR600m loan to part fund the first 20.1km (12.4-mile) metro by 2017. The total metro sets for Line 1, set to open in the first half phase of metro line 3. The project is co-financed cost of the project is estimated at USD2.7bn, of 2014. RGI by Agence Française de Development. RGI and will be delivered on a PPP basis. A. Bailey HANGZHOU. Metro operation started on 24 November with the opening of the 48km (29.8- FRANCE mile) line 1 (41km, 25.4 miles, underground, 31 stations) from Linpig/Wenzelu to Xianghu. The AMIENS. On 22 November the city council BRUXELLES/BRUSSEL. The latest Bombardier city is the 17th in China to open a metro, and voted in favour of the construction of a tramline Flexity trams to enter service are 3117-20 and boasts the longest first line opening. Operation on a 10km (6.2-mile) north–south alignment. 4036. ‘tram-2000’ is in the hands of a local government/MTR Opening in 2018 is being targeted. A. Senut consortium. CSR Nanjing Puzhen supplied 48 LYON. Operation on tramline T5 involves three BRAZIL six-car trains. A. Bailey cars operating between Grange Blanc and Parc du SHANGHAI. Alstom has been awarded a Chêne; when events are held at Expo two extra BELO HORIZONTE. Frota BH, a consortium EUR37m contract to install traction equipment cars are required with trams terminating there. of CAF and Alstom, will supply new metro in 35 six-car metro trains being built by CNR The Part Dieu Sud tram station reconstruction trains for delivery in 2014. Rail.co Changchun to augment the fleets of lines 3 and has involved the abandonment of 300m of track, PORTO ALEGRE. A CAF-Alstom consortium 4. There are plans to build a 10km (6.2-mile) which has been replaced by a straight track to has been awarded the USD115m contract for 15 suspended monorail line to link Hongqiao a junction between T3/RhônExpress and T4 at new four-car metro trains, to be delivered before airport with the metro. It is hoped, to inaugurate the site of the old Gare de l’Est. The new island the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Rail.co Air Train in late 2015.‘ Shanghai Daily’ platform is required only if congestion occurs URUMQI. CNY31bn (EUR3.7bn) investment at Part Dieu Villette. Tram-train service to is proposed for the two-line 48km (29.8-mile) Brignais was launched on 8 December. E. Stuart metro, to be completed by 2019. A. Bailey PARIS. Metro line 12 was extended from Porte SOFIA. 21 November saw work begin on the de la Chapelle to Auberviliers Front Populaire 5km (3.1-mile) metro extension to the airport, CZECH REPUBLIC on 18 December; 14 more six-car rubber-tyred expected to be completed in 2015. A. Bailey Alstom MP05 metro trains have been ordered PRAHA (). Fifty years of the Tatra T3 for delivery in 2014-15, ready for the 5.8km CANADA tram was marked on 18 November with a special (3.6-mile) extension of line 14 to Marie de tour using preserved examples 6102 and 6340. Saint-Ouen. The EUR127m contract is being CALGARY. The CAD1.4bn (EUR1.09bn) 8km The tramway museum also has 6149. The last funded by STIF. Alstom has already supplied (4.9-mile) West light rail line from 10th St SW unrebuilt KT8D5 trams (9016/30/42/48) will 43 trains of this type to the line. RGI

