THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE

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JANUARY 2020 No. 985 REWRITING THE RULES -train: Reviving the railway and driving modal shift

Tale of ten cities: Europe’s 11 new lines EUR339m for Santiago Metro repairs New Ottawa LRT’s ‘month from hell’

Technology UK’s LRT future £4.60 Using data to drive ‘A national policy is investment priorities crucial for success’ Discover the latest innovative financing and urban planning models.

WOLVERHAMPTON Learn from case studies on succesful projects from the around the world.

Understand the importance of integrated 19-20 May 2020 transport and land usage policies. Explore the latest innovations in our exhibition area of key suppliers. Join transport operators, authorities and suppliers from around the world and across the industry at the 2020 UK Light Rail Conference. Forge relationships with industry partners and innovators.

Now in its 15th year, this invaluable two-day congress and exhibition Workshop with peers on the creation of is well-known as THE place to do business and build long-lasting safe, secure passenger environments. relationships in our fast-moving and vibrant sector. See first-hand how the West Midlands is trebling the size of its light rail With over 50 speakers and eight hours of dedicated networking network in the coming decade. time, there is no better place to gain an insight into the workings of the sector and help shape its future. To join us, visit www.mainspring.co.uk or call +44 (0)1733 367600 “Thanks for another great conference, providing deep insight into the British light rail industry.” Tobias Koch – Director of Sales – Siemens Mobility, Rolling Stock CONTENTS 4 The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association january 2020 Vol. 83 No. 985 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL Editor – Simon Johnston [email protected] Associate Editor – Tony Streeter [email protected] Worldwide Editor – Michael Taplin 25 [email protected] News Editor – John Symons [email protected] Senior Contributor – Neil Pulling Worldwide Contributors Richard Felski, Ed Havens, Andrew Moglestue, Paul Nicholson, Herbert Pence, Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Alain Senut, Vic Simons, Witold Urbanowicz, Bill Vigrass, Francis Wagner, Thomas Wagner, Philip Webb, Rick Wilson Production – Lanna Blyth 21 Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 [email protected] News 4 systems factfile: 25 DESIGN – Debbie Nolan Eleven new tramlines in Europe; Controversy ’s capital has seen major changes in Advertising over Bucharest tram order; Violent protests recent years, a process that is now embracing COMMERCIAL Manager – Geoff Butler cost Santiago Metro EUR339m; Voters back new light rail schemes. Neil Pulling reports. Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 [email protected] Houston LRT expansion; Porto offers CRRC first European break; Confederation line WORLDWIDE REVIEW 30 Publisher – Matt Johnston chaos forces city to bring back buses. Acciona to take over stalled São Paulo PPP; Tramways & Urban Transit Work begins on Toronto Finch West LRT; 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, ‘we need a uk lrt strategy now’ 10 Partners selected for Panama monorail; Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK UKTram Chair George Lowder explains why Bozankaya wins Iaşi tram order; St Louis Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring the time is right for light rail in the UK. Loop Trolley future in doubt; BART Berryessa on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each extension ready to open; Government calls month preceding the cover date. looking after our tram assets 15 for immediate metro opening. Clive Pennington and Olga Evstafyeva from Amey explore how digital solutions are MAILBOX 35 PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION making tramways safer and more reliable. Why don’t we still use trailers?; Beware Warners (Midlands), Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK developers who try to hijack tram schemes. TRAm-TRAIN: joined-up thinking 21 LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up Experts from SYSTRA examine the benefits CLASSIC : ’s tram party 36 members of the Light Rail Transit Association. of tram-train, offering case studies of Mike Russell reviews the street party held to successful schemes in France and the UK. mark 150 years of trams in Brno. LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY Brian Lomas [email protected] [email protected] It’s OK making promises, but you have to deliver… Subscriptions, MEMBERSHIP and back issues LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Since our last cover feature, commuters in Canada’s capital have had the Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 month from hell. The new LRT system Vic Simons visited in September had [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info a few glitches, but appeared to be doing what it was designed to do – moving for CORPORATE Subscriptions VISIT thousands of passengers from the inner urban areas into the city’s core. www.mainspring.co.uk It looked like CAD2.1bn well-spent, and in the long run it surely will be. But after a month of serious delays and disruptions related to malfunctioning systems, LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 4TU, UK. vehicle doors and switches – problems the operator says it didn’t experience during testing Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 – there has a barely been a day without delays that have left passengers queuing in the cold. in England and Wales. Perhaps the pressure on politicians after high-profile and expensive delays forced an LRTA Chairman – Paul Rowen opening before it was fully ready. One could also argue that there needed to be a longer [email protected] period of parallel running before removing the buses – an extra month or two may have © LRTA 2019 eased the pain. But that hasn’t stopped commuters being frustrated and annoyed, and Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also taking to social media to lambast both the operator and local officials. This does nothing later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution to promote the reputation of light rail. is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the All of these issues will be resolved, but the key takeaway has to be: if you make promises opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of then you have to deliver. Ottawa’s LRT ambitions are impressive and these are massive the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. engineering undertakings. The expertise is there to deliver these kind of mega-projects, No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including and we need to continue to pursue them if we are to achieve our goal of removing cars photocopying, recording or by any information storage and from ever-more congested city cores. retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from The results of the UK’s General Election will be known by the time you read this. the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the The incumbent Conservatives have promised money for urban transport, including light magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. rail, and – importantly – the word ‘tram’ appears in other manifestos too. Will these promises turn into actual cash under a new Government? We must remain hopeful... COVER: The first phase of the T11 Express service, In the meantime, seasons greetings from from everyone at TAUT, and wishing you all a Epinsay-sur-Seine – Le Bourget, opened in June 2017. very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! Simon Johnston, Editor The full line is to be completed in 2023. C. Recoura

