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OCTOBER 2019 No. 982 lrt’s key role in a ‘baltic big bang’

Creating a sustainable gateway to ’s booming capital Hopes revived for network Ottawa opens Confederation LRT line doubles Songjiang

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www.lightrailawards.com CONTENTS 369 The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association OCTOBER 2019 Vol. 82 No. 982 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL Editor – Simon Johnston [email protected] Associate Editor – Tony Streeter [email protected] Worldwide Editor – Michael Taplin 375 [email protected] News Editor – John Symons [email protected] Senior Contributor – Neil Pulling Worldwide Contributors Richard Felski, Ed Havens, Andrew Moglestue, Paul Nicholson, Herbert Pence, Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Alain Senut, Vic Simons, Witold Urbanowicz, Bill Vigrass, Francis Wagner, Thomas Wagner, Philip Webb, Rick Wilson ampere/Wille Nyyssönen ampere/Wille Production – Lanna Blyth 385 Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 ity of T of C ity [email protected] News 364 next-generation: luxembourg 382 DESIGN – Debbie Nolan Ottawa finally opens Confederation LRT line; With the initial tram service established, Advertising Jerusalem win grows CAF by 25%; Shanghai Luxembourg City looks to expansion. COMMERCIAL Manager – Geoff Butler opens latest Songjiang extension; Phoenix Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 [email protected] votes for LRT; Bombardier wins in Dresden. systems factfile: 385 The small tramway in Estonia’s capital is set Publisher – Matt Johnston opinion 368 for greater things. Neil Pulling reports. Tramways & Urban Transit Mainspring’s Colin S. Walton considers the 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, opportunities of Brexit and climate change. WORLDWIDE REVIEW 390 Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK Toronto CLRVs finally bow out; Bordeaux Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring SOUTH WALES 369 line D testing begins; Canadian Prime on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each month preceding the cover date. TAUT examines the latest progress to deliver Minister commits to Québec tramline; enhanced urban rail across South Wales. Kolkata line reinstatement authorised. tampere: ready to roll in 2021 375 MAILBOX 395 PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION The Finnish city’s first LRT line is the largest More on deregulation; and why Warners (Midlands), Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK project the region has ever seen. windows shouldn’t be covered. LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up insulation for street rail 379 CLASSICS: ’s tram week 396 members of the Light Rail Transit Association. Why is electrical insulation so important? Mike Russell concludes his trio of articles ’s Thomas Lorent explains. with an overview of the anniversary events. LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY Brian Lomas [email protected] [email protected] Planning, people and image – lessons from HS2 Subscriptions, MEMBERSHIP and back issues LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Transport is, and always has been, an emotive topic. Major projects draw both Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 passionate supporters and objectors. One whiff of weak management, budget [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info overruns or poor project governance and new schemes, no matter how for CORPORATE Subscriptions VISIT necessary, can turn into political footballs – or even weapons. www.mainspring.co.uk Such issues have come into focus with the UK’s HS2 high-speed rail scheme. The knock-on effects of years of delays and cost-overruns on this ‘flagship’ national LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling DA16 2BY, UK. project will affect light rail. New connections, already designed and/or funded, await Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 related approvals, meaning vital, green, urban transport links might be delayed for years. in and Wales. There are many lessons that can, and must, be learned. These include: LRTA Chairman – Paul Rowen 1) Plan, plan, plan. Rigorous planning is the byword for any major infrastructure [email protected] project. Benchmark, learn from other projects and make sure your numbers are realistic. © LRTA 2019 Take the time at the start, triple-check everything and challenge assumptions. Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also 2) Be transparent. Clear communications at every stage are crucial. One of the key later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution criticisms of HS2 has been the opacity (even secrecy) of the lead promoter. If you can’t be is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the open with yourself and your partners, how can you be transparent with anyone else? opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of 3) Get the right people. Changes in project governance or leadership are risky, so the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. assemble a strong team. Incentivise them, challenge them, create the right culture and No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including ensure they have a thick skin to stay the course – projects are about people as well as systems. photocopying, recording or by any information storage and 4) Image is everything. The politics of transport are changing. Light rail used to be retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from seen as a mode of yesteryear, promoted by enthusiasts. The environmental agenda is the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the altering that, and people are fed up of dirty, gridlocked streets. Light Rail 2.0 is a statement magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. of modernity for forward-thinking city regions – just look at the plans for South Wales and Tampere detailed in this issue – everyone else will eventually come onboard. COVER: Estonia’s capital continues to invest heavily Echoing the sentiments expressed in so many issues of this fine journal over the years: in its tramway network; CAF Urbos 509 is seen in the Light rail is on the verge of something big. Watch this space... Simon Johnston, Editor city centre on 25 June. Neil Pulling

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org OCTOBER 2019 / 363 News 15 months late: Ottawa gets its latest LRT line Firms face penalties as stage one of the Confederation line opens way behind schedule

lthough 456 days late, Infrastructure, Alstom and Ottawa’s CAD2.1bn Scotiabank) awarded the contract (EUR1.43bn) 12.5km to build the line in December (7.8-mile) east–west 2012. The project has been A coupled set of Alstom Citadis Spirit LRVs on the segregated Confederation light ConfederationA line from Blair to bedevilled by construction delays rail line in Ottawa that opened on 14 September. OC Transpo Tunney’s Pasture finally opened and vehicle issues, and missed to passengers on 14 September. a number of previous handover adapted for the extreme Canadian design services provided by WSP The segregated line, approved deadlines. RTG was reportedly winters) have been procured at Canada and Hatch. This includes in 2010, includes a 2.5km penalised CAD4m (EUR2.7m) a cost of CAD400m (EUR274m), a 10km (6.2-mile) eastern (1.55-mile) subway – up to 26m for late delivery, but the extra and peak service requires 15 prolongation from Blair to Place under the city centre’s Queen time has cost the city CAD34m two-car operating from d’Orléans – with the option of a Street with stations at Rideau, (EUR23.3m) as it had to keep its Belfast yards on the city’s east further 3.5km (2.2 miles) to Trim Parliament and Lyon. Finance of redundant bus services running. side. The LRVs were assembled Road – and west from Tunney’s CAD600m (EUR400m) has come The service runs from 05.00 in Ottawa from components Pasture for 13.5km (8.4 miles) to from the province of Ontario, to 01.00 Monday-Thursday, supplied from Alstom’s factory in Bayshore and Baseline, hopefully with CAN1bn (EUR680m) from extended to 02.00 on Friday and Hornell, New York (US). for completion in 2023. the Federal government and the Saturday. Sunday operations run Work has already started Thales supplied its SelTrac remainder from the city. 08.00-23.00. There is interchange on a CAD2.5bn (EUR1.7bn) CBTC system for the first stage, Three weeks earlier, on 23 with the diesel-operated Trillium project to extend the line at winning a second contract from August, Ottawa Mayor Jim light rail line at Bayview. both ends, including 24 new the consortium responsible for Watson had symbolically A fleet of 34 double-ended 48m stops. The two extensions are the the two extensions. A further 38 accepted the keys to the new line low-floor AlstomCitadis Spirit responsibility of the East-West Alstom LRVs will be supplied by from the Rideau Transit Group LRVs (a similar configuration to Connectors consortium, led by 2021, and Belfast yards will also consortium (SNC-Lavalin, ACS the European Citadis Dualis, but Kiewit and Vinci Group, with be expanded.

Bendigo to be heritage ‘centre of excellence’ Jerusalem LRT win grows CAF by 25% An AUD10.7m (EUR6.6m) The NIS10bn (EUR1.8bn) PPP Mount Scopus to Gilo and signalling, energy, depot and investment for Australia’s contract to extend the tramway Malha with branches to Hebrew communication systems. The Bendigo Tramways museum has been backed by the Victorian in Jerusalem, Israel, was awarded University’s Givat Ram campus company will also refurbish Government. The depot and to TransJerusalem J-Net on and Givat Shaul. the 46 Alstom Citadis 302 workshops will be expanded 8 August. The consortium There will be 53 new stops, supplied to the original CityPass to create a national restoration is a 50/50 joint venture of expansion of the existing French consortium in 2007-08 for the ‘centre of excellence’, as well as the Spanish CAF Group and Hill depot to accommodate opening of the Red line in 2011. storage space for the withdrawn Israeli construction company a further 28 , and an CityPass failed to reach Melbourne W-class trams stored at Shapir Engineering & Industry, additional stabling facility at the agreement with the government Newport railway workshops. and includes operations and north side of the extension at on how its concession should The funding would also permit maintenance for 15 years Neveh Ya’acov. Construction is be financed and was removed the relocation of activities from the former gasworks site to a combined (extendable to 25). The operator planned to start later this year, from the competition. The new facility. Construction should start will be domestic partner Superbus. with a 2025 opening expected. extension will take the Red line next year for completion in 2021. The contract covers a 6.8km CAF’s share of the contract to 22.5km (14 miles). (4.2-mile) extension of the is worth more than EUR500m TransJerusalem J-Net beat Inaugural Limmatalbahn existing Red line – north to (a 25% boost to the company’s competition from Shikun, section opens for service Neveh Ya’acov and south to global revenue for the year), Binui, Egged, CRRC, COMSA The first trial runs were made Hadassah University Medical and includes delivery and and MPK Kraków. A rival bid led on Zurich’s new 2.9km (1.8-mile) tram extension from Farbhof to Center – and the new 20.6km maintenance of 114 new by Bombardier – and including Schlieren-Geisswald (Switzerland) (12.8-mile) Green line from 100% low-floorUrbos trams, investment fund Macquarie and on 19 August. Revenue service on Austrian operator Wiener Linien began on 2 September after a An artist’s impression of the – was withdrawn due to pressure weekend of festivities that included new CAF Urbos tram in the from those opposed to the Green TransJerusalem livery. CAF the operation of museum trams. line passing through Palestinian The route is the first stage of the territory occupied by Israel since Limmattalbahn project that from 1967. CAF’s trade union requested December 2022 will run for 13.4km the company not to participate (8.3 miles) from Bhf Altstetten to Killwangen-Spreitenbach via in the tender, without success. Dietikon and will be signed as The Jerusalem Transportation line 20. Eight 45m Stadler Master Plan includes a further LRVs are on order for the line. two lines (Blue and Gold) for expansion of the network.

364 / october 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Shanghai doubles up Songjiang Tram Improved services are a boost for busy suburbs and universities; further expansion due this year

hanghai doubled the Guangfulin Rd/ T1 North Guyang Rd length of its Songjiang Xinqiao Railway T2 Guangxing Ronghui Tram system on 10 August Rd Rd Zhongchen Xinzhen St Station by opening a new 12.86km Rd Xinche Xinzhan Rd S(eight-mile) extension from Longma Rd Rongning Xutang Highway Rd Rd Zhongchen Road to North Sanxin Guangfulin Rd Songjiang (Donghua University) University Mingnan Caohe Rd Road via the University. Town Rd The opening brings the length Meijiangbang Rd Xinmiaosan Rd East Jiangtian Rd of the network to 26.8km Wenhui Rd Caonong Rd (16.6 miles), with 46 stops. Line North Renmin Rd/ Xinsongjiang Rd Jinxi Rd T2 is now a 46-minute circular Two Alstom Citadis trams on the North Thames Xinsongjiang Rd/ Lianyang Rd service linking University Songjiang tramway in Shanghai. Keolis Town North Xilin Rd Town and Sports Center (both West Dongxing Rd Longyuan Rd Jiangxue Thames Rd interchanges with metro ). Songjiang is located in the Town Baosheng Rd A further 4.4km (2.7-mile) south-west suburbs of Shanghai Wencheng Rd Songwei Highway extension from Xinmiaosan and has a population of 1.8 North Songdong Rd Road to Xinqiao railway station is million. Expanding rapidly, Sixian Rd Renmin North Guyang expected to open this year, with it features growing new town Chenta Yushu Rd Rd Rd Rd North Fangta Rd patronage reaching 170 000 developments and one of China’s passengers/day. Services are largest university campuses. Canghua Canghui Rd Rong le Songjiang Rong le Road/ Rd Road/North Sports Tongbo tang Rd provided by a fleet of 30 Chinese- The Shanghai Shentong Metro Xilin Rd Center assembled 33m five-section Group–Keolis joint venture North Sanxin Rd Alstom Citadis trams (known in (which has 141 employees) won a The Songjang Tram network doubled in size in August. China as the Silkworm), that run five-year operating contract from every ten minutes between 06.00 Shanghai Songjiang Tramway passengers over 13.9km (8.6 International Airport’s and 23.00 and have cost EUR72m. Investment and Operations miles) on 26 December 2018. new 7.8km (4.8-mile) light Each tram can hold Company in August 2018. The joint venture has also been metro. This will use CRRC-built 306 passengers, 56 seated. The line’s first trams carried selected to operate Shanghai 94m-long automated trainsets.

Bidders sought for Antray opens T3, with more to come cross-border tram- Tenders to build, equip and maintain Free rides heralded the opening terminus of the 1999 heritage the 31km (19.3-mile) tram-train of the TYL700m (EUR110m) tramway at Müze, starting with project between the Belgian city of Antray T3 light rail line from an extension from Atatürk to Hasselt and the Netherlands city Atatürk north to Varsak in Otogar (interchange with T1), is of Maastricht were to be submitted by 16 September. The concession is Turkey on 11 August. These were under construction. likely to run for 24 years. offered on the city’s modern Once completed, T3 will run Up to 18 34m LRVs will be light rail, heritage tram and bus through to Zerdalilik in the city needed for the cross-border services from 06.00 to 02.00. centre, creating a 23km (14.3-mile) service, with depots planned The new 12km (7.5-mile) route. An additional 47 vehicles for both Hasselt and the Belgian line, from Varsak Mezarlı ı in are planned to join the current border town of Lanaken. It is hoped the north to Atatürk Lisesi in fleet of 14Urbos trams from CAF, to carry passengers in 2024. the west, adds 19 stops to the and 18 from Eurotem, a joint Eurotem 217 in the Turkish city of Discussions restart over system. The first part of a project venture of Hyundai Rotem and Antalya, which opened new tramline Saint-Denis light rail to link the line to the western state-owned Tüvasa . T3 on 11 August. Bestalex / CC-BY-SA 4.0 Plans for a EUR395m tramline in the administrative capital of Réunion Island, Saint-Denis, are now subject to public consultation. The 13km (eight-mile) east–west NEWS IN PICTURES Victoria Square extension marks a UK ‘first’ line would link Roland Garros Overnight testing brought the first tram to Birmingham’s Victoria Square on Airport and Le Barachois, part of 30 August, as well as introducing a UK ‘first’ – the use of onboard energy storage the corridor of the earlier 42km (OESS) on a modern tramline built specifically without overhead wires. (26-mile) light rail project that The test vehicle used was CAF Urbos 3 28, retrofitted for OESS operation, and was abandoned in 2010. The the test included climbing the 9% gradient on the city centre’s Pinfold Street. Intercommunal Community of Full testing of the 840m line from Grand Central to Centenary Square is Northern Réunion believes the line expected to take place from October before a formal opening in December. could be completed by 2022. It will include a stop at Paradise and Arena Central as well as at Victoria Square. In total, the Birmingham Westside Metro extension measures around 2km Bern chooses Stadler (1.2 miles), and is split into two phases. The second stage will take the line to An order has been placed with Hagley Road in Edgbaston, with two more intermediate stops. Stadler for 20 double-ended and Construction for the new route started in 2017. It is being planned, designed seven single-ended 100% low-floor and delivered by the Midland Metro Alliance on behalf of Transport for West 42.5m Tramlink trams for delivery Midlands. to the Swiss city of Bern from 2023. The CHF125m (EUR115.5m) Urbos 028 climbs the steep Pinfold Street gradient on contract includes an option for the first test run on the new line on the evening of 30 August. TfWM a further 23 cars. Unsuccessful bidders were CAF and Siemens.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 365 News considers new transport system After 14 years, a light rail system for Leeds is being discussed again

ight rail for Leeds GBP67bn (EUR74bn) economy, The chosen definition of could soon back on the making it larger than nine EU urban transit precludes either agenda, 14 years after countries. It also has the UK’s heavy rail or traditional double- the three-line Supertram largest manufacturing centre, decker , although vehicles Lscheme was cancelled by the UK with high levels of private sector are expected to have an government as unaffordable. investment linked to council operational life of 20-30 years. Proposals for the creation of a infrastructure development. WYCA Transport Chair new Leeds City Region transport The survey seeks views on Councillor Kim Groves said: system by 2033 – trams, end-to-end routes of 10-30km “We have a 2038 net zero tram-trains or BRT – are being (6-18 miles), with frequent city carbon target to reach. We need developed by the West Yorkshire centre stops and around 1km to explore innovative mass Original Leeds Supertram documents Combined Authority (WYCA), (0.6 miles) apart in suburban and urban transit technologies to called for a three-line network to open which launched a market testing areas. The mass transit system increase capacity and underpin in 2008; GBP40m was spent on this programme in August. is intended to connect to the clean growth. A multi-modal shift scheme before it was abandoned. The city region – the largest planned (and now delayed) HS2 away from the car is needed to Courtesy of M. Ballinger metropolitan area in Europe and Northern Powerhouse rail tackle congestion and air quality.” without an urban transport routes. The consultation runs Abandoning the last tramway a system was also system – is home to more than until 20 December, with the plan wasted GBP40m (EUR44m) rejected in 2016 due to a poor three million people and a report to be drafted next spring. in development costs, and Benefit-Cost Ratio review. UK’s HS2 review creates uncertainty for light rail expansion schemes August marked a turbulent month network connecting the line to Lengthy delivery delays Transport for West Midlands for the UK’s controversial High both Manchester and Leeds is could seriously affect light rail has confirmed that its already- Speed 2 (HS2) rail project. It is intended to follow, by the end of development across the country. funded Eastside line will be believed that the cost of the that decade. Plans to extend Nottingham’s delayed beyond its intended 2022 scheme could rise towards An official government review tramway to a future Toton opening date due to uncertainty GBP90bn (EUR100bn) – over was launched by Prime Minister station that would serve both over HS2 running into a GBP25bn more than previously Boris Johnson and Secretary of Nottingham and Derby are new Curzon Street station in thought – and that the first phase State for Transport Grant Shapps, already advanced, while Birmingham. The line, which will from London to Birmingham it is expected to report at the proposals have been launched offer connections with stations might not open until 2031, five end of 2019. Around GBP8bn for a new urban transit system at New Street, Moor Street and years later than the most recent (EUR8.9bn) has already been for the Leeds City Region (see Snow Hill, may not now be fully estimate. A future ‘Y’-shaped spent on the high-profile scheme. above). operational for at least ten years.