70 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

70-73_TAUT1302_WWR.indd 1 18/12/2012 11:07 ROUEN. It is reported that the 28 Alstom TFS2 ISRAEL BRAILA. Rebuilt route 21 from Brailita to the trams made surplus by the delivery of new city centre has reopened, worked by ex-Wien Citadis cars will be sold to the Turkish city of JERUSALEM. Correction from December six-axle articulated trams and ex-Berlin Tatra Gaziantep for EUR5.2m. A. Senut (TAUT 900): the number of passengers carried KT4D. BS on a regular weekday is 90 000. Despite the CLUJ-NAPOCA. All the ex-Magdeburg T4D GERMANY numbers, the guarantee on revenue given to the have been scrapped, but 23 ex-Berlin KT4D Citypass consortium has not been achieved, and numbered in the range 03-52 remain in service DARMSTADT. Tenders are being prepared by the government has given a subsidy of NIS80m alongside the new PESA low-floor cars. BS HEAG for 10-20 new trams by 2018. DS (EUR16.2m) for 2012. David-Lloyd Klepper GALATI. The route network as been re- FRANKFURT-AM-MAIN. Tenders have been organised. All-day services are: 7 Pta Centrala invited for the 2.7km (1.6-mile) extension of ITALY – Pta Energiei – Stadionul Otelul – Pta Centrala; Stadtbahn line U5 through Europaviertel, from 8, Piata Centrala – Bazinul Nou; 39, Stadionul Platz der Republik to Wohnpark. Opening is BERGAMO. AnsaldoBreda tram 004 has been Otelul – Pta Energiei – Comat – Cimitirul programmed for December 2017. DS fitted with the Supercapacitor Energy Recovery Israelit; 44, Comat – Biserica St Mina – Piata KÖLN (COLOGNE). The 525m tram subway System, to verify claims that energy bills can be Centrala. Five other services are provided for from Hbf to Rathaus, built at a cost of EUR47m, reduced by 20-25%. TR specific shift times only. Ex-Rotterdam trams opened on 9 December. Next December the line and ex-Berlin KT4D provide all-day service, will be extended a further 370m to Heumarkt. DS MEXICO while the peak journeys may see ex-Frankfurt/ MAGDEBURG. The end of operation with Main 1269+1275 in use, as well as the last Tatra trams has been announced for 27 January, GENERAL. With new President Enrique Peña ex-Dresden T4D+B4D 1306+1271. BS when they will be withdrawn from route 3. The Nieto, the federal transport and communications IASI. Ex-Nordhausen GT4 are 379-81 working first Tatra T4D arrived in Magdeburg in 1969, ministry announced urban rail improvements on from Gara depot. BS followed by T6 cars in 1990. DS 1 December, including Monterrey metro line 3, ORADEA. Ex-Magdeburg T4D+B4D are MANNHEIM. Planning permission for the a mass transit system serving Chalco and La Paz 8+108, 21+121, 45+145 and 46+146, plus EUR78m Stadtbahn-Nord project has been and extension of Guadalajara light rail. A. Bailey trailer 122, replacing earlier cars with these granted and work on the 7.5km (4.6-mile) MEXICO CITY. STE has invited tenders for numbers. BS tramline along Ulmenweg and Hessische the supply of four new LRVs for the Xochimilco SIBIU. Although no regular tram service is Strasse started on 3 December. Completion is line. Further to our January 2012 report (issue running, an ex-Geneve set still appears on expected in 2016. The new turning circle at TAUT 889), plans to operate 1899 Brill tram 0 private hires, plus an early morning round trip Wallstadt was completed on 3 December and in service have not advanced since 2011 and are to check the route is still intact. BS brought into use for six days later. DS believed to have been dropped. S. J. Morgan MÜNCHEN (MUNICH). After ten years as a party tram, P set 2031+3039 has returned to NETHERLANDS regular passenger service on route 17. DS KRASNODAR. Three KTM-5 trams PLAUEN. The order for Bombardier Flexity ROTTERDAM. A total of 44 withdrawn (513/25/39) have been rebodied by a factory in trams has been increased from two to six; 30-year old type T metro cars have been sold to Tichoresk, and work on route 1 together with delivery will start in late 2013. Back-to-back the Turkish city of Bursa, which will dismantle the only partly low-floor carKTM-23 246. BS operation of KT4D trams on temporary line E7 19 for spares and put 25 into service on its light OSINNIKI. Belkommunmash of Minsk has caused by bridge works ended on 25 November. rail line after refurbishment in Germany. IRJ delivered BKM-602.01 trams 70/1. Other trams STRAUSBERG. In order to make room at the in the fleet are RVZ-6 32/3/5 and 42; LM-93 56, depot for the impending delivery of new Flexity POLAND 60/3-5 and LM-99 66-69. BS Berlin cars, museum tram 16 (Uerdingen SANKT PETERBURG. On 27 December 1925) has had to be moved to open storage at KATOWICE. The ten type E1 trams acquired metro was to be extended by two Flughafen. It is hoped that a roof can be erected from Wien in 2012 are in service as 939-48 (ex- stations in the south-east suburb of Kupchino: before too long. Märkische Oderzeitung WstW 4787, 4809/13/7/25/15/6/9/26/8); 944 and Bukharestskaya and Mezhdunarodnaya. DS STUTTGART. The first Stadler Tango DT8.12 948 are being used as spares. Ex-Wien C3 trailer 3501 was delivered to Möhringen workshops 1224 has been acquired from Krakow without SOUTH KOREA on 7 December. DS entering service there. Tenders have been invited WOLTERSDORF. The tramway centenary for the reconstruction (as double track) of line SEOUL. Bundang metro line was extended from will be celebrated with special events over the 7 between Lagiewniki Targowiska and Bytom Giheung to Mangpo on 1 December. urbanrail.net period 17-19 May. M. J. Russell (Pl Sikorskiego). Service on this section was suspended in 2008 due to track conditions. EB,DS SPAIN KRAKÓW. The last ex-Nürnberg six-axle trams were withdrawn on 1 December. DS DONOSTIA – HENDAYE. The metre-gauge DEBRECEN. A new funding agreement has SZCZECIN. The first of a further 42 ex-Berlin EuskoTren line has been renamed Metro been put in place that should permit work KT4D trams arrived on 21 November, to join Donostialdea as further track-doubling projects to restart on the stalled project to create a the 32 cars of this type already in service. DS get underway to permit a 7.5-minute metro-style second tramline (a branch from Kálvin tér to TORUN. Tenders have been invited for 18 low- frequency by 2017, when 23 million passengers/ Doberdó utca). The total cost of the project is floor trams for delivery in 2014-15. BS year should be carried. Thursday 4 October now HUF17.7bn (EUR62m) and opening is WARSZAWA. Tenders for 45 new double- 2012 saw the opening of the 2.7km (1.6-mile) predicted for 20 December 2013. TR ended trams showed PESA as the lowest bidder diversion between Loiola and Herrera, with at PLN377.4m (EUR92.5m), with Solaris 1.6km (0.9 miles) in-tunnel including a new INDIA bidding PLN481.4m (EUR117.5m) and CAF underground station Intxaurrondo. TR PLN573.3m (EUR140m). Delivery should start MUMBAI. The first end-to-end test run on in spring 2014. PESA has completed delivery of the 8.3km (5.1-mile) monorail from Wadala to all 14 EN97 EMUs to the WKD interurban line, Chembur took place on 22 November, at which with upgrading of the power supply from 600V BERN. Federal approval has been given for point it was hoped that passenger service might dc to 3000V dc scheduled for the summer. DS the plans to extend tramline 9 to Kleinwabern start in March. A. Bailey and build a new line from Ostermundigen to Köniz. The state will contribute CHF74.4m ISLE OF MAN (EUR61m). ‘tram’ BOTOSANI. Eleven ex-Dresden T4D trams are BERN – SOLOTHURN/WORB (RBS). Preserved MANX ELECTRIC RAILWAY. Work on numbered 339-345 and 1201-4. Existing cars 1913 car 36 has returned to Solothurn depot construction of the tram and bus interchange 339-44 have been renumbered 319/21-3/5/30/4. after overhaul in the RhB workshops, and will adjoining the Ramsey station of the Manx All the ex-Magdeburg cars have been scrapped, be commissioned for operation during centenary Electric Railway is likely to begin during 2013. as has ex-Dresden 327. BS celebrations of the Worb line in August. DS

