THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE

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NOVEMBER 2017 No. 959 SIEMENS AND ALSTOM frorm ‘ ail champion’

Energy efficiency through effective driver training Prague approves 2030 tramway plans Granada welcomes long-overdue LRT Edinburgh takes first step to Newhaven

Dallas F uel cells 11> £4.40 US LRT pioneer goes Is this the future for for further growth ultra-green light rail? 9 771460 832050 “I very much enjoyed “The presentations, increased informal Manchester networking, logistics networking opportunities and atmosphere were in such a superb venue. excellent. There was a The 12th Annual Light Rail common agreement Conference quite clearly 17-18 July 2018 among the participants marked a coming of age that the UK Light Rail as the leader on light rail Conference is one of worldwide, as evidenced the best in the industry.” by the depth of analysis The UK Light Rail Conference and exhibition is the Simcha Ohrenstein – from quality speakers and CTO, Jerusalem LRT the active participation of premier knowledge-exchange event in the industry. Transit Masterplan key industry players and suppliers in the discussions.” With unrivalled networking opportunities, and a Ian Brown CBE – 75% return rate for exhibitors, it is well-known as Director, UKTram THE place to do business and build valuable and “This event gets better long-lasting relationships. every year; the 2018 dates are in the diary.” Peter Daly – Sales & There is no better place to gain true insight into the Services Manager, Thermit Welding (GB) Voices workings of the sector and help shape its future. V from the T o discuss how you can be part of it, industry… visit us online at www.mainspring.co.uk “An excellent conference as always. or telephone +44 (0) 1733 367600 Well done for such a well-organised and “I had a great time in highly-informative Manchester. Thank you for MEDIA PARTNER ORGANISED BY event.” everything, the conference David Hand was a great success.” Global Lead for LRT Ana M. Moreno – & Divisional Director General Manager, Mott MacDonald Tranvía de Zaragoza 424 CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association NOVEMBER 2017 Vol. 80 No. 959 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL Editor S imon Johnston E-mail: [email protected] 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK Associate Editor T ony Streeter E-mail: [email protected] Worldwide Editor 436 Michael Taplin Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight P O37 6EA, UK. E-mail: [email protected] News Editor John Symons 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. E-mail: [email protected] Senior Contributor Neil Pulling 404 Worldwide Contributors Tony Bailey, James Chuang, Paul Nicholson, Richard Felski, Ed Havens, Bill Vigrass, Andrew Moglestue, News 404 FUEL CELL evolution 422 Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Vic Simons, Herbert Siemens and Alstom announce merger of Dr Alex Luvishis provides an update on Pence, Alain Senut, Rick Wilson, Thomas Wagner rail businesses; Aarhus opening delayed; hydrogen fuel cell technology for light rail. Pdtro uc ion Lanna Blyth Global Light Rail Awards mark innovation Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 E-mail: [email protected] and excellence; Granada tramway opens; sYSTEMS FACTFILE: mONTPElLIER 424 Design outline approval for Edinburgh extension; Light rail in this French city has changed Debbie Nolan Prague approves massive expansion plan. the way the community lives and works. Advertising Neil Pulling reports. COMMERCIAL Manager thi e s emens-alstom champion 409 Geoff Butler As the German and French rail giants look WR O LDWIDE REVIEW 430 Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 E-mail: [email protected] to join forces, TAUT looks at the background Vienna refurbishes Type T fleet and orders Publisher and asks what it means for light rail. U-Bahn cars; Gold Coast extension testing; H oward Johnston Beijing trials three new metro lines; Ho Chi Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the LRTA and LRTA Publishing on the third Friday of each D ALLAS: urban rail pathfinder 412 Minh City and Lusaka both study light rail. month preceding the cover date. With major new services in the pipeline in LRTA Website and Diary Dallas and Fort Worth, Vic Simons explains mailbox 435 Brian Lomas how rail-based transport continues to grow. Breaking the stranglehold of the car; E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] queries on tramway OLE design. LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) T RACTION ENERGY OPTIMISATION 418 Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up Trevor Dowens and Dr Stuart Hillmansen CLASSIC trams: KYIV 436 members of the Light Rail Transit Association. explore how rail systems can reduce energy Kyiv introduced electric trams in 1892. Subscriptions AND MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES consumption through driver training. Kostj Kozlov reports on the celebrations. LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 BACK ISSUES Why innovation doesn’t have to mean ‘new’ Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 This year’s Global Light Rail Awards saw some fascinating examples of PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION how technology and innovation are driving our industry forward, and Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. in many ways leading the way for the wider passenger transport market. LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE Interactive apps for staff engagement; cloud-based solutions for safety, c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, Kent DA16 2BY, UK. CCTV and maintenance accessible by senior managers anywhere, at any Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 time; real-time analysis of thousands of data points simultaneously to aid the design in England and Wales. and construction process. What marvellous examples of modernity. LRTA Chairman While it is wonderful to celebrate this march of progress, it’s also important not to Andrew Braddock lose sight of what it is for – and one does sometimes wonder if the terms technology and E-mail: [email protected] innovation are too often seen as interchangeable. Don’t misunderstand me. Technological LRTA Deputy Chairman progress is part of who we are as an industry striving to improve. However, doing things P aul Rowen better doesn’t always need a digital approach – or at least, that can’t always be the only LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE c/o 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU, solution. Otherwise we run the risk of alienating large sections of society in this push to UK. Private Limited Company, No. 06169422 make everything more convenient and available 24/7. While it is important to maintain in England and Wales. awareness of the issues of congestion and climate change within the millennial © LRTA Publishing 2017 generation and get them to use mass transit, transport ultimately needs to cater for all. Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also So it was good to see that the judging panel for London’s event celebrated things later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the other than the latest technology. Also recognised were fantastic projects and schemes opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of focused on the passenger and their well-being and experience; or just simple common LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. sense approaches that have been missed. These aren’t always necessarily new ideas, No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in but just superb ones that may have been forgotten or overlooked, or those taken from any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and elsewhere and applied perfectly to make a real difference. retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from The other key talking point this month is the merger of Siemens and Alstom to create the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the a European rail superpower. This one may have appeared inevitable to many, but I magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. would wager that there will be more consolidation of the sector in the next year and COVER: Den Haag streets see both Siemens Avenio hope that this drives innovation rather than restricting it. Simon Johnston, Editor trams and Alstom RegioCitadis tram-trains. N. Pulling

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org NOVEMBER 2017 / 403 News Siemens and Alstom announce merger of global rail operations Merger moves rapidly to unite rail operations of French and German manufacturing giants

ollowing two special at EUR470m after four years. board meetings on 26 In a press conference on 27 September, industrial September, both Siemens and giants Siemens AG and Alstom CEOs gave reassurances FAlstom Transport confirmed that whilst some redundancies plans for a merger of the former’s would be inevitable, they would Mobility division and its rail be not be through closure of any traction drives business with the of the current manufacturing or rail operations of its French rival. engineering sites. In a statement following It is interesting to speculate the signing of a Memorandum whether both Citadis (Alstom) of Understanding, Siemens and Avenio (Siemens) low-floor President and CEO Joe Kaeser trams will be in the catalogue of said that “this Franco-German the new company in five years merger of equals sends a strong time. The Citadis is well ahead signal in many ways. We put of the Avenio platform in terms the European idea to work and, of orders (the latter just has There is already a tramway link between France and Germany, across the Rhein together with our friends at in Strasbourg. Two Alstom Citadis seen on opening day in 2016 April. A. Gambet Bremen, Den Haag, München Alstom, we are creating a new (Munich) and Ulm on its books), European champion in the rail EUR15.3bn (confirmed orders Franco-German corporate ties, although Siemens has a very industry for the long term.” total EUR61.2bn), about half while pro-EU German chancellor successful North American Earlier in the year, TAUT that of Chinese company CRRC, Angela Merkel was re-elected in operation, producing S70 reported that Siemens was in which is now seen as the main September. As part of the deal variants in Sacramento. discussions with Bombardier global competitor. the French Government will not Meanwhile, Bombardier, Transportation, but now there Alstom shareholders will exercise the option to buy the which is now the subject of an will be a European joint venture receive two special dividends 20% stake in Alstom owned international investigation into for rail projects (Siemens Alstom), – a premium of EUR4 per share by Bouygues since 2014 that railway contracts in Kazakhstan, with Siemens holding a 50.1% shortly after the closing of the expired in October. and which saw its share price stake. The new organisation will transaction and another dividend The merger requires approval fall by 10% in the last week be based in Saint-Ouen, France, of up to EUR4 per share to be paid from European regulators and of September, has signed an with the signalling and digital out of the sale of some of its joint trade unions in both countries agreement with its trades unions business remaining in Berlin, led ventures with General Electric. have expressed concerns on a strategy for its German by current Alstom CEO Henri The French President, around the consequences sites. This will result in 2200 job Poupart-Lafarge. The combined Emmanuel Macron, had earlier of the announcement that losses, most of them at Görlitz business will have revenues of signalled that he supported deeper annual synergies are estimated and Hennigsdorf outside Berlin.

Transdev Stadler to supply Ostrava Tango NF2 signs on for Stadler is to supply a new variant Milwaukee of tram – the Tango NF2 – to Ostrava in the Czech Republic. Milwaukee’s Department of The Dopravni Podnik Ostrava Public Works (US) has selected (DPO) order for 30 new 100% Transdev to operate and low-floor single-ended 24.9m maintain the city’s new 4km long and 2.5m wide trams (with (2.5-mile) streetcar line. an option for ten more) placed The contract began at the last year has evolved from the end of August and runs until original Metelitsa. It is to be a December 2023, with an option six-axle car with two body for a five-year extension. It is sections, the front one supported valued at around USD3.6m/year. on two bogies and the rear on one Transdev is to subcontract bogie. Capacity will be 61 seated fleet maintenance to Brookville and 127 standing passengers. Equipment Corporation, which The bodyshells will come is supplying five partially from Stadler Minsk, and be low-floorLiberty LRVs to the taken to the Stadler production city. Delivery of the first car is site in Siedlce, eastern Poland, The final version of the livery for the new Ostrava trams will be enhanced by a scheduled for December. for final assembly. ABB is to white line along the waist. DPO Revenue services are due to supply the traction equipment commence in November 2018. and Stadler Valencia the bogies. will be moved to Ekova Electric The livery was chosen by DPO Transdev also operates the Gearboxes and wheelsets will in Ostrava-Poruba for testing. customers from four options put QLine streetcar in Detroit that be subcontracted to Czech The first is scheduled to be out for consultation. DPO will opened in May 2017. suppliers. The completed trams delivered in February 2018. christen the new trams nOVA.

404 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Innovation and excellence marked at 2017 Global Light Rail Awards Guests from nine countries gather for glittering ceremony at London’s Honourable Artillery Company

he latest Global Light (Algeria) were also recognised for Metrolink for their bravery and Rail Awards saw guests their vision, customer focus and professionalism on the evening from nine countries engineering excellence. of the terror attack in Manchester gather in London on In a keynote address – on 22 May that saw 23 killed. 4T October to celebrate another standing in for Under-Secretary Further special awards were year of worldwide innovation of State for Transport with given to respected transport and excellence. responsibility for light rail, Jesse specialists David Walmsley and Amongst the UK systems Norman MP – Steve Berry OBE, Steve Firth, and Tramways & recognised for honours were Head of Light Rail Policy for the Urban Transit Publisher Howard Edinburgh Trams, which took Department for Transport told Johnston for their 40-year home the prize in the Operator the assembled audience of the commitment to the industry. of the Year category; KeolisAmey UK Government’s commitment Read more about the event in Docklands in the Best Customer to the mode and that the TAUT 960. The 2018 Global Light Initiative and Significant Safety new Minister was very much Rail Awards is to be held in London Initiative; and Midland Metro for looking forward to engaging on October 2018. the Most Improved System and with the industry to find Steve Berry OBE, Head of Light Team of the Year. common solutions that focus on Rail Policy for the Department for Overseas entries from technology and innovation. Transport, celebrated the growth in Dallas and Kansas City (US), The judging panel for 2017 also both passenger numbers and revenues Metrotenerife and TRAM gave a special commendation to for light rail systems around the world Barcelona (Spain), Sidi Bel Abbés the front-line staff of Manchester at the event on 4 October. J. Hill/TAUT

Seoul light metro opens Last-minute delay for Aarhus opening The 11.4km (seven-mile) automated light metro linking the Opening of Denmark’s first 100% low-floor trams. L2 was to Sinseol-dong interchange (metro tramway of the modern be extended from AU Hospital to lines 1 and 2) to Bukhansan Ui-dong era has been delayed by an Lisbjerg on 26 November with in Seoul, South Korea, opened on 2 September. It uses 18 two-car estimated six or seven weeks. a 7.5-minute service between rubber-tyred trains supplied by The delay followed the Traffic Aarhus H and AU Hospital and Hyundai Rotem. Authority declining to grant a 15-minute service between an operating licence pending AU Hospital and Lystrup. Gorzów reconstruction resolution of documentation This expansion will bring the Poland’s 11km (seven-mile) Gorzów Wielkopolski system was replaced issues. Inauguration should have line to 12km (7.5 miles). by buses from 1 October for 12 taken place on 23 September, The new tramway is operated months to permit upgrading of with the inaugural car flagged by Keolis Denmark under a new Delegates at September’s Light Rail the infrastructure – including away by Mayor Jacob Bundsgaard. contract awarded in early 2015. Day were given pre-opening access to new pedestrianised sections, new Aarhus Letbane submitted a It is reported that Aarhus Letbane the Aarhus tramway. G. Butler/TAUT double-track sections and a number report on 26 September, saying may seek compensation from of short extension projects. The that 57 of the 59 issues cited by Keolis for each day the system’s In February 2018 the Tango total cost is PLN225m (EUR52m). the regulatory authority have opening is delayed. LRVs should start running from A PLN93.5m (EUR21.7m) contract now been resolved. In December it is expected the Nørreport north to Grenaa on for 14 100% low-floor PesaTwist double-ended trams was signed Regular revenue service on service will be extended south existing railway tracks, while L2 on 22 September. The first will be line L2 Aarhus Hovedbanegaard from Aarhus H along railway will be extended from Lisbjerg delivered in October 2018. (railway station) – AU Hospital tracks to Sjaellands-Odder, with to Lystrup. This will bring the is to run every 15 minutes an hourly service at first using system to 110km (68 miles). EC funding for București M5 04.50-00.55 using the 14 Stadler Stadler Tango LRVs running from The cost of the project is around The European Commission approved EUR252m towards the Variobahn 32.4m five-section Nørreport in the city centre. DKK3.5bn (EUR470m). construction of București metro line M5 on 3 October. The 7.2km (4.5-mile) ten-station first phase will connect the western part of the city with the centre, NEWS IN PICTURES running from Râul Doamnei, via Romancierilor, to an interchange Tel Aviv tram mock-up on display with M1 and M3 at Eroilor. A short A mock-up of the CRRC Changchun low-floor LRV for branch will see service from the 23km (14.3-mile) Red line in Tel Aviv (Israel) was put Romancierilor to Valea Ialomiţei. on display in the city centre in September. The Chinese Opening is planned for June 2018. manufacturer will deliver 90 cars for the new line, due to A second phase would extend open in 2021; it also has a 16-year maintenance contract as eastwards from Eroilor to Iancului well as an option for a further 30 trams. with eight stations. A third phase On 1 October Alstom was selected as preferred bidder from Iancului to Pantelimon, will for a USD110m contract to supply signalling, control and add seven stations and is envisaged

CRRC automation systems for the Red line. for completion after 2030.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org november 2017 / 405 News Prague approves huge expansion plan as it marks 120th anniversary Czech capital agrees programme for up to 30 new tramway projects over the next two decades

raha (Prague) city the Depo Hostiva and Zahradní council has approved M sto termini. Completion of a programme for up to these projects is expected before 30 new tramlines and 2020, according to Deputy Pextensions, including one to Mayor Petr Dolínek. the airport. The Czech capital’s The plan calls for another tramway is already one of 16 extensions to be completed Europe’s biggest, carrying over by 2030, the longest of which 360 million passengers/year on is a 6.1km (3.8-mile) line from 142km (88 miles) of tracks. Choceradská to Jižní M sto. Approved on 5 September, The final phase consists of the programme aims to reduce 11 projects, for which the city the city’s dependency on both intends to secure planning private cars and combustion- approvals by 2030. These include engined buses, and also includes a Záb hlická – Bohdalec – Eden – initiatives to improve the energy Škoda 15T 9238 at Modřany terminus on 29 July 2012. A new 2.1km continuation Vršovická extension, a connection efficiency of its tramway vehicles will extend to Libuš and the future metro line D. Howard Pulling between Podbaba and Troja Zoo and infrastructure. and a new line from Mod any to Categorised in three phases, are a 2.4km (1.5-mile) extension in the south, and a 2.1km (1.2- Komo any. the first three projects are already from Divoká Šárka to D dina mile) southern extension from Trams carry about 30% of the at an advanced planning stage (CZK893m/EUR34.4m) in the Mod any to Libuš (CZK500m/ total of Prague’s public transport and are scheduled for completion west, a 1.9km (1.2-mile) extension EUR19.3m) that will connect to journeys; on 1 September the within five years at a cost of from Sídlišt Barrandov to the future metro line D. Turning city marked 120 years of around CZK2bn (EUR77m). These Slivenec (CZK691m/EUR26.6m) loops are also to be provided at tramway operation.

Outline approval given for Edinburgh extension

Extension of the UK’s Edinburgh extension is forecast to almost reached the stage of oral scrutinised the business case and tramway has moved closer with double, to 14 million. By 2032, evidence in public sessions; it is taken on board crucial lessons approval of the Outline Business the number of households is not expected that a report will be from the first phase. Case on 21 September. A final expected to rise 16%, by 38 000. received before mid-2018. “We will only make our decision whether to proceed with The new route would be Council Leader Adam McVey final decision next autumn the GBP165.2m (EUR185.2m) 4.6km (2.9 miles) long, with a said of the approval of the once the tendering process scheme to reach Newhaven is mix of shared and segregated Outline Business Case: “Given has completed and once we’ve expected to be made in 2018. on-street running. A new stop at the rate of growth forecast for consulted an independent Findings in the Outline Picardy Place would replace the Edinburgh over the coming assessor on the viability of the Business Case include that current York Square terminus. years, we simply cannot stand proposed construction contracts. Edinburgh should plan for an Construction is expected to take still. And yet we can’t proceed We’ll also of course consider extra 102 000 people by 2039 three years. with work to take trams down any lessons learned from Lord – a 20% increase. Tramway The Edinburgh Tram Inquiry to Newhaven unless we’re Hardie’s ongoing tram inquiry as patronage in opening year of the chaired by Lord Hardie has 100% certain we’ve rigorously we move forward.”