Ulsan studies Bombardier wins another Dresden deal tramway plans On 22 August the Chairman of the first Dresden cars to be built 290 passengers with 2+2 seating Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe (DVB) to a width of 2.65m – previous across a two-metre aisle. Nine The Mayor of South Korea’s named Bombardier as the supplier vehicles have been 2.3m – and will be double-ended, which will southern port city of Ulsan for 30 new trams for the will initially operate on line 2, and be helpful during trackworks. (population 1.16m) has confirmed city. The EUR197m contract later on lines 3 and 7, where A mock-up is due for delivery plans to build a four-line tram is supported by a EUR102.8m clearances have been widened. in January to test its design network – a decision on funding is contribution from the European The 43m ten-axle trams will with both staff and passengers. expected before the end of 2019. Regional Development Fund and of similar length to Dresden’s It will feature deep panoramic Estimated to cost KRW1.3tr includes 24 years’ maintenance. existing NGT D12 DD 12-axle windows, LED lighting, air- (EUR980m), the first line could The NGT DX DD derivative trams, also from Bombardier. conditioning, larger information open by 2027 on a 11.6km of Bombardier’s Flexity will be The new cars will carry up to screens, Wi-Fi, charging sockets (7.2-mile) east–west route for mobile devices and two between Namgu Tawhwa and additional wheelchair/pushchair Sinbok and a 13.7km (8.5-mile) spaces. Bombardier’s Obstacle north–south line connecting Detection and Assistance System the airport to Namgu/Yaim. A will also be fitted. second phase envisages two more The first tram should arrive lines, totalling 23km (14 miles) . from Bautzen in June 2021, and In recent years South Korea the order will be completed in has shifted its focus to light metro autumn 2023. Bodyshells will be and tram projects as more cost- built in Görlitz. effective mass transit modes than Dresden has taken 166 trams heavy metro schemes. Domestic from Bautzen since 1996, and manufacturer Hyundai Rotem the new ones will replace the last has also announced a number of Tatra T4D cars still in service, innovations in these areas over An artist’s impression of the new Dresden NGT DX DD design passing in front of despite the city hosting an official the past two to three years. the city’s historic Semperoper Opera House. Bombardier farewell event several years ago.

366 / october 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Phoenix votes for LRT expansion Bid to halt growth of the US city’s successful LRT programme thrown out by two-thirds majority

lmost two-thirds of was said to be finely-balanced the population of the but in the event 63% defeated the US city of Phoenix proposition. (Arizona) have defied American Public Transportation Athe demands of a political Association President Paul pressure group and voted to Skoutelas welcomed the decision: continue with extensions to the “Congratulations to the forward- light rail network. thinking residents of Phoenix, A row on public spending who voted to ensure that their flared up in February 2019 when light rail system can expand to opponents formed the Building better serve the transit needs a Better Phoenix group, partly of a rapidly growing city. They financed by the billionaire made it resoundingly clear to Republican Koch brothers who the naysayers that light rail is campaign against public transport essential to their economy and projects. The group was able to their community.” gather enough signatures to force APTA also commended a referendum on 27 August to Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, a Phoenix light rail at Central Parkway – Washington station. Valley Metro redirect sales tax revenue, and keen public transit supporter. return federal dollars already Work continues therefore on own 4.8km (three-mile) serves the neighbouring cities of made available for the projects. the South Central Extension urban circulator tramway for Tempe and Mesa, involving two If successful all extension work (7.9km/4.9 miles, due to open completion in 2021. This will be extensions of the original 32km would have stopped immediately. in 2023) as well as planning for operated by six Brookville Liberty (20-mile) line, financed in part Ironically, David Koch, the Northwest Extension second low-floor trams under a USD33m by a half-cent sales tax. reportedly the world’s eleventh phase to Metrocenter Mall, and contract awarded in 2017. Fifty 27.9m KinkiSharyo LRVs richest man, died during the the Capital/I-10 Extension to Phoenix opened its first light are in service, carrying 45 000 week before the vote, leaving his 79th St park-and-ride. rail service on 27 December passengers a day; 11 new Siemens brother to carry the anti-transit The adjacent city of Tempe 2008, and now has a 45km S70 LRVs are on order and options flag. In the run up, the referendum is well underway with its (28-mile) system which also exist for a further 67 cars.

New UKTram Chairman Hurontario LRT consortium chosen UKTram, the industry body representing the country’s light rail The Mobilinx consortium of city of Brampton is to begin this alignment light rail will adopt sector, has named George Lowder John Laing, Astaldi, Hitachi, year, and the first services could which has delayed progress. as its new Chairman. He has been Transdev, Amico Concessions run in three to four years’ time. There will be 19 intermediate Chief Executive of Transport for and Salini Impreglio has been The new line is planned to stations, with a five-minute Edinburgh since January 2016, and selected to design, build, finance address severe congestion on the peak service and an end-to-end replaces Geoff Inskip. and operate the planned 18km main bus corridor, which carries journey time of 40 minutes – a UKTram Managing Director (11.2-mile) Hurontario light rail 25 000 passengers/day and will saving of a third on the time James Hammett said Mr Lowder’s line in Ontario, Canada. be put under further pressure taken by private car. experience “will prove invaluable in our mission to promote light rail as Construction works on the because of plans for new The 48m LRVs will be of the the most effective way of reducing north-south line that will high-density housing Alstom Citadis Spirit design, urban congestion, improving air connect the Toronto suburb of developments. Residents have with assembly taking place in a quality and driving investment.” Mississauga to the neighbouring however been unhappy about the facility in Brampton.

in your next PLUS... + Jokeri Light Rail: TAUT reports on the progress to replace ’s busiest trunk bus route with LRT + Mike Russell visits Timişoara, the Romanian city known as ‘Little Vienna’, to mark 150 years of the city’s tramway. +  T he latest news, analysis and system algeria: leading systems FactFile: developments from around the world the way in africa new taipei city The first of a two-part exploration of In December 2018 Danhai Light Rail light rail progress in North Africa’s Transit introduced a new mode to oil capital – beginning with updates the Taiwanese capital’s metropolitan NOVEMBER 2019 issue on the new systems in Algiers, area, also marking the debut of a Constantine and Oran. new domestic manufacturer. On sale 18 October

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 367 Comment why the uk desperately needs a proper light rail strategy Colin S. Walton of Mainspring takes on Brexit and climate change with a range of solutions to prepare our cities for a bolder, greener, more prosperous future.

wo major challenges currently face the UK: climate government to make our voices heard. That is in addition change and our decision to leave the EU – but they also to speeding up the detailed plans for expanding the already present fantastic opportunities. The issue of mobility is successful systems in Sheffield, the West Midlands, London, central to both these debates and we urgently need new Blackpool, Nottingham and Manchester. national policies that will shape the future of our country Uniform design reduces cost by doing something once, for inT a positive manner. Light rail offers many of the answers – if only everyone’s benefit. It could include many aspects: track, bridges, we can speed up the planning, design and delivery of new schemes. viaducts, depots, stop infrastructure, power systems, signalling and Firstly, it is good to see that governments are finally recognising vehicles. Going further, a great deal of the components of this kit the monumental ramifications of climate change. Transport of parts could be prefabricated to simplify installation and reduce represents almost a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions disruption, one of the biggest challenges of tramway construction. and road vehicles account for around 70% of this total, as well as The key unique requirement for any new scheme would be the being the main cause of air pollution in cities. alignment and any specific topographical or geological conditions. Local authorities across the UK have declared ‘climate Other elements could be blueprinted with our design guide then emergencies’, with many saying they want to be carbon-neutral by used for tender purposes to bring down both time and costs. 2030. Parliament declared its own national climate emergency on Whole networks could be customised in the same way 1 May, although its target of becoming net-zero by 2050 is still consumers are used to with ‘car configurators’. Authorities could seen as overly ambitious without committing to radical changes choose their own colours, surface finishes and other treatments to in policy. With zero emissions at point of ‘personalise’ their systems at an extra, albeit use – negating many of the harmful effects reduced, cost. These options would be easily of tailpipe and non-tailpipe emissions – light “We have a genuine priced, cutting bid costs and ensuring a rail should form part of the solution. consistent supply at a consistent price. The scale of this challenge should not be opportunity to clean our A reliable pipeline of schemes would then underestimated. The summary of July’s also lead to interesting joint procurement cross-party parliamentary report Clean Growth: cities, improve mobility opportunities for key components. One Technologies for meeting the UK’s emissions and create real jobs as example of this is the VDV ‘tram-train reduction targets, offered a succinct, if sobering, alliance’ that has come up with a base paragraph: “Although ultra-low emissions part of a bold new ‘green vehicle with options for floor height, door vehicles generate very little emissions during configuration, and choices of power supply use, their manufacture generates substantial economy’. Are we up to etc. It will be useful to follow this initiative, emissions. In the long-term, widespread projected to save as much as EUR1m per personal vehicle ownership therefore does the challenge?” vehicle as well as delivering a more effective not appear to be compatible with significant supply chain for spares. decarbonisation. The Government should not aim to achieve The UK has a proud railway manufacturing heritage and a emissions reductions simply by replacing existing vehicles with successful light rail supply chain. There is enormous scope for this lower-emissions versions.” world-class resource to develop overseas business further as well. We need to get cars off the roads and implement low-emission The East Midlands hosts the largest cluster of rail manufacturers and transportation systems that don’t rely on rubber tyres. The only service providers in Europe, collectively employing over 9400 people. way to do this without decimating the economy and jeopardising The wider Midlands region is also home to academic institutions future growth is by offering high-quality alternatives. A more that lead the world in rail research so the skills base is here; this could joined-up perspective can therefore drive a real step-change in easily be expanded in line with the government’s ‘Rail Sector Deal’ reducing our reliance on private car usage in urban areas, while at and Industrial Strategy to have an important impact on UK plc. the same time improving access to new or currently disconnected The government’s review of HS2 costs and timescales gives us areas for employment, education, leisure and retail. another opportunity to review all of our transport options, and we However, this all costs money and requires vision, so we need to must ensure that light and urban rail schemes – especially those simplify the planning, design and building of light rail systems. outside the capital – are not ignored as part of this process. Dusting off a debate that has raged throughout the pages of All this would have considerable implications for regional rail TAUT many times over the years, one proposal that deserves systems, but as part of integrated networks light rail has the ability new, and serious, investigation is the development of a light rail to transform connectivity with more frequent services and greater template for new schemes. Such a standardised ‘design guide’ is one coverage – and at a greatly reduced operating and infrastructure cost. way to spread the cost and associated risk of new projects, to avoid There are genuine possibilities to clean our cities, improve reinventing the wheel and as an enabler of more rapid progress. mobility and create real, sustainable jobs as part of a bold new This is hardly radical as one only has to look at countries such ‘green economy’ – but this requires significant political will at as Algeria to see how a similar model has enabled the creation both local and national levels. Are we up to the challenge? of six new light rail systems in the last ten years. Taking these Colin S. Walton is the Chairman of Mainspring, President of the Light Rapid lessons, cities such as Leeds, Liverpool, Cambridge and Coventry Transit Forum and Rail Forum Midlands. He was formerly the Chairman could be put on the fast-track, and other schemes which are not as of Bombardier Transportation UK and Ireland as well as being a former Chair fully-developed – such as KenEx, Bath, Bristol, Stoke-on-Trent and of the UK Railway Industry Association. He has also served on the Southampton – would also be given the support they need to make UK Government’s Rail Sector Advisory Group (UK Trade and Industry), progress. This requires pan-industry collaboration in lobbying and on the board of the National Rail Sector Skills Board.

368 / october 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.Irta.org South Wales : THE TRANSFORMATION BEGINS

Within the next few years, light rail services TAUT examines the latest progress with the vision to deliver will reach the heart of Bay. enhanced urban rail services across South Wales. All images courtesy of TfW unless otherwise stated.

n the year since we last reported on the “Initially we have to use the legacy fleets, for Transport and Network Rail Valley Lines South Wales Metro programme albeit refurbished and rebranded, but by 2023 electrification programme to support the (TAUT 968), a lot of progress has been we will have a new fleet operating across the various schemes, bolstered by European made on what is undoubtedly one of country with 50% of those vehicles built in Regional Development Fund financing and the most ambitious rail transformation Wales. That will add capacity, and the new topped up by the . Iprojects seen in the UK for decades. electric units will provide zero-carbon services The South Wales Metro will include the There have been new vehicle orders, work throughout the South Wales Metro network.” current Valley Lines and services between has started on the new tram-train depot at Other initiatives such as enhancing the Cardiff and Ebbw Vale to the north, Maesteg to Taffs Well, and thousands of hours have Delay/Repay system of refunds for delayed the west and extending to the Severn Tunnel gone into ‘discovery’ projects across the services are in place (reducing the claim time in the east and beyond. The Central Welsh rail network on the assets that will from 30 minutes to 15) and new railcard Metro refers to the sub-set of services from transfer from Network Rail (NR) to Welsh schemes have been rolled out to bring down the northern towns of Treherbert, Aberdare, Government ownership. the cost of rail travel for younger people. Merthyr Tydfil, , Rhymney and Coryton, All of this is set against a backdrop of the through Queen Street station to , Welsh Government declaring a ‘climate “We’ve undertaken 356 Cardiff Central, Penarth, Barry Island and emergency’ with concerns over how emissions Bridgend. This incorporates the Cardiff City and rising global temperatures will affect the site visits and inspected line and so will remove many requirements to country’s infrastructure. change trains to cross the city. 1270 assets, looking at track, A little background… Transferring the assets Transport for Wales (TfW) appointed signalling and stations This conversion involves the transfer of KeolisAmey as the joint-venture Operator and around 137km (85 miles) of route and other Development Partner (ODP) in June 2018. across the network.” NR-owned assets known as the Core Valley Two distinct divisions have since emerged Lines (CVL), a process that takes place in key at the ODP, which has managed the Wales On the other side, the ‘InfraCo’ has been stages; approval by the board of the national and Borders franchise under the brand name busy preparing its masterplan for major rail infrastructure manager was given in May Transport for Wales Rail Services since Sunday infrastructure interventions. Mr Briggs 2018 and this is now with the UK Secretary of 14 October 2018. The ‘OpCo’ has begun a continues: “On Sunday 14 October we took State for signature. programme of refurbishing rolling stock, ‘deep over the rail services from , but that As Mr Briggs explains: “There has also been cleaning’ stations and introducing new ‘T’ weekend also saw Storm Callum so we had a lot of dialogue with the Office of Rail and branding. As Richard Briggs, TfW’s Core Valley trains stranded on the Valley Lines due to Road [ORR] that includes safety authorisation Lines Senior Project Engineer, explains: flooding. Talk about a baptism by fire!” licences and industrial arrangements, so if “It’s about clear communication. While Here it is worth revisiting the ‘Metro’ plans. disputes do occur then we can discuss how we the future plans are exciting, we need to Within a framework of devolved powers from manage that. This also includes station, track demonstrate the vision while also managing the UK Government, significant sums were access and connection agreements with NR expectations that it won’t happen overnight. made available from the delayed Department and freight operators. That’s important as we

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 369 South Wales

still have freight trains going to Cwmbargoed “We also need to look at structures, Colliery and need to be able to manage the earthworks and flooding risks as a lot of the performance risks as these trains enter or CVL run alongside rivers such as the Taff, leave our network. so we have to understand the long-term “Once the InfraCo is ready and we have operating and maintenance costs of those all the regulatory approvals in place with assets. As we are looking at putting in dynamic the ORR, there is a minimum 40-day notice passing loops to support the increased service period from pressing the button to go for it pattern, we have to check where boundaries and transferring the assets from NR.” lay on the network and that there hasn’t been Introducing a new vertically-integrated any encroachment onto railway property over operator and infrastructure manager is a real the years. innovation for the UK heavy rail industry, “One of the things we’ve been dealing and one only made possible by devolution, with is the variety of flora and fauna, so we’ve as Mr Briggs describes: “It’s not new in light been out there treating invasive species like rail of course, but to prepare we have been Japanese Knotweed so we are ready to start the looking at the assets we will be acquiring. construction works next year.” We can’t get around everything in the time Once the ‘go’ decision is given, Transport for we have available, but we’ve undertaken Wales, Rail Services will take over all rail assets 356 site visits and inspected 1270 assets, except for the FTN (Fixed Telecommunications Station environments, such as this one at the Aberdare terminus, will be made both more looking at track, signalling and stations Network) and GSM-R network which are welcoming and more accessible. across the network. In addition we’ve got expected to remain with NR. The InfraCo a number of level crossings and as we are will be responsible for maintenance, faults, migrate to an integrated control centre at increasing the number of services we are repair work and for proposing renewals on Taffs Well when this new facility is gradually looking at the risk assessments, so their risk the CVL network. Operational control of the brought online at the start of 2022 as each profile may change. CVL will initially remain with NR, but will route is transformed. As well as integrating specialist services such as FTN and GSM-R, the intention is also to have on-track plants, recording equipment and access to the full suite of NR standards and IT systems. But this process is also about people: “There are ongoing discussions as to whether existing staff will TUPE over to KeolisAmey or whether they will be retained by the public sector,” Mr Briggs explains, “and a major recruitment drive is ongoing so we’re ready to go.”

Upgrades and improvements A number of the former NR assets will require significant upgrades to enable the planned service enhancements, so there will be track remodelling, new signalling systems and what is termed ‘smart electrification’. Mr Briggs explains some of the detail: “This involves over 60 permanently earthed sections that avoid the need to raise bridges to achieve 25kV ac electrification clearance and major-catenary free sections through Caerphilly Tunnel, where there is insufficient headroom, through Cardiff Central to minimise interfaces with NR electrification and to avoid listed buildings and canopies The 40m Citylink vehicles destined for the South Wales Metro (below) will be bi-mode, powered by at Pontypridd station. 25kV ac overhead as well as utilising onboard energy storage. They are far more ‘off the shelf’ than the “In terms of civils interventions, there will similar Class 399 units used in South Yorkshire (above). TfW / S. Johnston be significant track doubling with the current

370 / october 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org 1tph 1tph 4tph Hereford, 2tph Under Shrewsbury and Tri-mode Rhymni review North Wales 2tph 4tph (Rhymney) Tref Glyn Ebwy 2tph (Ebbw Vale Town) Tram-train 4tph Merthyr Tudful Y Fenni 4tph (Merthyr Tydfil) Aberdâr (Abergavenny) DMU Treherbert (Aberdare) 2tph New stations Ystrad Mynach Trecelyn (Newbridge)

Abercynon Caerfilli Y Mynydd 2tph (Caerphilly) Pont-y-Pwl Pontypridd Ystad Trefforest Bychan & New Inn (Treforest Estate) Coryton (Heath) 4tph 6tph (Pontypool 6tph & New Inn) Radur Ty Du 12tph (Radyr) Maesteg (Rogerstone) Cwmbrân Heol y Crwys (Cwmbran) (Crwys Road) Pye Corner 4tph Caerdydd Heol Pen-y-Bont y Frenhines 12tph 18tph (Bridgend) (Cardiff Queen St)

Caerdydd Canolog Pont-y-Clun (Cardiff Central) Parcffordd Caerdydd Casnewydd (Pontyclun) (Cardiff Parkway) (Newport) Grangetown Cheltenham / Swansea, Camarthen and Gloucester West Wales Y Barri Sgwâr Loudoun (Barry) (Loudoun Square) Cardiff Bay (Bae Caerdydd)