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 71

70-73_TAUT1302_WWR.indd 2 18/12/2012 11:08 Worldwide Review

ZÜRICH. Six pre-qualified companies have The prototype set (4001/2) will not be review process will now start, followed by a bid been invited to submit tenders for the new fleet refurbished and will remain as at present. A for federal funding to pay for the balance of the of trams: Alstom, Bombardier, Siemens, Stadler, further pair of cars will not be treated and will USD125m scheme. R. Christensen Skoda and Vossloh-Kiepe; 43m 100% low-floor only be used at times of pressure. Nexus has MINNEAPOLIS – ST PAUL, MN. On 8 cars with 90 seats are required; 30 with an option also dropped GBP4m (approx. EUR4.9m) of December the USD243m refurbishment of St for a further 40. Bids must be submitted by the planned level crossing improvements and rather Paul Union Station was unveiled. The transit end of February, with first deliveries planned than fitting new gates will install safety cameras. hub will be served by the Central Corridor light for December 2016, to replace the 1976 batch The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has rail line from 2014. E. B. Havens of Tram 2000 cars. Tagesanzeiger released its report into an incident in which NEW YORK, NY. A free shuttle service along a person became trapped in a train door at the Rockaway peninsula was inaugurated UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Jarrow station in April last year. No injury on 20 November after 20 R32 subway cars was caused. The RAIB has made a number of were trucked in from the mainland. The line DUBAI. On the metro Red line, Danube recommendations, which cover improvements to Howard Beach is still closed due to storm (formerly Jebel Ali Industrial) station opened to the reliability of the door control circuits and damage. Repairing the damage caused by on 12 December. improving driver’s visibility of the platform/ Hurricane Sandy is costing the MTA USD5bn. Bombardier Transportation has been awarded train interface at stations. The R line tunnel between New York and a UAD392m (EUR81m) contract for a 1.5km WEST MIDLANDS. The West Midlands Brooklyn, South Ferry terminus on line A and the (0.93-mile) elevated peoplemover to link Passenger Transport Executive, Centro, has Rockaway connection are several weeks away Terminal 1 with the new Concourse 4 at Dubai entered into new partnership agreement with from re-opening. On 3 December R train service International Airport. 18 Innovia APM300 cars Midland Metro operator National Express to Whitehall St in Manhattan was provided will be supplied for the opening in 2014. RGI Midland Metro. This allows for extension of the for the first time since Sandy struck. E. B. Havens line into Birmingham city centre, provision of NEW YORK – NEW JERSEY (PATH). the new fleet of trams and extension to the depot Weekday service to the World Trade Center at Wednesbury. Supplementary to the formal in lower Manhattan resumed on 26 November MANCHESTER (METROLINK). The Concession Deed, the agreement provides following the completion of flooding repairs. Oldham Mumps service was extended to Derker measures to improve passenger experience and Trains remained suspended at weekends. and Shaw & Crompton on 16 December, with to seek a further growth in patronage. Hoboken station remained closed. E. B. Havens an opening date for the Droylsden line given as Plans are being developed for a new spur NORFOLK, VA. Virginia Beach city 11 February. Trams were out-stationed on both off the extended line from Upper Bull Street council has given its approval to plans to sections for driver training and testing purposes across to Moor Street station and the planned extend the Norfolk light rail line west into from November, stabling just east of Piccadilly HS2 high-speed rail station in the Eastside its area. A decision on how far the line will station on the Droylsden line and at Milnrow (Curzon Street) area. Plans are also in progress go will be made when a consultant’s report stop on the Rochdale section. Both lines are to take the existing Snow Hill to New Street is available this summer. E. B. Havens relatively complete and opening appears to be Station extension on through Paradise Circus OCEANSIDE – ESCONDIDO, CA. A delayed only by commissioning of the new to Centenary Square. The extensions are being USD130 000 consulting contract has been operating system on other sections. M5000 backed by the HS2 Local Connectivity Group awarded to PB Americas to study extension of trams up to 3060 have been delivered and trams made up of local authorities, businesses and the diesel light rail line from Oceanside to the from the 3051-58 batch are being used for organisations across the region, which is also US Marine Corps base at Camp Pendleton, testing the new lines. progressing a proposed bus rapid transit system home to 45 000 personnel, with 25 000 more In Rochdale work is proceeding on the to connect Eastside, Moor Street station, New commuting in daily. E. B. Havens line between the station and the town centre Street station and the Broad Street area to be PHOENIX, AZ. LRT ridership in October 2012 transport interchange. Rail is being laid on known as SPRINT. was 1.38 million, the highest since opening, the highway approach to the new Interchange and up 9.6% on October 2011. E. B. Havens building that was given a special final ‘bolt- USA PORTLAND, OR. The first rail for the tightening’ ceremony in November. It should be light rail extension to Milwaukie was laid operational later this year with the tram service CHARLOTTE, NC. The ground-breaking on 26 November; the project is 30% complete. extended from Rochdale station early in 2014. ceremony for the USD119m heritage tramway The number of trams required for Monday-to- Planning permission has also been granted took place on 12 December. Friday service on the expanded Streetcar system for the new GBP6.7m (EUR8.25m) interchange DETROIT, MI. The release of USD25m in is five on the CL line and six on the NS Portland at Wythenshawe that will replace the existing federal funding for the USD125m 5.4km (3.3- line (rather than vice-versa); the total is 11, with interchange and link the new Metrolink service mile) private tramway proposed by the M-1 no spares. Saturday service requires ten cars with local buses. Construction contracts are to Group was still held up in December as arguments (5+5), Sunday eight (4+4). US prototype car 15 be let shortly and the building is to open in 2015. continued over the creation of a regional transit is normally scheduled to operate daily except Manchester City Council’s planning agency. Some politicians oppose giving the Sunday; not until the last week of October did committee has approved the removal of the agency powers to levy property taxes to improve it succeed in running a full week (six days) Cenotaph in St Peter’s Square to a new location transport. Passed by the Senate on 27 November, without being taken out of service. as part of the Metrolink Second City Crossing and the House two weeks later, the bill to In early December there was no sign of the project, despite objections being lodged by create the agency was awaiting the Governor’s production United Streetcar trams that were English Heritage and the War Memorial Trust. signature in mid-December. E. B. Havens due to start arriving on 29 November, as per Chris Mulligan, the former Director HONOLULU, HI. The City Council voted on the revised production schedule. A new date of General of the Passenger Transport Executive 5 December to sign a full funding agreement 16 December was set. In connection with the (predecessor of the current Transport for with the FTA providing USD1.5bn in federal major changes to the fare system in September, Greater Manchester), credited with bringing support for the USD5.2m metro project, due ticket vending machines TVMs were installed trams to the city, died in November aged 62. to open in 2017. The authority had to budget at every Portland Streetcar stop (about 70 stops) He was Director General 1991-2006 but had USD25.9m for construction delays caused by and were brought into use in September. These worked for the PTE for 30 years prior to his the High Court ruling requiring archeological accept only credit and debit cards. TVMs carried early retirement on health grounds and played surveys of burial sites along the route. E. B. Havens onboard the 11 trams, which until now had been a key role in the building of the first Metrolink KENOSHA, WI. The city council has approved the only TVMs on the PS system, continue to line between Bury and Altrincham. a capital budget for FYs 2013-14 that includes accept cash payment. S. J. Morgan TYNE & WEAR. A deficit in the budget for USD10.2m in funding for an extension of the SACRAMENTO, CA. The FTA has approved the Metro transformation project linked to a heritage tramway. E. B. Havens a full funding agreement of USD270m for the reduction of GBP1.6m (EUR1.97m) in revenues LOS ANGELES, CA. The special election to 6.9km (4.2-mile) extension of the South light over the summer following flooding and strikes approve USD62.5m bond issue from property rail line to Cosumnes River College. Work is to has led to a cut in the number of Metro trains owners in the city centre tax district to help be completed in September 2015. E. B. Havens being refurbished from 90 to 86. A revised finance the Downtown Streetcar project passed SAN ANTONIO, TX. The Texas Transport contract has been negotiated with Wabtec. with a 73% approval vote. The environmental Commission has approved a funding swap that