Bailout for Honolulu light metro Hawaii’s State Senate agreed back to December 2025; HART to provide USD2.4bn to cover now says it plans to open the the over-spend on Honolulu’s system in three phases. The delayed automated light metro first, (East Kapolei to Aloha on 5 September. Two weeks Stadium), could open in 2020; later the Honolulu Authority Aloha Stadium – Middle Street for Rapid Transportation could follow in 2023; the final (HART) submitted its ‘recovery five-miles would open in 2025. plan’ to the US Federal Transit HART says grant payments Administration. This puts the could restart in 2018 if the total project at USD9.023bn, FTA approves its plan; in the including financing costs, and meantime the transit agency includes suggestions to cover is borrowing city bonds to the system’s annual operations continue construction. and maintenance. Testing on the first section is Full opening of the 32km underway using four-car trains Looking down the guideway near the Leeward Community College station (20-mile) line has been put supplied by Hitachi Rail Italy. towards the Pearl Highlands station in June. HART

406 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Granada tramway is finally opened Ten years after construction began, revenue services begin on Spain’s ‘newest’ tramway

he long-awaited opening after trial operation revealed a of the standard-gauge series of snags. tramway in Granada The 15.9km (9.9-mile) finally took place on north–south line runs from 21T September. Work on the Albolote to Armilla including a Spanish line started ten years 3km (4.8-mile) section of tram ago, and was 73% complete by subway in the city centre with May 2011, when it became one three underground stations, of many infrastructure projects and a surface station at the across the nation to be hit by RENFE railway station. Service the Spanish funding crisis. is provided by Avanza Metro Opening took place in a ceremony de Granada, a joint venture of involving the president of the Avanza, Tuzsa and Corporación province of Andalucia, Susana Española de Transportes, using 15 Diaz, Minister of Development five-section 32m air-conditioned and Housing, Felipe López and low-floor CAFUrbos vehicles; 12 Granada Mayor Francisco Cuenca. cars provide peak service. The opening ceremony of the Granada tramway welcomed the President of After the original completion Monday-Thursday services the Junta de Andaluciá and the Minister of Housing, plus the mayors of all the date of autumn 2012 was operate 06.00-23.00, Friday and communes served by the new line. J.M. Grimaldi/Junta de Andaluciá abandoned, the project was Saturday service is 06.00-02.00 rescued by the granting of a and Sunday service 07.30-23.00. opening ceremony and end of A monthly pass is available for European Investment Bank The end-to-end journey time is service on the first day EUR40. loan of EUR262m towards the 47-53 minutes. (including 7000 free tickets that Granada’s first-generation EUR558m scheme. This permitted It is hoped that 11m had been distributed). tramway ran from 1904 to 1963. work to resume in 2014. Even passengers/year will be attracted A single ride costs EUR0.82 The interurban tramway to the then a series of announced to the new line; 23 500 passengers (with a smartcard), and a Sierra Nevada (dating from 1921) opening dates in 2017 passed were recorded between the one-day tourist card is EUR4.50. closed in January 1974.

Cuiaba project CAF wins again in US Fort Lauderdale under threat chooses Siemens Florida’s Broward County Transit Cancellation is one option has placed a USD31.4m order reportedly being considered with Siemens for fiveS70 70% by Brazil’s State Government low-floor 24.1m trams for its of Mato Grosso for the planned 4.5km (2.8-mile) Fort incomplete 22km (14-mile) Lauderdale Downtown Streetcar, tramway designed to connect which is due to open in 2021. the centre of Cuiaba with the The cars will match those already airport. It cancelled its contract delivered to Atlanta, Charlotte with the VLT Consortium in and Salt Lake City. early September. The new tramway, known as The tramway was intended The Wave, is part of a planned to open for the 2014 FIFA World regional transportation Cup; an estimated BRL1.06bn system and is due to begin (EUR286.2m) has been spent construction by the end of the so far, against a total project year pending the appointment of cost of BRL1.47bn (EUR310m) a contractor. Construction will set in 2012. The consortium The KC Streetcar line has been a huge success since its opening 18 months ago, cost USD195.3m, with annual was reportedly asking for running 3.5km from River Market to Union Station. H. Retallick operating costs of USD6.4m for a an additional BRL1.2bn 12-minute service. (EUR324m) to complete the line. Seattle’s Department of Transport Center City Connector is to run Given the region’s propensity The state government is (SDOT) has awarded CAF a along Stewart Street and First for tropical storms, overhead now reportedly considering contract for ten three-section Avenue to meet the First Hill line equipment will be designed to three options: a public-private 100% low-floorUrbos trams for at Pioneer Square. withstand hurricanes. The line partnership; a new tender the 1.9km (1.2-mile) USD177m The contract is worth in excess includes a crossing of the 3rd process to complete the Center City Connector. of USD50m including spares, Avenue New River bridge without tracklaying, electrification and Scheduled to open in 2020, the tools and testing. SDOT has an overhead wire, using battery station works; or cancellation line is designed to connect the option for a further ten vehicles. traction power. and replacement with BRT. city’s two streetcar lines that Kansas City Transport The north–south line will The project has been mired are currently isolated. The bi- Authority approved the purchase run from Sistrunk Boulevard in controversy, and the 40 directional low-floor LRVs will of two additional Urbos LRVs to in Flagler Village to SW 18th CAF Urbos trams for the line be equipped with an onboard supplement the four vehicles Street/Andrews Avenue, where have stood unused at the part- energy storage system. already in operation on the the depot will be located. built depot since 2013. They Starting from a new junction 3.5km (2.2-mile) KC Streetcar line The project is being managed could be put up for sale if the with the South Lake Union that opened in 2016. The order is by the South Florida Regional project is cancelled. Streetcar at McGraw Square, the worth around USD10m. Transportation Authority.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org november 2017 / 407 News

TMB to assist Vienna metro development EU rules mean Karlsruhe Barcelona transport operator TMB is to assist Wiener Linien in the development of the Vienna’s U-Bahn, including line U2 modernisation local trains open to tender and construction of the driverless line U5. The agreement was signed on 29 September and is valid for Regulation subjects services currently operated by AVG to competition three years. No change in Melbourne U tendering regulations The seven-year franchises for tram are expected to lead to a and train operations in Melbourne reduction in the amount (Victoria) from 30 November have of tram-train vehicle been awarded to Keolis Downer Eoperation around the German (Yarra Trams) and MTR/John Holland (Metro Trains Melbourne), city of Kalsruhe. the existing operators. While the rules allow direct Six more W class trams are contracts to be given to city to receive full refurbishment tramway operators, the Karlsruhe by Bendigo Tramways, taking dual-voltage operations that do the W8 class to 12. A mock-up of not operate over city tramway the Chinese-designed EMU for Most AVG dual-voltage Karlsruhe trams were built by Siemens. Car 846 has tracks must be put out to tender. received a special livery marking 25 years of the Karlsruhe model. G. Norbert the commuter rail network was City operators VBK/Albtal presented in early September; Verkehrsgesellschaft have Thanks to its experience with Gölshausen. Ten dual-voltage 65 units will be assembled at Downer in Newport. tramway contracts running the conversion of the Albtalbahn 100km/h (62mph) trams were until 2035. However, in June light railway to tramway ordered from Duewag/Siemens Antalya approves line 2 2019 AVG will stop operating rail operation in 1957, VBK already and delivered in 1991. In order A second tramline in the Turkish line S9 (Bruchsal – Mühlacker) had experience of federal to prove the vehicles they started city of Antalya has been approved and the Pforzheim – Bietgheim railway regulations through its running the stopping train by the government, to link Varsak Sakarya Bulvari with Egitem – Bissingen section of line S5, subsidiary AVG when advancing service entirely over DB tracks Araßtirma Hastanesi via Otogar where Abellio Rail Südwest will technology made tram operation between Karlsruhe Hbf and and the university, on a 12km (7.5- provide trains using Bombardier over DB railway tracks possible. Pforzheim from June 1991. mile) north–south alignment. It is Talent EMUs. A driving force behind this Tram-train operation started hoped to complete work in 2019. In 2022 the hourly fast was the location of the city’s between Karlsruhe and Bretten in UK Citylink in service service on line S4 between main station some 1.7km September 1992, with operation UK Transport Minister Paul Karlsruhe Hbf and Heilbronn will (1.05 miles) outside the city over the linking tracks to the Maynard and Iñigo Parra, CEO of change to a tendered operator. centre, which meant there tramway system and through the Stadler Rail Valencia, inaugurated The future of lines S31/32 was already a high level of pedestrianised Kaiserstrasse to the first of seven Class 399Citylink (Karlsruhe Hbf–Odenheim/ interchange between DB services reach Hbf from the north. vehicles into Supertram service Menzingen) is uncertain as plans and the local tramway. The success of this operation on 14 September. The inaugural exist to extend these through the An agreement was signed in led to a rapid expansion of both vehicle (399 202) ran between city centre. 1988 for a connection between through services and conversion Sheffield’s Nunnery depot and Karlsruhe is well-known the two systems at Karlsruhe- of DB to AVG operation. By 2013 Meadowhall after the ceremony. The dual-voltage trams operated for the introduction of the Durlach and for AVG to take over there were 152 dual-voltage in normal service as ‘extras’ from ‘Karlsruhe model’, the pioneer of the local train service on the cars in the AVG fleet, 122 from early October. The new tram-train full-scale tram-train operation. Pforzheim line as far as Bretten- Siemens and 30 from Bombardier. service is not expected to start until autumn 2018; the seven trams will run with wheels profiled for the tramway until then. Toulouse signs up for Snaefell line services suspended high-speed grinding Tisséo has signed a three-year Services on the Isle of Man’s A statement issued by the improvements as part agreement with Vossloh to use Snaefell Mountain Railway were Department of Infrastructure of a comprehensive review. its HSG-City rail grinder on the suspended indefinitely from highlighted the challenges In consequence, the Toulouse tramway, following 25 September after a period of of operating heritage systems Department decided to commit successful night-time trials that intermittent operation following in a modern environment engineering staff to dealing took place in June and July. Designed to improve the incident on 4 August when and said that it was working with these matters, rather preventative maintenance for braking difficulties caused a tram with the Health and Safety at than supporting day-to-day the two-line system, the HSG-City to overshoot at Bungalow. Work Inspectorate to identify operations. unit is towed by a Unimog, and has proven its success at speeds of 20km/h (12mph). The new framework deal includes two options each for a further year. NEWS IN PICTURES Moscow city tram extension The 450m extension of Moscow tramlines 7 and 9 from Bristol transport study Lesnaya to the Belorusskaya railway and metro stations at A GBP50 000 (EUR56 000) study Tverskaya Zastava Square opened on September 9. into the provision of a mass public The first new tramline in the Russian capital’s central area transport system for Bristol is for many years was opened in conjunction with celebrations expected to report in November. to mark the city’s 870th anniversary. The extension is seen as The UK city’s existing public key in improving interchange between surface transport and transport project, the Metrobus, is the metro and features a new turning loop. nearing completion on the Ashton Elsewhere, prototype 1996-built 71-616 bogie tram, which Vale to Temple Meads route and The new city extension is served every 3-4 minutes has never run in passenger service but has been used for is expected to open before the end by tram routes 7 and 9 which use new deliveries of training purposes, has been moved to Rusakova depot. It has of the year. Vityaz-M 100% low-floor trams. Moscow Mayor’s Office now become works car 5000.

408 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org News analysis THE CREATION OF ‘EUROPE’S CHAMPION’ TAUT looks at the background to the biggest planned merger in recent years, and looks at what this means for light rail.

he late September announcement of a tie-up between Siemens and Alstom came as little surprise. Many factors have driven the merger of these two railT giants, it only being a matter of time before competition from new, powerful and aggressive rivals in their bedrock markets stirred two of the ‘Big Three’ (Alstom, Bombardier and Siemens) into action. What was surprising was the speed; from rumour and leaked ‘industry insider’ comments to confirmation, the deal appeared to have been done in a matter of weeks. Just a decade ago, the union of two major European rail manufacturers may have been Mulhouse Citadis 2004 (Alstom, left) meets Avanto TT16 (Siemens, right) at République in 2011. N. Pulling unthinkable under massive regulatory and political pressures, largely driven by national profitable, higher margin, signalling and rail rivalries and protectionism. In the new world, automation activities as part of its Berlin- however, those concerns appear secondary in “Of course CRRC is based Mobility division. Reports suggest that the face of a larger threat: China. The anxiety this will make up around 60% of the new – heard first-hand, and reported, byTAUT extremely strong and it group’s operating profit. from almost every manufacturer over the has changed a little bit the The timing of the announcement also past few years – is that firstly CSR and CNR picture of the market… deserves mention. With French and German and now CRRC’s immense size and resources, authorities both willing to sanction a merger, plus its access to cheap finance, would prove but this merger will bring this may have seemed like a more natural ‘fit’ an undefeatable rival for those trying to go customer proximity both economically and geopolitically in a toe-to-toe with the new giant. European Union that seeks to consolidate its Aside from swift and forceful overtures and innovation which is key industrial powerhouses. Such a deal gives into the ‘premium’ European and North unmatched.” both French President Emmanuel Macron and American rail markets, Chinese mergers and German Chancellor Angela Merkel significant acquisitions have increased dramatically Henri Poupart-Lafarge political capital alongside a valuable example over the last few years – and into markets CEO of pan-European industrial co-operation that that are undoubtedly troubling national ALSTOM may secure jobs as early discussions continue governments. Progressing from the power over the UK’s exit from the EU. generation and natural resource sectors On 26 September President Macron’s to technology, transport and leisure knowledge from ‘sources close to the matter’ address at the Sorbonne University called businesses, this outward expansion may of Siemens and Bombardier discussions over for greater political and economic unity, have cooled slightly in 2017 but there are a merger of their rail operations (TAUT 954). saying that “no more can we choose to turn still opportunities through acquisition if not The latter’s challenges in the intervening inwards within national borders”, adding through organic growth. months in its home markets and within its that “the Franco-German engine will be At the joint Siemens Alstom press aviation business may well have played a decisive”. Just hours later the two boards of conference on 27 September, Alstom part in this decision to seek a new partner. Siemens and Alstom gave their unanimous President and CEO Henri-Poupart Lafarge But with other powerful forces at play one approval for the merger. was open about the challenge: “Of course has to ask whether this is as much a marriage Speaking to German media the next day, CRRC is extremely strong and it has changed of obligation. Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, a little bit the picture of the market. It aims to Steffen Seibert said that the EU’s two most be a global leader in all the markets… but this Compatibility check powerful nations see the decision as a “clear merger will bring customer proximity and It’s easy to see the appeal from both sides. signal” that the single market “is growing innovation which is unmatched.” With fewer light rail and metro opportunities together in companies’ reality.” Referencing an earlier press statement of in France and Europe – its staple markets in These sentiments were echoed by Siemens’ “a dominant player in Asia” that has affected the 1990s and 2000s – Alstom has developed President and CEO: “The message of this market dynamics, Siemens President and a strong order book around the world over merger is that the European spirit is alive,” CEO Joe Kaeser emphasised his counterpart’s the last few years and carries very little debt he said. “That’s a powerful message in times point by adding saying that the merger is since divesting its power business to General marked by populism and nationalism and “offensive and not defensive”. Electric in 2015. Looking the other way, social and political divides.” The choice of bedfellows caught some there was a possibility that Siemens could Keen to stress that political and unawares and a few months ago TAUT advance its discussions with Bombardier nationalistic measures were not the key reported that the financial press had to a more serious level and it also has very drivers, however, he told Bloomberg that the

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org NOVEMber 2017 / 409 News analysis

CRRC subsidiaries’ ‘technology transfer agreements’ have allowed them to develop their light rail offerings rapidly. In Zhuhai, Sirio trams built under license from AnsaldoBreda (Now Hitachi Rail Italy) use TramWave surface current collection (left), while Shenzen’s trams utilise Siemens-supplied supercapacitors. H. Pulling deal represents the “best industrial logic in procurement is anyone’s guess. The economies the sector” and that “a global business needs of scale in components and subsystems – as a global view” and not a national mindset. “The message of this well as greater bargaining power within the The two companies activities could merger is that the supply chain – will make this possible, but well be described as complementary, both whether it will be enough to match the geographically and technologically. Certainly European spirit is ultra-competitive bids of CRRC is unlikely. in the light rail and metro sectors, Siemens alive. That’s a powerful So is this is a true ‘merger of equals’ as is has a strong lead in North America, Russia being suggested? Yes and no. Siemens has a and Asia while Alstom has a larger presence message in times few additional ‘symbolic’ shares above 50%, in India, the Middle East, Middle and South marked by populism and and an extra board member (six compared America, North Africa and Australasia. nationalism and social to five from an 11-strong executive, These opportunities will only be enhanced including the chairman), while Alstom is to through co-operation rather than consuming and political divides.” provide its own CEO to the new company, resources bidding against each other. With Jo Kaeser the very competent Henri Poupart-Lafarge a stated commitment to ‘the customer’ and PRESIDENT AND CEO who has steered the company for the past 18 ‘innovation’, and with fierce new competition, months. A rail veteran, Mr Poupart-Lafarge SIEMENS standing still is no longer an option. has been with Alstom for nearly 20 years, joining in 1998 from the French Ministry of What about Bombardier? Economy and Finance. Siemens will also get While the new Siemens Alstom will have operation developing rapidly (see page 442), warrants allowing it to eventually acquire just over 14% share of the estimated the big question for many is not if CRRC can a further 2% that suggests the balance may EUR110bn rail equipment sector, its hold on win a major contract in Europe, only when. shift in the future. the valuable, although complex, European One comment that has been repeated Playing down the significance of the market will be strengthened and will help to many times, that the Siemens-Alstom decision to base the corporate HQ in Saint- resist the efforts of its competitors. marriage has created an ‘Airbus of rail’, a Ouen (Alstom’s current hometown), and to CRRC has an almost 99% share of domestic powerful new rail superpower, is flawed. assuage immediate fears of site closures, Joe rail equipment, but like all manufacturers While the aviation industry allows for much Kaeser said on 27 September: “Headquarters it is looking to broaden its customer base greater standardisation of products for the are where the customers are, the rest is all internationally against a background of a fall international marketplace, the railway is symbolic and legal… the engineering sites in overall revenues over the last 12 months. It much more tightly restricted by differing will remain where they are.” has seen great urban rail successes in the US rules, regulations and requirements at Although job losses are inevitable in any (Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles) and last a local level. The stated goal of the new merger as administrative functions are year it claimed a 40% year-on-year increase entity is to take the benefits of its combined evaluated to remove duplication, the two CEOs in international orders, including a 10.27% technological know-how and services across confirmed that no sites will be closed over the growth in urban rail vehicles and equipment. both catalogues; this will likely result in new next four years and that few, if any, engineering Yet overseas contracts still make up future models that are built in plants around jobs would be lost during this time. less than 10% of the group’s total income the world to serve individual markets – “that Looking back to the earlier mooted and as domestic rail commissions slow it is a question for the customer,” Kaeser said. Siemens-Bombardier Transportation is increasingly targeting opportunities What will certainly emerge is a stronger and partnership, a tie-up between these two elsewhere to ensure long-term sustainability. more consolidated portfolio offering and an would have undoubtedly faced greater This is reflected within its massive R&D agility that will appeal to local and national scrutiny due to their significant overlap in programme, which some sources suggest is as authorities, backed by 60 000 employees in German manufacturing. much as seven times that of any the Big Three. over 80 countries. In the wider world, some European With capabilities in wire-free operation, Whether or not the move will see leaders have shown concern that the EU is automation and even hydrogen fuel cell significant reductions in the cost of ceding control of its strategic industries to