Penarth 5tph 6tph Y Rhws 4tph (Rhoose) Communities across the region will see dramatic increases in 2tph Ynys y Barri 3tph (Barry Island) service provision when the South Wales Metro is complete. concept design, including 17 track lowering Smart electrification Mr Briggs explains: “In the short-term, projects, ten new footbridges, three new As previously described, the Well-Being of something a lot of people in Cardiff and the road bridges, one bridge jack, Future Generations Act (Wales) of 2015 forms outer regions will be pleased about is that we improvements and 13 new platforms. the foundation of the Welsh Government’s are withdrawing the Pacers [diesel-powered There will also be new stations to give rail vision and offers vital context for its plans for built in the 1980s]. They are not access to currently disconnected communities sustainable transport. Based upon the seven compliant with Persons with Reduced Mobility (Crwys Road, Gabalfa and Loudoun Square). tenets of prosperity, resilience, health, equality, legislation for one thing, so we are going to use The existing heavy rail diesel depot at Canton cohesive communities, vibrant culture and Sprinters [more modern DMUs] in the interim will be upgraded for servicing the incoming global responsibility, this legislation has been and that fleet is being modified at the moment, Stadler FLIRT ‘tri-mode’ trains – as well as lauded as a model for others to follow. including the fitting of accessible toilets and battery charging – and stabling points at other passenger improvements.” Treherbert and Rhymney will be upgraded “Full electrification In the longer-term tri-mode FLIRT vehicles to service the new tram-train and tri-mode will transform comfort, reliability and vehicles respectively. would be costly and accessibility on routes from Rhymney and Two stations are also being relocated. Coryton to Penarth, Barry and Bridgend. Plans are being made for Treforest Estate time-consuming, with Driven by 25kV OLE – supplemented by three station to be moved further south from 2025, battery modules and a tertiary diesel generator closer to the Coleg y Cymoedd campus and ageing structures that in the middle ‘power car’– these new vehicles the new Department for Work and Pensions ensure that in normal operating circumstances headquarters in Nantgarw that will house would either need to be zero-carbon operation can be achieved on 1700 staff when it opens in 2021. A new the CVL and beyond, providing additional infrastructure maintenance depot will also replaced or modified.” resilience in the event of power outages on be located nearby; that site has already been the overhead or Western Power’s distribution cleared to make way for the new facility. The new heavy rail vehicles will have network. “As the diesel power pack is located One of the biggest design challenges centres modern low-emission diesel engines and the in a separate car, passengers won’t feel the on accessibility improvements. Some stations tri-mode variants will use these to charge the same level of vibration as in many existing have been addressed via the Government’s batteries which then drive the electric motors. underfloor units,” Mr Briggs adds. “This car is Access for All funding (a total of GBP800m This will enable TfW to provide cross-city corridored so you can walk through from one (EUR880m) which has been committed to services onto non-electrified NR routes while section to another, and also allows for easy delivering accessible travel routes, including the 25kV traction equipment and onboard retrofitment to battery or fuel cell power in the step-free access to rail stations across the UK batteries will allow the Welsh Government future should the need arise.” by 2024) and this has been driven forward by to fulfil its vision for removing combustion- A mix of three- and four-car units will NR at a number of Welsh stations. But there engined traction power from the CVL entirely. initially be provided. is more to do, Mr Briggs adds: “Across the To do this relies on innovative thinking to A more traditional DEMU version will network as many stations have been developed overcome complex infrastructure challenges serve routes to Cheltenham, Ebbw Vale and over time, this has resulted in a forest of related to the historic and Maesteg, although commonalities with the platform furniture as equipment has been topography. Full electrification would be costly tri-mode variant support ease of maintenance installed to meet Railway Group Standards. and time-consuming, with a huge number of at the existing heavy rail Canton depot on the We want to improve the station environment ageing structures that would either need to be western side of the River Taff in the capital. as much as possible and as part of this process replaced or modified to meet NR standards. Vehicle accessibility is something else that will be to rationalise lighting and CCTV The introduction of ‘smart electrification’ is Mr Briggs is keen to highlight: “We always columns, and improving waiting facilities.” therefore core to the Metro plans. wanted to achieve light rail accessibility

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 371 South Wales

across the Metro so everyone can board electrification would not be a safe option; without the need for assistance. This will the vehicle design also offers provision to be achieved on the FLIRT fleet through retrofit further battery storage to extend the retractable ‘bridging steps’ of the kind seen range if required. The batteries will recharge widely across Europe and soon in the UK dynamically whenever the energy levels on Merseyrail and Greater Anglia heavy rail fall below a set value and the pantograph is services. At some locations platform work or connected to a live OLE supply; the transition track amendment will also be required. between overhead and OESS will be managed “For the fleet of StadlerCitylink LRVs dynamically via trackside beacons. on order, the most obvious thing when With connectivity of a digital nature also compared to the vehicles used in Sheffield is high on the agenda, a great deal of investment the high floor. This avoids the need to modify is being put into seamless Wi-Fi, both onboard platforms across the network.” and at stations. All new vehicles on order The platform height on the CVL will be will also feature space for bicycle carriage as 915mm, compared to 425mm seen in South part of Transport for Wales’ drive to increase Yorkshire. The Citylink supplied to the UK Cardiff Bay station on 5 August; this single-track first- and last-mile sustainable travel. Pilot is itself based upon the design supplied terminus will eventually be replaced with a double-track alignment that runs to two new to the German city of Chemnitz; the version stations at the heart of the bay. Neil Pulling A return to street-running for the South Wales Metro is more akin to the One of the most tantalising aspects is the variant supplied to Mallorca, Spain. return of street-running services to the Welsh To further reduce complexity – and cost – “We have a real legacy of capital after an absence of 70 years, as the fleet of 36 three-section LRVs are far more old railway routes in and Mr Briggs explains: “Our schedules are very ‘off the shelf’: “KeolisAmey have currently tight, but we expect to have the tram-train only identified seven deviations against around the capital, so units operational by the end of 2022.” Railway Group Standards, while the Sheffield In the future, passengers will be able to vehicle had 32. You can also see that the door we can reuse a lot of the board an LRV in the Welsh Valleys and and internal layouts are slightly different due alight in the heart of the Bay at a new station to the longer end-to-end trips on South old infrastructure if the across the road from the Wales Millennium Wales Metro of just over 50 minutes,” Centre and the , the home of Welsh Mr Briggs explains. The specification is also demand is there.” Government – with their entire journey based upon the UK main line wheel profile powered by 100% renewable energy. to avoid the need to raise check rails on the vehicles used on the South Yorkshire Pilot are The existing Cardiff Bay station – despite Switches and Crossings (S&C) where routes dual-voltage, they only currently operate to being the sixth-busiest in Wales, seeing 1.3m are shared with freight traffic. There is the the standard UK light rail voltage of passengers in 2017-18 – was built in the early opportunity to modify the wheel profile on 750V dc. Ours will run from 25kV ac overhead years of Queen Victoria’s reign as British any units that operate on extended street- to align with current NR standards on the monarch and hardly befits a 21st Century running sections in the future and new S&C railway sections of the Metro but will also capital. Firstly, it is operated as a single- are designed such that raised check rails can be feature onboard energy storage [OESS] for the track shuttle service. Secondly, the station is easily added as the network expands. on-street sections.” This decision also takes around 300m from the heart of the Bay itself, Often running in double-consists (ten out account of the large numbers of steel sleepers a prosperous development area. Initially, the of 23 services will be ‘doubles’ as well as those on the Valley Lines; a 750V dc system would Cardiff Bay line will be dualled and electrified for major events at Cardiff’s Principality have been more complex to implement due to to a new temporary station near the existing Stadium), the LRVs will follow heavy rail potential dc leakage. site. Once the extension is built the route will signalling with the installation of enhanced The three-section LRVs will have a capacity be converted to tramway operating principles UK-specific Train Protection & Warning for 252 passengers and operate through allowing the new stop at Loudoun Square to Systems, aside from the Cardiff Bay line and the permanently earthed and catenary-free open with track crossings while the use of the short extension to Cardiff Bay where sections from Ninian Park to Cardiff Queen LRVs with OESS removes the need to extend they will operate on traditional tramway Street on battery power, again providing the overhead lines over Hemmingway Road line-of sight principles. resilience in the event of an and into the terminus area. “The other key difference is in the traction failure. This facility will be useful for future This short extension and new rolling stock package,” Mr Briggs adds. “Although the on-street extensions where 25kV ac overhead will also allow for a transformation in services.

ABOVE (BOTH): The Taffs Well depot site lies at the bottom of the valleys north of Cardiff. The site has now been cleared awaiting the construction of a new facility to house the new tram-train fleet that will serve the South Wales Metro.

372 / october 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org LEFT: Further To better cater for the new developments and potential for thriving nightlife, a 20% increase in Sunday street-running services and eventually a 40% increase across routes in Cardiff the timetable is planned, starting earlier and has been running later all week round. identified, with This could be the springboard for further bridges and tight light rail operation in the capital, Mr Briggs clearances made explains: “We’ve also been looking at the less of an issue wider area and thinking about the future with through the use of vehicles with new stations and extensions to the network. onboard energy One of the most interesting is the potential storage. for a direct link from Cardiff Central down to Cardiff Bay. For that we would need to go on- street through Callaghan Square and one of the options is to use tram-trains on a reserved corridor so you would no longer need to change at Cardiff Queen Street. There’s also the possibility of further routes to the south and east, using a combination of street-running and repurposing freight lines to Cardiff Parkway, the Porth Teigr redevelopment site, which includes the BBC studios at Cardiff Dock where Doctor Who is filmed. These could be operated with OESS, LEFT: removing the need for physical electrification Transport for Wales is also and using overhead charging facilities of the scoping out the kind seen in many European cities, such as reintroduction Seville, and soon in the UK’s West Midlands. of ‘Metro’ TfW has identified further routes within the services on wider city region for investigation, as well as disused rail potentially further into the Valleys. Mr Briggs corridors in the continues: “There are longer-term opportunities Valleys. such as the disused Hirwaun branch which will become a Welsh Government asset. Although closed to passengers in 1963, the line reaches the north end of the Cynon Valley and until recently was used by freight traffic to the Tower Colliery site and is now close to the strategic Heads of the Valley road. The infrastructure is there, so with the required funding and political will that could be re-opened using tram-train vehicles. “We have a real legacy from the mining industry of old routes that serve a range of corridors in and around the capital, so we have the opportunity to reuse a lot of the old infrastructure and reopen them if the demand at Taffs Well to not only support the fleet is there. A really exciting one is the north-west “Taffs Well will be the on order, but to accommodate additional corridor, potentially using a former rail heart of our network… it is vehicles to cover the first tranche of future alignment through the major Plasdwr Garden extensions as well. City Development to cross the M4 motorway probably one of the Demonstrating its own commitment to at Junction 33. From here it could continue travel into the Valleys rather than just to the to new housing developments proposed at best settings for a new Welsh capital, the headquarters of Transport and then onto Llantrisant, connecting for Wales and the ODP will be co-located in to the South Wales Main Line at Pontyclun.” depot in the UK.” the heart of the valleys in Pontypridd and Keolis UK will relocate its own headquarters A model depot Planning permission was obtained in to South Wales by the end of the year. “Taffs Well will be the heart of our network,” 2017 and last year ground, ecology and The operator’s global rail division, currently Mr Briggs says of the new depot and control environmental surveys were carried out. based in Paris, will follow in 2020. Amey is centre, located on a ten-acre (4ha) site around Visits were also undertaken to a number of also to open a new design hub in Wales and 10km (6.5 miles) north of Cardiff. UK light rail depots in January 2019 to take TfW engineering advisor Mott MacDonald “It is probably one of the best settings for a in current best practice and lessons learnt. has just opened a new Welsh headquarters in new depot in the UK, sat in the valley bottom Detailed design is nearing completion, adhering Callaghan Square. in the shadow of Garth Hill and Castell Coch. to the highest environmental standards, and a On the back of Wales & Borders and South It will offer a three-road, six-berth shed with detailed planning submission has been made. Wales Metro there is genuine improvement your typical lifting equipment, a three-storey Mr Briggs concluded: “The key thing is in urban transit and job creation starting office space and a separate wheel lathe facility. that the depot and control centre are on the to occur within the Cardiff Capital Region, We will have two track connection points, one critical path because of the timescale we are which were key aims of the project. that takes you to the centre of Cardiff and two working to to secure European funding. A lot of tracks to launch services up into the valleys at progress has been made and Alun Griffiths was This article is based upon elements of South the start of the day. The main challenge is the recently appointed as the ECI [Early Contract Wales Metro: The start of a new journey, construction of new rail routes underneath Involvement] contractor. The extant buildings presented at the UK Light Rail Conference in July Cardiff Road, which provides access to the have been demolished and the site is now being 2019. With grateful thanks to Richard Briggs, village and an industrial estate, but this cleared ready for the new buildings.” Core Valley Lines Senior Project Engineer, and the is nothing that can’t be overcome by the As there will be a doubling of services on team at Transport for Wales for their assistance in expertise we have in our supply chain.” most lines from 2022-23, the scope is there the preparation of this article.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 373 Reduce Time & Costs The design and implementation of urban and light rail networks in busy towns and cities presents signi engineering challenges. At the same time, the pressure to minimise disruption and cost has never been greater. Whether it’s for tram stops, pedestrian crossings, depots or complex crossovers and turnouts, our engineered solid rubber panels help you overcome your challenges faster and more cost-e ectively than other systems. Rosehill Rail – Setting New Standards For more information, or to enquire about training, please call the Rosehill Rail sales team on +44 (0)1422 317 473, or email [email protected]

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A compact capital city with much to interest systems Tallinn the visitor – as may be said of the tramway www.lrta.org factfilewhich has seen many esToNia www.tautonline.com changes in a short Subscribe now! No. Tallinn, time and is set for further expansion. OCTOBER 2019 N O. 982 144 Estonia Neil Pulling reports. LRT’S KEY ROLE IN A ‘BALTIC BIG BANG’ Now in its 82nd year, Tramways & Urban Transit is

allinn’s eight districts had Tatra KT6TM 97 and of funding in the country’s recent 441 364 registered residents For the conurbation, cars account for CAF Urbos AXL 502 on transport projects. in June 2019, representing 25 June 2019. Here the almost half of work-related journeys, Owned by the city, public about one-third of Estonia’s tramway climbs from with just over a quarter by public transport body Tallinna total. Against a national the roadside alignment transport. The next biggest category, trend,T the capital is sustaining a at Lubja stop. Indicating Linnatranspordi AS was formed walking, has declined. Some identify the world’s leading monthly publication dedicated solely to Tallinn’s resurgence, in 2012, a merging of urban buses population increase and features a this group as having the most changed apartment blocks with an already combined tram diverse community (Estonian behaviour since Tallinn’s free public with Baltic views have and trolleybus operation. As shown 53.2%, Russian 38%, Ukrainian transport policy was enacted in 2013 3.4%, 5.3% other) as well as one of replaced humbler on vehicles, the network brand is hillside residences. (TAUT 965). the fastest-growing economies in the Tallinna Transport/TLT. Although The uni-directional tramway grew former liveries and all-over . from an amalgamation of city trams advertising may be seen, the current Estonia became independent in and local railways created for freight format is white with angled colour 1918, with World War Two leading movements. Unusual for tramways, bands according to mode – trams use to the nation becoming part of the a 1067-mm gauge prevailed, with orange, blue and buses Soviet Union until independence electrification beginning in 1925 Creating a sustainable gateway to Estonia’s booming capital pale blue. This distinction, which was restored in 1991. Given its after use of horse, steam and internal extends to official network maps, Hopes revived for Leeds tram network multi-cultural makeup, transport combustion power. The later Soviet signage features both Russian and slightly offsets potential confusion light and urban rail developments. years remain reflected in the system’s for non-residents as all three modes English alongside the official national fleet. Until the first CAF tram entered Ottawa opens Confederation LRT line have lines in the series 1-4. language of Estonian, although service in March 2015, since the TLT carried around 90% of Finnish and German are also widely mid-1970s the system had only used spoken. A NATO member, Estonia public transport journeys until it Shanghai doubles Songjiang tramway Tatra two-section articulated became the sole provider with a also prizes its membership of the trams. Soviet type KT4SU were £4.60 2019 takeover of routes from the European Community, a key source delivered new to Tallinn and KT4D Pictures by Neil Pulling. collapsed private operator MRP. South Wales Tampere came from former East German The urban rail Re-imagining a post-industrial city www.tautonline.com revolution begins... . www.lrta.org oc Tober 2019 / 385

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Please complete this form and send it with your payment to: LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK 2019 OCTOBER Tampere Tampere: Another reason to smile The tramway in the Finnish city of Tampere is the largest infrastructure project the region has ever seen. Lanna Blyth reports on progress to date.

A ‘block party’ on Hämeenkatu over the weekend of 24 August drew thousands of excited city residents. Pasi Tiitola / City of Tampere very new tramway scheme has growth and development of the urban area finally in 2016 we had the historic decision. its unique challenges, but the and further increasing the city’s appeal. They debated the issue for around ten hours project to deliver a new light rail – they even made a short movie from these operation for ’s third- Phase One interesting conversations.” largest city, Tampere, has faced Although the city’s first ambitions for a The first phase covers an 11.53km Esome rather unusual ones. Siberian flying tramway date from 1907, these were set aside (7.16-mile) north-south route from squirrels and overly-enthusiastic tree cutters during the turbulent years surrounding the Pyynikintori to Hervantajarvi, including were just two of the unforeseen issues when two world wars and were shelved in favour 19 stops, with a further 4.74km (2.95-mile) planning began for a new double-track of more cost-effective trolleybuses in 1948; eastward branch with four stops that will line tramline through the heart of what is these were subsequently replaced by motor serve the large Tampere University Hospital. described as ‘the happiest city in the world’. buses in the 1970s. The 1435mm-gauge double-track line will Antti Haukka, Project Manager for the City Situated between two substantial lakes also feature a new depot and control centre at of Tampere, gave an insight into construction (Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi – the height , accessed via a 1km (0.6-mile) branch progress at this July’s UK Light Rail differential between th.e two providing fast- at the southern end. Services will operate every Conference in Manchester: “We call Tampere moving rapids that help generate much of 7.5 minutes between 06.00 and 20.00, reducing the ‘Manchester of Finland’ as we were also the city’s electricity), geography means that to every 15-30 minutes at the start and end at the heart of our own industrial revolution, plans for the tramway fall within a relatively of each day (04.00-06.00 and 20.00-23.00). and we have had many similar challenges confined area, where the city is most densely The average distance between stops is 600m. over the last 200 or so years.” concentrated. A cost-benefit analysis from Main construction began in 2017 with Approximately 160km (100 miles) to 2016 showed that a tramway would be the an estimated project cost of EUR238.8m the north of the nation’s capital, Helsinki, most efficient method of achieving fluent and (infrastructure, rolling stock not included), Tampere’s industrial heritage of cotton and punctual transportation in the municipality, Mr Haukka said: “We’re now past the halfway paper production is pronounced. However, in preference to buses – which were calculated mark, about 66% complete. We have 12.4km those prominent red-brick factories at the to require 225 buses to achieve the same level of (7.7 miles) of tracks already laid and will heart of the city have long since closed, service as 25 trams. It concluded that light rail have 14km (8.7 miles) laid by the end of the repurposed as the city has evolved to support a investment could be doubly recouped through year. The last 18 months will be mostly for new industrial wave of advanced engineering, land use, real estate and ticket revenues. installing catenary and technical systems, computing and biotechnology. This is So it was that in 2016 the city authorities testing and commissioning.” supported by a strong focus on the region’s finally gave the go-ahead for a modern Although the initial tram order specifies culture and a burgeoning tourism industry. tramline, with a vote of 41/25 in favour of the 37.3m three-section cars, platforms are being With a population of 235 000 (2019 figure), scheme. Mr Haukka added: “We had various built to 47m to allow for additional sections Tampere has topped recent polls for being the plans for tramways in the last 20 years, and as and when they may be required. most attractive city in Finland in which to live and work, with its population also cited as the ‘happiest people in the world’. However, Tampere’s tramway: Phase 1 like many other prosperous and growing cities around the globe, this popularity Total service length: 15km Lines: 2 Gauge: 1435mm brings its own issues related to congestion, Ballasted track: 5.24km Stops: 23 (+3 reserves) Substations: 10 particularly in such a compact city centre. Slab track (segregated): 5.87km Platform length: 47m Voltage: 750V dc overhead The key goals of the tramway project therefore Slab track (mixed traffic): Platform height (from top of New bridges: 7 are to make everyday transport easier across 3.89km rail): 350mm Renovated bridges: 9 the municipality, as well as supporting the