72 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

70-73_TAUT1302_WWR.indd 3 18/12/2012 11:08 will allow San Antonio to receive USD92m to this spring. Decisions are due to be taken shortly LEEDS HORSE TRAM (UK). The restoration fund a new tramway, avoiding legal complica- about linking the two lines. E. B. Havens of Leeds Tramway Company horse car 107 is tions over the definition of light rail.E. B. Havens progressing well with the tram now occupying SAN FRANCISCO, CA (MUNI). The latest MUSEUM NEWS accommodation at the Middleton Railway double-ended PCC to re-enter service after (Leeds) where it has been moved by hand along reconstruction by Brookville is 1009, painted in red BEAMISH (UK). Blackpool 304 last operated 200 yards (183m) of track linking storage sheds and cream Dallas Railway & Terminal Co livery. at Beamish on 24 November when it derailed at the railway site. Free rides were to be offered on 28 December to on one of the crossings and was withdrawn SKJOLDENAESHOLM (DK). On 20 mark the centenary of municipal operation. ERA from service. It was then prepared for a return November the rear section of Düwag articulated SAN JOSE, CA. VTA is proposing a 2.6km to storage in Blackpool. tram 815 was sent to the Gera tramway (1.6-mile) light rail extension from Winchester EAST HAVEN, CT (US). The Shore Line trolley workshop, where it will be restored to original station at Campbell to Los Gatos, estimated to Museum in Branford held a ground-breaking condition. The same transporter returned fully- cost USD175m. E. B. Havens ceremony for the Elevating the Collection flood restored København two-axle tram 327. DS SANTA ROSA – SAN RAFAEL, CA. With six relief project. E. B. Havens two-car DMUs on order from Sumitomo for FLEETWOOD HERITAGE LEISURE CONTRIBUTORS USD40m for the 59km (33.6-mile) light rail line TRUST (UK). The Trust is continuing efforts to now under construction, SMART is looking to secure grants so that work can begin on its Tram Worldwide items should be sent to Worldwide exercise its option for further cars at USD2.9m Museum project at the former Copse Road depot Editor Michael Taplin at Flat 1, 10 Hope each in readiness for the eventual extensions to in Fleetwood. The Trust has received support Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 create a Cloverdale – Larkspur line. However from Fleetwood Town Council, Blackpool 6EA, UK – Fax: +44 (0)1983 862810 or the FTA has first to be persuaded to make a Transport Services and the local MP. One of the [email protected]. further USD6.6m in grant available. E. B. Havens trams intended for exhibition, Centenary Car UK and Ireland items are welcomed by John SEATTLE, WA. Construction of the 2.6km 646, which had been acquired by Paul Gaunt Symons, 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, (1.6-mile) South 200th light rail link will start Furniture in whose advertising livery it last Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 0LW, UK. E-mail this year following the award of a USD169m operated in Blackpool, was damaged in attacks [email protected]. design-build contract to PCL Civil Constructors. by local youths at Paul Gaunt’s site. It is likely Contributors this month include Mike Opening is planned for 2016. E. B. Havens that it will now be used as a source of spares. Haddon. Acknowledgements are also due to TAMPA, FL. To increase revenue, two of the HEATON PARK (UK). Advance works ahead ABC News, BS Blickpunkt Strassenbahn, DS GOMACO trams on the TECO heritage line now of construction of the new tram depot began Drehscheibe Strassenbahn, EB, Edinburgh feature all-over advertising liveries. E. B. Havens at the beginning of December. Donations Evening News, Fylde Tramway Society, WASHINGTON, DC. The site for the future have raised sufficient funds for the shell of the Irish Times, IRJ International Rail Journal, tram depot for the H St - Benning Rd line, has building, but further funding is still required Markische Oderzeitung, MTMS, Nottingham been designated an historic site, which is likely to cover brickwork, trackwork and overhead Evening Post, tram-2000, ‘tram’, Tagesanzeiger, to further delay the project. wiring. Donations can be made via the website TW, TA Transit Australia, VERA, Rail.co, The three Czech-built trams will be moved to at www.heatonparktramway.org.uk. RGI Railway Gazette International, Shanghai a yard on Capitol St shortly so that testing on the Tram 7, the former Blackpool Vanguard car, Daily, The Scotsman, urbanrail.net and completed section of the line can start is being used as the winter work tram. Wolverhampton Express & Star.

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 73

70-73_TAUT1302_WWR.indd 4 18/12/2012 11:08 [email protected] +44 (0)1832 281145 LETTERS Letters should be clearly typed and preferably not handwritten. Get your views into print We reserve the right to shorten all contributions for publication.