410 / NOVEMBER 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org the speculation of Chinese interest has been circulating for months and if you take a look at the financial media in the Czech Republic figures of anywhere between CZK30-50bn (EUR1.2-1.9bn) are being circulated for the firm. There’s rarely smoke without fire and this link-up may materialise in the coming months – or given the new landscape, maybe another suitor will emerge…

What about Bombardier? Whatever the complexity of the full reasons behind it, the Siemens Alstom merger will have major ramifications for the final member of the Big Three, the world leader by market share in the tramway and light rail rolling stock market until 26 September. Already facing a major competitor emerging from the east, Bombardier will now have to compete further in its traditional markets with a new home- grown goliath that is already the political darling of new ‘European reinvention’. Might we see further merger/acquisitions in the near future? CRRC reportedly made an offer for Bombardier in 2015 that was rebuffed (although this was later denied by CRRC management), and the two companies are working closely together on a range of projects With its takeover of Vossloh Rail España in 2015, Stadler is now arguably the European leader in tram-train and bids both in China and internationally. technology, supplying systems in Denmark, Spain and Germany – as well as the UK's tram-train pilot. M. Haddon Siemens’ Joe Kaeser gave an intriguing reply when asked the question on the Asian investors, with President Macron and Polish firms such as Pesa and Solaris have morning after the announcement of the Chancellor Merkel both tightening regulations their own arenas well covered and the 2015 formation Siemens Alstom: “Could there be to restrict takeovers in recent months. Other tie-up of Stadler and Solaris will only firm up other combinations? I don’t know. Time will leaders have opposed such moves, which this domestic dominance. The re-emergent tell if we were wrong or right.” they see as an impediment for valuable new Modertrans is taking a few valuable orders on investment in their own industries. its home country, but like others it also has Despite the size of the new ‘European ambitions elsewhere and is using valuable BUILDING THE ‘BIG THREE’ rail champion’, with combined revenues government-backed innovation funding to of EUR15.3bn and an order backlog of create exciting new platforms. The continued Although the Siemens-Alstom deal marks a EUR61.2bn, the new company still won’t efforts of Pragoimex in supplying Czech seismic shift in the railway hierarchy for many, have anywhere near the might of CRRC (2016 systems and in the former Soviet Union it must be remembered that the current major revenues of EUR33bn, 180 000 employees) further east all create healthy competition in players are all built from multinational mergers although it will become the world’s number these areas. and acquisitions – mostly dating from the 1980s, one in electrification, signalling and At the time of TAUT going to press, only CAF ’90s and 2000s. automation. It will also have the advantage had commented on the Siemens-Alstom deal. Siemens, bought Austria’s Simmering-Graz- of decades of experience in local markets that At a seminar in San Sebastian (Spain) on Pauker (SGP) in the early 1990s; what remained negates some of its new rival’s cost advantages 27 September, Executive Chairman Andrés of the dominant German tram-building concern Düwag in 1999; and took full control of the rail where it has to build new engineering and Arizkorreta said that the current global arm of French manufacturer MATRA in 2001. assembly facilities and create new workforces rolling stock market is “brutal” and that Alstom has an even more varied history. to meet local procurement rules. his company’s corporate strategy is fixed, It acquired the remnants of Belgian predicting “double-digit” growth in 2017-18. electrification specialist (and former tramway A diverse and fractured market Now present in 36 countries, CAF has an builder) ACEC and merged with British-based With the amalgamation of the various CSR order backlog that stands at EUR6.23bn, GEC in the late 1980s, later buying UK train and CNR business units under the CRRC with a 2016 net profit of EUR37m. Around builder Metro-Cammell and Germany’s Linke- umbrella in 2015, and other consolidation 85% of those revenues were generated from Hoffman-Busch, inheriting its current plant in the form of Hitachi’s purchase of Ansaldo international business. Arizkorreta also in Salzgitter, Germany. In 1997 it took control STS and AnsaldoBreda, the global rail picture revealed that the Spanish-based firm is of famed Polish tram-builder Konstal and São has changed. With other smaller takeovers currently evaluating possibilities in China. Paulo-based Mafersa, and acquired the majority – such as Škoda Transportation’s move for “We do not feel any more pressure than we stake in Italy’s Fiat Ferroviaria in 2001. Bombardier likewise has a history of growth Transtech and Stadler Rail’s acquisition felt yesterday,” he said, saying that a merger through acquisition. This began in 1970 with of Vossloh Rail España in late 2015 – an between two of the Big Three was “practically the purchase of Austrian tram manufacturer oligopoly of sorts would seem to have made taken for granted”. Lohner-Werke, then BN Constructions the choice for cities and operators narrower. Arizkorreta confirmed that a large part Ferroviaires et Métalliques (Belgium, 1986), In reality, in a global marketplace there is of CAF’s future growth is committed to ANF-Industrie (France, 1989), Waggonfabrik greater access and local suppliers (spin-offs the less volatile maintenance and service Talbot (Germany, 1995) and the former rail arm from either heavy rail or bus manufacturers) and refurbishment sectors as well as the of DaimlerChrysler (Adtranz, Germany) in 2001. have emerged to keep factories busy and establishment of further ventures focused These and others have seen it grow into the supplement incomes with their own new on energy storage and automation. This is world’s biggest light rail vehicle supplier. tram and LRV lines. Witness, for example, evident from 2017 acquisitions such as Italian Many of the manufacturing sites that build orders for Polish car-builders in Germany, wheelset and rail maintenance experts Rifer the trams and metro vehicles we see today have passed through many hands, one of the Russia and the Ukraine and the impressive and British engineering consultancy BWB. latest and most obvious being the transfer of growth of CAF over the last decade into just Who knows what the future will hold, the Albuixech facility in Valencia, Spain, from about every region worldwide. Stadler is also but one persistent takeover rumour is that Vossloh Rail Vehicles to Stadler Rail. This site making sizeable moves in new markets such of Škoda Transportation by CRRC. Škoda is was originally built by Alstom in 2001. as the UK, Russia and the Czech Republic. a builder of innovative trams and LRVs, but

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org NOVEMBER 2017 / 411 Kinki Sharyo-supplied car 107 leads a coupled set awaiting departure to Rowlett on the recently-opened Blue line southern terminus at UNT Dallas on 18 May 2017.

Dallas: The US urban rail pathfinder With major new services in the pipeline in both Dallas and Fort Worth, Vic Simons explains how North Texas rail-based transport continues its ever-expanding journey.

he growth of urban rail across With all this going on a little background transport is largely the responsibility of the the Dallas Metroplex continues may be helpful for the uninitiated. Fort Worth T. Presently the T operates buses at an astonishing rate. Dallas-Fort Worth is the fourth-largest only, but it too is moving into rail-based In the 18 months since conurbation in the USA, with a population services with its under-construction diesel TAUT last visited, all modes approaching ten million – and growing rail line to DFW. Regular train services Tof rail-based public transport have seen rapidly. Located in the north-east of the State between the two cities (Dallas Union significant extensions, including DART’s Blue of Texas, it is a hub for both north-south and Station – Fort Worth) are operated as the light rail line, the Dallas Streetcar and the east-west links by all modes. The metroplex Trinity Railway Express (TRE) six days McKinney Avenue heritage trolley (M-Line). includes a number of smaller cities, such a week. The line is operated by push-pull But the ambition doesn’t stop there. as Grand Prairie, Arlington, Irving, Plano, locomotive and coach sets. There are two planned commuter rail Richardson and Garland, all of which are Dallas currently has four light rail lines routes linking both ends of the metroplex also growing. (Red, Blue, Green and Orange) that serve the to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) was city, DFW Airport – the fourth-largest in the (DFW) either in the construction or planning created in 1983 to provide transport services US – and the surrounding municipalities, phases. With the downtown LRT corridor in the east of the area, the boundary being all of which come together in the transit being close to capacity at peak periods, a roughly from DFW southwards. A total of 13 mall on Pacific Street in downtown Dallas. second partly-underground city crossing } cities subscribe via local sales taxes; service With a service on each line every 20 (D2) is the next big light rail expansion – is not provided in those cities that do not minutes for most of the working day, and this project promises to be transformational. subscribe to DART. West of DFW, public the slow running speeds caused by signalled

412 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Dallas

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the South Oak Cliff extension of the Blue line was held on 26 October 2016. Courtesy of DART

LEFT: Storage tracks beyond the new UNT terminus. crossings in the core (despite limited signal As most of the city’s growth is currently As with earlier projects, great care has been priority) the downtown corridor has reached to the south, the new line forms a key part of taken to integrate the new stations with their saturation point; added extra services mean the GrowSouth initiative that is prioritising immediate environments. For example, UNT there is a train every three minutes during development in the southern sector. Dallas station features a range of materials and peak hours. SOC-3 serves one of the key focus areas colours designed to echo those of the school's The latest addition, which opened in identified by this initiative: The Education buildings, and the three gull-wing canopies October 2016, is the 4.2km (2.6-mile) two- Corridor. This comprises the new UNT Dallas – a DART signature – sport the university’s station South Oak Cliff Blue line extension campus as well as Cedar Valley and Paul colours. Other elements reflect the rural (SOC-3) south from Ledbetter to University of Quinn Colleges. The extension brought light nature of its setting, with wavy glass panels North Texas at Dallas (UNT). With five bridge rail directly to the first, while the latter two embedded in the guard rails that reflect the structures, accounting for half of the length are linked to it by short bus connections. area’s many creeks. Camp Wisdom Station and designed in part to minimise disruption Although the UNT campus is a major took its design cues from the recreation centre to wildlife along the route, the new alignment traffic objective, there appears to be little that was to be built later. cost USD101m – USD3m under budget and current development along the route, As part of the project, DART has also also opened two years early. although as this line is very much focused on updated the former terminus at Ledbetter. Significantly, an innovative approach to the future a large park-and-ride facility at Design changes have improved sight lines, the contractual model between DART and the new terminus will relieve pressure on making the station safer for passengers, the SOC-3’s designer and contractor saw each very well used Ledbetter park-and-ride. with enhancements such as concrete walls incentivised under a fixed-price agreement A number of bus services were recast to link replaced with open metal railings and to open the new route early. Any savings with both UNT and the new intermediate trees trimmed back and replaced with were divided in a three-way share between station at Camp Wisdom. This extension lower-level vegetation. Additionally, DART the partners, and additional incentives were brings the total DART light rail route mileage has added a traffic light, turn lane and a put in place for each month that the new line to 93 (149km) with 64 stations. No additional passenger loading/unloading area on the east opened ahead of schedule. LRVs were required for the extension. side of the station.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org november 2017 / 413 Dallas

Streetcar and McKinney Trolley Starting just outside Union Station, the Federal Streets. Although at first sight this Dallas Streetcar, owned by the City of Dallas route crosses the historic Houston Street is a tiny extension, it is strategically vital but operated by DART, opened in April Bridge where the double-ended Liberty cars’ as, following the earlier construction of a 2015. Providing a new connection across off-wire battery capability is utilised – a US turntable at Cityplace, it enables single- the Trinity River, a short two-stop extension first when introduced in 2015. Once across ended cars to be used. This provides a greater further into the Bishop Arts District opened the bridge, the overhead is picked up by variety to the operational fleet. Three cars are in August 2016 with a connection to bus the pantograph allowing the batteries to be generally in service at any one time with a service 723 that takes passengers around the recharged. There are four stops between the round trip taking 50 minutes. The Cityplace district in a loop. The extended 3.9km (2.45- bridge and the terminus at the intersection of terminus is above the underground DART mile) system is still offered fare-free, seven Zang Boulevard and Davis Street. light rail station of the same name with both days a week, with 20-minute headways. The McKinney Avenue Trolley is a free lift and escalator access. There are no immediate plans to charge fares. heritage streetcar service operating from a There are 163 Kinki Sharyo LRVs in the With an 11-minute end-to-end running time, northern terminus at Cityplace/Uptown DART light rail fleet, originally purchased two Brookville Liberty streetcars are needed to the downtown area where a loop has as single articulated units and assembled for service; there are four in the fleet. recently been opened on St Paul, Olive and locally. All vehicles have had low-floor centre

Courtesy of DART

“The population within DART’s service area is currently growing by 100 000 each year.”

414 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org BV A O E: A weekday Dallas Streetcar service departing the Bishops Arts terminus. ABOVE: A southbound Red line service leaving Akard station in downtown Dallas. sections added, extending them to 37.4m between 09.30 and 14.30 and discounts are portal near the Woodall-Rodgers freeway and increasing the internal seating capacity available for students, those with mobility and continue under Griffin Street until by 25 while also doubling the standing area challenges and seniors. Seven-day and it is beneath Commerce Street. From there to 200. Additional upgrades have taken monthly passes are also available. The latter it will turn north-east before coming to the place over the years, including the fitment two cannot be purchased on buses, but surface just short of a triangular junction of a new wayside cab signal system and the instead from the DART store and online with the existing Green line near Deep Ellum installation of Automatic Train Protection or from a TVM; all other tickets can be station. Four new stations are planned, (ATP) and a GPS-based Vehicle Business purchased at all points of sale, including one of which – Museum Way north of the System (VBS) (for more see TAUT 924). from bus drivers. Woodall Rodgers Freeway portal – will There is also a short diesel light rail line be on the surface. The other three, Metro running from Trinity Mills Green line station Transformational plans Center, Commerce and CBD East, will be to the Downtown Denton Transit Center The most advanced new project is the D2. underground. The project is expected to cost to the north-west of Dallas, using Stadler- This underground diversion of the Green USD1.3bn and it is hoped to open in 2024. supplied diesel LRVs. This is operated by the and Orange lines beneath central Dallas DART submitted the final scheme to Denton County Transportation Authority includes the creation of an at-grade Streetcar the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) (DCTA). There are aspirations to extend this extension from Union Station to link up for approval in September 2017 seeking further south to link with the TRE, just with the McKinney Avenue Trolley enabling approximately 50% in federal funding. south of DFW, although there are no costs through service to Cityplace/Uptown. When built, the D2 will release capacity or timescales for this. The service has As desirable as the thought may be to some, in the system enabling more frequent 32-minute end-to-end running with the heritage cars used on the McKinney line headways on all lines and removing generally 20-minute headways. It comes will not be able to run through to Bishop Arts bottlenecks in the city centre – also increasing within the Dallas regional fare zone. as they lack off-wire capability to cross the network resilience in a similar manner to the DART’s zonal fare system is split into two: Houston Street Bridge. The streetcar extension recently-completed scheme on Manchester The ‘Local’ zone includes all DART buses is expected to cost almost USD130m, Metrolink (UK) – including a major and trains plus the TRE as far as CentrePort/ USD40m of which is planned to come from interchange with the existing alignment on DFW Airport station, while the ‘Regional’ the FTA Small Starts grant programme. Pacific near the West End station. zone adds the full TRE service, plus The T The final D2 alignment was agreed by the Another major expansion programme is in Fort Worth and DCTA (both buses and City of Dallas Council at the end of August the Cotton Belt scheme. This cross-suburb diesel light rail) in Denton County. 2017: a 3.7km (2.3-mile) route will leave the line would link the north-eastern suburbs The basic fare at September 2017 was existing Green and Orange lines south of with DFW Airport. Apart from its obvious USD2.50 for Local services and USD5 for Victory station where it will head east on a additional airport link, this new line would Regional, with two hours of unlimited travel DART-owned, but not currently-used, interchange with the Red line in Plano, on either rail or bus or both. Day passes are alignment through the Victory Park the Green line at Downtown Carrolton, double the price of a two-hour ticket. There Development. After this it is planned to a connection at DFW Airport and at peak is also a reduced-price midday pass valid turn south-east to enter the north tunnel times with the Orange line in Plano.

LEFT: McKinney Avenue car 7169 has an interesting history. Originally built in 1949 for the Johnstown Traction Company, the car was bought for operation in Brussels after that system’s closure in 1960. Fitted with a narrow body, it served in the Belgian capital for over 40 years before being repatriated in 2012. Seen approaching ABOVE: Dallas Streetcar track layout at Union Station: the the M-Line wired line to right leads to the depot while the unwired track Cityplace terminus ahead leads onto the Houston Street Bridge. in May 2017.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org november 2017 / 415 Dallas

ABOVE: M-Line car 186, ‘Green Dragon’, was built for Dallas Consolidated Electric ABOVE: A current TRE bottleneck just east of Downtown Fort Worth; as part of Street Railway in 1913 by the St Louis Car Co, serving for 43 years before retirement the T’s extension to DFW this underpass will be widened to take a double-track in 1956. After two decades as a hay barn, 186 was eventually returned to running alignment for the TRE, the T DTW link and Amtrak. A complicated challenge as order in 1989. Seen on the Uptown turntable on 20 May. disruption on the freeway and freight rail routes above must be minimised.