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 375 Tampere

At the same time, planning is underway for by the Tramway Alliance (City of Tampere, zoning issue with the flying squirrels so we a second phase – a north-western branch that YIT Construction Services, NRC Group could proceed with the delayed bridge. This is will see the system extend 7km (4.4 miles) Finland and Pöyry Finland). Mr Haukka just one example of how by flipping these two from the 2021 terminus at Pyynikintori to explained one of the key benefits of the objects we could stick to the overall schedule”. Lentäväniemi via . In March 2019, the ‘alliance’ approach as being a more flexible Alongside construction of the new Tampere City Board approved the street plans way of managing construction: “There were tramway, streets in the heart of the in Federleynkatu, Niemenrannanaukio and two bridges in the first phase, but when we city are being rebuilt in sympathy with Kehyskatu to enable this to proceed, as well discovered Siberian flying squirrels in the their new surroundings along the main as initial plans for Sepänkatu, Paasikivenkatu forest [a protected species in Finland] we had thoroughfares. “It’s not been easy,” Mr and Rantatie adjacent to the city centre. the people and plans ready but couldn’t go Haukka commented, adding a cautionary Approval is expected by autumn 2020, with ahead with the first one. Any delay would tale about the importance of stakeholder opening of the second phase in 2024. jeopardise the timely completion of the communications. Hämeenkatu, a 30m-wide A long term target is to expand the Tampere whole project, so we needed to act quickly.” main street with four lanes of road traffic was Tramway network across the neighbouring Under this collaborative model, the project to be remodelled with two lanes (for tram municipalities, totalling 43km (26.7 miles). team quickly took the decision to ‘flip’ the and bus traffic) and allowing extra space for construction of the two bridges, so the team bicycles and pedestrians, at the same time The ‘alliance model’ tasked with building the southern bridge was banning cars from the city centre. Part of this Design and construction of the phase one reallocated to construct the second bridge programme involved felling trees, something infrastructure and depot is being undertaken instead: “After a year we had resolved the the contractors undertook with premature

Residents groups helped inform the design of Tampere’s ForCity Artic fleet and around 15 000 people visited the unveiling. City of Tampere

Kalevan kirkko Kaupin kampus Hippos Sammonaukio TAYS Keskustori Tulli Pyynikintori Uintikeskus Tuulensuu Rautatieasema Koskipuisto Hakametsä

Turtola

Hallila

Pohjois-Hervanta Opiskelija

Hervantakeskus

Hervannan kampus

High quality finishes are seen across the project; Etelä-Hervanta block paving is being laid here on the city centre sections. City of Tampere Hervantajärvi

376 / october 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org enthusiasm: “Our builders said we should just do it, we could just cut the trees. But we underestimated the importance of those trees to citizens – it’s a really delicate thing to cut down trees, we learned”. However, technology prevailed as digital models were created to allow residents to see how replanting and grass track installation would look in the future. Utility works and tracklaying followed, which – not unusually – met with a level of opposition from residents. Although on an international scale Tampere’s tramway project isn’t one of the largest by any measure, it is by far the biggest infrastructure project the city has ever seen. “When people come in from other countries, bigger cities, they don’t quite understand the problem. But for the people of Tampere this has been a huge challenge,” Mr Haukka explained. With major sections of track now laid, there is at least visible evidence that any inconvenience and disruption associated with tramway construction will result in a better living environment overall: “We can at least show them how nice it will become… even if the opening is still 18 months away.” As well as tramway construction, city streets are also undergoing a transformation to promote nicer environments and more sustainable travel. Pasi Tiitola / City of Tampere As part of this city re-engineering process the values of each cityscape were thoroughly Accordingly, city residents were heavily The first car is due to arrive at the depot in assessed, particularly in areas such as Kaleva involved in the design of the Škoda ForCity January 2020, with test running to take place and Hervanta that feature nationally- Smart Artic trams they would be riding from in March. The first commercial ‘pilot’ services significant cultural locations, so the tramway August 2021. An order for 19 three-section will begin in April 2021, during which could be sensitively adapted to its urban vehicles was placed in 2017 under a EUR104m time bus services in the city will continue surroundings. The rebuilding of Hämeenkatu, contract that includes options for a further as normal. Four months of this will follow, the main street that runs through the city 46. The low-floor trams will have a maximum with 9 August 2021 settled as the ‘actual for about 1km (0.6 miles), was added to speed of 70 km/h (43.5mph) and capacity commercial’ launch: “The second stage is the scope of the project in February this for 264 passengers. Although the majority more important for operators and planners year. A picturesque boulevard running of the vehicles’ components will be made and so on, but 1 April is more important for from the railway station to Hämeenpuisto in Finland, some will come from Škoda’s the people: that’s the party date,” Mr Haukka Park, it is paved entirely with cobblestones facilities in the Czech Republic. explains. In the meantime, special events and contains the Hämeensilta Bridge that As well as a public vote on the livery are being held along the line to mark key crosses the Tammerkoski rapids, affording (which resulted in 59% of the 23 578 votes construction milestones, embedding the new stunning views. Work here will focus first on cast opting for red), a mock-up was created tramway within the community even further. construction of phase one of the tramway, and groups were given tours of the Transtech This grass-roots involvement is something with the sections of the street and pavement factory. “They gave us valuable feedback,” the city feels is crucially important in gaining following in 2022. Mr Haukka added. “If someone said “It would support. Mr Haukka explained: “It’s been Elsewhere, new ‘green’ environments are be a nice to have a pole ‘here’”, we could get a really challenging to tell people to wait four planned along the system – over 200 new member of the design team to bring one years when all they see is a construction site trees will be planted in Kaleva, with grass in so we could ask, ‘Is it better now?’” In total, making their daily life harder and harder. track planned along the alignment through 15 visits were made to the factory to refine But this is clearly a positive thing. Out of the and . the design, resulting in the final half-length 15 000 people who attended the tram launch, Construction of the depot began in 2018 mock-up that was publicly debuted in a special most were really happy to see how it looked.” and the building is now taking shape with event held in the city in February 2019. Tampere’s tramway is progressing partitioning walls clear to see, while the Again, the people took precedence on the according to the Alliance’s best laid plans, laying of tracks is underway inside the storage first day. “The first people to see the new tram within budget, and with the support of a hall. The depot and its yard will be ready for were two six-year-old girls,” Mr Haukka joked. fully-engaged public – who themselves can test traffic in January 2020. “Not the mayor, but the citizens of Tampere”. look forward to riding the new tracks when Operations are to be handled by national The six-day event drew an overwhelmingly the line opens in 2021 and adding it to their railway VR Group following a competitive positive reception. list of things to be happy about. tender process. Six parties prequalified, with three selected for the shortlist before the contract was confirmed in April 2019. MANAGING NOISE, VIBRATION AND STRAY CURRENT The contract covers two-and-a-half years of preparations followed by 12 years of Pandrol has been supplying its QTrack® embedded The rail is encapsulated by elastic resin-bonded operations and maintenance, with the option rail system to the Tampere LRT project since 2017. rubber profiles, providing a range of benefits The variant used in Tampere is the 60R rail such as rail protection, vibration mitigation and of a three-year extension. Test running is version, installed on around 7km (4.3 miles) of electrical isolation, one of the important technical to take place from April 2020 and VR is to slab track along various sections of the route; the requirements for this project. employ between 50 and 100 staff. 49 E1 rail version is also being used in depot areas. In addition, to ensure the technical requirements Pandrol QTrack® is consistent with the need of the project were met Pandrol developed a Power to the people to reduce ground-borne noise and vibration and specialist solution – QT ELEC – to deal with stray One of the goals from the outset was is compatible with special trackworks such as current. An electrical insulating film, QT ELEC to encourage “open and proactive” drainage and electrical boxes, insulation joints, provides the best performance even in extreme communication in relation to the project, axle counters, switches and crossings. climate conditions. It was selected for Tampere because of its unique The Pandrol team has been present throughout with public events, themed workshops capabilities, being a continuously supported and the project, providing technical support at the and site visits to “inspire active dialogue”, fastened embedded slab track system. different stages. according to Mr Haukka.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 377 KUSEC SECTION INSULATOR – SAVING TIME AND MONEY

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378 / October 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Track insulation FASTENING SYSTEMS and track INSULATION Why is the electrical insulation of track and fastening systems so important? Thomas Lorent, Head of the Transit Steering Group at Pandrol, explores the complex relationship between track and electricity.

sk most members of the general public about the function of modern track and they’re likely to get as far as talking about the rails supporting and guiding Atrains, metro and trams. However, the transmission of electricity in different forms plays several important roles in most modern transportation systems and the track plays a key role in relation to this. Look at any electric transit network and, in 90% of cases, the overhead wires are immediately evident. Less obvious is the fact service frequency, the distance between Sydney's new South East Light Rail project uses the that the rails also act as electrical conductors: substations, and network topology – how Pandrol QTrack® system to manage rail insulation; trams are due in passenger service by the end of 2019. • Vehicles take their traction power from different parts are interconnected. All images and graphics courtesy of Pandrol electricity supplied by either the catenary European Norm EN50122-1 – which or . The rails return traction current relates to electrical safety and grounding corrosion of rails, steel reinforcements and to substations. – sets a standard that forbids the voltage other track components. In cities, electro- • Signalling systems often rely on an electric on tracks from being above 60 to 120V.1 corrosion as a result of stray current can also circuit passing through the rails to detect affect subterranean utility equipment, posing the presence of vehicles on the track to “Electro-corrosion as a a safety issue – for example, increasing the trigger the signals. risk of a gas explosion. Every ampere of stray Because of this role in conducting electricity, result of stray current can current that goes into the ground per hour rail insulation is crucially important to the corresponds to a gram of corrosion.2 efficiency and effectiveness of the whole also affect subterranean To mitigate stray current, operators need system. Fastening systems must therefore first to control the voltage on the rail and not only fix the rail to the ground, but must utility equipment. Every second the resistance path to the ground, of also insulate it from an electrical point of which the fastening system forms a vital part. view for both safety and to meet regulatory ampere of stray current that The average amount of stray current across requirements. the lifetime of track is a more significant goes into the ground per factor than any peaks and troughs. The aim Controlling voltage is to limit the mean value by minimising At any one time, there is a huge amount of hour corresponds to a the voltage on the rail and maximising the electricity flowing through a modern transit resistance between the track and the ground. system. For example, the typical voltage for gram of corrosion.” Euro Standard EN50122-2 tells us that the systems with a direct current (DC) can range average stray current over the lifetime of a from 600–900V dc for tramways and metros Controlling this voltage is the responsibility track should not exceed 2.5mA per metre of to 3000V dc for a train. To set this in context, of electrical engineers, who need to ensure track. Experience proves that where this is the a cable at home might have ten amps flowing the best possible track design, the positioning case, over a period of 25 years there will be no through it, whereas each vehicle on a track of substations, connections between corrosive damage to the track. will have several thousand amps. This means components, and so on. The insulation of While it is therefore the role of electrical that with several vehicles on the track at fastening systems has no impact in this area. engineers to control the voltage, the fastening any one time, the traction current will be system provider, such as Pandrol, must specify extremely high. Stray current a fastening system with sufficient electrical However, the reality is that a rail is not a Fastening systems play a vital part in tackling resistance. Both factors need to be good on perfect conductor. When the traction current the issue of stray current. Keeping the traction average across all conditions: when the weather flows through the rail it encounters resistance, current flowing in the rail to the substation is dry and the track is clean, and also when the creating a voltage on the rail. There is is a priority; any current that escapes and track is full of water and covered in dirt. potential for an electrical hazard to the leaks into the ground – a fraction of the total For example, in more rural locations general public or staff, particularly anywhere traction current – is known as stray current. where there may be a greater distance between that they come into the proximity of track Stray current occurs because there is voltage substations, electrical engineers might elements, such as in street-running systems, on the rail, and the rail is connected to the be asked to design a system with high rail at level crossings and in depots. ground. This is really only an issue with a dc voltage (e.g. 5V) and the fastenings need to The amount of voltage transmitted to the current supply; because the voltage always have high resistance (e.g. 2Ω.km). In a city rail will depend on the traction power supply, pushes electrons in the same direction, environment, the shorter distance between the number of cars on any given route, the excessive stray current results in electro- substations mean that electrical engineers are

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 379 Track insulation

Speed

Braking distance Block 1 Block 2 Block 3

able to keep the voltage on the track down can then define which previous blocks should Avoiding false signals (e.g. below 1V). This allows them to provide be forbidden for the next vehicle to enter – The track circuit signalling system is designed less isolation (e.g. 0.4Ω.km) for the track – by setting a red light signal – taking into to be failsafe. If there is a fault and a ‘false’ which is very often embedded if the route account block length, vehicle speed and train presence is detected, the vehicles are runs on-street with other road vehicles, and braking distance. stopped. This can create serious operational is therefore more complex to isolate. There This method relies on an electrical circuit difficulties, however. On a metro network in is also a responsibility for the maintenance conducted by the running rails. A small Asia recently, a track circuit signalling system engineer to maintain the track to a good state generator at the start of a section provides an created a false signal and the first station of a of cleanliness, since electricity can leak out electrical signal to one rail that then flows particular line was blocked on each rainy day of the rail through dirt on the track as well as to a receiver at the other end of the block. for one or two hours. through the fastening system. If there is nothing on the track, the signal So what causes that false signal? The In many cities, there is a high level of goes through the receiver and back along resistance between the two rails in the circuit concern to protect buried metallic structures. the second rail to the generator. However, is key. When there is a lot of resistance in Therefore, local specifications are increasingly if a vehicle is on the block, the creates parallel to the track resistance, to the point asking for even higher track resistance. a short circuit. The generator signal is short where it becomes close to the bogie resistance, This is why Pandrol developed embedded circuited and goes straight back to the the track circuit detects this, thinks there is rail systems like Pandrol QTrack® or Pandrol generator rather than flowing to the receiver. a vehicle on the track, and produces a false FTrack (Nablatram with FT web chambers) The receiver then issues a red signal. signal. Parallel resistance increases when: with electrical isolation features that can Various systems are available, for example: • It rains or the track floods. reach all levels from as low as 0.4Ω.km and up • With joints, jointless or a joint in one rail • The system is dirty (or dusty). to as high as 500Ω.km in the case of Pandrol • Direct or Alternating Current (from 50Hz • Snow or ice affects its robustness. QTrack® + ELEC-H. to 10kHz) or pulse. • The track circuit is long (a long circuit • Coded. reduces the parallel resistance). Unlike the situation with stray current Pandrol ERS Minimum “Durability is essential where it’s the mean value that counts, peaks resistance 3 are a problem with track circuit signalling to fastening systems, so systems. If a certain value is exceeded, the Pandrol QTrack® 0.4Ω.km vehicles will be stopped. Pandrol FTrack steel is ideal. However, The responsibility for minimising the risk (Nablatram with FT web chambers) of false track circuit signals is shared across additional components several partners. Engineers need to ensure Pandrol QTrack® + ELEC-L 20 .km Ω good track design; the operator is responsible provide the fastening’s for maintenance and upkeep of the system; Pandrol QTrack® + ELEC-M 60Ω.km and fastening providers need to ensure that electrical insulation. the best possible fastenings are installed, with Pandrol QTrack® + ELEC-H 500Ω.km Plastic is a good choice.” the right amount of insulation provided. Track circuit signalling Fastening insulation As mentioned, electrical conduction through When designing any fastening, material The design of an insulator involves: volume the rail is also vitally important for many resistance of the insulating material (plastic in the choice is important. Durability is essential to signalling systems, and in particular, the case of fasteners); creepage distance (robustness the main function of a fastening system, so insulation from one rail to the rail adjacent to it. of the fasteners to pollution); and clearance here a material like steel is ideal. However, A range of signalling systems are used to distance (not applicable for track fasteners). detect the presence of vehicles on a track: • Axle counters: A box that counts the number of wheels passing over it and creates an P1 electromagnetic disturbance so the system knows there is a vehicle on the track mineral oil (e.g. Frauscher’s Advanced Counter FAdC®) + silica • Electromechanical systems: These physically sense the presence of a vehicle ceramic via ground-based contacts (for example, Creepage 1 Automatic Warning System (AWS) or insulator Crocodile). • Vehicle Ground Loop Detection: Induction loops used for tramways. Clearance 1 • Optical barriers: For example, a beam of light that detects the presence of a vehicle (this system is used primarily in depots). TF1 However, the most widely-used signalling Volume system is track circuits; this involves dividing S1 resistance the route into blocks (sections). The track P2 circuit system detects when a vehicle is in a S2 particular block and the system

380 / october 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Electrical resistance test 10 000

Wet track Dry track 1000

Overflowed track 100 esistance – k esistance R

First test Two mins water spraying 10 Second test Third test

1 0 60 120 180 240 300 360 420 480 540 600 660 720

Time – Seconds additional components made from the correct is more robust to water and contamination – materials then need to provide the fastening’s the voltage is kept purely in the rail. electrical insulation. Plastic is a good choice. Pandrol fastening systems are designed to Clearance – the shortest direct air path over insulate the rail from their metallic components, the top of the barrier – is also important. In ensuring optimal behaviour and robustness environments where there is a lot of humidity against rain and dirt… and so minimising the or dust in the air, the ground can become a risk of false train detection from the track circuit. conductor and an electrical arc is created. Fortunately, signalling systems are not in a Signalling success high voltage range and therefore the clearance In conclusion, the success of a track circuit is not an issue for the rail fastener – whereas it signalling system depends on a few factors: is for third rail fasteners. • Make sure your track circuit is not too long Creepage is also an important factor. • Choose a fastener that is well designed – Plastic is an excellent insulator, but when robust in the face of rain, flooding and dirt, it becomes dusty, oily or wet the current and appropriate for local conditions. can start to use the surface as a conductor. • Design the track so that it will drain well, The distance at the top of the isolator needs based on local conditions. to be great enough to be robust to external A well-designed trackform with a robust, double • Maintain the track well – keep drainage insulation fastening system. Robust to both heavy conditions and ensure this doesn’t create systems clear and the track clean. rain and dusty environments for smooth operation. a short circuit. The design of the fastener Follow these guidelines and your system must also take into account both the volume As the test only lasts two minutes, water will be robust for the lifetime of the track. resistance of the material and creepage on may not fully penetrate into more complex the surface. EN13481 sets a standard of fastening system designs that water takes rail-rail resistance per fastener of at least 5kΩ, longer to work its way into. Such designs are REFERENCES / AUTHOR measuring the performance of the insulator also slower to drain, whereas water moves both and drainage of the system in a test that is in and out of a simple fastening system more 1. 60V ac or 120V dc for more than 300 seconds. carried out under a water spray. quickly. This can become a particular issue 2. Steel has a material loss of 9.13 kg/(A/y) or ~1 g/Ah. The graph above shows the results of an in areas prone to flooding, where fastening 3. In average conditions. All data is for proper track electrical resistance test on a fastening system systems need to be able to drain a high volume installation with no leaks caused by systems that provides very good resistance (1000kΩ) of water quickly. High-quality track design is touching the rail, such as drainage, cabling, when dry. The test simulates vertical and also crucial to ensure efficient drainage. turnouts, insulated rail joints, or other degraded transversal rain of 1.55l/m2/min for two Direct and indirect fastener designs may track condition (flooding, dirty etc.) minutes. When affected by water in this respond differently to wet conditions. way, the fastening system’s resistance drops In the case of direct fasteners, where the Thomas Lorent is Head of the Transit Steering Group for Pandrol, and has over 15 years of dramatically, resulting in short-circuits. This rail is connected directly by the metallic experience in the rail sector. system arrives quickly at a steady state regime fastening, the whole fastening system is at He is a graduate of Université Libre de that gives a representative electrical resistance rail voltage. This means that rail voltage is Bruxelles and began his career as a rolling under rain of over 50kΩ – ten times greater disseminated lower into the track structure stock electrical engineer before moving into than the minimum EN13481 requirement. and more widely than just on the rail. This infrastructure and track systems as a technical After the rain stops, the plastic dries, the water means the creepage distance between rails is manager with the CDM Group in 2008. drains and the resistance increases again. shorter. When flood or rainwater rises, the In 2015, after Pandrol’s acquisition of CDM’s track It is important to note that this is a water quickly touches a large area of metal activities, he became General Manager of this comparative test that does not measure the and the system short circuits. new entity and since March 2018 has also held the responsibility for the Transit Steering Group effects of longer spells of rain (in the real world, In indirect fasteners, where the rail is isolated at Pandrol, the new unified brand of all Delachaux rain rarely lasts for just two minutes!), heavy from surrounding metallic elements of the Group rail divisions, including Railtech, Vortok, rain, wind effects, air-borne pollution, the real fastening systems by insulators and toe caps, a Rosenqvist, Matweld and CDM Track. frequency of track circuit (only 50Hz is tested). longer creepage distance is seen and the system