Grass track: Good for the environment... and PR It is interesting as an observer that we see very little, if any, grass track used on tramway systems in the US, or in the UK for that matter. As a British ex-pat now living in Oregon (USA) I am familiar with both the modern LRT systems in Portland and also in Manchester in the UK and always admire the European systems (particularly in France and Spain) that manage to integrate large sections of grass track into the urban environment of their tramway systems. Not only does this enhance the positive ‘green’ credentials of modern LRT for PR purposes (being a very visual implementation), but grass also has a direct effect on carbon emissions. As it absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere and generates O2, it therefore actually REDUCES greenhouse emissions and isn’t just there for effect. I fully accept that grass track may well Stylish new trams and sustainable grass track infrastructure – is Tours a model for LRT worldwide? Alstom be more diffi cult and expensive to care for, but surely the trade-off is a positive on top, although I understand that in thing and something that more systems one, even in climates where it may be this case drainage can be an issue unless under development should consider? more diffi cult to maintain. suffi cient holes are drilled in the slab. Yet It is in this vein that I disagree with the I believe that in the Netherlands they this can cause structural weaknesses in approach taken in Besançon (TAUT 898) use the ‘mat approach’ where a plastic the perforated slab. of experimenting with artifi cial grass. If or rubberised pad is laid between the God forbid that we let tramways only used for aesthetic reasons then grass rails on top of concrete with a cork base. degenerate to some of the states that we track is merely a sop and playing to the On top of this a thin layer of soil or sand have seen in articles in TAUT over the admirations of the ‘green brigade’. is laid into which grass seeds are sown. past 12 months from some cities in the If grass track is used then it must serve Here, the plastic pad allows a certain former Soviet states and Eastern Europe a purpose, and I believe it can be used degree of freedom to adjust the lateral where overgrown vegetation rules the to great benefi t both aesthetically and alignment of the rails. line, but if this is helping offset the carbon environmentally on new LRT projects, The advantage of this approach seems emissions, may it be such a bad thing? so why is it not considered for every to be that, in theory at least, the grass I am sure there are many technical new scheme? In my opinion it should requires little maintenance as the passing reasons why such overgrown lines are be used in every scheme possible. Can trams effectively ‘mow’ it. detrimental to the rolling stock, but if it anyone expand on some of the technical Alternatively, a continuous concrete helps with the carbon offset then surely considerations further? slab track is laid, with soil and grass seed a more manageable grass track is a good T. R. Werring, by e-mail

The need for proper accounting This means that they avoid the perennial catch up in 20 years would require a new Andrew Beech (TAUT 900) is right to point funding crisis for replacement buses. tramline to be built every four months! out the need for proper accountancy to cover Incidentally, Liverpool ‘refurbished’ its trams Prof. LJS Lesley, by e-mail system depreciation and maintenance. Ian out of revenue, since capital from the council Yearsley has written at length on his analyses was impossible to get. All that was retained More on the Tramways Act 1870 of municipal UK systems, which failed to of the original trams was their fl eet number. In his interesting letter on ‘More reasons for keep up maintenance. Trampower is helping to promote a number conduit adoption’, published in the December Worse than this, councils often used of privately-fundable tramways (Preston, issue (TAUT 900), Alan Hayday urges that tramways as ‘milk cows’ to keep down the Galway and Southwark). These are all based “the 1870 Tramways Act be rescinded”. rates. An example is Liverpool which during on proper business principles of servicing In the interests of historical accuracy, the 1920s and 30s took out on average the investment and depreciating the assets. may I make the point that the Tramways GBP250 000p/a ‘surplus’ and GBP250 000 Indeed, the company has a software suite Act 1870 was repealed (Acts of Parliament p/a for track rates. Here, the poorer elements which provides a robust analysis of any are repealed, not rescinded) in 1993. I was of society riding the tramway effectively proposed new tramway, to determine if it is privileged to play a part of the process. subsidised richer people driving their cars on worth progressing. It is however true to say that many local tramway maintained roads. Sir George White built and electrifi ed Acts authorising particular tramways The only way to guarantee full depreciation eight tramways between 1900 and 1908 in did, prior to the repeal, often incorporate is for the tramway to be incorporated as a the UK… the French have built 25 tramways provisions of the Tramways Act into them for company, even if wholly-owned by a local since 1985. their specifi c purposes, and so, unless these authority. Then the Directors have a legal The UK on present progress with limited provisions have later been repealed, parts of duty to run on strictly commercial lines, as public funds will take 150 years to catch up the Tramways Act live on through them. do the remaining Municipal Bus Companies. with Germany in 2011 – i.e. NEVER. To G.B. Claydon, LRTA Patron, Derbyshire