The proposed 42km (26-mile) line would Catering for growth Part of the planning difficulty, Thomas have 11 new stations. The future of the DART President and CEO Gary Thomas explained, is in providing new transit links to Cotton Belt line is currently uncertain outlined the funding plans for the cities that do not subscribe to DART but have as its critics suggest that DART cannot Cotton Belt and explained that the new an obvious need for greater connectivity. simultaneously work on two major projects Tier 4-compliant DMUs will be leased rather Financial implications must be addressed and that D2 should take priority. than purchased. He explained that as the before service, in any form, can be provided. Scheduled to open in 2018, the Fort trains used on the Denton route will not When asked why so much of the new Worth DFW link will be operated with be compatible (the existing units are to a Blue line extension was on an elevated Tier 4 EPA emission-compliant diesel different specification) no through service alignment, Thomas conceded that while multiple units (DMU) that would be will be available to DFW or Fort Worth from elevated construction was costlier in considered ‘heavy rail’ in the European Denton via the Cotton Belt. itself, additional outlay is balanced out context but are known as commuter rail D2 is a key piece of the jigsaw that will by making overall works much easier and in the USA. tie together the LRT network, Thomas reducing disruption. He also highlighted Known as TEXRail, the new line is a explained, and he is keen to see this progress the ongoing Transit Oriented Development 43.5km (27-mile) DMU commuter rail now happening around the extension. route starting at the existing T&P Station DART calculations suggest that USD10.8bn that follows the existing TRE alignment “D2 is key in tying the LRT in public and private sector development through downtown Fort Worth Intermodal has been seen along its rail corridors, Transit Center, with its bus, TRE and Amtrak network together. well justifying the estimated USD5.5bn connections. From here it is planned to Platforms on original spent on construction over the past 25 years. head north-west just east of Fort Worth. It TAUT also met Fort Worth T’s Richey then follows an existing railroad right-of- sections of the Red and Thompson, Chief Engineer for TEXRail way through five intermediate stations at who explained that the new route to DFW North Side, Mercantile Center, N Richland Blue lines will also be will cost around USD1.3bn with a USD499m Hills (two stations – one at each end of the FTA contribution. Local funding will come conurbation) and Grapevine, before turning lengthened to allow from a combined funding arrangement south to the DFW North station with its from the cities along the alignment. future Cotton Belt link, and on to DFW three-car trains to operate The majority of the route will be single- Terminal B. All stations will feature covered track with passing loops and Positive Train seating and TVMs. throughout the system.” Control. The T also has aspirations to With a planned 52-minute end-to-end eventually link to Plano, but there are no running time, service would be every 30 as soon as is practicable. Platform lengths plans in place yet. minutes at peak times reduced to every 90 on the original sections of the Red and Blue It is now 20 years since TAUT first visited minutes off-peak and at weekends. The lines will require lengthening to 129m, to Dallas. In that time we have witnessed off-peak service will be increased to hourly match those on the Green and Orange lines, first-hand the massive transformation from a when the full service is brought into thus allowing three-car trains to operate short starter line to the creation of the largest operation by 2030. Eight five-sectionFLIRT3 throughout the system. LRT network in the US. With almost 70m DMUs are being built by Stadler Rail in Thomas was keen to emphasise the need passenger trips per annum, it is clear the Europe with final assembly in Utah to comply for the growth in urban rail in the metroplex city’s highways would be gridlocked without with Buy America rules. Each unit seats 229 as the population within DART’s service DART rail service and the expansion of passengers with up to a further 259 standing area is currently growing by a staggering new forms of urban rail such as the streetcar with a provision for two wheelchair spaces 100 000 each year. This also highlighted as proving to be a boon for regeneration and four double-doors on each side. the need for the Frisco link, he added, aims. The city region is not standing still, The Frisco corridor is another part of which, in his opinion, is a matter of ‘when’ just witness the expansion plans. DART’s longer-term planning. This runs not ‘if’ it will be approved for construction. due north from downtown Dallas following He pointed to the incredible growth of the For more information, see www.dart.org a disused railway alignment roughly city of Frisco from just 2000 people in 1984 and www.the-t.com. Grateful thanks are parallel with the Dallas North Toll Road. to over 168 000 in 2017. Further projections, due to Gary Thomas and Morgan Lyons The alignment has not been fully finalised, according to City of Frisco information, from DART and Richey Thompson from but DART is planning to proceed further suggest that this could grow to around Fort Worth T for their assistance in the with its evaluation. 375 000 by 2035. preparation of this article.

416 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org We come to work every day To be the Builder of Choice for Customers, Archer Western | Phillips May | Robinson Industries The Employer of Choice for Our People, and to set the highest standards for Safety, Quality and Ethics.

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2017_Tramway_Ad2.indd 2 10/5/2017 10:15:30 AM Energy optimisation Traction energy efficiency solutions Trevor Dowens and Dr Stuart Hillmansen explore how light rail systems can reduce their energy consumption through data modelling and analysis linked to driver training initiatives.

lthough perhaps not as obvious consumption from their day-to-day activities originally developed as part of UK Tram’s Low a route for reducing ongoing – and one of the best ways of doing this is by Impact Light Rail initiative, which informed costs as physical assets such lowering the demand from the vehicles. the modelling process for the programme. as rolling stock, track, depots Ricardo Rail and the University began or stops, one of the major Innovation through collaboration working together after the 2016 Conference, A‘everyday’ costs for urban rail undertakings is A presentation from the University of working through various forums to add in managing their electricity demand. Birmingham on an innovative modelling functionality to the model. Its use for And with ever-growing service hours, programme for light rail energy usage at the combined energy modelling process more intensive daily operations and greater the 2016 UK Light Rail Conference led to helped inform a suite of driver training demands from more complex vehicle a valuable conversation between the and behavioural change processes aimed at systems, the requirement for power on presenters and Trevor Dowens of technical making substantial cost savings on the use of electrically-operated systems around the consultancy Ricardo Rail. traction energy. The result was SmartDrive. world is growing. As society as a whole is Trevor Dowens, Principal Consultant SmartDrive offers driver training informed consuming ever more energy, costs for base in Ricardo Rail’s Operational Consulting by the analysis of detailed data of individual supply go up and all of this can easily equal division, explains the background: routes – and the system as a whole – identifying substantially larger bills. “After some years of looking for a suitable specific sections (built up as a map over The rail industry has long strived for model that could help inform driver training an entire network) and creating optimal greater efficiency through traction energy processes, we met Dr Stuart Hillmansen trajectories for a tram or LRV in service. savings. While light rail and metro systems and his colleague Dr Rob Ellis from the Dowens explains: “In effect it’s a profile are amongst the most efficient modes of University of Birmingham.” of acceleration, coasting and braking – and powered transport, where energy use per The University of Birmingham’s Centre from that we can more specifically inform the mile is much lower than other modes, about for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) training process, which of course is always the 80-90% of the energy consumed in real-world has developed simulation software for energy most challenging element due to the changes operations is for the vehicle’s traction supply. efficiency, which has been successfully tested in driving styles and behaviours required. It is therefore in the interest of undertakings on a number of systems in China and also by “In terms of the optimal trajectory, a and operators to find ways to reduce energy Edinburgh Trams in the UK. The research was typical vehicle’s path is typified by rapid

E dinburgh Trams worked with the team to trial the process of developing more efficient driving styles. Edinburgh Trams

418 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org The SmartDrive process map. Ricardo/BCRRE acceleration – this should be a fairly straight The Ricardo and BCRRE team also claim “It’s simple stuff, fundamentally, but line. There’s the longest period of coasting that the technology is less complex and we ’ve spent a lot of time on how you work possible, and then steep deceleration at the cheaper than in-cab driver advisory systems out the optimal way of driving a rail vehicle end – that’s the optimal vehicle trajectory – SmartDrive can be implemented far quicker between two points – so we can calculate a for energy saving.” and at a fraction of the price. ‘golden run’. He continues: “I can certainly remember From the testing regime, it has been On the prototyping process, Hillmansen during my time at the Tyne and Wear demonstrated how the revised driving says: “One evening I travelled 80km Metro in the early days we had a traction profiles adopted are both safer and can (50 miles) on an Edinburgh tram overnight. inspector who took it upon himself to place enhance operational performance. We went back and forth, helping the driver coasting boards around the system. It was The system can also be used to inform identify the best places to apply the power an excellent initiative, but it didn’t work point-to-point timings and route design – for and the brakes. very well as there was no science behind it example, factoring in the need for smoother “We came up with a simple way of and consequently there was little buy-in driving profiles and regenerative braking it informing the driver of what to do and when, from either drivers or senior management. can help the positioning of substations. including target speeds. We have a simple It was a valiant attempt though, and I’m driver advisory system that we can use in sure that other rail organisations had the “We came up with a simple training, but we’ve already got a very good same sort of experiences.” Ultimately, the computer in the cab, the driver’s head. initiative failed. way of informing the “The Edinburgh Trams system isn’t as big Through SmartDrive, trials have shown as most urban networks, so they’re already that traction energy costs can be reduced by driver of what to do and intimately familiar with the routes. We just 10-25%, representing a significant potential make use of that computing power rather than saving on an organisation’s energy bill. when... we’ve already got a adding additional equipment into the cab.” Dowens believes that the industry has Two test runs of the full line between traditionally favoured technology-led very good computer in the Edinburgh Airport and the city centre were approaches when considering energy completed, one with the existing timetable efficiency – such as regenerative braking and cab, the driver’s head.” and one with the optimised version to compare DAS (driver advisory systems), but this is savings in various sections. “With optimal changing: “Evidence is emerging of a more “Interestingly, the technology can also running you’re not hitting such high speeds behavioural and driver-centred approach reduce energy costs for some Automatic Train and braking a little later – you use more to economic driving. Both approaches can Operation (ATO), or driverless, metro systems. acceleration, a lot of coasting, and brake quite each save in the region of around 5% of Being a naive operator, I always thought that heavily in the latter part of the journey,” energy costs. But if you combine the two with ATO systems and the computers that operated comments Hillmansen. “All this was known simple modelling, it can generate significant them already had a good measure of energy 100 years ago, so we’re not reinventing the additional benefits.” preservation built in, but in reality there’s still wheel, but equally some of these driving Importantly, the system both empowers a big margin for improvement. This process techniques have been forgotten and I think and engages the driver, Dowens explains: can help improve the energy efficiency of they’re worth revisiting with the science “There’s no in-cab display, it’s not a DAS existing ATO systems, so there’s another behind them to explain how they work.” and as a result it is compatible with LRT knock-on benefit aside from driver training.” When the energy usage was added up from systems that use line-of-sight driving. Not the test runs, savings of up to 10-20% were being mandatory, it empowers the driver, by Creating the model found from the optimal runs. not telling them what to do and when, and Dr Stuart Hillmansen from the BCRRE Stuart adds: “The drivers ‘bought in’ to the depending on the circumstances involved explains some of the testing and subsequent concept, and tended to engage more once he or she can choose whether to adopt the modelling through a trial at Edinburgh they believed it would work. We also saw driving profile required or not, based on Trams, beginning with a basic principle: slightly lower journey times overall, so it’s performance and other considerations. “Newton’s Second Law of Motion[1] describes very good from that point of view as well.” “Another benefit is that it gives an everything about rail motion; all simulators A second field test looked at the high-speed improved passenger experience through have that buried somewhere within them. timetable, as Edinburgh Trams was very a smoother and less jerky ride as we’re If you’ve got those calculations right you conscious of trying to reduce its end-to-end managing the transitions between can solve everything. It’s the most important journey times. The drivers were already going acceleration, coasting and braking. equation for traction, and it applies equally faster in the central section, and Stuart had Rolling stock maintenance teams will in Liverpool, in China, on the West Coast less to work with in terms of contingency thereby also see improvements in reduced Mainline and on all other railways around time: “This is an example where the standard wear and tear through less frequent braking.” the world. driver would coast a little bit, and then

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org november 2017 / 419 Energy optimisation

re-motor and then another coast and then “Also, if you’ve got regenerative braking, He describes the process: “The first stage is brake, and then a little bit of coast and brake the profiles are different in terms of putting data gathering. That draws upon vehicle and again, so we can get rid of this area. the energy back into the overhead lines. infrastructure data to inform the model and “The interesting thing about the new model When we do the optimisation model, we come up with a set of theoretical trajectories. is that the driver starts coasting around 800m look at the total energy of the system and “After the initial modelling is complete, a out of the station. If you look 800m along the you will have a slightly different answer with testing programme is designed on a route-by- track it’s a very long way, and we’re telling the regenerative braking. route basis to ensure the trajectories work in driver to stop using the power at this point “Edinburgh’s trams don’t regenerate back the operational environment. If they don’t, and go into coasting. The drivers initially into the network, you would get much greater the model is adjusted. At this point we’re looked unconvinced, but the trams are quite savings if they did and you’d come up with also looking more generally at safety and aerodynamic, they’re quite heavy, they’ve got slightly different braking trajectories. Ideally, performance: Are the new driving profiles low rolling resistance and they will go a long if you’ve got regenerative braking you want safe? Are the braking curves achievable? way without any power. That’s part of the to do most of your braking just using the Does operational performance suffer?” driver education: convincing drivers that this regenerative system and not friction braking.” Practice runs inform the location of is how the vehicle can be used differently.” lineside signage in relation to the rest of the The second trial saw up to 13% savings Managing change urban environment, as the drivers require in traction energy on the higher-frequency Achieving effective change involves proactive some visual clues for when to coast, for timetable. Dowens adds: “Having managed engagement with drivers, trainers and example. Simple signage can be placed on operational front line staff for most of management, Dowens says, and to some overhead line structures and so forth, but my working life, the challenge is the extent this depends on the organisational its exact placement is crucial in terms of management of change. Behavioural change, culture in terms of how receptive staff are to both visibility and reducing vulnerability to and the training and development of drivers, these initiatives. Without positive engagement outside interference. is crucial to this. Once the fix has been put in, at all levels, he argues, there’s little chance of The next step is training course sustaining the fix brings its own challenges. moving forward collectively and positively. development, created on a bespoke basis and taking into account existing professional driving policies and specific rules and regulations. Theoretical classroom training is then undertaken, explaining and understanding the science behind the theory, followed by practical on-route training.

“You can’t say we're reinventing the wheel, but equally some of these driving techniques have been forgotten and I think they’re worth revisiting.”

Some organisations may choose to have a steering group involved in managing the process and monitoring its implementation to ensure the envisaged benefits can be realised. Metrics can empirically demonstrate anticipated energy savings, driver empowerment, and customer experience and this may inform infrastructure, rolling stock or maintenance changes that require refinement. The ideal end results give improvements across the whole business: one possible counter-intuitive outcome is that driving styles with more coasting often give shorter point-to-point times than typical ‘continuous power’ styles. Dowens concludes: “There must be a commitment and support from senior management to create the right environment for behavioural change, otherwise these initiatives will just wither on the vine. Keeping managers involved in the process will encourage continuous improvement and driver feedback and support in continually refining the model is key. Only then will you see the dramatic improvements in overall driver performance and energy usage. “We want to make drivers more professional, we want to encourage pride in terms of what they’re doing and we want to make them more focused on what they’re doing. This process can do all that while also delivering efficiencies across the organisation.”

420 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org NOTES 1 Newton’s Second Law of Motion can be expressed as F = MA (Force equals Mass multiplied by Acceleration). Put simply, acceleration is produced when an external force acts on a mass; the greater the mass of the object, the greater the force required to accelerate it.

about the authors Trevor Dowens is Principal Consultant and Service Leader ABOVE AND BELOW: The Edinburgh Trams trial process took place on evening shifts, running Rail Operations for Ricardo and has over 40 years’ railway back and forth so drivers could see the benefits of a more balanced approach. BCRRE experience with previous responsibility, including as Metro Operations Manager, for the Tyne and Wear Metro (UK). Since joining Ricardo Rail (formerly Lloyds’ Register Rail) in 2003, he has provided support to high-profile projects including the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram and Qatar Lusail LRT. He is a member of the UK RSSB Traffic Operation and Management Standards Committee.

Dr Stuart Hillmansen is a Senior Lecturer in Electrical Energy Systems within the Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He completed his PhD at Imperial College London and his main area of research interest is in railway traction systems, and modelling and measurement of energy consumption for railway systems. Stuart leads the Railway Traction Research Group at the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education and has authored a number of papers on railway energy consumption.

This article is adapted from a presentation given at the 2017 UK Light Rail Conference, Manchester UK (July 2017).

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org november 2017 / 421 The Downtown Oranjestad Streetcar is a pioneer in the use of hybrid battery/ fuel cell traction power systems, the fuel cell tram first entering passenger service in evolution December 2012. Courtesy of TIG/m

Dr. Alex Luvishis provides an The main objective of the project was to It is claimed that the fuel cells generate update on hydrogen fuel cell confirm the power block diagram of the 252kWh (53.6%) of energy, 160kWh (34%) fuel cell tram. As a testbed vehicle, some of energy is stored and returned for working technology for light rail and equipment was placed in the passenger hours, and the energy returned by the tramway applications. compartment, reducing the number of seats. regenerative braking is 58kWh (12.4%). Hydrogen cylinders were arranged between Traction consumption is estimated as the passenger compartment and the driver’s 194kW (54.5%), the consumption of the air ecent years have seen a rapid cab; 10kg of hydrogen allowed for 10-15 conditioning system is 144 kW (40.5%), and evolution in the application of return trips between Llovio and Ribadesella. of the auxiliary circuits 18 kW (5%). hyrogen fuel cell technology The lithium-ion storage devices were placed Hydrogen for the fuel cells is produced by to trams and light rail vehicles. behind the second cab. the electrolysis of water. Along with the tram Things have come a long way Supercapacitors were placed on the tram’s power equipment, TIG/m has also delivered sinceR Spanish metre-gauge operator Feve roof, while the pulse converters occupy part the equipment for hydrogen production, announced that a prototype built by Fenit of the passenger compartment and the fuel compression, storage, and distribution. Rail would first enter trial service in 2011[1]; cell modules and control system electronics A typical vehicle’s consumption is 4kg of the vehicle chosen for conversion was a 14.3m are attached to the body. hydrogen per day and the depot-based Series 3400 car built for SNCV in Belgium. equipment allows for generation of 12kg per It has capacity for 24-40 passengers, with a Oranjestad and Dubai day, for three trams. It has been found that maximum speed of 25km/h (15.5mph). Oranjestad is the capital and largest city in the absence of energy storage, the Aruba The innovative traction power system on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba. tram would consume 15kg instead of 4kg of installed consists of two proton-exchange Operation of the first tram began in February (PEM) HyPM HD12 fuel cell modules made 2013[2, 3] on a 2.7km (1.7-mile) line that by Canada-based Hydrogenics. With a power carries passengers from the cruise port into rating of 12kW for each fuel cell, 156 lithium- the city. Stops are located every 200m on a ion batteries with a total power of 120kW and single-track line with loops; service speed capacity of 90Ah each, each tram also has is 12.8km/h (8mph). The fleet comprises three Maxwell supercapacitor modules with a single- and double-deckers, built in capacity of 63F for 125V voltage. Twelve storage California by TIG/m; a fourth vehicle cylinders contain 50 litres of hydrogen each at was delivered in June 2016. a pressure of 2900psi (200 Bar). The weight of One of the single-decker trams is a battery the modified tram is 26t. tram, to be used as a backup, while the other Energy generated by the fuel cells, three are hybrids combining lithium-ion- batteries and supercapacitors goes to the phosphate battery and PEM fuel cell modules. three converters (each of their output energy The vehicles are recharged during overnight sources) and is supplied to the dc bus at stabling from an external ac power source 670-700V dc. This dc voltage goes from the bus through a converter installed onboard, while to an inverter that converts it into three-phase during operating hours this is used to power ac power to feed four asynchronous traction the fuel cell and the regenerative braking motors at 30kW each. An onboard rectifier energy. The power of the fuel cell battery is FEve’s 2011 prototype used a 1950s SNCV car as allows the energy storage to be recharged 14kW and asynchronous traction drive with its base with a hydrogen fuel cell providing primary during stops from an external ac source. four traction motors is used. traction power. Feve