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 381 Luxembourg Next-generation tramways: LUXEMBOURG With the initial service now well-established, Luxembourg’s eponymous capital city looks to the opening of future sections.

uxembourg is a major banking and financial centre and the home to European institutions such as the European Court of Justice, the European Investment LBank, the European Court of Auditors and the secretariat of the European Parliament. Although the population of the capital of the world’s only Grand Duchy may number just 120 000, a typical weekday will see the same number again travel in from the neighbouring countries of France, and Belgium. In recent years, bus corridors in the city have reached capacity and caused significant traffic congestion. This led the local authorities to launch a programme to create a tramline that will form the ‘spine’ of an integrated transport network. From approval to implementation, the introduction of the Luxembourg’s new tramway serves the major European and commercial institutions in the city centre and city’s tramline has taken less than four years, once complete will also serve the country’s international airport. with financing agreed in June 2014 and the first rails laid in July 2016. is stabled at a new depot and maintenance historic centre. Compared to the current facility located near the current northern trip from Gare Centrale to Kirchberg by bus, Meeting tight deadlines terminus at Luxexpo that also houses the line’s the travel time for the return journey will be On 10 December 2017, Luxembourgers control room and Luxtram’s headquarters. shortened by at least 42 minutes. In order welcomed the inauguration of the new tram This 33 000m2 site features a 1km (0.6-mile) to achieve these time savings, Luxtram runs service. The date for commissioning the first test track, eight storage tracks and three roads. entirely on segregated track. 4km (2.5-mile) section was the initial bold In 2021, the tramline will connect the challenge set by Luxtram, the joint-stock Bonnevoie district and two new stations. company in charge of implementing and “Once complete, the line Extensions will then reach Luxembourg operating the tramway, when it launched its will pass through the Airport and stretch for the full extent from studies in February 2015. This challenge was north to south, connecting the future met, to the satisfaction of the Luxembourg heart of the city, with 24 national football stadium in Cloche d’Or. State and the City of Luxembourg, Luxtram’s At this time it will form a true multi-modal two shareholders. Initial passenger reaction stops – including ten route, providing links with municipal and was also very positive; the stylish new service regional transport interchanges as well as the was heralded as a major addition to the interchanges – at an city’s at Pfaffenthal-Pont Rouge city’s landscape. (a short installation that opened in December The tram now runs from 04.42 each average spacing of 500m.” 2017 and takes just over a minute to cover weekday, utilising a fleet of nine 45m, the 200m distance between main line rail 2.65m-wide seven-section CAF Urbos low- On 27 July 2018, section A was completed services and Luxtram). floor vehicles that can accommodate up with the inauguration of three new stops: Once T1 is completed, it is estimated to 420 passengers. Each is equipped with Theater, Faïencerie and Stäreplaz/Etoile. Now that around 2200 bus movements will be eight double-leaf doors on each side and 6km (3.7 miles) long, the line has 11 stops, removed from the city centre. The line will can be lengthened to 55m if required in the crosses the Pont Rouge, passes between the pass through the heart of the conurbation, future, increasing their capacity by a further Glacis Square and the Grand Théâtre, and covering a total length of 16.2km (ten miles), 100 passengers. On May 2018, Luxtram runs along Allée Scheffer before reaching with 24 stops – including ten interchanges – confirmed the delivery of the full fleet, Place de l’Étoile. This includes thee at an average spacing of 500m. allowing them to operate the entire line interchanges: Luxexpo and Stàreplaz/Etoile from Findel airport to La Cloche d’Or, with for buses and Pfaffenthal/Kirchberg for both Project management a total of 33 trams. Line speeds are capped at buses and trains. Egis has led the design and construction 50km/h (31mph) in the city and the average consortium since 2015, alongside subsidiary commercial speed is 22km/h (14mph). Looking forward to the next phase Atelier Villes & Paysages, with Luxembourg- This first section comprised eight stops on The second section is to be commissioned in based companies Luxplan, Paul Wurth Avenue J. F. Kennedy, connecting the Luxexpo 2020. The line will reach the Gare Centrale Geprolux, Beng architectes associés, and Felgen. convention centre to Pafendall – Rout Bréck (central station), alongside three additional The consortium is providing design, (Pont Rouge), providing services across the stops serving the Hamilius district and procurement and construction supervision, Alzette valley which separates Kirchberg in Avenue de la Liberté, the main thoroughfare including the preparation and award of works the north-east from the city centre. The fleet between the railway station and the city’s contracts; monitoring and acceptance of

382 / October 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org www.egis-group.com

the works, including the testing phase and traction power; overhead will also be installed Anti-vibration system (6Hz): organisation; planning and co-ordination, for the section between the main station and The rails on Pont Rouge are encased in a as well as safety aspects. This scope includes Cloche d’Or. rubber system able to absorb deformation of façade-to-façade redevelopment in the city Planning for further lines to Hollerich, the the metal structure and vibrations resulting centre and the depot – another design and town of Mamer and the flourishing business from tram operation. construction supervisor was appointed for district of Leudelange are underway. High vibration-reduction (4Hz) rails are the building itself. used near the theatre and when in direct Egis also manages the technical interfaces A tramway packed with innovation contact with the upper slab of an underground between rolling stock supplier CAF, the The sections completed to date feature car park. This involved the creation of a depot design architect, the city’s technical several design innovations that have garnered levelling slab anchored to the car park’s upper department and the public civil engineering international awards, from their design to the slab and installation of tracks on Grundey department. line’s commissioning. These include: spring-mounted anti-vibration devices, with Particular attention is required in the city Ground-level power supply: reinforcements in the foundations and the centre, with the creation of a 3.6km (2.2-mile) Egis was in charge of the the design and second-stage . wire-free section that uses ground-level construction supervision of civil works at the charging points at each stop to recharge trams stops to install the third rail used for charging, All maps and images courtesy of Luxtram. that feature CAF’s Greentech hybrid battery/ the 750V dc power supply system and the With grateful thanks to Fanny Rubigny and supercapacitor system. The first section used interfaces with SCIE (Système de Captation Egis’ project managers for their assistance with overhead wires to supply the required 750V dc Inférieur d’Énergie) electrical cabinets. this article.

FIND OUT MORE

The Luxembourg tramway scheme won the Project of the Year Over EUR50m category at the 2018 Global Light Rail Awards in London.

Find out more at Trams cross the Pont Rouge (officially the Grand As well as innovative low vibration trackform www.egis-group.com/action/realisations/ Duchess Charlotte Bridge) without the use of designs, Luxembourg's new tramway also makes epcm-lrt-system-luxembourg overhead catenary. extensive use of grass track sections.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org OCTOBER 2019 / 383 European Light 9-11 June Rail Congress 2020 Ibercaja Patio de la Infanta – Zaragoza, Spain

EU Light Rail brings together leading opinion-formers and decision-makers from across Europe for two days of debate around the role of technology in the development of sustainable urban travel.

With presentations and exhibitions from some of the industry’s most innovative suppliers and service providers, this congress also includes technical visits and over eight hours of networking sessions.

For 2020, we are delighted to be holding the event in the beautiful city of Zaragoza in conjunction with our partners: Tranvía Zaragoza, Mobility City and the Fundación Ibercaja.

Mobility City Mobility City is an international project of Fundación Ibercaja, with the support of the public society Zaragoza Expo Empresarial, designed to promote the development of mobility and its innovation in the Spanish region of Aragón.

This strategic project will inform the future of mobility in the development of political decision-making. It also allows the partners to share their expertise and innovative ideas, working together in the creation of Mobility as a Service.

Mobility City is an exciting project to design the future, a showcase for Zaragoza, a look to future sustainability, as well as a strategic initiative for the development of Aragón at different levels: economic, technological and innovative.

+44 (0)1733 367600 @ [email protected] www.mainspring.co.uk

MEDIA PARTNERS EU Light Rail Driving innovation Tallinn

A compact capital city

with much to interest Tallinn systems the visitor – as may be said of the tramway which has seen many estonia factfile changes in a short time and is set for No. Tallinn, further expansion. 144 Estonia Neil Pulling reports.

allinn’s eight districts had Tatra KT6TM 97 and of funding in the country’s recent For the conurbation, cars account for 441 364 registered residents CAF Urbos AXL 502 on transport projects. almost half of work-related journeys, in June 2019, representing 25 June 2019. Here the Owned by the city, public with just over a quarter by public about one-third of Estonia’s tramway climbs from transport body Tallinna transport. The next biggest category, total. Against a national the roadside alignment Linnatranspordi AS was formed walking, has declined. Some identify at Lubja stop. Indicating Ttrend, the capital is sustaining a in 2012, a merging of urban buses this group as having the most changed Tallinn’s resurgence, population increase and features a apartment blocks with an already combined tram behaviour since Tallinn’s free public diverse community (Estonian with Baltic views have and trolleybus operation. As shown transport policy was enacted in 2013 53.2%, Russian 38%, Ukrainian replaced humbler on vehicles, the network brand is (TAUT 965). 3.4%, 5.3% other) as well as one of hillside residences. Tallinna Transport/TLT. Although The uni-directional tramway grew the fastest-growing economies in the former liveries and all-over from an amalgamation of city trams European Union. advertising may be seen, the current and local railways created for freight Estonia became independent in format is white with angled colour movements. Unusual for tramways, 1918, with World War Two leading bands according to mode – trams use a 1067-mm gauge prevailed, with to the nation becoming part of the orange, trolleybuses blue and buses electrification beginning in 1925 Soviet Union until independence pale blue. This distinction, which after use of horse, steam and internal was restored in 1991. Given its extends to official network maps, combustion power. The later Soviet multi-cultural makeup, transport slightly offsets potential confusion years remain reflected in the system’s signage features both Russian and for non-residents as all three modes fleet. Until the first CAF tram entered English alongside the official national have lines in the series 1-4. service in March 2015, since the language of Estonian, although TLT carried around 90% of mid-1970s the system had only used Finnish and German are also widely public transport journeys until it Tatra two-section articulated spoken. A NATO member, Estonia became the sole provider with a trams. Soviet type KT4SU were also prizes its membership of the 2019 takeover of routes from the delivered new to Tallinn and KT4D European Community, a key source Pictures by Neil Pulling. collapsed private operator MRP. came from former East German

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 385 Tallinn

systems, with Erfurt being the main due to limited railway counterparts source. Many have since received across the and into Russia. substantial modifications. A new tram With a turning loop beyond Suur-Paala generation necessitated infrastructure (formerly Ülemiste) terminus, the line upgrading which began in 2014, is immediately north of the broad St bringing track reconstruction, upgraded Petersburg avenue, Peterburi tee. power supply and depot renewals. Work began in early 2016 on Four tramway arms converge at the 1.5km (0.94-mile) airport Hobujaama stop in Tallinn’s modern extension which branches from commercial centre, near the sub-surface this line. Completed in September bus terminal and a short walk from the 2017, it added three new stops on a and cruise line port. Set between repositioned . The extension a pair of junctions, it is the only stop to leaves the south-eastern arm near host services on all four of the system’s Lubja stop and crosses Peterburi tee. lines. Tracks diverge either side of Ülemiste jaam (also the nearby railway Urbos AXL 505 and 506 near a turning loop next to the 150m tunnel Hobujaama, with the shortest of four station’s name) stop is part of this cut through the railway embankment for tram access to the airport. routes extending east to ; trams area’s rapid transformation, since 2018 are turned on an on-street, single-track dominated by the T1 Mall of Tallinn loop. This area is distinguished by shopping centre, complete with a elegant wooden villas and parkland Ferris wheel on the roof. around , now a museum The Rail Baltica project will drive and prime visitor attraction. more changes here, scheduled as Prompted by the tramway’s 130th the site of Tallinn’s station on a new anniversary, six Tatra KT4D were EUR5.8bn high-speed line connecting rebuilt in Tallinn as KT4TMR in 2017 Estonia, and with by AS Ühinenud Depood (Eurokraft) in western Europe. Putting tram tracks collaboration with the Czech Inekon at this point for an airport link company. The styling and a livery necessitated a new tunnel through incorporating the national colours for the railway embankment. South of use on are sympathetic to the the tunnel, Ülemiste linnak stop is Kadriorg ambience. The high-floor amongst business developments, design of these and K4T are offset by some redeploying old factories, with the overlap of lines and interspersing Lennujaam being on a single-track tram types, whereby some level access, turning loop at the airport terminus. low-floor stock serves all stops. West from Hobujaama, tracks The south-eastern arm was diverge on the traffic roundabout near completed in 1955, providing a link the enormous Soviet-era Viru Hotel, Just 160m separate Bussijaam and (nearest camera) Lubja stops, en route with the terminus for long- thereafter partially following the Old approximating to the position of the two trams in this view. distance buses, an important mode Town’s outer edge. Network diagrams

DEPOT

Kopli Sepa 1 2 Tallinn Bay Marati Maleva Sirbi Sitsi

Angerja

Krulli Põhja puiestee Volta Tallinn Bay Telliskivi J. Poska Kanuti Salme Balti Tallinna jaam Ülikool Hobu- Kadriorg Mere jaama L. Koidula puiestee 1 3

Viru Vabaduse Paberi väljak Keskturg Majaka Sikupilli Kosmos Bussijaam Pae 2 Lubja Majaka põik Suur-Paala Vineeri Väike- Ülemiste jaam Paala

Ülemiste linnak DEPOT

Lennujaam

4 Tallinna Lennujaam Tallinn-Väike Airport

3 4 Ülemiste järv 0 1 2 Tondi Kalev Kilometres

386 / OCTOBER 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org

THE FLEET Irrespective of source, Tatra KT4s were allocated numbers in a common series. With rebuilding, numbers were retained irrespective of the specification and thus a given type may not be grouped by consecutive numbers. Recent rebuilds carry names of people with local or national significance, plus explanatory panels: informality is projected by the first name being shown prominently. Less imaginative nor boldly displayed, TLT says the CAF fleet has ‘popular female names’. All tram types run as single units. Built between 2014 and 2016 in Spain, Tallinn’s three-section, 30.9m air-conditioned CAF Urbos AXL trams (501-520) have capacity for 219, 79 seated. Using pivoting wheelsets, they have a mainly low-floor with some slight undulations and short raised sections at each vehicle end. Mostly extended from KT4 / KT4SU during 2004 to KT6T with a nine- metre central low-floor section, 12 were further modernised to KT6TM specification in 2017-18 by Czech companies Ekova and Cegelec: capacity is 247, 56 seated. The KT6TM naming theme celebrates those with musical emphasise the absence of public developments. A new alignment was ABOVE: associations sympathetic to Estonia’s transport in Tallinn’s historic centre. created through parkland west of Hobujaama in the identity and independence. main commercial The ‘Retrotram’ KT4TMR with The south-western arm, with much Linnahall, with the original trackbed district is the only facing wooden benches have of the outer end between the Pärnu becoming a foot/cycle path with the stop on all four lines. seating space for 34, 136 standing. maantee carriageways, was completely de-wired original masts remaining KT4TMR 142 is one The least-updated KT4 capacity is closed for rebuilding in 2014-15. in place. Balti jaam stop serves the of six ‘Retrotram’ 170; 36 seated. With reconstruction precluding access eponymous railway terminus and vehicles on line 3. to Pärnu depot, then being re-equipped for CAF stock, having a second depot (Kopli) enabled a temporarily reduced service to continue. Ending with another long single-track on-street loop, the south-western terminus is at Tondi station. This is one of several stations within Tallinn benefitting from a project that upgraded local rail services on the 1520mm-gauge routes from Balti jaam terminus. The north-western arm to Kopli shadows the city ramparts, with Kanuti stop added in September 2016 ABOVE: Opened in 2016, Kanuti stop brought closer ABOVE: Infrastructure renewal is exemplified at during reconstruction, bringing closer access to Tallinn’s Old Town (background) and Suur-Paala (previously Ülemiste) terminus. The turning access to the Old Town and port area redeveloped properties around the port. loop is beyond the platforms.

LEFT: A concentration of transfer options makes Balti jaam (Baltic station) stop on the north-western arm of the system particularly busy.

RIGHT: Based upon former Cottbus 61, Tallinn’s KT4TMR 138 between Kadriorg and J. Poska stops on line 3’s eastern single-track section.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 387 Tallinn

ABOVE: The first major reconstruction for incoming CAF trams, Pärnu maantee (road) from near Vineeri stop. The central reserved space is also available to buses.

RIGHT: Mast embellishments (left) replicate those on older counterparts which, like the lattice masts in the background, indicate the discarded alignment near Põhja puiestee.

ABOVE: A new storage area in the Kopli depot compound.

LEFT: The Maritime Academy building overlooks Kopli’s departure platforms. The overhead lines also previously supported wiring for trolleybuses, since replaced by bus line 72.

BELOW: The terminus for lines 3 and 4, alongside Tondi railway station in the south of Tallinn.

388 / october 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Tram 512 on the loop at Lennujaam network facts (Airport), about to enter the covered platform by a terminal entrance Opened: 1888 (electrified 1925) added for this interchange. Length: 18km (11.3 miles) Lines: 4 Depots: 2 A pprox. weekday hours: 05.30-23.30 Line frequency: 7-10 minutes Gauge: 1067mm Power: 600V dc, overhead supply Fleet: 44 in traffic (for 2017: Statistical Yearbook of Tallin) City network/operator: Tallinna Linnatranspordi AS – https://transport.tallinn.ee Civic information: www.tallinn.ee Tourist information: www.visittallinn.ee several bus and trolleybus routes, passed through the terminals in 2017. LEFT: the latter on the opposite side of the Although there are variously 500-750m Balti Jaama station. An imaginative renewal in a between the ferry terminals and Turg (market former industrial area, the popular Balti central tramstops, taking tracks hall) is the Jaama Turg (market) is by the tramstop. around the harbour area is envisaged. backdrop for KT4D The remainder of this mainly off- Many foot passengers use the vehicle 174 on 26 road route, where rebuilding concluded , several being approximately June 2019. in 2017, passes housing and woodland, two-hour crossings between Tallinn Tallinn’s and active and abandoned industrial and Helsinki; short-term visitors main station sites. It ends by a Baltic inlet near the also arrive by cruise liners. Options is nearby to imposing University of Technology under consideration for the harbour the left. Maritime Academy. The turning loop line would bring better connections has a junction for the depot. to the city centre, airport and future Kopli’s trolleybus service became Rail Baltica station. Continued west bus line 72 in 2017. The system length to join the Kopli line and thereby reduced by half to 31km (19.4 miles) create a loop, such an addition would within five years up to 2017. With a allow higher frequencies, increase essential facts longer-term aim of an all- capacity and reduce reliance upon the Local travel: The free public transport policy only applies to fleet, a 2019 order for Solaris CNG- Hobujaama bottleneck. those with local registration; all other travelers must hold a valid powered buses already foreshadows the In early 2019, Tallinn’s deputy ticket. Reflecting Estonia’s high level of internet adoption, most end of TLT diesel bus operations. mayor said that such a line should be transport information is online and multilingual. The excellent Irrespective of a Helsinki – Tallinn completed by 2024, subject to finance. free, although not widely apparent, Tallinn – Public Transport tunnel being built to connect with the To support expansion and allow for for Visitors map integrates network coverage, ticketing and points of visitor interest: try Tallinna linnavalitsus (city office, future Rail Baltica, continued ferry the withdrawal of old stock, Tallinn near Vabaduse väljak stop) for copies. Network diagrams are traffic between the cities has great local is planning to buy, with option in some general city maps. significance. Ten million passengers conversions, up to 28 new trams. One-hour tickets can be bought from the driver for EUR2, while widespread R-kiosk shops supply Ühiskaart stored-value “The 1.5km airport extension was completed in cards (for a EUR2 returnable deposit) and will load according to preference: one-hour at EUR1.10; one-day at EUR3, three-day at EUR5 (also there are five- and 30-day versions). Validity is September 2017, adding three new stops.” activated by the first presentation at an onboard reader. Relative to separate entry fees, the ‘Tallin Card’ can be good at value from EUR26 for 24 hours, combining admissions at many attractions with public transport – see www.visittallinn.ee Prices stated as at July 2019.