74 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net ● www.Irta.org

74-75_TAUT1302_Letters.indd 1 18/12/2012 10:15 Obituaries

Norman Kellett (1937-2012) he also oversaw the demanding process office manager, and later with Sanderson’s The Light Rail Transit Association of converting the Association from an Textiles. He became Lord of the Manor of sustained the sad and unexpected loss on unincorporated body into a company Heaton in 1963. 5 November of its immediate past limited by guarantee. He represented Heaton, in the Secretary, Norman Andrew Kellett, who During his term he also contributed Conservative interest, on the Bradford city had been suffering from a heart condition occasional articles to Tramway Review, council from 1970 until retirement in 2008. and failed to recover from major heart including one on the (non-existent) He was the city’s representative on the surgery. He was aged 74. tramways of Worthing and, following West Riding Passenger Transport Authority Born in Wigan on 29 November 1937, a visit to Geneva in 1998, he compiled (‘Metro’) for about 20 years, during which with subsequent family moves to several historical articles (in French), time he was twice its Chairman, seeking to Barrow-in Furness and Liverpool, in 1960 which appeared in La Plateforme, the press the cause of electric traction. Earlier, he left the latter for Beckenham, in Kent, yearly periodical of the local tramway in the 1950s, with the then Transport finally settling in Cranleigh, Surrey. After museum in that city. He also attended, in a General Manager, the late Chaceley school in Liverpool, he went to St Peter’s “scribe” capacity, early meetings of the Humpidge, the car then had regular College, Oxford. He then had a varied All-Parliamentary Light Rail Group. outgoings along a section of surviving working life, starting in banking and going Norman married Sylvia Jones in 1969 track at Thornbury Works, using the on first to the Automobile Association and and there are two sons from the marriage, trolleybus power supply. This development finally to the Crown Prosecution Service. Timothy and James. At his well-attended furnished an inspiration for those seeking On so-called retirement, he worked for funeral service in Cranleigh’s parish to establish a working tramway museum, Boots, the chemists. church, he was described as a “dedicated later to be realised at Crich. His interest in tramways stemmed from servant of God”, regularly serving at the In 2000 Stanley was elected Lord his sojourn in Liverpool, where he became altar, and the church rang a special quarter Mayor of Bradford, and this combination mesmerised by the profusion and variety peal of bells to mark his passing. of civic and tramway roles caused him to of that city’s tramway vehicles and routes. A kind and knowledgeable person, who be likened to the redoubtable Alderman He became an attendee of Light Railway took pride in everything he did, Norman's Foodbotham, the legendary Chairman Transport League (LRTL) meetings there departure leaves his family and friends of the Bradford Tramways and Fine Arts and amassed a large collection of tramway with a deep sense of loss. GBC Committee, immortalised by Peter Simple photographs. His interest in tramways in his Way of the World column in The waned on the closure of the Liverpool Stanley King (1932-2012) Daily Telegraph. system and his subsequent move south. The death occurred on 7 October of Stanley He produced several authoritative But it was rekindled after reading a feisty King, an unstinting campaigner for public transport histories: Keighley Corporation article supportive of bus operation in the transport, particularly in the area of his Transport (1954), Transport of Delight annual report of the UITP. native Bradford. A long-time member of (1972), Bradford Corporation Trolleybuses To counter such propaganda, he the Association, he died in Bradford Royal (1994), Bradford Corporation Motor prepared a paper used by the LRTA Infirmary of peritonitis at the age of 80. Buses (1995), Bradford Corporation and this led to an invitation to join the John Stanley King was born in Bradford Tramways (1998) and Halifax Corporation Development Group. Then, in 1996, on on 7 February 1932, the grandson of a tram Tramways (co-authored with Eric Thornton the sudden death of Colin Brown, he driver. He attended Bradford Grammar and published by the LRTA in 2005. was appointed LRTA Secretary (renamed School and was awarded a scholarship A man of deep faith, who devoted Administrative Secretary for a time when to St Andrew’s University in Fife, which himself to a life of selfless service, he is Bob Tarr served as Secretary General). He however he did not take up. His national survived by his sister Barbara and her relinquished the position in 2008. service was spent with the RAF in signals descendants. He will be sorely missed by He discharged his secretarial duties and communications. On return to civilian them, and by a wide circle of friends and meticulously but unobtrusively, and life, he worked at Salt’s Mill, Saltaire, as an members of the local community. GBC

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

January Then Bob Bracegirdle: New Orleans Trams. . Monday 18. Liverpool 19.30. Dave (TLRS) Webster: Cine films. (TLRS) . Saturday 19. 14.00. David Edwards: February . Monday 18. Sheffield 19.30. Stuart Milan, plus area AGM. (TLRS) Cooke: Trams filmed in three capitals . Monday 21. Liverpool 19.30. Mike . Tuesday 5. Southampton 19.30. Steve (Prague, Berlin and Vienna). Crabtree: Doncaster Tramways. (TLRS) Bigley: The railway environment. (LRTA/SEG) . Monday 18. Wickham 19.30. Ashley . Monday 21. Sheffield 19.30. Sean . Friday 8. Glasgow 19.30. Mike Russell: Watt: Railways of Corsica. (TLRS) Croshaw: The heritage tramway scene. South America. (STTS) . Tuesday 19. London 19.00. . Monday 21. Wickham 19.30. Terry . Saturday 9. Birmingham. 14.00 Andy Steel: Edinburgh update. Chase: Trams and other things. (TLRS) Andrew Steel: Edinburgh and other tram . Friday 22. Edinburgh 19.30. Andy Steel: . Friday 25. Edinburgh 19.30. Iain projects. (Joint LRTA/TLRS/ERS) Update on the new Edinburgh Tramway. Macdonald: Tram-Trains (+ business meeting). . Monday 11. Richmond 19.30. Eddie . Friday 22. Leicester 19.45. John . Friday 25. Leicester 19.45. Brian Dawes: A brief history of London trams. (TLRS) Lessells & Pete Mullahy: Blackpool – Then Edwards: Anything but Scotland: Australia . Wednesday 13. Brighton (Southwick) and now. (TMS) and New Zealand pictures. (TMS) 19.40. Mike Russell: Latin America. (TLRS) . Saturday 23. Beeston 14.00. Lewis . Saturday 26. Beeston 14.00. AGM . Saturday 16. Taunton 14.00. Speaker Lesley: Affordable tramway infrastructure. including Tea Tray challenge and photographs. to be confirmed. (TLRS) (TLRS)

www.tramnews.net l www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 75

74-75_TAUT1302_Letters.indd 2 18/12/2012 10:16 Classic Trams: Budapest Hungarian 125th anniversary

Another significant milestone in tramway history was reached on 28 November 2012. Mike Russell reviews the celebrations and considers how Budapest beat others to the winning post of hosting mainland Europe’s first public service electric tramway.