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org january 2020 / 3 News Europe opens 11 extensions Over 40km of new tramway routes inaugurated across the continent in final weeks of 2019

he last six weeks of 2019 saw the opening of 11 new tramway extensions across Europe, this year notT all fixed on the traditional international timetable change date of 15 December. Nice kicked off the list on 13 November when the first 3.8km (2.4 miles) of its third tramline, T3, was inaugurated to Saint-Isidore (budget EUR56.8m). From Digue de Français it uses existing line T2 tracks to reach the airport, and thus is one of those tramlines that goes nowhere near the city centre; six Citadis provide a 12-minute service. An estimated 12 000 passengers/day are expected by the end of 2020 and an extension from Saint-Isidore to Lingostiere is planned. Three days later, and amid early winter snowfall, Saint-Étienne celebrations in Antwerpen as Midlands Metro uses a fleet of The opening ceremony for Nice tramline 3 on 13 November. SNTAN extended line T3 over 4.3km the Flemish capital introduced CAF Urbos trams, retrofitted with (2.7 miles) of new tracks from Gare its new line 1 from Station Zuid onboard batteries. from the existing Nieuwegein de Châteaucreux to rue Bergson to P+R Luchtbal in the north, A new international tram line (with its original high-floor via Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, using 3.5km (two miles) of new service was to start on 14 LRVs), though the latter will be from where it runs to a common tracks passing Operaplein on the December, running from the replaced during 2020 to permit terminus with line T2 at Terrasse. surface at Italiëlei (interchange Swiss city of Genève (the standardised through operation. Moving east, 22 November with subway trams) and along border at Moillesulaz has long The 1km (0.6-mile) extension saw France’s second city, Lyon, Noorderlaan to a common been served by trams) east to of Grenoble T1 south from open its new EUR161m tramline terminus with line 6. Line 24 the French town of Annemasse Échirolles/Denis Papin to Pont- T6 from Debourg to Hôpitaux Est also started using new tracks to (initially 2km/1.2 miles to de-Claix/L’Étoile was set to open Pinel, 6.7km (4.2 miles). Debourg Havenhuis in the redeveloping Parc Montessuit). Line 17 was on 20 December. Grenoble is still provides interchange with metro docklands area. introduced linking Lancy operating the original Alstom line B and tram T1, and along the Britain’s second city, Pont-Rouge and Annemasse. TFS low-floor trams dating from way there are interchanges with Birmingham, has extended its This is part of an improvement 1987, though line T1 generally T4 and T2. Six Alstom Citadis 302 tracks west by 840m from New in cross-border travel, with the uses the newer and longer Citadis. trams in a new livery with red Street station (Grand Central) coincident inauguration of the A couple of other extensions are side panels from the TCL fleet of to Centenary Square (for the RER service Léman Express due to open before the end of the 73 are used. International Convention from Coppet in Switzerland via year, though precise dates were December started with the Centre and Symphony Hall). Genève Cornavin and Eaux-Vives not available as we went to press. opening on Monday 2 of the A full ‘shadow service’ was (new rail link) to Annemasse and In Spain, Vitoria-Gasteiz’s southern extension of Vienna introduced on 1 December Évian-les-Bains. tramline will run beyond the line D from Hauptbahnhof Ost to and the line should be open to On the same day, back in Nice, existing terminus at Angulema Absberggasse (1.1km/0.7 miles) passengers as you read this. line 2 was completed by opening a further 1.7km (1.05-mile) to where there is interchange with Only tracks have been built, for the subway extension from Jean reach Universidades. The final lines 6 and 11. A seven-minute this extension is the first stretch Médecin to Port Lympia (1.6km). French opening of the year will service is provided at peaks. of UK tramway created exclusively Staying in France, the 3.5km be of the Gargan – Montfermeil On 8 December there were for catenary-free running; West (2.2-mile) extension of Bordeaux branch of Paris (SNCF) line T4. line D from Quinconces to This year marked a record year Mairie de Boucat was also to open for all-new tramway systems, but on 14 December. as the above shows, in Europe Utrecht was to see the first alone around 40km (25 miles) trams on the Uithof line 22, of extensions were to open to planned for 16 December. passengers in two months. This 8km (five-mile) route Finally, there was a German from Centraal Centrumzijde tramway closure on 15 December to Science Park P+R in the when the 2km (1.2-mile) university complex in the single-track ‘Vicinal’ section of eastern suburbs was delayed Bochum-Gelsenkirchen line 310 because of the need to relay track through the Kaltehardt woods through the city centre due to was closed. This rare closure was incorrect installation. to permit the line to be diverted For the first few months at least onto a new alignment through West Midlands Metro Urbos 23 undertaking testing in Victoria Square on the Uithof line (with low-floor Langendreer suitable for use by 22 November. G. Bannister trams) will be operated separately low-floor trams.