What is there to see? If planning a visit, a consideration of Tallinn’s latitude – which can bring very short or long daylight hours – is recommended. Relative to tram operating conditions, CAF cites “difficult weather conditions prevailing in Estonia, from -40ºC to 40ºC”. The main tourist office is just off Town Hall Square, Raekoja plats. Big enough for both lively and peaceful quarters amongst meandering streets with medieval artefacts, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Town is Tallinn’s defining feature for most visitors. The higher part, hill is topped by the Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral opposite the Estonian Parliament building. There are signposted viewpoints over the city and Baltic coast. The cityscape reflects Tallinn’s history and foreign influences, with local pride in an industrial past evident in the retention and re-use of buildings, also many now free-standing factory chimneys. Museum specialisms include maritime Built in 1983 and operating in the Germany city of Erfurt until 2007, 153 (ex-Erfurt 487) is history, occupation, the KGB and various art forms. amongst the least-modified of Tallinn’s older tram generation.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org october 2019 / 389 Worldwide Review

AUSTRALIA STIB has indicated that it will ADELAIDE. Bombardier has retain the tram tracks linking Place received an order for a further 12 Eugene Verboekhoven and Haren three-car EMUs for commuter rail depot, although it is not clear if service following completion of the a passenger service is envisaged. Gawler Rail Electrification Project Also in the north of the city, line 3 in late 2020. This will bring the is to be diverted to Hôpital Militaire total electric fleet to 34 trains. RD from Heembeek, leaving tracks in SYDNEY. Dynamic testing on the Esplanade to be served by to APS-equipped section of the South Heysel via Chaussée Romaine and East Light Rail line between Town Blvd du Centenaire. Hall and Circular Quay started on On 31 August there was a double 30 July using part of the fleet of derailment outside Woluwe tram 60 Alstom Citadis X05 trams. museum, separate incidents On 28 August NSW Premier Gladys involving articulated PCC 7808 Berejiklian was on a tramset that and T-2000 2034, resulting in bus made an official return to Circular substitution on lines 8, 39 and 44. Quay nearly 40 years after the T-2000 last tram ran there. The 12.4km GENT. Line 4 was relinked as a (7.7-mile) line to Randwick is through service at Muide from planned to open before Christmas. 31 August. At the opposite end a Trams return to Sydney’s Circular Quay for testing prior to public service in new crossover has been installed December. CAF Urbos 015 leads a double consist on 4 September. Barry Le Jeune AUSTRIA one stop beyond Lederberg Kerk GMUNDEN. A special timetable, and will be used as a temporary INDUSTRY. Bombardier has sections the city deemed unsafe including operation of museum terminus until trackwork to confirmed that its Thunder Bay began in late July. trams 5, 8 and 100, was in place Moscou is finished. rolling stock plant will run out of As previously reported, the on the Traunseetram on 31 August Up to four PCCs were in service work in early 2020 unless further 2000-opened heritage tramway to mark 125 years of operation. on line 4 Monday-Friday for a orders can be secured, resulting using ex-Lisboa 531 powered The steeply-graded, then 2.3km few weeks until the Hermelijn in significant job losses; 99 GO by a towed generator trailer (1.4-mile), tramway, operated returned from their summer on the Transit commuter rail cars and did not operate in 2017, due to by Stern & Hafferl, opened on coastal tramway. 37 Toronto LRVs are due for deterioration in the condition of 13 August 1894. Since 2018 it PCC 6223 has been scrapped to completion in that timescale. both the track and the tramcar. That has been through worked with provide spare parts for the trams of D. Drum year, the MacBride Museum took the Gmunden – Vorchdorf line. this type sent to Antwerpen. TORONTO. The last day of CLRV over the operation from the Miles G. Mackinger M. J. Russell, T-2000 operation in passenger service Canyon Historic Railway Society GRAZ. The 12 600-series trams (4204/7) was 2 September when and began repairs. Refurbishment built by SGP in 1986-87 are to BRAZIL the two cars were used on line of car 531 included repainting from be modernised by Bombardier, RIO DE JANEIRO. A majority 501 between 14.00 and 16.15. Lisboa livery to red and white. including new electronic traction stake in commuter rail operator Passengers were given free rides. Renamed the MacBride systems; 608 was the first to be SuperVia has been acquired by The trackwork contract for Waterfront Trolley, service dealt with. EB a Japanese consortium of Mitsui the 11km (6.8-mile) Finch West resumed on 1 July 2018 on the WIEN (Vienna). New tramline and JR West. The operation has light rail line, due to open in section of line between Rotary 11 from Otto-Probst-Platz to been suffering from declining 2023, has been awarded to Park and the Roundhouse – not Kaiserebersdorf via Favoriten was passengers and mounting debts. London Trackwork of Canada. covering the section between the introduced from 2 September The new owners plan to invest in On 26 August the federal Roundhouse (carbarn) and Spoon and line 67 withdrawn (the new a new signalling system to permit government announced Creek terminus – running daily, Flexity trams moved to ). increased frequencies. RGI CAD585m (EUR401.4m) funding 12.00 to 16.00 only, through From the same date line 71 was SÃO PAULO. Metro was for the SmartTrack subway line to 1 September 2018. re-extended from Zentralfriedhof extended from Vila Unlão to and CAD500m (EUR343m) for However, in February 2019 to Kaiserebersdorf, and line 6 Jardim Planalto on 26 August. upgrades to Bloor–Yonge station. the Yukon government declined was cut back to the new loop at Tender documents are being SmartTrack could still be to renew its subsidy, citing fiscal Geiereckstrasse. After 65 days of prepared for the construction of superseded by the provincial pressures. The 2019 season was infrastructure work, U-Bahn line Sky Blue metro line 19 (17.5km/ government’s plans for an cancelled, and the line’s closure U4 resumed normal service from 10.9 miles underground from the Ontario line. D. Drum, P. Webb may be permanent. S. J. Morgan 2 September. EB city centre to Guarulhos), with VANCOUVER. TransLink has work expected to start in 2021. IRJ issued a Request for Proposals for COLOMBIA BELGIUM the supply of 205 new SkyTrain BOGOTA. Five consortia have ANTWERPEN. In the late CANADA cars by 2025 (41 five-car trains), been shortlisted for the Design, evening of 27 August Hermelijn QUÉBEC. During a visit to the with an option for a further 400 Build, Operate and Maintain tram 7265 on line 4 derailed at city on 19 August, Prime Minister for delivery by 2036. These are to concession for the 24km (15-mile) Cruyslei in Deurne and ended up Trudeau committed CAD1.2bn replace the fleet of 150Mark I cars metro , due to open in 2024. embedded in the building of a (EUR823.2m) to transit projects and to add capacity to the system. A final decision is expected in dental surgery. The badly-damaged in the city, including the planned TransLink hopes that economies late October. RGI tram was split into sections 23km (14.3-mile) tramline from of scale will result in bids from and moved the following day. Avenue Le Gendre to Louis XIV in companies other than the EGYPT Service on lines 4 and 9 did not Charlesbourg; 3.5km (2.2 miles) obvious domestic choice, since EL QAHIRA (Cairo). The restart until 29 August. of the line will be in subway. the LIM propulsion is not patented. 30-year USD4.5bn Design, Build, Another ex-Gent double-ended The Québec provincial Bombardier is at present supplying Operate and Maintain contract tram to arrive is 6206; PCCs government has already allocated 56 Mark III cars (14 four-car trains). for two monorail lines was signed 7016/27/33 have been scrapped. CAD1.2bn (EUR823.2m) to the For the Canada line, Hyundai with Bombardier/Orascom T-2000 projects and the city council Rotem is delivering 12 more Construction on 4 August. BRUSSEL/BRUXELLES. From CAD300m (EUR205.8m). two-car trains. I. Fisher The 54km (33.6-mile) line from 30 August line 62 has served Construction is likely to run from WHITEHORSE. Lifting of East Cairo to New Administrative Eurocontrol on an all-day basis. 2022 to 2026. IRJ tramway track along three Capital and the 42km (26-mile)

390 / OCTOBER 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org line from 6 October City to Giza BERLIN. Planning work has are aimed at providing fast links started for a new tram depot at between the city and outlying Adlershof that should be ready development areas and will for service in 2025. Work is carry up to 45 000 passengers/ also in progress to plan a new hour/direction with a maximum EUR65m tramway link from speed of 80km/h (50-mph). Alexanderplatz to Potsdamer Platz Bombardier will supply 70 four car (Kulturforum), to open in 2027. Innovia trains. IRJ Plans to order 1500 new U-Bahn cars from Stadler have been put FRANCE on hold after Alstom lodged an ANNEMASSE. On 27 August appeal against the decision of the Alstom delivered the first five Public Procurement Chamber to of 17 Coradia Polyvalent ordered uphold its elimination from the by SNCF for the Léman Express tendering process. service to Geneve, due to start on Considerable disruption to 15 December. The new trains can eastern S-Bahn services will work off 1500V dc, 15kV ac and occur for six weeks leading up to 25kV ac. T-2000 13 November, when a new In late August the French city of St-Étienne started trial running on its new line T3 BORDEAUX. Test running on the signalling centre is due to come Nord; 945 is a CAF-built tram. Y. Allain new line D, between Quinconces on line. BS and Marie du Bouscat started BRAUNSCHWEIG. The first of Three single-ended trams had sets) have been ordered from in mid-August; testing over the the next batch of seven Stadler to be returned to the main network Titagarh Firema – a wholly-owned complete 9.8km (6.1-mile) line to Solaris Tramino low-floor cars by road transport. DS subsidiary of Titagarh Wagons Eysines (Cantinelle) was to start at (1951) was delivered from KÖLN (Cologne). Line 1 resumed following the former’s takeover the end of September. Service on Siedlce in on the night of operation between Refrath and of Italian manufacturer Firema the first section should start from 21-22 August. The 100% four- Bensburg from 12 August after Trasporti in 2015 – for the two-line the December timetable change, section 35.7m trams are single- the completion of infrastructure system due to open in 2021. IRJ with the remainder following ended with capacity for 80 seated renewal. Line 7 trams were in the first quarter of 2020. and 125 standing passengers. The extended from Haus Vorst to IRELAND The temporary cut-back of contract is valued at EUR18.9m. Frechen Bhf from 28 August after DUBLIN. Record numbers are line C mentioned last month Completion of deliveries should completion of infrastructure using public transport in Ireland, is now expected to last until be by the end of December. DS work. DS with over 268m journeys recorded mid-October. DS, J. Darroch CHEMNITZ. Work has begun on bus, rail and tram services. LYON. Dynamic testing on on modifying the rail line to GREECE This equates to a 6.4% increase line T6 (Debourg – Hôpital Est -Bad Schlema to permit ATHINA (Athens). Urban in journeys in 2018. The previous Pinel via Mermoz-Pinel metro tram-train operation from transport authority STASY is high of 260m journeys occurred in interchange started on 29 August, December 2020. The proiject planning to reopen the section of 2007, but by 2012 the number had with a view to public service in involves rebuilding of several tramway between Neos Kosmos fallen to a low of 210m. The main December. Y. Allain bridges over the river Zwönitz, and Syntagma Square, suspended increase since then has been due NANCY. The public inquiry for station improvements and new in October 2018 amid concerns to the development of passenger a new 15km (9.3-mile) tramway park-and-ride facilities. It will also of track subsidence, in the coming networks in Dublin, Cork, to replace the guided trolleybus include 2.2km (1.4 miles) of new months. The authority is keen Limerick and Galway. system opened on 27 August. tramline linking to Technopark for services to resume as soon as The biggest rise was on Luas The project is estimated to cost (line 3), The budget for the 47km possible as the suspension of tram services, up 11.1% to 41.8m – the EUR412m and could be ready in (29.2-mile) route is EUR65m. services has put additional pressure highest year-on-year growth since 2023. TVR operation is likely to A public consultation event on the already-crowded metro the tramway opened in 2004 and end in 2021. Urban Transport was held in August around plans in peak hours. Ekathimerini largely due to extension of the PARIS. Alstom has been awarded to extend the system further, Green line to Broombridge in a EUR160m contract for 13 trains to Limbach-Oberfrohna via HUNGARY December 2017. to provide the new CDG Express Röhrsdorf and Wittgensdorf. SZEGED. Ex-Gera Tatra KT4DC Iarnród Éireann recorded a 5.4% service between the city centre and If approval for this project is 105 has been refurbished, increase in passengers, to 48m, Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport given in late 2020 as planned, five including air-conditioning, and partially due to the introduction from 2025. IRJ years of planning and five years renumbered 214. transphoto.ru of ten-minute DART services in ST-ETIENNE. On 21 August the of construction are envisaged. the latter part of the year. first tests of line T3 Nord took ESSEN. Political discussion has INDIA place and driver training to Cité started on a plan for the extension KOLKATA. The West Bengal ITALY du Design is now in progress. of tramline 105 from Frintrop to Government has authorised the CATANIA. Ferrovie Circumetnea Passenger service should start Centro in Oberhausen. DS reinstatement of tramlines presented its design for new metro this autumn. Y. Allain GOTHA. A special event on suspended for several years due trains on 11 July. An order has been TOULOUSE. It has been decided 22 September to mark 90 years to the effects of construction placed with Titagarh Firema for ten to build a EUR82.4m urban of the Thüringerwaldbahn cross- of the east–west metro. Tracks two-car sets, with an option for a cableway (Téléphérique Sud country tramway will, in addition will be laid in front of BC Roy further 44; delivery will start in late Urbain) to link Oncopole with to locally-preserved trams, include Market towards Kidderpore, 2020. It is hoped to place a firm the Paul Sabatier University the operation of Nordhausen BBD Bag and Kidderpore-bound order for a further 17 sets shortly, (3km/1.9 miles). The Poma-built two-axle tram 23. The depot will near Rani Rashmoni, and Rani subject to state funding. line will have 15 cabins for up to be open from 08.00 and a parade Rashmoni Ave to BBD Bag. The line will be extended by 1500 passengers/hour/direction. is scheduled for 10.00. DS This will permit revival of the 1.7km (1.1 miles) from Nesima Service should start before the KARLSRUHE. The last routes Esplanade to Shyambazar/ to Monte Po in 2020 and further end of 2020. Mobilités Stadler NET 2012 LRV to enter Belgachhia via BBD Bag, Esplanade extensions are being planned, service was 400 on 16 August. DS to BK Pal Ave, BBD Bag to Park bringing the line to Fontanarossa GERMANY KASSEL. A truck strike on a Circus and Ballygunge and the airport by the end of 2024. RGI BAD SCHANDAU. Heavy rain in bridge in Niederkaunfungen on connection to Nonapukur works. August saw a landslip that resulted 22 August resulted in the partial Get Bengal IRAN in mud covering the tracks, replacement of tramline 4 service PUNE. A fleet of 102 aluminium- MASHAD. Metro line 2 was suspending service. DS with buses for several days. bodied metro cars (51 two-car extended from Shariati to Shahid

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71-415 that was unveiled in 2018 a rise of one million. Punctuality but failed to attract any orders. on both exceeded 99%. The 27.8m three-section tram Once the 15 trains on order are on three has a capacity delivered broad-gauge frequency for 320 passengers; production- will increase to five minutes. ready versions are expected to be Platforms at Plaça Catalunya will available in 2020. transphoto.ru be lengthened by 20m and all KRASNODAR. The first of four escalators replaced. R. Felski Ust-Katav 71-623 Mark 4 bogie trams, 267, entered service on SPAIN on 8 August. transphoto.ru PALMA – SÓLLER. A group of SANKT PETERBURG. Depot 8 Spanish investors has launched a has taken delivery of 71-923 bid to take a controlling interest Vityaz-M low-floor articulated in the company operating the trams 8908-27 from the Nevsky narrow-gauge railway and its Electric Transport Plant of PK connecting tramway. Many of Transportnye Systemy. the shares in Ferrocarril de Sóller On 2 September the private are privately owned, although the TKK Chizik tramway was extended two largest shareholders are a local by 6.4km (four miles) with the tour operator and restaurateur and In the German city of Braunschweig, delivery has started of a new batch of trams introduction of line 59 to the depot a company that operates boat trips. built by Stadler Solaris in Poland; with a revised interior design the new vehicle is site at Ulitsa Potanova, though Goros Investments is offering called a Tramino 2. BSVG service was disrupted for a long EUR25m for control of the Kaveh on 27 July, bringing GDAŃSK. The first of 15 new period after a broken pantograph company and wants to modernise the line to 13.5km (8.4 miles). Pesa Jazz Duo air-conditioned damaged overhead and TKK did operations. Guardian Two intermediate stations have yet double-ended trams (1056) was not have a tower wagon. to be completed. urbanrail.net delivered in the early hours of The new service shares track with SWEDEN 31 July, about six months late, line 64 to Ladozhskaya station. LUND. The new 5.5km (3.4- LATVIA with contractual penalties; 15 This completes the initial system mile) tramline Central Railway DAUGAVPILS. Eight withdrawn more will arrive in 2020. infotram.pl that is operated by 32 Stadler Minsk Station–ESS is due to open on RVZ-6 trams have been put up KRAKÓW. The city is hoping Metelitsa trams. transphoto.ru 16 August 2020, although the first for auction with a reserve of to build a new 4.5km (2.8-mile) TVER. The suspended tramway of seven CAF-built trams will not EUR4600 each. They have been tramway link through a PPP service is unlikely to restart as arrive until March. Ringlinien replaced by new 71-911 City Star. contract that will enable the work has begun to remove the STOCKHOLM. Nacka Land transphoto.ru contractor to recover their costs overhead line and long sections of and Environmental Court has over 20 years by charging for use track, and drivers’ contracts have awarded Stockholm County MEXICO of the new infrastructure. been terminated. The tramway Council an environmental MEXICO CITY. A six-month Business Journal closed ‘temporarily’ in November permit for the 4.1km (2.5-mile) suspension of service on the POZNAŃ. Tram services returned 2018 over safety concerns with the extension of the Blue line metro 6km (3.7-mile) northern half to their normal routeings from condition of the infrastructure. from Kungsträdgården to Nacka of the Xochimilco light rail line 2 September when several transphoto.ru, AIF Tver via Sickla. Construction will take (between Tasqueña and Huipulco infrastructure renewal projects VLADIVOSTOK. After 60mm of seven to eight years. IRJ stations) started on 1 July to permit were completed. infotram.pl rain fell in less than three hours extensive track renewal. ŚWIĘTOCHŁOWICE. Tramwaje on 27 August, streets were flooded SWITZERLAND S. J. Morgan Śląskie has issued a tender to and tramway service had to be BASEL (BLT/BVB). An extension double-track 5.3km (3.3 miles) suspended for five hours. Parts of of the concession has been sought NETHERLANDS along ul. Chorzowska; the work is the depot were also flooded. to permit a new section of line to AMSTERDAM. The second CAF planned to take 16 months. The transphoto.ru be built from Pratteln to Salina 15G tram, 3003, arrived from tender covers the route currently Raurica. This will be operated by Spain in early July and has since used by – connecting SPAIN BVB extending . EA undertaken trials on the IJburg Chebzie with Chorzów and A CORUNÃ. A change in the city LAUSANNE – BERCHER line with 3001 as a coupled set. Katowice – and the section of route council leadership has brought (LEB). The introduction of new A new terminus for line 26 has 17 from Chebzie, through Bytom hope that the 1997 heritage double-track between Ripes and been installed at the Centraal Łagiewniki, to Chorzów; six stops tramway, closed in July 2011 Etagnieres from 11 August saw a Station bus station. This will will require rebuilding and teh on a ‘temporary’ basis, might be new timetable with a 30-minute be used when work to rebuild addition of a new tram crossing. re-opened. The new mayor has headway, and a 15-minute service Stationsplein blocks the existing Transport Publiczny started public consultation, between Lausanne – Chesaux. EA terminus. OR including on the possibility of LOCARNO – DOMODOSSOLA DEN HAAG. Siemens Avenio PORTUGAL modern tramway operation. Five (FART). Tenders have been 5063-5 were delivered in August. OR LISBOA. Correcting last month’s operational trams have been stored invited for eight four-section news, the two-axle tram awaiting at the depot for eight years, but low-floor sets for delivery in NEW ZEALAND rebuilding after the 2018 crash is significant refurbishment of the 2022-23. EA CHRISTCHURCH. The city 576, not 579. E. Marshall track will be needed. D. Budach SIERRE – CRANS-MONTANA. council is planning to redevelop BARCELONA. TMB has awarded The 4km (2.5-mile) funicular High St, including extending the ROMANIA Alstom a EUR268.1m order for was damaged by a storm on tracks of the heritage tramway to REȘIȚA. Durmazlar of Turkey 24 1668mm-gauge metro trains 11 August. One of the 1997-built Lichfield St, where a run-round was the only company to submit for line 1 and 18 standard-gauge cars has been returned to loop would create the possibility a bid for 12 double-ended trams. trains for line 3. The 42 five-car manufacturer Gangloff for trailer operation. The contract is worth EUR25m. TR trains will be delivered by the end for repair. T-2000 of 2021. POLAND RUSSIA The Barcelona – Sabadell/ THAILAND ELBLĄ G. A PLN3.1m INDUSTRY. Uraltransmash used Terrassa network carried 64.1m BANGKOK. Trial operation on (EUR715 000) EU grant will be used the Innoprom 2019 Yekaterinburg passengers in 2018, an increase the 5.4km (3.4-mile) Blue line to buy a fifthModertrans tram and trade fair to unveil its 100% of two million. The metre-gauge metro extension from Hua create an interchange at Place low-floor 71-418 tram design, Barcelona – Igualada/Manresa Lamphong to Tha Pra started Lewinski. infotram.pl designed to succeed the low-floor trains carried 23.1m passengers, on 29 July, with passengers