422 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Hydrail

RIGHT: The fuel cell system onboard Aruba’s TIG/m-supplied heritage-style tramcars takes up remarkably little space. TIG/m

FAR RIGHT: One of the latest tramway developments using fuel cell technology is this three-section 100% low-floor vehicle developed by China’s National Rail Transit Electrification andA utomation Engineering Technique Research Centre with Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co. Courtesy of Ballard hydrogen, and that the power of the fuel cell on Škoda’s ForCity 15T (built under license) The interval between the signing of battery would need to be 40kW, not 14kW. and using the Ballard FCveloCity fuel cell the technology transfer agreement for In 2009, TIG/m collaborated with Emaar system. In 2016 the city of Qingdao opened the supply of basic 15T ForCity trams and Properties on a contract for the manufacture an 8.8km (5.5-mile) line with 12 stops, which commissioning the fuel cell variant was of ten fuel cell trams for Downtown Dubai, uses seven three-car trams. only three years. This rapid and successful with 50-seat vehicles similar to the double- In March 2017 CRRC Qingdao announced application is not accidental, as it is not deckers used in Oranjestad. The first tram a contract to supply eight 70km/h (43.5mph)- China’s first application of hydrogen ran on the new metropolitan line in 2015. capable 15T ForCity H2 trams for Foshan’s technology in a traction unit. Initially 1km (0.6 miles) in length, when 17.4km (10.8-mile) Gaoming line. The first The first fuel cell shunting locomotive fully operational line is to be 7km (4.4 miles); 6.5km (four-mile) phase will open in 2018. appeared on China’s railways in January 2013 service speeds are 10km/h (6mph). China is on course to be the country with using a previous evolution of Ballard fuel cell the largest number of fuel cell trams, system. The locomotive[5] was a hybrid, used China’s fuel cell trams operating over the greatest length of lines. a lithium-ion battery as energy storage, and In China, two parallel projects are developing The advantages of the Chinese tram had two synchronous motors with excitation low-floor fuel cell trams. Partnering with over those in Aruba and Dubai are their from a permanent magnet. Every motor has Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co, the National higher passenger capacity and speed, as a power of 120kW. The motors are designed Rail Transit Electrification and Automation well as the use of promising solutions such and made in China. Engineering Technique Research Centre has as the use of synchronous traction motors developed a three-section, 100% low-floor with permanent magnet technology and Saving infrastructure costs vehicle that uses a frequency control traction combined energy storage. The main advantage of fuel cell power is drive, with eight synchronous 46.6kW autonomy: there is no requirement for traction motors with permanent magnets Rapid evolution overhead wires, traction substations or and a Ballard 300kW proton-exchange (PEM) Tram Tranvia’s H2 and the trams of TIG/m transmission lines from power plants to fuel cell system (2 x 150kW). Energy storage are plug-in hybrids, which can be charged those substations. Infrastructure costs includes a lithium-ion battery with 20kWh from an external power source. The Aruba are therefore substantially lower and of energy and a supercapacitor with a voltage tram, for example, charges at night from an the associated maintenance is removed. of 528V and capacity of 45F. It has six pulse environmentally-friendly source of energy; Additionally, no stray current challenges are converters, two fuel cells, two lithium-ion this reduces the required power of the fuel found in underground structures. batteries, and two supercapacitors connected cells and amount of hydrogen needed. The additional cost of hybrid trams with to the DC 750 V bus[4]. Proof of the evolution of fuel cell trams fuel cells over conventional vehicles is Two traction voltage inverters, auxiliary comes through a comparison of the mainly due to the cost of energy storage and inverter, chopper, and brake resistors are also characteristics of the Tranvia H2 vehicles the fuel cells themselves. However, the cost connected to the bus. Two traction motors and CRRC Sifang hydrogen tram – which of batteries has decreased significantly and are powered by one inverter and energy were put into operation little more than five the number of cycles has increased. This is converters, inverters, the radiator cooling years apart. Both vehicles are equipped with due to the success of nanotechnology and system, air-conditioning and 5070psi brushless traction motors and frequency. mass production of batteries associated with (350 Bar) hydrogen cylinders are on the roof. The Chinese-built vehicles are equipped replacement of cars with thermal engines Enough hydrogen is carried (10kg) for a with brushless traction motors and frequency for hybrid cars and electric vehicles. claimed 40km (25-mile) range; refilling the control systems. Their power flow diagrams It is now clear that ‘wireless’ trams will cylinders takes three minutes. Total passenger of the traction drives, taking into account replace more and more OLE-powered capacity of the vehicle is 180 (60 seated), the differences in the number of traction vehicles in the future, although fuel cell and the first successful demonstrations were motors, are very similar. The trams use pulse vehicles are not the only option in this regard. carried out in May 2016. converters and voltage inverters at the IGBT However the potential of vehicles with fuel China’s CRRC Sifang has also unveiled a power transistors, regenerative dynamic cells means they have a good chance to three-section, low-floor fuel cell tram based braking and combined energy storage devices, eventually win this competition. which include the battery lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors. Both trams references store hydrogen onboard the vehicle and both aubo t the author are adaptations of existing vehicles. 1. www.vialibre-ffe.com/pdf/Tranvia_hidrogeno_ However, the H2 is based on a Belgian Dr Alex Luvishis was the head of the laboratory Feve.pdf Type S from the 1950s that is equipped with dc that developed control systems for the first 2. Samuel Swartz, Brad Read, The self-powered electric locomotives and the first electric drive and metre-gauge bogies. By contrast the streetcar revolution, TransTalk, May 2014, Vol 28, vehicles with asynchronous traction engines Issue 2, p. 9-10, 12-13 15T ForCity H2 is a fully low-floor, standard- in the former USSR for 18 years. For a further 3. Julia Wahnsiedler, Hydrogen: The holy grail for gauge articulated vehicle with moving bogies. seven years he was the head of the rolling stock office wire operation?, Tramways & Urban Transit, The basic 15T uses synchronous traction department at the Institute of Technical Railway January 2015 motors with permanent magnets. Transport Information in Moscow. 4. Dr. Chen Weirong, Dr. Liu Zhixiang, Dr. Important parameters of the CRRC Sifang He is the author of more than 100 articles on Zhang Xuexia, Fuel cell-based hybrid power model that exceed those of the Tranvia H2 electric traction drives and the book Hybrid Rail system design for a passenger tram, 11th Hydrail, are as follows: top speed is 2.8 times greater; Vehicles, published in 2009. His interests are Birmingham, UK, 4-5 July, 2016 the number of seats is more than 2.5 times asynchronous traction drive systems of modern 5. Dr. Chen Weirong, System Integration of China's rolling stock and hybrid drive systems for trams, First Hydrail Locomotive, 8th International greater; total power from the traction motors suburban and regional trains and shunting Hydrail Conference, Toronto, 11-12 June, 2013 is 3.1 times greater; the power of the fuel cell locomotives. He has lived in the US since 1999. batteries is six times greater.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org NOVEMBER 2017 / 423 Montpellier

Montpellier has embraced modern systems light rail to such an extent that it FRANCE has changed the factfile manner in which the community works No. Montpellier, and lives, as Neil Montpellier 121 France Pulling finds out.

ontpellier lies just Whether the city’s name derives Flower power: its jobs. The system’s high visibility inland from the from its elevated position is disputed. a line 2 Citadis 402 is down to the considerable length Mediterranean in Parts of central Montpellier and some rises from the of three lines, high frequencies south-west France outer districts are amongst hills, with tunnel onto Place and the far from direct routes that de la Comédie on and since January the modern tramway having features they follow. As a circuit, even the 27 April 2017. 2M016 it has been located in the new to accommodate such conditions. fourth and shortest line at 9.2km Occitanie region. It was previously Succeeding a short-lived horse-drawn (5.8 miles) must be crossed at some the capital of the subsumed tramway begun in 1880, Montpellier’s point to access central Montpellier. Languedoc-Roussillon region and original electric system opened in It is a uni-directional tramway with remains so for Hérault department. 1897 and closed by January 1949. mainly dedicated rights of way and France’s fastest-growing city Transports de l’agglomération with good user accessibility; there since the 1960s, the population de Montpellier (TaM) is now the are several long single-track sections of Montpellier commune is principal public transport concern, but generally the alignments allow approximately 280 000; the with the Métropole holding 46%, for doubling. TAM designates nine 31 communes of Montpellier Montpellier city 9% and operator tramway-related park-and-ride sites Méditerranée Métropole total around Transdev almost 20% of the shares. and also operates 36 bus lines and 442 000. Reflecting the age of incoming The current eight-year contract term Vélomagg hire cycles. residents and workers and a large ends during 2017. TAM claims that Line 1 opened as a 14.7km (9.2 miles) student community, approximately its tramway directly serves half the Words and pictures route between Mosson and Odysseum half that number are under 34 years old. Métropole’s population and 45% of by Neil Pulling in June 2000, both of these were

424 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org

THE FLEET Line 1 mainstays are 30 (2001-2030) Citadis 401. They were initially 70% low-floor301 type delivered 1999-2002, extended by two sections by 2003 to the present five-section, 40.9m long form with 213 standing spaces and 76 seats. Distinguishing interior features are prominent use of tubular metal, open-frame seating and bright blue and lime colours. Initially for line 2 (where some remain, supplemented by type 402) and later redeployed on line 4, the five-section, 32.5m302 (2031-2064) variants were received from 2006. Fully low-floor, this version has a passenger capacity of 210, 56 seated; 2048/9 carry promotional liveries and may be on lines 2 or 4. First ordered in 2009, TAM’s newest type is the seven-section, 42m Citadis 402, the first vehicle received in 2011 with batches up to 2014: 218 standing and 76 seats. Used with appropriate liveries for lines 1, 2 and mainly 3, they are numbered 2070-2099. For use on either lines 1 or 3, 2098/9 feature black or vinyl wraps, as per 2098 in summer 2017 for the Faciligo accompanied traveller scheme. There are two depot sites, both shared with TAM buses and ABOVE: The extensive layout at Mosson, a western line 1 terminus and major interchange. both away from revenue track. Hirondelles (which includes the control centre) serves lines 1 and 3 and is off line 1, nearest stop BELOW: A critical part of the BELOW: Odysseum terminus is integrated with Saint Paul. Serving lines 2 and 4, Jeune Parque is on track that infrastructure: all lines converge at the eponymous shopping complex; it is intended leaves line 2 near Sabines. the complex junction in front of Gare that line 1 will extend south to connect with the de Montpellier Saint Roch. new TGV station.

ABOVE: At the end of a long single track section, Pérols - Étang de L'Or terminus, with the étang (lagoon) and coastal bar in the left background.

ABOVE: Citadis 302 2062 leaves single track on the approach to Jacou, with surrounding residential developments in spring 2017. “The system’s high visibility is down to the considerable length of three of its lines, high frequencies and their far-from-direct routes.”

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2 Jacou

Georges Pompidou Via Domitia

Euromédecine Aube Rouge

Hauts de Massane Malbosc Occitanie Centurions Hôpital La Galine Notre-Dame Saint-Paul Lapeyronnie de Sablassou Universités des Clairval Château d’Ô Charles Sciences et Lettres de Gaulle Saint- Halles de Lazare La Paillade Aiguelongue Dépôt Les Saint-Éloi Hirondelles

Hôtel du département Boutonnet

Stade de Jeu de Mail la Mosson Pilory des Abbés Stade Philippidès 1 3 Pergola Place Albert 1er 3 Saint Charles Beaux Mosson Arts Peyrou Arc Juvignac Louis Blanc Les Celleneuve Corum De Triomphe Albert 1er Aubes Cathédrale Tonnelles Pompignane Les Astruc Arceaux Léon Jules Blum Guesde Place de Plan l’Europe Cabanes Place de Voltaire France Rives Mondial ’98 1 du Lez Millénaire Odysseum Moularès (Hôtel de Ville) Port Nouveau Marianne Saint-Roch Georges Frêche Hôtel de Ville Pablo Picasso Saint-Denis Mas Saint- Drevon Cléophas Saint- Croix Martin Lemasson Garcia d’Argent Lorca La Rauze

Restanque Villeneuve 4 d’Angoulême

Sabines Dépôt La Boirargues Jeune Parque

EcoPôle Saint-Jean de Védas Centre

2 Victoire 2 Lattes Centre Saint-Jean le Sec La Condamine Cougourlude 3

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On a line 4-only section to be used by a future line 5, buildings around Peyrou-Arc de Triomphe inspired the fleet livery; 2048 (beyond the bridge) has a promotional wrap.

network facts

O pened: First-generation electric system 1897-1949; present system 2000 Via Domitia Lines: 4 Depots: 2 Length: 61km (38 miles) Approx. weekday hours: 04.30-01.30 Line frequency: 4-8 minutes Gauge: 1435mm Power: 750V dc, overhead supply Fleet: 87 Alstom Citadis C ity network/operator: TAM – www.tam-voyages.com C ivic information: www.montpellier.fr (Metropole: www.montpellier3m.fr) T ourist information: www.montpellier-france.com

renamed and replaced as termini as Using two major engineering the line grew to the present 15.8km features, it also passes through the Peyrou Arc (9.8 miles) by 2012. One of three centre, with a partially in-tunnel De Triomphe intermediate stops added, Mondial 98 alignment curving up from the commemorates Montpellier’s role as a Corum conference centre and World Cup 1998 host city. The actual emerging onto Place de la Comédie.

Comédie venue was Stade de la Mosson, a name This elongated plaza is the city’s Saint later adopted for the original western main communal space and was a Guilhem Antigone line 1 terminus. focus of the original electric system. Courreau Changing direction within an Like all the other lines, it goes overall east-west orientation, the through the convergence at the Observatoire Du Guesclin line exemplifies the system's feature principal railway station, Gare de of not taking the most direct or Montpellier-Saint Roch. fastest route between outer points, East of Saint Roch station and Gare Saint-Denis Saint-Roch instead reaching to concentrations taking a sinuous course, line 1 takes Place Carnot of potential users. With capacious to an elevated decking which is trams scheduled in the peak every four partly over the main line; beyond minutes, line 1 has been identified Odysseum terminus, which is within Lines 1 and 2 as France's busiest tram service, an the shopping centre, track continues Rondelet at Comédie stop, outcome of serving major traffic located in the city's a short distance for stabling. A 1.3km generators such as university, main communal (0.8-mile) extension is envisaged to hospital and retail concentrations. space. connect with Montpellier Sud de

Boirargues

Aéroport de Montpellier Méditerranée EcoPôle

Parc Expo

Pérols Centre

Pérols - Etang de l’Or 3

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France station, due to open on the city’s high-speed southern rail bypass in summer 2018. A contentious project due to cost, and minimal services that the TGV station will be hosting for some time, T1 should extend here by 2020. Line 2’s weaving path is broadly north-east to south-west, opened throughout in December 2006 between Jacou, approached through open countryside and a deep cutting, and Saint-Jean de Védas. Initially semi-rural, this southern section was created over a shared heavy rail alignment. This route changed in 2012 to incorporate the Comédie stop. Land around both ends of line 2 is characterised by continuing construction projects, with the southern end potentially the start of a western extension. At present alternate trams go to the Jacou, with ABOVE: From the the others turning back at Notre Dame beginning of Citadis operations and de Sablassou; a similar arrangement converted from 301 applies at Saint-Jean de Védas and to 401 specification, Sabines, the latter also a stop for long- 2001 is at Moularès. distance bus services. The combined line 2 services provide a core 4-6 RIGHT: The system's western minute peak frequency. extreme serves Totalling 23km (14.4 miles), line 3 modern housing opened in April 2012, partly taking around Juvignac over the previous central line 2 route. terminus. It has two southern termini, each at the end of long single-track sections BELOW: Line 2’s developed southern which diverge at Boirargues, one end near Saint Jean of several locations on the system de Vedas Centre; note surrounded by large retail sites. It is space to the right for mainly these branches which a second track. distinguish the overlapping services (Juvignac – Pérols Étang de L'Or and Mosson – Lattes Centre) which constitute line 3. Further expanding the route could provide the originally envisaged reach to the Mediterranean shore and Montpellier Mediterranean Airport; nearest the coast, there is low-density housing on one side of Pérols Étang de L'Or terminus. The exposed location is far from ideal however, being about ABOVE: More varied but darker than 2.5km (1.6 miles) distant from the interiors of TAM's earlier types, a Citadis 402. intensive ribbon development along

essential facts L ocal travel: TAM information points (Espaces mobilité) sell tickets and offer very good free maps: two are very close to the main entrance of Saint-Roche station. Tariffs were amended from 1 August 2017: one-hour from validation single journey at EUR1.60; ten at EUR10. 'Forfait 1 jour' (24 hours from first validation) tickets are EUR4.30; seven days cost EUR17.10. Ticket machines feature at all stops, also agency ticket sales (see TAM website for more information). Run by Hérault Transport, the hourly line 120 Montpellier Mediterranean Airport shuttle bus takes about 15 minutes, with the city terminus bay near Place de l’Europe tram stop (EUR1.60 single, optional add-on for TAM use to complete journey). Note there are distinct seasonal network timetable variations: check before travel.

What is there to see? Picturesque narrow streets of the old town are found around the cathedral, with many restaurants. Place du Peyrou extends to a promenade lookout; nearby is France’s oldest botanical garden. Although a neglected space, the Corum roof is another free viewpoint of the city and beyond. Walks along the flood-channeled banks of the Lez river are worth exploring as is the city’s striking modern architecture, notably Hôtel de Ville (city hall, near Moularès stop) and the Antigone district. Contrasting with ABOVE: On a 2.5km (1.6-mile) section without an intermediate the modern beachfront near Montpellier, the port town of Sète is 20 minutes by train stop, 2073 between the carriageways of Avenue Georges Frêche near from Montpellier Saint Roch. Boirargues, the junction of line 3’s southern arms.