riters often downplay the importance in European 1 history of the battle of Sadova (Königgrätz) in 1866, but its significance for Hungary should Wnot be underestimated. With ’s military defeat by Prussia, the leaders of Hungary, still smarting from the perceived humiliation of 1849, seized the opportunity to extract important concessions and establish the Dual Monarchy, which lasted for the remaining years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. This redress conferred upon Hungary a substantial element of home rule; released from the yoke of Imperial administration in Wien (Vienna) and with unfettered access to Austrian capital, no time was lost in ploughing its own distinctive furrow. A huge programme of public works was put in hand, including the further development of the pre-existing railway network; Buda and Pest were united in 1873 as the new capital; and an impressive new Parliament was constructed on the Pest bank of the Danube from 1870. Electric pioneer There had been horse-drawn tramways in Budapest since 1Car 611 at the The pioneer rolling stock was assimilated into the 1866 and amongst the imaginative developments pushed Király utca stopping Budapesti Villamos Városi Vasút (BVVV), one of the two city forward under the Dual Monarchy was one for electric place; that road was horse-tram operators; the cars were converted to standard- tramways. Siemens & Halske had first demonstrated this the southern limit gauge and served for some years as trailers. The conduit concept in Lichtenberg, Berlin, in 1881, and a modified of the original 1887 system was initially retained and a first standard-gauge route version operated a demonstration line at the 1883 Wien metre-gauge line. opened in 1890. The 1887 line was later reconstructed to World Exhibition. The concept evidently interested the standard-gauge double-track and progressively extended Hungarian delegation. around the Grand Boulevards to Boráros tér, reached on After modification, Siemens brought the cars to Budapest 5 June 1892. The Grand Boulevards tramway thereby took and an experimental 1km (0.62-mile) line was laid along on a form entirely recognisable to today’s travellers, the part of the city’s Nagykörúti (Grand Boulevards) between core of this route having now been continuously served by Nyugati Pályaudvar (West Station) and today’s Király standard-gauge electric tramways for more than 120 years. utca. This metre-gauge single-track line, the Nagykörúti Overhead current collection was introduced in 1893 Villamos Vasút, worked by coupled cars with centre-flanged on a former BVVV steam tram route (Rókus kórház – wheels with an early form of conduit current collection Salgótarjáni út – Kõbánya, Liget tér) and the conduit routes using a shallow channel beneath one of the running rails were subsequently converted. The horse tram routes of the and fed at 145V dc, became the first street-running electric competitive Budapesti Közúti Vaspálya Társaság (BKVT), tramway on the European continent. It was inaugurated on adopted overhead collection from the outset. Some suburban 28 November 1887. Operation was deemed a success and lines initially used trolley poles but Budapest tramcars continued well into 1888. generally soon adopted the locally-developed bow collector. Some 125 years later this section – regauged, doubled and converted to overhead collection – remains part of Marking the ‘125th’ Europe’s busiest single tram route, the crescent-shaped line With such an impressive pedigree, it is not surprising 4/6 providing 24-hour service over this trunk corridor in the that present-day operator Budapesti Közlekedési heart of the capital. By contrast, the Imperial capital of Wien Részvénytársaság (BKV) chose to mark the occasion had to wait over nine years for its first electric tramway. with a special event. As the actual anniversary fell on a

2 The junction at Újbuda-központ is the location for 3 Four-wheeler 1074 of 1912 with its beautifully 4 The Sunday nostalgia service between Széll this view of restored BVVV motor car 436 of 1913, executed replica bodywork stands outside Budafok Kálmán tér and Blaha Lujza tér saw two pairs of turning from Fehérvári út into the terminal point of depot awaiting the call to duty in the opening veteran four-wheel cars operating in tandem. Here, line 4 to participate in the inaugural cavalcade. cavalcade. 1074 of 1912 with 2624 immediately behind.

76 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

76-77_TAUT1302_Classic.indd 1 18/12/2012 11:45 5 5 Running on 6 home metals again after many years of service in Debrecen as 492 is former BKV Bengali ‘two-rooms-and-a- bath’ articulated car 1233 of 1964, seen proceeding along the Grand Boulevards line during the opening cavalcade. 6 Works cars at 7 Széll Kálmán tér 8 (formerly Moskva tér), where a wide-ranging rolling stock display was staged for public inspection. In the lead is snowbroom 7141, with Muki 7061 and trailer 8610 behind. 7 Back on its spiritual haunt of four decades ago Wednesday, the most important celebrations took place on is the restored For almost three hours from 13.00, the four two-axle Sunday 25 November. These comprised three main parts, UV+EP set of cars and Bengali operated a 15-minute frequency nostalgia starting with a parade of rolling stock spanning over a 3888+6010+3885, service between Széll Kálmán tér and Blaha Lujza tér, century. Early on that Sunday morning, cars set off from seen making a brief covering the whole of the original 1887 line. To witness several tram depots to Budafok, where they were marshalled halt on József körút these veterans carrying full standing loads of passengers and on the depot storage tracks. This cavalcade was to progress during the opening keeping up with the progress of the present day Combino along the historic Grand Boulevards line, starting from the cavalcade along fleet was impressive. The day’s allocation to the Grand present day southern line 4 terminus at Újbuda-központ and the city’s Grand Boulevards service included two sets of Ganz rolling stock ending at Széll Kálmán tér (formerly Moskva tér), where a Boulevards. associated with the line for many years until displaced by the display was staged for public inspection. Combino cars in 2006/7; these cars endured a hard working The two-axle cars taking part were 611, 1074, 436 and 8 Old and new life and have now migrated to less strenuous work elsewhere 2624. Car 611, a former BKVT vehicle of 1908, was one of 95 at Nyugati on the network, though no longer in coupled formation. built by Schlick from a total of 130 type S units. Car 1074 is Pályaudvar (West Another feature welcomed by their many admirers was the a five-window wooden-bodied class V two-axle car displayed Station) during the appearance of the restored UV+EP three-car train, which, in BKVT livery, with a reconstructed body built in the BKV Sunday afternoon in addition to participating in the initial parade, operated workshops in 1991; all cars of this powerful, long-lived class nostalgia service, three round trips on special service 125, out from Széll had been rebodied in the 1950s in the Fővárosi Villamosvasút Kálmán tér to Budafok Városház (Town Hall), returning to (FVV) works with five-bay steel-framed bodies. with centenarian Újbuda-központ and via the Grand Boulevards, followed Car 436 dates from 1913 and is the first of a batch of four-wheeler by a special service trip on line 4 before returning to its 50 type L two-axle four-bay cars built by Schlick for the 1074 followed Hungaria depot home after dark. These UV cars are still BVVV, in whose livery it appears. This day was also the by 2624, whilst capable of excellent performance and with the characteristic first public outing for 2624, a two-axle BVVV class G Combino 2032 noises emanating from the electro-mechanical contactors car of 1906, fitted with atype F metal body in 1959, and loads passengers housed at the non-driving end of each motor car revived repatriated from the Amsterdam museum in 2004. on the regular memories of what were the bulwarks of Budapest tramways Between 1961-64, the FVV workshops built ‘two-rooms- Grand Boulevards for 50 years until their final withdrawal in August 2007. and-a-bath’ articulated cars in both double and single-ended service at the versions, designated CSM1 to CSM5 and known colloquially opposite platform. Further developments? as Bengali. Many of these later found their way to provincial The celebration was all the more remarkable because of the tramways. As none survive in Budapest in working order, difficult financial position in which BKV currently finds Debrecen 492 of 1964, originally BKV 1233, returned on loan itself – the whole Hungarian economy is in a parlous state. for operation during 2012. Uniquely, it made a sortie via line 2 Despite financial stringency, huge strides have been made to the Parliament building at Kossuth tér after the parade. in recent years to improve the condition of the rolling stock Works cars also had their spell of glory, with Muki and relay much of the track that was subject to severe speed 7061 of 1927 hauling trailer 8610 containing a renovated restrictions, a great achievement in the circumstances. pantograph, whilst the Baross depot snowbroom 7141 Since 2009, regular heritage operations have also been reminded onlookers that snow-clearance is a vital part of introduced. Let us hope these will be further developed so BKV winter operations to keep services running efficiently. that a wider public may become acquainted with the city’s More modern rolling stock was represented by UV/EP proud tramway heritage, because despite all its problems set 3885+6010+3888, the Ganz CSMG articulated cars by and the fact that much track has closed in post-war years as 1358+1408 and rebuilt KCSV set 1344+1345, both supplied a result of metro construction, Budapest remains one of the by Ferencváros depot; Tatra T5C5K 4001 (Praha 8012, the finest and most operationally slick tramways in Europe – an T5C5 prototype) by Szépilona; and a pair of coupled All photography by object lesson in exactly how to run a busy, traditional city ex-Hannover 6000-class cars, 1591+1576, from Száva depot. Mike Russell. tramway. TAUT