392 / octoBER 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org carried free of charge. Revenue Napoli. A three-minute headway service was scheduled was provided using 20 trams. for 29 September. A GBP3 (EUR3.4) minimum Prime Minister Prayut spend for card payments is Chan-o-cha opened the first being dropped from September. 1.4km (0.9-mile) section GREATER MANCHESTER. A (Mo Chit – Ha Yaek Lat Phrao) newly-formed body to oversee of the northern extension of the shape of transport in Greater the Sukhumvit (Green) line on Manchester has been created. The 9 August. Free travel is being Greater Manchester Transport provided on the one-station Committee (GMTC) brings extension for a limited period. together the main transport The next four stations – decision-making bodies – ten Phahonyothin 24, Ratchayothin, councils, the Greater Manchester Sena Nikhom and Kasetsart Combined Authority (GMCA), and University – will open in December, the Mayor. The committee will with the whole extension have oversight across all aspects expected to be ready by July of transport including rail, tram 2021. Bangkok Post, urbanrail.net and bus operators, Transport for Greater Manchester, and highways Russian tram builder Ust-Katav has produced a revised design of its 71-623 TUNISIA authorities. The GMTC will also low-floor tram, with first deliveries planned for Krasnodar. I. Bukatin TUNIS. The first of 28 four-car act in an advisory capacity to post of Managing Director, Urban Retail Park via Kimberley. Estimates EMUs for the city’s commuter the Mayor and the GMCA through & Services, leading the company’s for the 6km (four-mile) line rail line has been shipped the Mayor’s Transport Board. part in the successful expansion range from GBP135m-GBP170m from South Korea to Tunis by More than 60 police officers will of Nottingham’s tramway. (EUR150.6m-189.7m). Hyundai Rotem. IRJ make up a new dedicated transport LONDON (TRAMS). Track work SOUTH YORKSHIRE. Track unit, replacing the current team took place over the Bank Holiday replacement work resumed from UKRAINE of 50 Community Support week (23 August-1 September) 17-23 August. Blue and Yellow DNIPRO. Twenty Tatra T4D Officers. The team will work as in the Chepstow Road area, route services from Meadowhall bogie trams have been delivered part of the TravelSafe Partnership, with service restricted to the and Halfway terminated at from Leipzig, with 1463 with the aim of reducing crime Wimbledon – East Croydon Hillsborough, with replacement (ex-LVB 2162) the first in service and antisocial behaviour and section and bus replacement from buses serving Middlewood and in August. BS improving public confidence. East Croydon to New Addington, Malin Bridge. KYIV. After overhaul in the A new online survey to gauge Elmers End and Beckenham The accident involving tram- Czech Republic, Ekova Electric public opinion on the extension of Junction. A programme of smaller train 204 on the first day of service is supplying five ex-Ostrava Tatra public transport links 18.00-06.00 works at other locations included to Parkgate in October 2018 has T3 trams to the Ukrainian capital. has been launched. The initiative is electrical upgrades at substations. resulted in the driver of the lorry traminfo.pl supported by Greater Manchester LONDON (UNDERGROUND). involved being fined GBP250 Mayor Andy Burnham who Figures have shown an increase in (EUR279) and receiving three UNITED KINGDOM wishes to see a 24-hour economy overcrowding at stations, causing points on his licence for driving CAIRNGORMS. Highlands develop along the lines of that in platforms to be closed on safety through a red traffic light. The and Islands Enterprise reports the capital. The survey will close grounds. In 2018-19 passengers damaged sections of the tram that repairing the Cairngorm at midnight on 13 October. were stopped from accessing have been paired to the damaged funicular will cost less than Shudehill was to be closed platforms on 559 occasions, up section of tram 202 (involved in a removing and scrapping it. 29 August-14 September; new 48% over the previous year when separate incident) and returned to The funicular has been out passenger shelters and a crossing 378 closures took place. The worst Spain for repair. The undamaged of action since October 2018 point will complete the upgrade of affected stations were Highbury portion of 204 has been paired after it was decided that repairs the stop. At Cornbrook, to be closed & Islington (104 incidents) and with the undamaged portion of were required to almost half 21-30 September, an improved Finsbury Park (49). 202. However, this process has the piers. Almost 300 bearings stair/entrance area, canopy According to a report in The led to a shortfall of tram-trains on need to be replaced and joints extension and platform weather Economist, noise levels on the occasions, requiring the service to and connections on beams protection will be provided. Trams loudest Underground journey can operate with two trams per hour reinforced, at an undisclosed cost. were to operate non-stop through peak at 109 decibels – a pneumatic rather than the scheduled three. The Scottish government must these stations during the closures. drill reaches 110dB. TYNE & WEAR. The new GBP21m agree the expenditure; if received More than 170 000 journeys NOTTINGHAM. An extension (EUR23.4m) transport interchange quickly it may be possible to were made using ’s new to the Clifton tram route has in South Shields opened on re-open the line at the end of 2020. contactless payment system in the been safeguarded in planning 4 August, replacing the former EDINBURGH. Around 200 four weeks after launch on 15 July. permission for a new 3000-house South Shields terminus of the graves dating from as far back Services have been affected by residential community at Fairham Metro and bringing together as the 14th Century will require a points fault outside Victoria Pastures between the A453 bus services in the town centre. exhumation and relocation as with replacement parts needing and the existing Clifton Estate. The new facility is managed by part of the project to extend to be imported. From August the A GBP200 000 (EUR223 180) Passenger Transport Executive the tramway to Newhaven. The East Didsbury – service feasibility study is currently Nexus, which expects it to be used 18th-century wall of South Leith operated via Market Street and examining Nottingham Express by 7.5m passengers a year. Parish Church graveyard on Shudehill instead of via the Transit expansion possibilities; the WEST MIDLANDS. A decision Constitution Street will need to Second City Crossing (2CC) at Clifton extension takes priority. on the supply of additional trams be demolished and relocated; Exchange Square. Conversely, the The Labour Party has said it is expected in early October. an application to the courts is Manchester Airport to Victoria would back proposals to extend Up to 50 vehicles will be required expected to be made in September. service ran via the 2CC and NET from Phoenix Park to for the various proposed extensions reported its Exchange Square instead of via Kimberley and Toton Lane to East to the network between 2021 and busiest Sunday on record on 28 July Market Street. Midlands Airport if it wins the next 2026. Four suppliers have been in with more than 38 000 journeys INDUSTRY. Susan Evans has general election. the running: Alstom; Bombardier; recorded due to an event at the been named as the AECOM’s Four potential routes remain CAF; and Škoda. Final bids have BT Murrayfield stadium when new Head of Rail for the UK & under consideration for a possible already been lodged with Transport 66 000 fans saw a football match Ireland, joining the company future extension to connect for West Midlands. All the trams between Liverpool FC and SSC from Alstom, where she held the Phoenix Park with the Giltbrook must be supplied with battery

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Parsons. There is an option 2 November with an after- for a further 5.3km (3.3-mile) dark service, hopefully with extension to Montclair. It is hoped an illuminated tram. This will to complete work before the 2028 be a precursor to a ‘Swansong Olympic Games. Event’ planned for 17 November. Phase III of the Westside Subway The line will close over winter until extension project will receive later in March next year. USD100m in federal grant funding For 2020 a new online booking for the current financial year. The facility will be provided for the project covers 4.1km (2.5 miles) of Taster Tram Driving Experience metro below Wilshire Boulevard to and it is also expected that Westwood/Veterans Hospital for Stockport 5 and Blackpool 619 will the Purple line, and the purchase be added to the operational fleet at of ten more two-car trains. IRJ some point during the tramway's NEW YORK, NY. Work began on next season. 16 August to modernise the 42nd MELBOURNE (AU). Holden-built St Shuttle metro in Manhattan, W2 tram 363 has been transferred including rebuilding Times Square from the Government store at terminus with two straight instead Newport to the Trafalgar Holden Two PKTS prototype cars joined the recent historic tram parade in Moskva. of three curved tracks, and Grand Museum at 74 Waterloo Rd, Leading is a Lionet fully low-floor bogie car destined for Ulan-Ude. Following is an Central with one island platform, Trafalgar, Victoria. eight-axle version of the three-section Lion; six-axle variants of this design already to accommodate six-car trains. TUCSON, AZ (US). The Old operate extensively in the city. Mike Russell In order not to interrupt service the Pueblo Trolley group has given facilities, as currently being fitted development of light rail projects work will last until 2022. RGI up hope of resuming operation to the existing CAF fleet. I the country. Consequently, he is PORTLAND, OR. Further to our on city tracks and has acquired a As part of Transport for West also stepping down from his role September report, the contract for site, including hangar, at South Midlands’ metro project, a 1.7km as Interim Chair of the new Light 26 Siemens S700 LRVs was signed 4th/East 36th St to establish the (1.1-mile) tramline linking the Rail Safety and Standards Board; on 16 July, with delivery scheduled Streetcar and Bus Museum. Ex- existing route at Bull Street with the recruitment of a permanent for July 2021 to autumn 2022. Brussels 1511 has been transferred Digbeth had been due to be Chairman is expected to be This is the contract that was first there, and it is planned to build completed by November 2022. completed shortly. reported in our May issue. a loop around the site for electric However, the line passes under LRSSB Chief Executive Peter It has now been established that tramway operation. T-2000 the proposed Curzon Street High Cushing will support Transport the model S700 is a re-branding of SEVILLE (ES). On display in a Speed 2 station which falls under for West Midlands part-time over the S70 version that Siemens first glass case at Plaza des Armes bus the current government review the next six months whilst the produced for TriMet in 2014 after station since 2018 is 1929 centre- into the High Speed 2 rail line (see organisation appoints a permanent redesigning the centre bogie. That entrance maximum-traction tram News). Powers for the new tramline replacement for Mr Hewitt. design essentially adapted the 177, built by Lladro of Valencia. were expected to be granted last centre bogie that Siemens used The car has been on display June but this has not happened USA on its SD660 design for the S70, elsewhere in the bus station for and no funding for the GBP152.2m BALTIMORE, MD. Light rail allowing longitudinal seating to longer, but is now protected. (EUR169.9m) project has been service between Falls Rd and North be used in the centre section. It N. Mackenzie released. It is thus no longer Ave stops resumed on 7 August is unclear whether that version possible to meet the November after completion of stabilisation now applies to all S70 orders CONTRIBUTORS 2022 completion date. work on the track. R. Barrows for Charlotte, Orange County, Worldwide news items for The tramway has been involved BOSTON, MA. The first six-car Phoenix and Seattle. However, it inclusion should be sent to in three collisions in the last four train of CRRC-built metro rolling appears that the S70 model has Michael Taplin at Flat 8, Roxan months between motor vehicles stock entered service on the essentially been replaced by the Villa, 33 Landguard Manor Rd, and trams, resulting in calls for a Orange line on 14 August. The S700. Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 safety review of sections of route Chinese company is assembling The three Brookville Liberty 6EA, UK. Fax: +44 (0)1983 862810 that share road space with other 152 cars for the Orange line and trams on order for Portland or e-mail [email protected] vehicles. The latest incident on 252 vehicles for the Red line at a Streetcar are due for delivery in UK and Ireland items are 19 August saw tram 31 derailed in plant in Springfield, MA. R. Barrows mid-2020. S. J. Morgan welcomed by the Home News the morning rush hour following HOUSTON. A ballot as part SEATTLE, WA. Sound Transit Editor, John Symons, 17 a collision with an SUV in of forthcoming elections on is building a temporary centre Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Wolverhampton. Recovery of the 5 November will see Harris platform at Pioneer Square light Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 0LW, UK. tram took most of the day with the County voters asked to approve a rail station that will be used from E-mail [email protected]. service curtailed at The George or USD3.5bn bond issue for transport January for the Connect 2020 Acknowledgements are due to Priestfield. Despite significant and infrastructure improvements, expansion project (the Eastside AIF Tver, Bangkok Post, Blickpunkt damage to the tram, there were including 26km (16 miles) of new Blue line) that will require the Straßenbahn (BS), Blog Preston, only light injuries to the car and light rail and 120km (75 miles) of service to operate in two halves Drehscheibe (DS), Edinburgh Evening tram drivers and three passengers. new routes. (University – Pioneer Square and News, Ekathimerini, Eisenbahn The last of the original fleet ofT69 The METRONext plan foresees Pioneer Square to Angel Lake) for (EB), Eisenbahn Amateur (EA), trams, 16, was transferred from a new LRT line to connect Hobby some months. D. Drum Get Bengal, Guardian, Houston Wednesbury depot to storage at Airport, merging the East End and Public Media (HPM), infotram.pl, Long Marston where it joins similar Southeast lines, along with an MUSEUM NEWS International Railway Journal (IRJ), vehicles 07, 10 and 11. Tram 16 had extension of the Red line to the CRICH (UK). Restoration of Irish Independent, Manchester been retained for possible use as a North Shepherd park-and-ride. London County Council 1 has Evening News, Mobilités, Nottingham service vehicle; 07 and 10 have The BRT plans include a dedicated reached the point of re-installation Evening Post, Op de Rails (OR), been transferred to UK Tram, while corridor to Bush Intercontinental of the main electrical traction Railway Digest (RD), Railway Gazette 11 is scheduled for Birmingham Airport. HPM wiring. The job is now largely International (RGI), Ringlinien, Museum display. LOS ANGELES, CA. The complete, with work moving to Today’s Railways (TR), Tram- West Midlands Metro Director USD805.6m design-and-build refurbishment of fixings in the 2000 (T-2000), transphoto.ru, Phil Hewitt, a former UKTram contract for the 14.5km (nine- upper deck. Transport Publiczny, urbanrail.net, Chairman, is to take up a new role mile) Gold line Foothills extension HEATON PARK (UK). The Urban Transport, Victor Harbor with consultant WSP and will be to Pomona has been awarded tramway is to take part in the Times, Warsaw Business Journal moving to Israel to assist in the to a joint venture of Kiewit and ‘Museums at Night’ event on and Wolverhampton Express & Star.