428 / november 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org the coastal bar around Carnon port. Now with three executed in the early weeks of the with livery styling by international There is a regular but infrequent directions, the Spanish Civil War. A full circuit fashion designer Christian Lacroix, bus connection, supplemented by spacious junction takes 35 minutes. In 2017 it was an attendee of Montpellier University, a seasonal beach shuttle. The busy at Port Marianne reported that line 4 ridership is falling line 3 trams draw upon maritime regional and international airport is allows for an appreciably below expectations, themes in complex patterns on a extension (right around 1.6km (one mile) away from particularly on the dedicated sections. black background. Also Lacroix- background) to line 3 at Parc Expo. serve the eastern Montpellier was the first city influenced, line 4 trams feature motifs Launched with line 3 in 2012, line 4 bank of the Lez river. to order Alstom’s internationally and colouring as found on the Peyrou was completed as a circuit in July successful Citadis low-floor buildings. The dedicated artwork 2016 and formed from infrastructure platform; the type’s appeal includes extends to signs identifying a line’s of existing lines and new dedicated specification of cab and interior presence at stops. Illustrating the track. One of the solely line 4 sections, fittings to visually represent the tramway’s permeation of Montpellier that passing Peyrou-Arc de Triomphe location. The approach differs in life, TAM uses line 1 and 2 liveries for exemplifies the environmental Montpellier due to having three its ‘les Goodies’ merchandising range changes brought by the tramway. versions rather than one style for with the pendants being capable of Remaining road traffic is tightly TAM's all-Citadis fleet, the changes being recharged with fares. regulated and this showpiece area is coming as the system grew, although Under the current mandate, a 2020 largely returned to pedestrians. these are the 2.65m-wide version. limit exists for work to start on a fifth Line 4 trams in both directions (4a Line 1 trams carry a solid blue with line. Around 20km (13 miles) long, this for clockwise, 4b anti-clockwise) carry white swallow outlines, a reference to would be between Lavérune commune the destination Garcia Lorca. At the avian migration through the area. to the south-west of Montpellier and south of the circuit, the stop is named Line 2 trams have a multi-coloured Clapiers to the north. Line 5 would after a media centre commemorating floral pattern, the brightest of the incorporate the line 4 route west of the the Spanish poet and playwright liveries. Launched in April 2012, city centre and a line 1 section.

ABOVE: Then in black, multi-line 2098 at Du Guesclin on the elevated section between Antigone and Saint Roch station, here directly above the SNCF main line.

LEFT: The storage area at Les Hirondelles depot site.

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AUSTRALIA (replaced by the U-Bahn extension BROADBEACH–SOUTHPORT. to Oberlaa) saw the operation of Testing on the 7.3km (4.5-mile) museum sets 4077+3940 and Gold Coast tramway extension to 548+1261, together with Helensvale started on the night of 4523+1213. Routes 2 and 44 6-7 September. Passenger service exchanged termini (Ottakringer should start in April 2018. The first Strasse/Dornbach). of four new Bombardier Flexity 2 A total of 78 type T LRVs used trams arrived on 20 September. The on line U6 (dating from 1993-99) City Council is planning further are receiving mid-life upgrades light rail extensions by 2030, from Knorr-Bremse/Kiepe Electric including lines west to Robina to ensure a further 20 years of and Nerang, which would serve operational service; four cars have various stadiums and theme parks. been completed to date, all will be Gold Coast Bulletin, P. Nicholson dealt with by the end of 2019. PERTH. The Western Australia A new fleet of 34 automated Government budget for 2018-21 U-Bahn trains have been ordered includes AUD1.34bn (EUR889m) from Siemens for delivery from for expansion of commuter rail 2020 (with an option for 11 more). service, including the 17.5km They will be used on new line U5 (10.9-mile) Thornlie – Cockburn (Karlsplatz – Elterleinplatz), to open Built at Sri City in India, the first Alstom trainset for the Sydney North West line (completion in 2023) and a in 2023. G. Mackinger, D. Beilby, IRJ Metro arrived in late September. Sydney Metro 14km (8.7-mile) extension of the Jondalup line to Yanchep. An ATC BELARUS moved from Edmonton Park to (EUR15.6m) plan should be system will be installed to reduce MINSK. On 1 September tramlines the High Level Bridge heritage completed by summer 2018. headways on existing lines. IRJ 1, 4 and 7 were reinstated to tramway. D. Drum, P. Webb SYDNEY. The first of 22 Alstom Myasnikova Ploschad, after MONTRÉAL. An underground WATERLOO-KITCHENER. The six-car automated metro trains was 30 months of being cut back. metro depot is to be built at LRV delivered earlier this year has delivered to Rouse Hill depot on A trial is being carried out with Côte-Vertu on the Blue line to been sent back to Bombardier at 26 September. Passenger service contactless bankcards opening house ten trains. The project Kingston to have faults put right. on the AUD8.3bn (EUR5.5bn) metro entrance gates. transphoto.ru will cost CAD440m (EUR300m), The second car, due in June, was Northwest Metro is planned for with the Government of expected to arrive in late September March or April 2019, from Rouse BELGIUM Québec contributing CAD330m followed by another two in Hill to Chatswood. RGI ANTWERPEN. The subway ramp (EUR224m). Construction is October. Because of the consequent at Hof ter Lo for the branch of scheduled to take four years, delay in testing, ION has postponed AUSTRIA line 10 to Wijnegem was brought requiring an 11-week closure of the start of passenger service to GRAZ. The rebuilding of line 1 to into service from 16 September, Côte-Vertu station in mid-2018. spring 2018. D. Drum Maria Trost overran and trams did enabling trams to use the short TORONTO. The Toronto Transit not return until 1 October. BS length of subway between there Commission has advertised a CHINA INNSBRUCK. Tramway and Zegel. urbanrail.net Request for Information for the BEIJING. Trial runs started on service resumed on line 6 to BRUSSEL/BRUXELLES. Plans supply of up 100 low-floor trams. three new metro lines in September, Igls from 5 August, but the have been published for the project Sunday 3 September saw two with passengers expected to be December timetable change will to rebuild Cimetiere de Jette as a Bombardier low-floor trams enter carried by the end of the year. The see weekend-only operation through tramway station, with service on the St Clair line; 20 are 16.6km (10.3-mile) Yanfang line 10.00-18.30 introduced (plus a three tracks and a reversing spur needed to provide a full service. is an automated light metro, the schoolday journey at 07.00 from in Boulevard de Smet de Naeyer. The latest car to be delivered by 10.2km (6.3-mile) S1 is a maglev Igls). Daily operation will resume In future lines 19, 51, 62 and 93 Bombardier was 4444 in mid- line between Mentougou and in the 2018 summer holidays. will serve this area. T-2000 September; 4443 was in service on Shijingshan in the western suburbs, The future of the line is still the GENT. In September the remaining 17 September. Line 509 became and the West Suburb line is the subject of debate at a political level. first series PCCs available for service pantograph-operated for the first city’s first modern tramway in the The Stubaitalbahn was closed were 6204/6/80-11/23. T-2000 time from 12 September. Haidian district. China Daily between Telfser Wiesen and The 8.6km (5.3-mile) Spadina CHENGDU. The first 10.9km Fulpmes from 12 August to BRAZIL subway extension to Vaughan (6.8-mile) underground section 18 November due to a landslip. ITATINGA. The 800mm-gauge Metropolitan Centre is due to open of metro line 10, Taipingyuan – The whole line was closed from tramline serving the power station on 17 December. Chengdu Shuangliu International 17 August to 17 November for has not operated for an unknown Metrolinx has pushed the Airport, opened on 6 September. the scheduled bridgework. BS period, and a recent visitor found opening of the CAD1.2bn When complete the line will reach WIEN (Vienna). The end of line 58 it being dismantled. BS (EUR815m) Finch West LRT line 27km (16.8 miles). operation to Unter St Veit (after 99 SALVADOR. The 7.5km (4.7-mile) back once again, to 2021, citing Alstom has been awarded a years) was marked on 1 September section of metro line 2 from Pituaçu “uncertainty with the Bombardier EUR57m contract to supply by the operation of museum trams and Mussurunga opened on vehicle supply”. Approved in 2009, traction equipment for 62 eight-car 1+5210, 2+3442 and 4523+1213. 11 September, bringing the the 11km (6.8-mile) 18-stop line metro trains for line 5, due to open The latter set, which was decorated, network to 29km (18 miles). IRJ would connect the future Finch at the end of 2019. was significant since the weekend SÃO PAULO. Metro line 5 was West subway to Humber College’s YINCHUAN. A 5.7km (3.5-mile) was also the end of operation of extended by 2.8km (1.7 miles) from North Campus in Etobicoke. straddle monorail opened on the 190 c3 trailers delivered by Adolfo Pinheiro to Brooklin on 6 A Bombardier statement denied 1 September at the China Flower Lohner in 1959-62. Route 58 was September.Commuter rail operator that the company was to blame for Expo Park. Equipment and seven replaced by diverting route 10 to CPTM has ordered eight eight- the delay, adding that it is “ready, three-car trains were supplied Unter St Veit, which in turn was car EMUs from CRRC Sifang for able, and willing” to deliver LRVs by automobile manufacturer replaced by a change to route 60 delivery in 2019. urbanrail.net for the original 2021 opening. BYD. The route was built in just (Westbahnhof). The agency is acquiring land four months. On 2 September the last day of CANADA to connect the Dundas West BYD proposes to install similar line 67 operation from EDMONTON. On 20 September subway station to the GO Transit SkyRail services in 20 other Reumannplatz to Alaudagasse former Oskaa bogie tram 247 was station 270m away. The CAD23m Chinese cities in the coming years.

430 / NOVEMBER 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org CZECH REPUBLIC restored at Fahrzeugwerke BRNO. This summer saw the Miraustrasse and joined the delivery of Vario LF2 trams heritage fleet in September 1110/26, replacing withdrawn Tatra with public operation between K2 cars with the same numbers. BS Frankfurter Allee and Hönow. PRAHA (Prague). The second T3R.PLF to be delivered this year The Leitner cableway at the was 8285, actually a rebuild by IGA site will remain in service for Krnov of T3R.P 8220, damaged in three years after the closure of the an accident. T3 7255 (1989) exhibition on 15 October under an has been shipped to a railway agreement between Grün Berlin museum in Seoul, South Korea, GmbH and Leitner AG. BS while 7115/34 have been gifted BOCHUM-GELSENKIRCHEN. to Mariupol in Ukraine. Škoda Thursday 7 October saw the 15T trams up to 9412 had been opening of the new section of delivered by the end of August. BS tramway to Langendreer. Line 302 branches off line 310 at FINLAND Unterstrasse and runs via HELSINKI. A number of tramway Marktplatz to S-Bf Langendreer. New TTC Flexity trams such as 4434 brought pantograph operation to Toronto’s route changes were introduced Service is provided every 20 Harbourfront route for the first time on 17 September. Steve Munro from 14 August, with only lines minutes, but 302 trams run every 4, 5 and 10 unchanged. The full ten minutes between Buer and Laer. HALBERSTADT. Ex-Stuttgart December line 9 will take over the network is as follows: 1, Eira – Töölö Tenders have been invited GT4 tram 156 has been withdrawn section of current line 8 from Hbf – Käpylä; 2, Olympiaterminaali for the midlife refurbishment of due to a lack of spare parts for to Doku-Zentrum. Route 8 will – Kauppatori – Töölö – Länsi- Stadtbahn-B cars 6001-25, and the this 57-year-old car. BS serve Scheurlstrasse instead and Pasila; 3, Olympiaterminaali purchase of six more standard- HALLE. The remaining Tatra sets route 7 will be reintroduced along – Rautatieasema – Meilahti; 4, gauge high-floorStadtbahn cars for still see service on schooldays on Widhalmstrasse. BS Katajanokka – Munkkiniemi; line U35. The Polish city of Łódz line 1. The end of infrastructure POTSDAM. Tram 410, the 5, Katajanokanterminaali – is to buy 32 partly low-floor work saw the following route first of eight extended Combino Rautatieasema; 6, Hietalahti Duewag trams of type NF6D. BS changes from 10 August: 2, Soltauer vehicles, was delivered by Siemens – Rautatieasema – Arabia; 6T, BONN. Historic 1906 tram 13, Str – Veszpremer Str; 3, Trotha – from Wegberg-Wildenrath on Länsiterminaali – Rautatieasema stored in the underground station Veszpremer Strasse; 16, Göttinger 8 September. H. Tschirner – Arabia; 7, Länsiterminaali – at Bonn Hbf for six years, has been Bogen – Böllberg – Beesen. BS ROSTOCK. The ‘last’ Tatra T6 Rautatieasema – Pasila; 8, Jätkäsaari retrieved by the local museum HANNOVER. Refurbishment (701, ex-613) has been scrapped, – Töölö – Arabia; 9, Jätkäsaari – group and taken to a secure is to be undertaken on 24 LRVs leaving just museum tram 704 and Rautatieasema – Pasila; 10, Kirurgi building where further restoration of series 6231-60 to allow a further works cars 551/2 of this type. DS – Pikku Huopalahti. The peak run- work will be carried out. BS ten years of operation. Delivery of RUHRBAHN. Eleven trams, out increased by one to 95 trams. BS CHEMNITZ. The 10 December new LRVs from HeiterBlick reached M8C cars (1406/710-4) and M6D timetable change will see the 3060 by 4 September. 283/9/90/3 have been sold to Iasi FRANCE introduction of new tramline 3 The first tram to use the new in Romania, leaving just 1401- CAEN. TVR guided bus operation linking Hbf and Technopark. DS alignment for lines 10 and 17 via 3/5/15 and 288/91/2/4 in the new is to cease from 31 December as FRANKFURT-AM-MAIN. Land Steintor and Ernst-August-Galerie combined Ruhrbahn undertaking. work gets underway to replace Hesse state has agreed in principle to the stub terminus at Hbf/ Consultants have identified the system with a conventional to finance the extension of line U2 ZOB was track-scrubbing car 841 two alternative routes for the tramway. Keolis has been awarded a to Bhf Bad Homburg. on 16 September. Passenger service extension of line 102 to Saarn. further six-year contract to manage A planning application has been started on 18 September. BS STUTTGART. On 7 August the the Twisto transport network, submitted for Regionaltangente KARLSRUHE. The closure of last of 76 modernised DT8 sets including the new tramway that West, a tram-train service from the rail line between Rastatt and was rolled out at Möhringen will see 23 trams replace the TVR Bad Homburg to Dreieich- Baden-Baden from 12 August workshops: 4221/2 (ex-3221/2). service in September 2019. Buschlag. The section from due to a tunnel collapse affected The series now extends from LYON. Platforms at stops north Praunheim to north of the airport services S7/S71. Trains were not to 4083/4 to 4233/4, and should be of Part Dieu on the common will be built as a tramway and run again until 7 October. BS good for a further 20 years. portion of lines T1 and T4 are dual-voltage LRVs will be required. KÖLN (Cologne). The cableway On 26 September the being lengthened to accommodate Defusing of an unexploded suffered an accident on 30 July that supervisory board of SSB approved 43m trams in the future. E. Stuart bomb from World War Two on required 65 passengers to be rescued an option for 20 new Stadler NANCY. Work to convert the 3 September saw curtailment of from the 32 gondolas. Independent Stadtbahn cars, and the issue of TVR line T1 to a conventional all services on Stadtbahn lines experts are examining the cause. tenders for three rack motor trams tramway is likely to last from 2020 U1-U7 for several hours. The last two P tram sets can with associated bicycle trailers. BS to 2022, with trams running from The ground-breaking for the still be seen on line 15. BS ULM. Tramline 1 was bus-operated 1 January 2023. lineoz.net 2.7km (1.7-mile) extension of line MAGDEBURG. The terminus from 27 July to 10 September to PARIS. The implementation of the U5 to Europaviertal took place on of line 1 at Kerchenwuhne was permit the junctions for new line Massy – Every section of line T12 21 September. BS renamed IKEA to mark the opening 2 to be installed. The first of 12 Express has been delayed by two FRANKFURT (ODER). The of a new store on 31 August. BS Avenio trams built by Siemens in years to 2022. Le Parisien December timetable change will MÜNCHEN (Munich). The Wien (51) was being tested at see an exchange of termini between Bavarian government has Wildenrath in late September. BS GERMANY lines 1 and 4, with line 1 operating withdrawn its opposition to a BERLIN. The shuttle Neuberesinchen – Stadion and line tramway through the Englischer HUNGARY service on S-Bahn 4 Markendorf – Lebuser Vorstadt. Garten, giving hope that the BUDAPEST. A budget of HUF4bn S3 in force since December 2011 Line 5 will become a Monday- Nordtangente project can be (EUR12.8m) has been allocated came to an end on 21 August with Friday peak-only service, additional realised by 2024. for the construction of a 2km the reopening of tracks at Ostkreuz service will be provided on line 2. BS The tram network returned to (1.2-mile) tramway branch linking as part of the reconstruction of FREIBURG-IM-BREISGAU. normal after summer infrastructure Pillangó utca metro station (M2) this interchange station. FVAG is preparing tenders for 17 work in time for the start of the and the Hungexpo exhbition EIII-5U U-Bahn set new trams for delivery in 2020-24 Oktoberfest on 16 September. BS centre. Former route 29 ran to 1914-17, which last carried to replace the last high-floor cars, NÜRNBERG (Nuremburg). Hungexpo but closed in 1996. passengers in 1994, has been 210-4 and 221-31. BS When timetables change in The aim is to complete the work