www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org FEBRUARY 2013 77

76-77_TAUT1302_Classic.indd 2 18/12/2012 11:45 To place an advertisement please contact Andy Adams

Telephone: +44 (0)1832 281135 Email: [email protected]

New from LRTA Subways & Light Rail in Publications the USA – 2: The West Order on-line from: NEW from Robert Schwandl lrta.info/shop Covers Subways, Light Postage/packing extra: Rail and Streetcars in Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Any UK address: Add 10% Sacramento, San Francisco, (minimum £2.00, maximum £7.50) San Jose, Los Angeles and Outside UK: Add 20% San Diego. (minimum £4.00, maximum £15.00) Also includes Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Salt Lake For Airmail outside Europe: Add 30% City and Denver (minimum £6.00, maximum £22.50)

Or by post from: Price: £17.00 – 160 pages, network maps, ca. 300 LRTA Publications, 35 High Street, Moulton, colour photos, English/ Spalding, PE12 6QB German text. Trade rates available to bookshops, libraries and museums on books published by the LRTA. Also available same price: “Subways & Light Rail in Please contact [email protected] for more details the USA – 1: East Coast”

Maidstone Corporation Blackpool Items Transport (Eric Baldock) New Trams to the Tower (Steve Palmer)

NEW from Amberley Publishing Brought out to mark the April 2012 arrival into Covers the whole story from traffi c of Blackpool’s the fi rst trams in 1904 through brand-new fl eet of Flexity to buses (introduced 1924) and 2 trams from Bombardier trolleybuses (from 1928), ending when municipal operation ceased Price: £8.99 in 1974. Generous coverage of the tram era. The ‘Western Using offi cial photographs, Train’ Restored commercial postcards, enthusiasts’ pictures and (DVD) ephemera, this volume records The classic, the history of Maidstone Corporation’s much-appreciated transport operations until it was replaced by Maidstone Illuminations Tram, which is in fact two trams, Borough following the local government reorganisation. comprising “Wild West” loco and passenger carriage. Excellent selection of photos from a variety of The story behind its return to service. sources, 96 pages. Price: £12.99 Price: £16.00

78 FEBRUARY 2013 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org

78_TAUT1302_Classified.indd 1 18/12/2012 10:23 THE ROSEHILL RODDED CROSSING

Approved by Network Rail Certifi cate of Acceptance: SYSTEM No. PA05/04429

QUICK & EASY INSTALLATION & REMOVAL SUITABLE FOR ALL CROSSINGS RECOGNISED BY RAIL OPERATORS FROM EUROPE TO NEW ZEALAND Now available in the UK via our distributor - Holdfast Level Crossings Limited

Lithuanian Railway Authority Sheffi eld Supertram - UK RailCorp - Australia www.rosehillrail.com For more information about the Rosehill Rodded Crossing system, phone +44 (0)1422 839 456, or phone us to be put in touch with your nearest distributor.

42_TAUT1302_layoutpage.indd 1 21/12/2012 14:24 FOR EARLYBIRD RATES AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CALL +44 (0) 1832 281135 15-16 May 2013 Manchester Conference Centre 2013 Manchester, UK BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION

The 8th Annual UK Light Rail Conference and exhibition brings together over 200 HEADLINE SUPPORTERS decision-makers for two days of open debate covering all aspects of light rail development – the event also includes a planned tour of one of Manchester Metrolink’s new extensions.

Modules and debates for 2013 include: ❱ BIM: A new approach to LRT design ❱ Fare collection and revenue protection: ❱ Approaches for reducing trackform costs Experience and best practice ❱ Operator forum: Sharing best practice ❱ The role of social media in passenger ❱ Utilities: Striking the right balance communication ❱ Common procurement models: Lessons ❱ LRT security and safety: The Human Factor from Brest and Dijon ❱ How HS2 can help grow UK LRT ❱ Bridging the structural disconnect between ❱ Edinburgh: Back on track LRT and sustainable development

SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Norman Baker MP – UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport · Roger Harrison – Chairman, Tramlink Nottingham · Chris Coleman – Managing Director, Metrolink RATP Dev · Alan Coyle – Project Manager, City of Edinburgh Council · Ian Brown CBE – Director, Crossrail · Michael Sheedy – Light Rail Director, RPA · Mark Ostheimer – Operations Director, National Joint Utilities Group · Richard McClean – Managing Director, DB Regio Tyne & Wear · Günter Koch – Transport and Operational Consulting, DB International

SUPPORTED BY

Layout_Adpage.indd 1 18/12/2012 16:25 UKLRC13 advert.indd 1 18/12/2012 16:21