394 / octoBER 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Letters

Mailbox Get your views into print [email protected] Letters submitted by post should be clearly typed and preferably not handwritten. We reserve the right to shorten contributions for publication. Further views on deregulation of transport I must disagree with most of the points made about bus can use otherwise pedestrianised areas safely, as is common deregulation by Tony Smith – ‘The arguments for keeping a in Europe as are feeder buses from places which can’t justify deregulated system’ – in TAUT 981. a tramway. This keeps polluting buses (and cars) out of Firstly, I assume he is talking about the UK (other countries city centres. have different methods of transport funding and provision). I wonder if some people prefer the bus because they have Bus deregulation has indeed worked well in many places, but national bus passes, so the bus is free as opposed to having to in others it has not. The number of rural services requiring pay for the tram? I’ve certainly overhead ex-motorists saying support is not because of some miraculous increase in usage, much the same thing. As for the bus being quicker and more it is because a lot of them have been withdrawn either due to frequent, that is a planning issue. lack of use or spending cuts. It’s interesting to note that Mr Smith lives in a city with no Regarding the provision of a seat, the bus may well have trams, but two railway stations and massive traffic congestion. spare seats because it has less passengers using it. In fact, the Perhaps if light rail was introduced locally he might change average bus in the UK has about 40 or so seats; a double-decker his mind. has more, but of course half of these are upstairs so aren’t Of course good quality buses have a place in an integrated accessible to everyone. UK trams seat around 60 and have transport system, but dismissing trams because they are much more room for wheelchairs and buggies. expensive to build or some people don’t like changing modes is You’d need several buses with the associated costs to not a good basis for transport policy. move the same number of people as one tram. Plus trams Colin Brazier, Petersfield (UK)

Practical arguments against advertising rapidly assess how exactly to tackle the newly-opened Caen system suffers from the I am prompted by Peter Kain’s admirable letter problem. same impositions and is a shadow of the nifty in TAUT 980 ‘Challenging the use of all-over To sum up, it would be preferable in many Twisto single-rail system it has replaced. advertising on trams’; I concur with all of his instances to ride inside a prison van rather Alstom promotes its Citadis vehicles as comments and wish to add some of my own. than many buses and, alas, trams and trains. offering a top speed of 70km/h (43mph), or Transport operators, of all modes, who R. C. Flewitt, Dublin (Ireland) 80km/h (50mph), for the X05 model. Even resort to the practice of daubing all-over if these speeds are ever reached, they remain advertising material on their vehicles display Windows should never be obscured! far too low to compete with motor buses in a a callous disregard for their corporate images. Peter Kain (TAUT 980) is speaking from my suburban or mode where the bus These liveries are, no doubt, commissioned heart. I travelled in a tram recently with can travel comfortably at 90km/h (56mph), at huge expense from commercial designers. all-over black-coloured advertising with, leaving trams way behind. Instead of being able to quickly identify the admittedly, imaginative depiction. I felt more Tram technology also appears unable to operator of an approaching vehicle, all too like a load transported in a coffin, prevented allow trams to go through points, crossings or often potential passengers are confronted by a from looking outside, rather than as a corners at anything more than 10-15km/h and gaudily-coloured mobile advertising hoarding. welcome passenger with a valid ticket. even so-called ‘Express’ or ‘Fast Trams’ have to Destination and route number details are Perhaps the Stuttgart solution could be a slow to a snail’s pace when points or crossings often lost in a sea of distracting colours and more acceptable one, with all-over advertising are encountered. Perhaps an engineer can text and very often nowadays it is far too easy possible, though on a limited number of explain the reason why trams cannot treat to wrongly identify an approaching public tramcars only, and where all the vehicles’ these in the same way as heavy railways. service vehicle from a pantechnicon. Some windows must be left clear. This would show Watching the crawl of Montpellier’s trams of the so-called ‘designs’ seem inspired by that smart and clever advertising solutions are through the junction adjacent to the station the excesses of graffiti and could even be said nevertheless possible. makes for depressing viewing and illustrates all to encourage illegal acts. A particularly bad Jörg Zimmer, Nürtingen (Germany) too clearly the drawbacks of tram operation. example of this was observed in Rostock a It’s hardly surprising therefore to read that number of years ago. Trams need to ‘catch up’ with the times the much-vaunted VLT system in Rio de Janeiro In the all-too-common case where these Proponents of tramway development like to has failed to attract the forecasted numbers. It is ‘images’ are daubed over the passenger present the mode as ‘rapid transit’, but this is excruciatingly slow and is outpaced along its windows it is quite impossible to see out, far from reality in practice. routes by motor buses which do not enjoy the whether for the necessity of locating one’s Trams have always been perceived as slow same dedicated rights of way. location or just for sightseeing. The perforated in comparison to buses. I am old enough to My friends who fly frequently to and from vinyl referred to by Mr Kain is far from remember well the systems in the 1940s and Edinburgh never use the tram, telling me that transparent and generally makes vehicle ’50s which succumbed to bustitution, where the bus is far quicker and more convenient. interiors unnecessarily gloomy; the removal new journey times by bus were invariably up Another new example is the ION LRT in of these vinyls can also do significant harm to to ten minutes quicker than before. Waterloo, Canada, which seems plagued with the expensive livery underneath. Modern practice does little to challenge this numerous speed restrictions along the line, There is another aspect of obscuring and is only too well-illustrated in recent French apparently for little valid reason, and it hardly windows to which Mr Kain does not refer. extensions. Line 2 in Nice – to the airport – is ever attains a speed which reflects its title of It is impossible to see into the vehicle from crippled by restrictive speed limits throughout constant movement. outside. This makes it impossible to quickly its length, with limits of 10, 15 and 20km/h While this situation remains it is difficult to identify a fully-loaded unit from one with (6-12mph) imposed on many sections. The see how LRT can possibly compete in the 21st vacant space. On a much more serious level, top speed reached seems to be an inadequate Century where speed of travel is paramount to in the event of an incident inside the vehicle, 40km/h (24mph), in spite of mostly reserved success. To ‘catch on’, trams need to ‘catch up’. rescuers looking in from the outside cannot track and a tunnel section. Likewise, the Gil Sutherland, by e-mail

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org OCTOBER 2019 / 395 Classic Trams

Belgium’s PART tram week THREE TAUT previously reviewed the 150th birthday celebrations of the Bruxelles tramway – but this was just one element of a series of special events. Mike Russell reports. 1

he scale of the celebrations of used to repaint the cars is slightly too dark standard-gauge steam . One can 1 May 2019 to mark the 150th to accurately reflect the old MIVG colours, only hope that funds are made available anniversary of the opening of something we hope will be remedied in to restore some overhead wiring so that Bruxelles’ first tram route the future. demonstration of electric cars may again (TAUT 980) would inevitably be a It had originally been intended that be possible. magnetT for visitors from all over Europe and a special operation of museum cars in beyond. It is to the organisers’ credit therefore Antwerpen would take place on 28 April. Coastal culmination that, whilst dealing with the wealth of detail However this was changed as it was feared Rue Royale in Bruxelles was closed to traffic that had to be agreed in connection with the that it might become inconveniently again on 4 May for the European Tram Brussels event, they successfully negotiated entangled in that day’s special arrangements Driving Championships, an annual event with other Belgian tramway operators and to accommodate the Antwerpen Marathon. since 2012. This year 25 teams from no fewer museums to offer additional special events to On 30 April, therefore, three Antwerpen than 21 countries participated. Six tests had to complement those in the capital. museum cars (MIVA 4408, PCC 2000 and be completed, with drivers required to display This week-long series was so comprehensive NMVB 7386) operated both city tours and pin-point accuracy in stopping distances and that it is worthy of review in itself, for a special service between Groenplaats and braking, calculate exact lateral displacement together the events really did comprise an Groenenhoek tramway museum. This event of their tram on a curve when passing an unofficial Belgian Tram Week. attracted great interest, for the museum has obstacle, perform accurate positioning of been closed to visitors since 2015 for roof multi-door cars at stops and take part in Spread of events repairs, and 30 April was the first recent something akin to a bowling alley whereby First was the ASVi museum line at Thuin occasion on which the public had been the driver must knock over large inflatable in Wallonia. This remarkable line has been permitted to inspect its collection. An official ‘skittles’ then stop promptly. The competition the subject of previous articles but deserves re-opening took place on 15 June. uses trams supplied by the host undertaking, highlighting again as the one to visit for The Groenenhoek collection, housed in this year including two-axle works car 46. anyone retaining fond memories of the a former TAO and MIVA depot built in 1913 Bruxelles won with 3530 points, with Vicinal tramways. On 27 April it hosted an with impressive internal track fans, contains Moskva in second place on 3200 and Oradea open day for tram fans, and both electric and rolling stock from the early 1900s. Much of third on 3100. The UK’s entry, from Greater Autorail rolling stock was in operation on the this was still in service, albeit rebuilt, until Manchester’s Metrolink, came seventh with lines to Lobbes and Biesmes-sous-Thuin. the 1970s. The formerly extensive tentacles of 2650 points. A feature of this line since late 2018 has been the local Vicinal network are not overlooked The week’s events culminated on 5 May, the operation of HL303, Belgium’s oldest and several examples of Antwerpen-based in two locations. Bruxelles’ rue Royale again working steam tram, a Type 7 machine dating cars can be seen here. Also here is a Liège witnessed intensive operation of a public from 1887 and restored at workshops in trolleybus masquerading as one of an almost museum car service 12.00-18.00, but with France and Poland since 2016. However, this identical series supplied to Antwerpen, and vehicles mingling with general traffic unlike was unavoidably absent as it was on its way for the Gyrobus (using ) on 1 May. No fewer than 15 cars offered a operation in Bruxelles’ place Royale on 1 May. that once operated Gent – Merelbeke. 7.5-minute service between Legrand and Rare is it that DeLijn management at Gent On 2 and 3 May, Bruxelles Exposition bogie Sainte-Marie. The seven trolley pole-equipped permits operation of any historic tramcars car 5008 operated a series of one-hour city double-ended cars turned at Legrand while on the city network; there appears to be a tours from place Poelaert. This is one of the the eight pantograph-fitted cars went to fear of too high a risk of disruption to normal historic fleet equipped with a pantograph Ixelles depot to turn, without passengers. services, given their intensity on a close-knit for system-wide operation. Although not The Belgian Coast, however, played host network, with increasingly long low-floor cars historically authentic on this type of car, the to the last provincial event, with cars in the now sinuously traversing the city’s myriad appearance of one of these majestic vehicles TTO Nordzee collection, housed in the former narrow and winding streets. It was a great in the city centre caused many heads to turn. NMVB De Panne depot, operating trips along pleasure, therefore, to find that this reluctance The afternoon of 2 May was the turn of parts of what is now the last significant part was relaxed for the afternoon of 28 April. the Vicinal museum at the former Schepdaal of the former nationwide Vicinal tramways. Under leaden skies and through torrential depot on the Ninove route to play host to Journeys were operated between Adinkerke, rain, the two PCC cars now repainted in a visitors. TramSite Schepdaal was relaunched De Panne and Nieuwpoort using a variety of livery akin to the blue and yellow initially earlier this decade after some years of closure rolling stock, including 9942 (solo, or with applied to the MIVG PCC fleet from 1971 but unfortunately has now been denuded trailer 19211) and 9965+8768+871. onwards operated a special circular route from of overhead wiring, so its interesting Belgian Tram Week was the first occasion St-Pieters station via Korenmarkt, Rabot and collection of electric cars can no longer be on which all the country’s tramway museum Coupure Rechts back to the railway station. demonstrated. That is a pity, as its covered groups co-operated to produce a co-ordinated A flat fare of EUR4 was charged. This brought sheds house several motor and trailer cars series of tramway-themed events and all were a much admired touch of colour to streets that from the early years of Vicinal electric pleased with visitor numbers, fully justifying normally see only the white and grey livery of operation. Autorail AR193 can be operated, the exercise. The thanks of everyone who the modern DeLijn fleet. though, and on another wet afternoon visited are due to those who worked tirelessly Car 01, the first PCC vehicle, has been trundled up and down periodically, initially and without personal reward to present an designated as a museum car since 2004 hauling either one or two trailers. A part imaginative relay of memorable events. but 25 is a more recent addition. Both have of the site not previously known to several been adapted for winter de-icing duties. visitors is the small isolated depot building With grateful thanks to Luc Koenot for Many have remarked that the shade of blue that now houses rare examples of Vicinal assistance with all three parts of this series.

396 / OCTOBER 2019 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org 1. The opening event featured a running-day on the ASVi museum lines based in Thuin. AR 86, built at the SNCV’s Cureghem works in 1934, heads back to Thuin on the regauged former SNCB railway line. Philip Harwood

2. A brief lull in the downpours of 28 April finds many onlookers witnessing the arrival of Gent PCC 25 at Gravensteen, whilst working on the special two-car afternoon circular service. This and sister car 01 have reverted to an approximation of their original MIVG livery and are retained for special duties. Mike Russell

3. A Gent PCC car 25 poses on the rebuilt Rozemarijnbrug whilst returning to St. Pieters Station on the special circular service worked on 28 April. Mike Russell

4. Tuesday 30 April saw the operation of heritage tramcars in Antwerpen, both 2 on a city tour and a special shuttle service to the museum collection at Groenenhoek. Awaiting departure in Groenplaats are former NMVB (Vicinal) bogie car 9994 and MIVA 7386, a short equal-wheel bogie car of 1908 that was new to the Antwerpen area Vicinal operation. Mike Russell

5. On Thursday 2 May, visitors to the Vicinal museum housed in the former depot premises dating from 1887, had a rare opportunity to inspect the standard-gauge type 12 SNCV 3 4 steam tram engine, HL813, housed there. Mike Russell

6. The European Tram Driving Championships took place in rue Royale on 4 May with a series of six tests designed to probe drivers’ judgement and competence. One of Bruxelles’ own six-axle BN-built low-floor articulated cars, 3101, is placed at the disposal of the team from Manchester to display their abilities. Paul Wigan

7. Autorail AR.193 (built at Haine-St-Pierre in 1935) 5 6 trundled up and down the track at the Vicinal museum site, sometimes hauling cross-bench (baladeuse) trailer A.8947 of 1916. Alan Murray

8. The last event took place on 5 May, when members of the historic Vicinal fleet in the care of TTO-Noordzee were operated on a series of journeys from their De Panne depot. Seen are two baladeuses (cross-bench trailers) formerly operated on the Grottes de Han line. Nearest the camera is A.8853, built by Droeshout & 7 8 Windels in 1912. Philip Harwood

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org OCTOBER 2019 / 397 NEWS FROM THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT ASSOCIATION Leeds launches mass transit study, re-opening the door for light rail

ass transit is back on the agenda The LRTA and TramForward have in the Leeds City Region, hopefully campaigned for trams for Leeds for decades, M fulfilling the long-held ambition of following repeated cancellations of projects improving the dire transport issues in one of designed to solve issues of congestion and air the UK’s most prosperous areas. quality. The move comes after the city’s plans Tram Forward welcomes the recent for first a tramway and then a trolleybus announcement that the West Yorkshire system were rejected as ‘too expensive’. Combined Authority (WYCA) is seriously The City Council has plans to introduce progressing its plans, calling for expert a Clean Air Zone, with daily charges levied advice on the best way forward. against high-emission vehicles such as HGVs The Universities of Leeds and Huddersfield and buses, with weekly charges for taxis and are both involved in the market testing private hire vehicles registered in the city. process that was revealed in August. LRTA Chair Paul Rowen said, “This WYCA Transport Chair Kim Groves said: time the authority is wisely seeking advice “There is no doubt that if the Leeds City from experts (promoters, consultants, Region is going to achieve its full economic manufacturers and suppliers) from across potential... we need a modern mass transit the world. We believe that steel wheels on system to connect people quickly and steel rail offer the best option for major cleanly with areas of growth.” transport corridors. Trams can bring about Leeds is the largest metropolitan area in a significant reduction in air pollution, Europe without an urban transit system, a including those from non-tailpipe emissions Former Leeds West MP Greg Mulholland and LRTA situation which new UK Prime Minister Boris as well as their proven ability to achieve and TramForward Chair Paul Rowen have both been Johnson recently described as “madness”. substantial modal switch from cars.” passionately campaigning for a light rail solution for Leeds. ‘Voice’ of welcomes expansion Association’s With news that expansion of the announcements heard by ‘green’ review London Trams system is heavily millions of passengers each year. favoured in the latest consultation He said: “My oldest grandchild, Following a member’s suggestion, (TAUT 978), long-standing LRTA Katie [right], was born on 10 May the LRTA Council is investigating member and Global Light Rail 2000 – the day Croydon’s trams whether member copies of TAUT Awards host Nicholas Owen paid went into public service. should be delivered in paper, a special visit to the Therapia “Here we are with car 2550, rather than plastic, envelopes. Lane depot in late August. the first one from East Croydon “We all need to reduce the A well-known journalist and to New Addington to carry amount of plastic we throw away television newsreader, Nicholas passengers. Perhaps Katie, with and paper degrades naturally, is also “the voice” of London her super-clear diction, should be while plastic does not,” says Trams, making the onboard the voice of trams in the future!” LRTA Secretary Vic Simons.

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

September 2019 October 2019 Saturday 5. Near Oxford. Tuesday 15. London 19.00. Tel: 01865 370634 for details. (TLRS) Martin Eady: Tramway pot pourri. Saturday 21. Taunton 14.00. Tuesday 1. Southampton 19.30. Saturday 5. West Midlands 14.00. Friday 18. Edinburgh 19.15. Richard Hargreaves: A tale of two Paul Coles: Works trams and other Alan Kirkman: Isle of Man 2019. (Quakers’ Meeting House) Graham cities – Lancaster and York. (TLRS) unusual vehicles. (LRTA/SEG) (LRTA/TLRS/ERS/TMS invited) Whiteley: Berlin: Then and now. Saturday 28. Beeston 14.00. Thursday 3. Blackpool/Cleveleys Wednesday 9. Brighton 19.45. Chris Saturday 19. Taunton. Mark Dave Astill: Ones, Collars & Lilac 19.30. Jeremy Williams: A miscellany Warren: Then and now, part 4. (TLRS) Blackstone: Vintage models and Leopards – NCT in the 1970s. (TLRS) of trams and ’70s/’80s Blackpool. (FTS) Monday 14. Thames Valley 19.30. modellers 1952-2004. (TLRS) Saturday 28. Garstang 14.00. Saturday 5. Holt 14.00. Cedric John Howe: Kennington Cross, Monday 21. Liverpool 19.45. Jim Saunders: Portugal tramways Greenwood: Over 50s vintage trams Kingsway Subway and Dog Kennel Val Yong: Growing up in Liverpool in in 1979. (TLRS) around the world 1931-93. (TLRS) Hill tramway layouts. (TLRS) the 1960s. (TLRS Merseyside)

For more information on the Association and its activities visit www.lrta.org Bookshop Order online from lrta.info/shop – or by post from: LRTA Publications, 38 Wolseley Road, SALE, M33 7AU Postage included (2nd class UK; Airmail Europe; Economy rest of world).

Tramways in Bolton London Underground Guide 2019 COMING SOON A new book from the LRTA by Sixth edition of a useful handbook Tony Young and Derek Shepherd, that gives line-by-line details of due for imminent publication. the UK capital’s Tube and sub-surface Detailed history of the local tramway networks. Includes complete fleet networks accompanied by several lists and fold-out map. maps and many previously unpublished photographs. > A5 softback; 112 pages, fully-illustrated in colour. > A4 softback; 160 pages. £13.80 (UK addresses); £27.50 (UK addresses); £16.50 (outside UK); £32.00 (outside UK); £20.00 (Airmail beyond Europe) £38.00 (Airmail beyond Europe) LRTA Members: £1.20 discount LRTA Members: £2.50 discount

Lyon en Tram - 2 Von 1 bis Z La technique et les hommes Die Liniengeschichte der Straßenbahnen in Essen

Second volume of the encyclopaedic Published to mark 125 years of trams in detailed history of the city’s first- the Ruhr city and its smaller neighbours. generation tram system, concentrating Each line’s history is described in text on infrastructure, rolling stock and and tabular form. German text. human aspects. French text. > A4 hardback; 200 pages, 285 colour > B4 hardback; 432 pages, 550 colour and black & white pictures, eight maps. and black & white pictures, £35.00 (UK addresses); £41.00 (outside numerous maps & diagrams. UK); £46.00 (Airmail beyond Europe) £70.00 (UK addresses); £77.00 (outside LRTA Members: £3.20 discount UK); £85.00 (Airmail beyond Europe) LRTA Members: £6.50 discount

A to Z of London Underground Stations UK Metro & Light Rail Systems Including London Underground Detailed listing of all 270 stations on the network, full of interesting facts Another useful guide to take on your including opening dates and operational travels, packed with information on all history plus notes on closed ʻghostʼ nine tram and light rail systems, plus stations. the .

> A5 softback; 140 pages, > A5 softback, 160 pages, 120+ colour pictures. 112 colour pictures, 13 maps. £16.50 (UK addresses); £19.00 (outside £21.50 (UK addresses); £24.00 (outside UK); £21.50 (Airmail beyond Europe) UK); £25.50 (Airmail beyond Europe) LRTA Members: £1.45 discount LRTA Members: £2.00 discount

Verkehrs- und Technikgeschichte der Rail Guide 2019 Zwickauer Straßenbahn Light Rail & Heritage Railways Ein verkehrswissenschaftlicher Blick auf 125 Jahre A handy new guide to the tram, light rail Stadtbahngeschichte von 1894 bis 2019 and underground systems of the UK, Isle of Man and Ireland, plus heritage Covers the interesting history and development lines and the rolling stock they employ – of this city’s tramway network, which reached all in great detail. its maximum extent in 2005. German text > A5 hardback; 112 pages, 186 pictures; > B5 hardback; 196 pages, 200+ black & white and fleet lists for every entry. colour photographs, several maps. £14.50 (UK addresses); £29.50 (UK addresses); £32.00 (outside UK); £17.50 (outside UK); £35.00 (Airmail beyond Europe), £20.00 (Airmail beyond Europe), LRTA Members: £2.75 discount LRTA Members: £1.30 discount Solving your noise & vibration problems

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