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saw the first trial with a coupled 202, built in the year 2000, was set of Combino trams (2143+2070). withdrawn after suffering a severe It is hoped this will become a fire on 5 September. transphoto.ru regular feature of the service by NOVOSIBIRSK. The first 2019. The line already operates locally-assembled BKM62103 every four minutes at peaks, but bogie trams with low floor at the more capacity is required. OR centre doors, 2201-3, entered DEN HAAG. Metropoolregio passenger service on 1 August. Rotterdam Den Haag has agreed transphoto.ru to purchase ten more Siemens SANKT PETERBURG. The first Avenio trams to join the 60 already LVS-86M2 tram, 3059 (ex-LVS-86T in service. They will be delivered 3210), entered service on line 21 in 2019. The first tests with an on 9 September. Škoda subsidiary Avenio on line 19 took place on OOO Vagonmash has completed 7 September. digitaletram.nl the delivery of eight NeVa six-car ROTTERDAM. The first trial with metro trains for line 3. transphoto.ru a metro set on the Hoek line, as far as Vlaardingen, took place on 13 SINGAPORE A Solaris/Stadler Tramino for Leipzig on display at TRAKO 2017 in the Polish city August. It is still planned to re-open MASS RAPID TRANSIT. The of Gdansk on 26 September. Peter Anderson the whole line in February. OR Land Transport Authority has awarded the operating contract before the 2020 International the MER ‘Ultimate Driving NORWAY for the Thomson–East Coast metro Eucharist Congress. A. Varga Experience’ through the 2018 OSLO. The section of tramway line to SMRT. This is the first line season. It has also announced a between Holbergsplass and where the government will bear the INDIA programme of events and special Jernbanetorget was closed for revenue risk. SMRT Trains required HYDERABAD. The first phase tram operations for the 125th 6-8 months from 14 August so SGD1.7bn (EUR1.05bn) over of the planned metro network is Anniversary Celebration of the tramway network operates nine years, about 30% less than due to open on 28 November: the the MER from 1-8 September 2018. as follows for that period: 11, incumbent operator SBS. There is 13km (eight-mile) Green line from Majorstuen – Holbergs plass and an option for a two-year contract Miyapur to Ameerpet, and the ITALY Fred Olsens gate – Kjelsas; 12, extension. The 43km (26.7-mile) 17km (10.6-mile) Red line from MILANO. Interurban tram service Majorstuen – Frogner – Kjelsas; line from Woodlands North to Ameerpet to Nagole. IRJ 179 (Cosima – Limbiate) ceased 13,Bekkestua/Lilleaker – Storo Sungel Bedok will open in five LUCKNOW. Metro operation operation on 12 June, but resumed – Grefsen; 17, Rikshospitalet phases from 2019 to 2024. IRJ began on 6 September after a on 11 September, although only – Holbergs plass and Björvika – ceremony the previous day. operating at peak periods. DS Grefsen; 18, Björvika – Holtet/ SLOVAKIA Elevated line 1 from Transport Ljabu; 19, Majorstuen – Briskeby BRATISLAVA. The only Tatra Nagar to Charbagh (8.5km/5.3 JAPAN – Holtet – Ljabru. Holtet depot is T3 trams still in service are 7733/4, miles) is worked by 20 four-car TOKYO. The 110th anniversary being enlarged, with the permanent 8835-46 and 7781-92/5/6/9 and Alstom India-built trains. The of the Tamagawa line tramway way yard moved from the former 7800; 56 withdrawn cars have line will be extended by 22.8km was marked by the painting of metro depot at Majorstuen. BS been sold to Kharkiv in Ukraine; (14.2 miles) to reach Chaudhary car 308 in a special livery based 7729 has become works car 8439; Charan Singh International Airport on the famous ‘beckoning cat’ of PHILIPPINES 7743 is now works tram 8434. in March 2019. Times of India the Gotokuji temple. Japan Times MANILA. A cabinet committee In the museum fleet are 7819/20. UTSUNOMIYA. Work on this has approved the first stage of IRELAND new light rail line has been the Mega Manila Subway, with a SWEDEN DUBLIN. Peak hour testing of delayed and will not start until north–south line from Quezon GÖTEBORG (Gothenburg). the Luas Cross City line began on next spring. This has put back the City to Ninoy Aquino Airport The 65 AnsaldoBreda Sirio trams of 4 September but there were opening date to March 2022. BS slated to be built by 2025. IRJ type M32 are being overhauled by problems with road vehicles Ekova Electric/Cegelec in Ostrava; blocking the tracks in the belief MEXICO POLAND the first to be dealt with were that they were not in use. Full GUADALAJARA. Bombardier ŁÓDZ. Trials with BOGESTRA 401/5 and 458. The programme to daytime testing started from 11 has completed delivery of 12 new 441 (numbered 1751 in Lodz) eliminate corrosion will take until September after Luas staff targeted LRVs to SITEUR. The extension to were successful and it has been 2020 to complete, with 14 trams parked cars with warning notices. line 1 opened on 22 September. decided to buy the remaining dealt with by the end of 2017. BS The number of journeys on L. G. McManus trams of this type. phototrans.eu Ireland’s subsidised public MEXICO CITY. Despite the SWITZERLAND transport and commercial bus earthquake on 19 September, 95% PORTUGAL BASEL. A key section of city centre service network reached 236m in of metro stations were open and SINTRA. The summer season tramway was closed for relaying 2016 (up from 210m in 2013). Luas all 12 lines were back to operation on the heritage tramway saw the from 9 to 30 September, between numbers were 34m (31m in later the same day. R. Barrows return to service after overhaul of Bankverein and Barfüsserplatz. 2013). In 2016, Dublin Bus carried car 1 (Brill 1903), carrying a cream Extensive route changes were 53% of all public transport users. MOROCCO and blue livery. BS necessary during this period. Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) carried CASABLANCA. RATP Dev has Consultation has started on 18%, Luas and Bus Éireann 14% retained the contract to operate ROMANIA plans to extend line 6 from the each, and private bus companies and maintain the tramway under SIBIU. The Rasinari tramway, German border at Riehen Grenze contracted for rural services 1%. a 12-year contract that starts in that has been operating on a private into Lörrach. BVB has operated Luas was the only operator to make December and embraces line T1 hire-only basis, has acquired trams in Lörrach before, as a shuttle a profit and now has cash reserves and planned lines T2-T5. RGI Swiss bogie tram ET 26.111 from service with passengers required of EUR5.4m. It was also the only Stern & Hafferl in Austria for to walk across the border, but operator to see a drop in passenger NETHERLANDS EUR6000, and hopes to use it to this operation ceased in 1967. DS numbers in 2016 (1.6%). AMSTERDAM. A programme to restart regular service. DS BERN. The official ceremony fit chip and pin machines to trams to mark the completion of 18 ISLE OF MAN began from 7 July (line 26) and RUSSIA months of infrastructure work at MANX ELECTRIC RAILWAY. from 1 January this will replace NOVOCHERKASSK. Five Eigerplatz was on 10 September, Isle of Man Transport has contactless payment across all 71-407 trams are on order from though trams on line 3 had been announced it will continue services. Also on line 26, 9 July Uraltransmash. KTM-8 tram running again since 14 August. BS

432 / NOVEMBER 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org CHUR – ST MORITZ (RhB). will not be required until the end The CHF66m (EUR57.7m) rebuilt of 2018 are to be used temporarily station at St Moritz was formally to relieve overcrowding. RGI opened on 26 August with the arrival of a through train from UNITED KINGDOM Chur operated by new Alvra EDINBURGH. The August Festival rolling stock. EA period saw the busiest-ever month DISENTIS/MUSTER – for the tramway with 500 000-plus ANDERMATT (MGB). Nätschen passengers, an increase of 14% station is being moved to a new over the same period of 2016. building at a lower level on 1200m Additional services were of new alignment; the CHF19.3m introduced to meet the demand and (EUR16.9m) project should be night trams operated on Saturdays. completed in 2018. TR GREATER MANCHESTER. LE LOCLE – LES BRENETS. A phased fares increase is to be Rail service was replaced by introduced after a freeze since buses for about four months from January 2014. This will see an 28 July when faults were found with estimated rise of 4% (split into In the Ukrainian city of Kamianske (formerly Dniprodzerzhinsk) the first the axles of BDe4/4 2-5. EA 1.33% per year) plus the annual low-floor tram prototype from Tatra-Jug is unloaded on 12 September. L. Shadow ST. GALLEN – APPENZELL (AB). RPI+1% over the course of the next The section of line between St. three years. That means Metrolink opposite direction, which was railway line from Port Talbot away Gallen and Teufen will be replaced fares are likely to rise on average not stopping at Woodburn Road from Neath and direct to Swansea. by buses from April to October by 5.93% from January 2018. The (a request stop), hit the passenger This would enable creation of 2018 to permit infrastructure increase is designed to cover both who suffered fatal injuries. a metro system with increased work preparing for the through additional network operating The RAIB has recommended that services along the current main service Teufen – St. Gallen – costs and the cost of borrowing Stagecoach Supertram continues line from Neath into the city and Trogen. EA to pay for Metrolink’s expansion. its work to review its training with new stations serving the ZÜRICH. With the extension of Young person fares will be material against its operational SA1 development, a new student line 8 from Hardplatz to Escher- harmonised at 50% of adult fares. standards so that they are made campus at Fabian Way and the Wyss-Platz and Hardturm on Fares were not increased from consistent; and that tram operators, Liberty Stadium, among others. 10 December Tram 2000 cars will 2014 in part compensation for in conjunction with UK Tram, TYNE AND WEAR. Plans for a be used on this service. Only routes disturbance caused by network should set up an industry working new Metro and bus interchange in 5 and 15 will remain with just improvements. However, it is group to monitor the development South Shields are on schedule to high-floor cars, and only line 15 estimated that this has incurred a and application of pedestrian start in spring 2018. with solo Tram 2000. VBZ has ‘loss’ of GBP61m (EUR69m), detection technology to alert decided not to buy second-hand which the increase is designed to drivers to potential collisions. USA trams from Basel. BS recoup. After 2021, fare changes It also issued three learning ATLANTA, GA. Tropical storm will move to RPI plus 1%. points. The first highlights the Irma caused tramway operation to TAIWAN LONDON (DOCKLANDS importance of tram operators be suspended on 10-11 September. KAOHSIUNG. On 30 September LIGHT RAILWAY). The Rail actively assessing and managing The city council has approved the tramline was extended from Accident Investigation Branch the additional risk to users of foot the transfer of the assets and Dayi Pier-2 to Hamasen. Fares were has issued a report on an incident crossings associated with trams operations of the Atlanta Streetcar to be introduced for the first time at Bank station in February when making non-stop movements to metro operator MARTA with from 1 November. Focus Taiwan a passenger’s coat was trapped in through tramstops. The second a return to fare-free service train doors and dragged from her reminds tram drivers to only use planned. E. B. Havens THAILAND as the train moved away. The driving mirrors for essential tasks BUFFALO, NY. The Niagara BANGKOK. Siemens and ST member of staff on board was related to the safe operation of the Frontier Transportation Authority Electronics have been awarded a unaware of the incident and the tram during non-stop movements is hiring a consultant to complete contract to supply trains and equip design of the door prevented the through tramstops. The third is for the environmental review process and maintain two extensions of item being picked up by the obstacle tram drivers about understanding for the planned LRT extension the Blue line totalling 28km (17.4 detection system fitted to it. Three how sunglasses can affect their to Amherst via the University miles). Siemens is to supply 35 recommendations were made: a vision when passing from sunlit to of Buffalo. This work should be three-car trains, signalling, traction review of the design of door nosing shaded areas, particularly during completed in 2019. E. B. Havens power and communications rubbers; that the specification for the winter months. HOUSTON, TX. Green line light systems, and platform screen doors, the new trains to be procured South Yorkshire Passenger rail service resumed between as well as equipping the depot and gives adequate consideration Transport Executive is seeking Magnolia Park Transit Center workshop. The trains will be an to the safety learning from this tenders for rail replacement works. and Eado/Stadium stations on updated version of the existing investigation; and to improve This will form Phase 2 of the project 3 September, as did the Siemens Blue line stock fleet and processes for the management of started in 2013 and which has Purple line between Palm will be built in Wien. IRJ platform observation equipment. already replaced about 15km (nine Center and Eado/Stadium. LONDON (TRAMLINK). miles) of embedded track. The new All service returned to normal TUNISIA Members of the union ASLEF contract, expected to be worth from 5 September. Houston Metro TUNIS. Transtu has applied for have said they would be prepared around GBP12.5m, will be to renew MEMPHIS, TN. After 40 a EUR100m sovereign loan from to take industrial action over the about 10km (six miles) of track months idle, the overhead on the the EBRD to help finance its three- introduction of in-cab technology over the summers of 2018 and 2019. heritage tramway was energised phase EUR240.2m fleet renewal. to monitor driver fatigue. It is Tram 111 has been given again from 18 September. The remaining EUR140.2m is reported that nearly 95% of a makeover to advertise a new The first run was made with ex- to be provided by the Tunisian members who took part in a ballot IKEA store that opened on 28 Melbourne W 799 (ex-Savannah). government. IRJ would be ready to strike over a September at Meadowhall South. It is hoped to offer passenger failure to consult on the proposals. SWANSEA. A GBP1bn service by the end of the year. TURKEY SOUTH YORKSHIRE. The (EUR1.13bn) rail-based metro The trams last ran in June IZMIR. The 17km (10.6-mile) RAIB has issued its report into the system around Swansea has been 2014, but were withdrawn extension of the Izban commuter death of a passenger in December proposed. Professor Mark Barry, on safety concerns following rail service from Tepeköy to 2016 who alighted from a tram who also proposed the South Wales two fires. J. Marinoff Selçuk opened on 8 September. at Woodburn Road and crossed Metro scheme for the Cardiff area, MIAMI, FL. All transit service Istanbul Marmaray EMUs that the line behind it. A tram in the has suggested routing the main was withdrawn from 14.00 on

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9 September due to the arrival TAMPA, FL. The Tampa displayed at a ‘Tram Day’ held on 381 and the dedication of new of Hurricane Irma. Streetcar did not operate on 16 September. The tram will workshops. MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN. 9-13 September due to the effects represent the narrow-gauge part SAPPORO (JP). The transport The Green light rail line hit a new of Hurricane Irma. E. B. Havens of tramcar history at the Museum. museum, opened in 1975, has passenger record on 31 August, Blackpool ‘Railcoach’ 630 was closed for renovation, and will not when 68 071 riders were carried, VIETNAM loaned to Blackpool Transport for re-open until spring 2021. BS due to the coincidence of the State HO CHI MINH CITY (Saigon). the 23-24 September event marking Fair and several sporting events. An agreement has been signed the vehicles’ 80th anniversary. It is CONTRIBUTORS The Metropolitan Council with Russian interests to carry out expected to remain in Blackpool Worldwide items for inclusion is to re-bid the contract for the a study for a light rail line from over the winter while Crich should be sent to Michael Taplin Southwest light rail line after Tân Tao to Linh Dông. RGI undertakes depot refurbishment. at Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, all tenders received were above SEATON (UK). Construction Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. budget. Modifications to the ZAMBIA of a new station building at the Fax: +44 (0)1983 862810 or e-mail: tender and a new procurement LUSAKA. China Rail is carrying Seaton town terminus began [email protected] process will delay the opening of out a study for the introduction on 18 September. The GBP2m UK and Ireland items are the line to 2022. E. B. Havens of trams as part of the Lusaka structure will provide an all-year welcomed by Home Editor, John PHILADELPHIA, PA (SEPTA). Decongestion Project. Lusaka Times round facility for visitors, with a Symons, 17 Whitmore Avenue, Trams returned to line 15 from 17 café and gift shop. The history and Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 September after being suspended MUSEUM NEWS operations of the tramway will also 0LW, UK. E-mail [email protected] for summer track work. J. Marinoff BERLIN (DE). Two-axle be displayed. The new station will Acknowledgements are due to ST LOUIS, MO. Opening of the centre-entrance TM36 tram 3495, replace the existing Edwardian- Blickpunkt Strassenbahn (BS), China Delmar Loop heritage tramway dating from 1936, has been restored style ticket office built in 1996. Daily, Clifton Flewitt, Drehscheibe has been pushed back again, to by volunteers in Hamburg and was The daily tram service continues (DS), digitaletram.nl, Edinburgh mid-November. E. B. Havens rolled out in Berlin-Schönberg on 2 to run but only from Riverside Evening News, Eisenbahn Amateur SAN DIEGO, CA. Siemens has September. It arrived in Berlin on 12 Depot, enabling a tour of the depot (EA), Focus Taiwan, Gold Coast been awarded a contract to supply September and on 30 September/ workings, a closer look at the plans Bulletin, Houston Metro, International power and automation systems for 1 October took part in an event to for the new Seaton station and Rail Journal (IRJ), Irish Times, Japan the 17km (10.6-mile) Mid-Coast mark 50 years since the closure of development of the new Heritage Times, Le Parisien, lineoz.net, Lusaka Corridor LRT extension, due to the West Berlin tram system. DS Lottery project: ‘Travels through Times, Manchester Evening News, open in January 2021. E. B. Havens CRICH (UK). Bournemouth 85, Heritage and The Axe Valley’. Mike Haddon, Op de Rails (OR), SANTA ROSA – SAN RAFAEL, transferred from Science Museum ST KILDA (AU). The 60th phototrans.eu, Railway Gazette (RGI), CA. The SMART diesel LRT line Group ownership to the National anniversary of the founding of Tram-2000 (T-2000), Times of India, carried 2700 passengers/day during Tramway Museum, will be the Adelaide tramway museum Today’s Railways (TR), transphoto.ru, its first week of operation after displayed on a special track in the was marked on 1-2 October by urbanrail.net and Wolverhampton launching on 25 August. E. B. Havens Exhibition Hall. Prior to this it was the recommissioning of H1 tram Express & Star.

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

Ooberct 2017 Nemberov 2017

Monday 16. Liverpool. 20.00. Saturday 4. West Midlands 14.00. Mike Mabey, Head of Operations, Geoffrey Tribe: Trams in rural Nottingham Trams. (TLRS Merseyside) surroundings. (TLRS/LRTA/ERS) Monday 16. Wickham. 19.30. Tuesday 7. Southampton 19.30. AGM Peter Williams: Trams around the and members’ photos. (LRTA/SEG) South – Brighton and eastwards. Wednesday 8. Brighton 19.40. Saturday 21. Blackpool 13.00. Mike Russell: TBA. (TLRS) John Whitehouse: San Francisco Saturday 11. Norfolk (Holt) 14.00. and models with more DCC. (TLRS) Cedric Greenwood: Birmingham Saturday 21. Taunton 14.00. tram and bus films, 1926-58. (TLRS) Andy Steel: Simplified tramway Monday 13. Thames Valley 19.30. technology – Part 2. (TLRS) John Parkin: Early days of the new Tuesday 24. Cardiff 14.00. British tramways. (TLRS) Alan Wilkins: Paris, Phoenix, Tuesday 14. London 19.30. Paul Arizona and Detroit. Russenberger: Berner Oberland. Thursday 26. Manchester 19. 00. Saturday 18. Blackpool 14.00. TBC. Robert Pritchard: Czech Republic Saturday 18. Taunton 14.00. Keith & Slovakia Pt 1: Bohemia – Prague, Walton: A weekend in Wallonia. (TLRS) Plzen, Most-Litvinov & Liberec. Monday 20. Liverpool 20.00. Friday 27. Edinburgh 19.30. John Jane Cole, MD, Blackpool Transport Hampton: Tramways of Dublin - Services. (TLRS Mersyside) Horse-drawn to Luas. Monday 20. Sheffield 19.30. Alan Friday 27. Leicester 20.00. Bob Yearsley: East German trams today. Bracegirdle: Belgian Vicinal and its Monday 20. Wickham 19.30. John raison d’etre. (TMS) Prentice: Trams of East London. Saturday 28. Beeston 14.00. Tuesday 21. Leeds 19.00. Ian Modelling – What’s on your Dougill: American Trams. workbench? (TLRS) Friday 24. Edinburgh 19.30. Saturday 28. Garstang 14.00. Peter George Murray: First-generation Stevenson: Video journeys. (TLRS) Edinburgh Trams.

434 / NOVEMBER 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Letters

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

Breaking the stranglehold of the automobile

Your editorial in TAUT 957, “Dear automobile, it’s over…”, The general message from these recent disclosures is drew attention to the unacceptably polluting effects of internal that transport provision cannot be left to the ‘market’ combustion engines in urban areas, and how governments can which is incapable of identifying the public interest. Public no longer ignore the need to phase them out. determination is required. Repeal the 1985 Transport Act now! This is indeed happening, and it has been recently Alan Robinson, Malvern (UK) announced that new petrol and diesel cars production must be ended by 2040 (England, Wales and N Ireland). The Scottish Ed: Other nations have set equally ambitious targets: China wants Parliament has recently announced 2032 as its target date. five million electric cars on its roads by 2020 and some European Professor Frank Kelly, Chair of the Government’s pollution reports suggest that 90% of sales will be electric-only within the committee, has indicated that this measure is insufficient next 25 years. as particulate pollution accounts for no less than 29 000 premature deaths per annum, and that a significant proportion Adding my two-penneth to the debate on the future of the of this total is attributable to particulates from the interaction motor car, begun by the Editor in TAUT 957 (and subsequently of rubber tyres with road surfaces, and wear of brake linings. continued in the Mailbox section of 958), when cars are seen as This strongly suggests that rubber-tyred vehicles are simply symbols of status it is unsurprising that so many own them. unacceptable in concentrated use, implying that the only This is the ‘trap’ for many in the western world who can ‘safe’ method of transport is steel wheel on steel rail (running afford their own vehicle, while those in developing nations on the surface as well, as there have been studies that imply aspire to these ideals. Car manufacturers are very canny in that underground tunnels can produce dangerous levels of their advertising, promoting images of ‘freedom’, showing particulates in stations and onboard vehicles). idyllic journeys through the countryside or on mountain roads This does seem to suggest that high-density bus corridors without another car in sight. The reality is very different. should be replaced by trams, as a matter of public health Most car journeys are undertaken in urban environments and priority, and that total transport integration needs to be various studies have shown that cars spend 90-95% of their time implemented whereby the local public body has the authority parked! All that time they are incurring costs (tax, insurance, to specify all services within a designated area – and the type depreciation etc). Owning a car in a busy modern town or city of transport to be adopted. How much longer can duplication, often just doesn’t make sense. bus services competing with tram or heavy rail, be permitted? What is the alternative? Sadly, there often isn’t a suitable In practical terms, this should mean that dense bus corridors one that can accommodate the increasingly busy and varied (such as London) should be converted to tram and obviously lifestyles of urban dwellers. Public transport services must competing and duplicating bus services (such as those serving improve if we are to tempt drivers out of their cars. They must Edinburgh Airport) should be withdrawn. be clean, regular, efficient and cheap – sadly it is only in a Such measures may seem harshly impractical, but similar minority of cities that they are any of these things. objections were raised to the implementation of the UK Coincidentally, these are usually ‘tram cities’... Government’s Clean Air Act in the 1950s. J. Gerard, by e-mail

Queries on OLE design I found the article on OLE design principles (TAUT 958) both interesting and informative. However, two questions arise in my mind: Firstly, it seemed to be assumed in passing that the overhead line would be positive, in the conventional way of describing things. Is this always the case, and is there an engineering reason for this – or is it just a tradition that has become entrenched? I wondered whether any research has been done to substantiate or challenge this practice. My limited experience at a smaller scale (but with meaningful current values) seems to show the propensity of arcing from positive to The first overhead line mast at Holytown Junction. Electrification structures for the UK’s tram-train a carbon pickup to leave deposits of copper or Network Rail pilot. P. Abell copper oxide. I have often wondered whether a reversal of polarity might prevent this. Electrification comparison route connecting two major Scottish cities, Secondly, no reference was made to the For fear of sounding like a broken record, using three-car EMUs, from 2019. The other avoidance of oscillations, or galloping, of I’d invite readers to compare images of will provide 750V dc power for Citylink tram- the overhead line, particularly at higher the recently-completed first overhead line trains over a route of less than five miles (8km). operating speeds. Is it that the problem never masts on the Holytown Junction – Micalder With the recent cancellation of the arises with pantographs in contrast to trolley Junction section of the Shotts heavy rail line, Midland Main Line electrification, will the poles? The old US high-speed interurbans with those previously illustrated in TAUT for Tram-Train pilot now feature the ‘heaviest’ which used trolley poles must surely have had the UK’s tram-train pilot. electrification of any light rail scheme in to contend with and overcome this effect. One is designed for 25kv ac electrification Europe? Over-engineering anyone? H. C. Burford, c.eng, MIET, by e-mail of a significant 46-mile (74km) cross-country I. Thwaite, by e-mail

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org NOVEMBER 2017 / 435 Classic Trams Kyiv’s ‘electric 125’ Although cities in the Russian Empire had seen horse-drawn tramway service for decades, Kyiv introduced electric trams in 1892. This year’s anniversary parade is described by Kostj Kozlov. 1

yiv (Kiev) held a tram parade almost every year in the Obolon district, Due to the lack of serviceable historic on 17 June to mark the 125th between Obolon metro station and the vehicles, the main attractions were various anniversary of the opening Jordanska terminus of routes 11 and 17. works cars and modern trams. A challenging of electric tramways in the These parades differed from what enthusiasts feature was the transportation of vehicles Ukrainian city, on 14 June 1892. in Western Europe might customarily expect, from the left bank to the right bank, as KUnlike in most other countries, in Ukraine as the display was made up of mostly modern since 2004 the tramway system has been it is usually the anniversary of the electric vehicles in regular service. This is because split into two parts, with some works cars tramway that is celebrated,rather than any in Soviet times no attention was paid to the in the permanent way yard located close to preceding horse-drawn tramways. In this preservation of historic vehicles. When a Darnytske depot on the left bank. case it is quite reasonable, for horse-drawn tramcar was retired from service there were The trams were positioned along tramways appeared in the city in 1891, after only two scenarios: the vehicle was either Kostiantynivska vul. and on Kontraktova pl. Lviv and Odesa (1880) and Kharkiv (1882). scrapped or converted into a works car. during the night and early in the morning Kyiv was also the first city in present-day This philosophy changed somewhat at and from 10.00 were opened to public Ukraine that electrified or converted all its the beginning of the 1990s, when a museum inspection. This area was completely closed horse-drawn lines to steam operation, was founded and a few trams were restored to traffic and there was a bus replacement a task completed in 1896. or rebuilt. That situation prevailed for only service for tram routes 12, 14, 18 and 19. In the history of Kyiv tramways two big a very short time, however, and later on no Each tram had its driver on board, who told tram parades took place in 1967 and 1992, further vehicles were preserved despite several visitors about the history of the tramcar and marking the 75th and 100th anniversaries. MTV-82 motor cars remaining in almost answered questions. The 1992 parade was a remarkable event original condition. Kyiv also lost some of its The official ceremony took place at 13.00 along the Dnieper embankment, featuring most interesting trams, especially KTV-57 and afterwards the parade proper started. some interesting historic trams. After the tramcar 2020, which was refurbished in 1992 It was led by Tatra T3 coupled set 5722+5723, track along the Dnieper embankment was but later left abandoned and finally scrapped. followed by refurbished Tatra T6B5 (T3M) lifted in 2012, small tram parades took place Recent years have seen the foundation 059, then by Tatra T3 5577 of the original of a restoration centre, which also acts as a SU specification new to Kyiv. Most Kyiv Tatra museum. Restoration works are in progress T3 cars are now old running-units fitted parade participants on Tatra T2 5043 and 2M 919, although the with bodies acquired second-hand from the future of the latter is uncertain. Czech Republic or Slovakia. After 5577 came 1. Tatra T3 set 18. KRV-5 the retro tram built in 1988 from a former 5722/5723 19. RZV-1 A different type of anniversary event Lviv Sanok tram to replicate the first electric 2. Tatra T6B5 20. MTV-82 1346 This time the parade took place at the former tram operated in Kyiv. (T3M) 059 21. S now plough historic centre of Kyiv, Podil, where one of There followed a mixture of works cars 3. Tatra T3 5577 S-5 4. Retro 1892 22. B-6 the oldest tramlines has survived despite all and passenger vehicles heading different 5. T3UA 603 23. JIBC-2009 450 the closures that have happened in the last ways depending on their depots. Trams from 6. Kashtan 550 24. Electron 802 two decades. Kontraktova pl. in the heart Podilske or Darnytske depots went to the north 7. Electron 801 25. Pesa 757 of Podil has always been one of the main to Podilske, while trams from Shevchenka 8. Pesa 756 26. Pesa 751 tramway hubs in Kyiv and remains so now, depot (the depot for the express tramway) went 9. L-1 27. Pesa 759 although the connection to the left bank west to Starovokzalna terminus. People were 10. K1M 355 28. Pesa 752 has been lost. offered free rides to the respective destinations. 11. K1 321 29. Pesa 754 This was a big event, which mostly Interestingly, the two Electron and all ten 12. K1M8 502 30. Pesa 758 13. -- 31. Pesa 753 attracted the general public. Unfortunately, Pesa tramcars participated in the parade, 14. K3R-N 406 32. Pesa 755 it was not widely advertised and even on the main reason being to increase the 15. KSV-2 33. Pesa 760 the tramway company’s webpage information possibilities for people to have a free ride. 16. AV-2 34. Tatra T6B5 about the parade appeared only about a The last tramcar in the parade was Tatra T6B5 17. PM-7 café tram 001 week beforehand. (T3M) café tram 001.

1. Tatra T3 5577 returned from the workshops only a few days before the parade and will now operate using the body from Kosice 359. It is pictured at Kontraktova pl., followed by the ‘retro tram’.

2. Locally built T3UA-3 603 at Kontraktova pl. These vehicles operate on the left bank network.

3. Recently refurbished Tatra T6B5 (T3M) tram 059, bearing an inscription for the 125th 2 anniversary, at Kontraktova pl. 3

436 / NOVEMber 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org 4. This retro tram was built in 1988 from a former Lviv Sanok tram to resemble one of the first electric trams that operated in Kyiv. It is seen with passengers at Mezhyhirska vul. on its way back to Podilske depot.

5. It is rather uncommon to see snowploughs outside their depots during summer. Car S-5 was the only one to participate in the parade and is pictured among the historic buildings of Podil at Kostiantynivska vul.

6. Car V-6 was probably the most interesting tram in the parade. It is one of the oldest freight cars, built in 1940, and is shown at Kostiantynivska vul. followed by 71-154M-K tram 450 and Electron T5B64 tram 802.

7. Electron T5B64 tram 801 is seen with passengers at Mezhyhirska vul. on its way to Starovokzalna terminus.

8. AV-2 was rebuilt from KTV-57 2014 in 1969 as a technical 4 assistance vehicle. Now it operates as a gritter and is seen at Kontraktova pl.

9. Locally-built Kashtan (‘Chestnut’, which is one of Kyiv’s symbols) 550 at Kontraktova pl. Only one of this type has so far been built.

10. Sprinkler tram PM-7 was rebuilt in the local workshops from an MTV-82 in 1986 to cope with dust in the city after the Chernobyl disaster. It used to have a PP-7 trailer. Four such sets were built in summer 1986, 5 6 one for each depot.

7 8

9 10 All photography by Kostj Kozlov, 17 June 2017.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org NOVEMBER 2017 / 437 BOOKSHOP Order online from lrta.info/shop – or by post from: LRTA Publications, 31 Ashton Road, Wokingham RG41 1HL Postage & packing – Any UK address: add 10%; All addresses outside UK: add 20%. For Airmail despatch outside Europe: add 30%. NEW FROM THE LRTA 香 Hongkong Hongkong Tramways 港 Tramways 電 The detailed history of this iconic system published in 1970 is included in this book, but substantially updated to cover the further 40-plus years of change and development on the island. 車 For many tramway enthusiasts, Hong Kong holds a special fascination due to the extremely British nature of its tramcars, four-wheel double-deckers with a distinctly pre-war feel, though modernisation has brought air-conditioning and a more streamlined look.

> A4 softback; 216 pages, 500+ colour and black & white pictures; several maps, diagrams and scale drawings.

Joseph Tse Yiu-honiu-hon and and John John Prentice Prentice £27.50 plus postage & packing as shown above. updating the original work of the late Peter Atkinson and Alan Williamsilliams

RET Austrian Railways Anderhalve eeuw Rotterdam en openbaar vervoer Locomotives, multiple units and trams Published to celebrate 150 years of the city’s European Handbook No.3 in this public transport, this book takes us from the first Platform 5 series has detailed coverage of horse tram service in 1879 to the coming of the the subject matter with excellent colour Metro on the former heavy rail line to Hoek van photographs, fleet lists and seven pages of Holland. The growth of one of the world’s most maps. The tramways in Gmunden, Graz, progressive tramways is well told. Dutch text. Innsbruck, Linz and Vienna are included.

> 210 x 230 mm hardback; 224 pages, 85 black > A5 softback; 176 pages, 65 colour & white and 52 colour pictures; seven maps. pictures – ten of trams.

£26.50 plus P&P as shown above. £22.50 plus P&P as shown above.

Auf den Spuren von Franz Kraus Swiss Narrow Gauge Wiener Straßenbahn um 1950 South and West A fascinating photo album of Vienna A useful guide to the light railways in the trams in the 1950s, showing the wide south-west of the country, including tram variety of pre- and post-war car types in systems in Geneva, Berne and Neuchatel. use. Interesting motor + trailer sets are The photos show the wide range of rolling shown on now-closed lines. German text. stock encountered and the beautiful backdrop of many of the more mountainous lines. > 205 x 240 mm hardback, landscape format; 144 pages, 140 full-page black > A4 softback; 36 pages, 120 colour pictures & white pictures. and one map.

£27.50 plus postage & packing as shown above. £9.50 plus postage & packing as shown above.

London Trolleybus Depots Geldersche Tramwegen Part one Kleinbahnen in Ost-Gelderland / Tramways in Eastern Gelderland Among the many books on London’s trolleybuses this one differs in taking a look A detailed history of the GTW which brought behind the scenes in the depots from which together all the private narrow-gauge railways the silent servants operated. The human in this part of The Netherlands from 1934, aspect is well covered with many references eventually standardising on 750mm track to the loyal staff. A recommended read. width. German and English text.

> A4 hardback; 184 pages, 224 black & white > A4 hardback; 264 pages, 840 black & white and 19 colour pictures; 12 maps. and 16 colour pictures; several maps.

£38.50 plus postage & packing as shown above. £40.00 plus postage & packing as shown above.

Please bear in mind that we often advertise books before stock is received from publishers so delivery can take some weeks. in your next issue of

LRT RETURNS TO SYSTEMS FACTFILE: MOTOR CITY Würzburg In 2017, Detroit opened its first modern Short in length, Würzburg ’s metre-gauge streetcar, incorporating more than 60% tramway more than compensates with off-wire operation – Vic Simons reports All the winners, all the reaction and the beauty of its setting, distinctive trams on how the home of the automobile has the best of the celebrations from the and interesting evolution. Neil Pulling fallen in love with light rail again. highlight of the light rail calendar. reports from northern Bavaria. 2017 Global Light Rail Awards Special Review PLUS... DECEMBER + Chicago Streetcar Renaissance shows a car-free vision of the future issue + Classic Trams: Mike Russell celebrates tram diversity in Darmstadt + The latest news, rolling stock orders, system developments and on sale transport policy and industry comment from around the world 17 November

THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE Montpellier

Montpellier has systems embraced modern light rail to such an extent that it www.lrta.org factfile has changed the FRANCE www.tautonline.com manner in which the No. Montpellier, community works and lives, as Neil NOVEMBER 2017 N O. 959 France montpellier 121 Pulling finds out. Sub scribe now! SIEMENS AND ALSTOM FORM ‘RAIL CHAMPION’ Now in its 80th year, Tramways & Urban Transit is the world’s leading

ontpellier lies just Whether the city’s name derives Flower power: inland from the from its elevated position is disputed. its jobs. The system’s high visibility a line 2 Citadis 402 Mediterranean in Parts of central Montpellier and some is down to the considerable length south-west France rises from the outer districts are amongst hills, with tunnel onto Place of three lines, high frequencies and since January the modern tramway having features and the far from direct routes that 2016m it has been located in the new de la Comédie on monthly publication dedicated solely to light and urban rail developments. to accommodate such conditions. 27 April 2017. they follow. As a circuit, even the Occitanie region. It was previously Succeeding a short-lived horse-drawn fourth and shortest line at 9.2km the capital of the subsumed tramway begun in 1880, Montpellier’s (5.8 miles) must be crossed at some Languedoc-Roussillon region and original electric system opened in point to access central Montpellier. remains so for Hérault department. 1897 and closed by January 1949. It is a uni-directional tramway with France’s fastest-growing city Energy e ciency through e ective driver training Transports de l’agglomération mainly dedicated rights of way and since the 1960s, the population de Montpellier (TaM) is now the with good user accessibility; there of Montpellier commune is Prague approves 2030 tramway plans principal public transport concern, are several long single-track sections approximately 280 000; the with the Métropole holding 46%, but generally the alignments allow 31 communes of Montpellier Montpellier city 9% and operator for doubling. TAM designates nine Granada welcomes long-overdue LRT Méditerranée Métropole total around Transdev almost 20% of the shares. tramway-related park-and-ride sites 442 000. Reflecting the age of incoming The current eight-year contract term and also operates 36 bus lines and residents and workers and a large Edinburgh takes rst step to Newhaven ends during 2017. TAM claims that Vélomagg hire cycles. student community, approximately Line 1 opened as a 14.7km (9.2 miles) £4.40 its tramway directly serves half the half that number are under 34 years old. 11> Métropole’s population and 45% of Words and pictures route between Mosson and Odysseum by Neil Pulling in June 2000, both of these were Dallas Fuel cells Is this the future for 9 771460 832050 424 / november 2017 US LRT pioneer goes www.tautonline.com. www.lrta.org for further growth ultra-green light rail?

424-429_TAUT1711_SF_Montpellier.indd 1

09/10/2017 13:16 09/10/2017 13:00 401_TAUT1711 Cover.indd 1 We deliver comprehensive worldwide news and analysis, incisive technology features and key interviews with leading industry figures each and every month. Either in print or digitally, don’t miss out. Subscribe today!

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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 NOVEMBER Unrivalled Precision

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