4 / JANUARY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Metrolink TPL Controversy continues begins test runs Testing of the Trafford Park Line (TPL) of Greater ’s over Bucharest tram order Metrolink network (UK) began on 10 November. Initial trials ran Domestic supplier claims Turkish rival has not met tender specifications at night, with trams operating at low speed on the section between ontroversy continues Pomona and Warren Bruce Road. in the placement of This programme is to be followed a firm order for 100 by driver training, to begin new trams for the early in 2020, with trams able to RomanianC capital, Bucureşti progressively cover more of the (Bucharest), following the news 5.5km (3.4-mile) extension. that Turkish company Durmazlar It is anticipated that service on has been awarded preferred the new six-stop route will start bidder status for the RON856m during the first half of 2020. contract (approx. EUR180m). The city’s tender conditions, Metrolink services were published in December 2018, increased to every six minutes stated that ‘the average annual on main services until 21.00 turnover of the tenderer over in the pre-Christmas period the last three years shall be at to cater for shopping and least RON280m [EUR58.5m]’, entertainment in the city leading Arad-based Astra centre. The Christmas season Vagoane to partner with ’s is Metrolink’s busiest time of CRRC Qingdao Sifang to meet year with an additional 300 000 the criterion. Thus two offers Bucharest V3A 252 at the turning loop on Piata Unirii in late November 2019. passenger journeys made. were received: Durmazlar with Built in the 1970s, this type is now rapidly approaching life expiry. S. Johnston its Panorama model and the Doha opens Romanian-Chinese partnership centres around the length and The final decision was due as A preview service for the 14km using an adaptation of the width of vehicle matching the TAUT went to press. (8.7-mile) Gold line metro between Imperio vehicle supplied by tender requirements (Bucureşti Bucharest operator STB Ras Bu Abboud and Al Aziziyah in Astra Vagoane to its home city uses 2.4m-wide trams and currently has a roster of 486 Doha (Qatar) started on (a collaboration with Siemens). specified lengths of 36m, the trams, the oldest dating from 21 November. Following a stop-start Panorama is traditionally a the 1970s. The city’s mainstay The line is operated between tendering procedure, Durmazlar shorter, 2.65m wide platform vehicles are variants of the V3 06.00 and 23.00 Saturday- emerged as preferred bidder in and would have to be type built at the city’s workshops Thursday and 14.00-23.00 on Friday. Interchange is offered late November. However local significantly adapted for over a 20-year period. with the north–south Red line media reports that Astra Vagoane the Romanian capital), the at Msheireb. Mitsubishi and has contested the decision on specification of the required five Look out for a detailed article on KinkiSharyo have supplied a fleet the basis of non-compliance double-door configurations and tramway and metro development of three-car trainsets that are with the tender and queries over evidence of compliance with in Romania’s capital in the coming stabled in an underground depot. certification. Its main protest noise testing reports. months in TAUT. Voters approve major expansion in Houston The referendum on 10 November devised in response to Houston’s study into the implications of free car 336, one of the latest in Harris County, TX, saw projected growth; over the next fares are carried out. At present third-generation CAF LRVs in Houston, is seen at the inbound platform at the approval of MTA’s plan to issue 20 years it is anticipated that such revenue makes up 11.1% of Robertson TSU station. V. Simons USD3.5bn in bonds to fund new the city region’s population will the agency’s annual budget. transit projects, including the increase by around three million 25.6km (16-mile) extension of to ten million. the METRORail light rail service In 2017 the Census Bureau to William P. Hobby Airport. estimated that 58 000 workers The plans are part of the wider in Harris County resided in METRONext Moving Forward households with no vehicular programme that includes a access, with 20 000 regularly 120km (75-mile) BRT network, relying on public transport for 466km (290 miles) of bus route commuter journeys or access to enhancements, 21 new or educational institutions. improved park-and-ride sites, METRORail is currently a and accessibility improvements three-line LRT network in and across the network. METRO plans around downtown Houston. to invest USD4.1bn in the BRT The first (Red) line opened in service and another USD1.5bn in 2004 and was joined by two operating and maintenance costs further lines, Purple and Green, between 2020 and 2040. in 2015. Further extensions to Funding for the full USD7.5bn the network came in 2017. initiative is expected from Plans to award a USD37m matching federal grants and contract for a new fares system future revenue. MetroNEXT was have been postponed while a

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org JANUARY 2020 / 5 News Santiago repairs to cost EUR339m Chilean protests ‘destroy’ large parts of the city’s metro network, delaying future investment plans

he reconstruction 2025, while the launch of lines 8 of Santiago’s Metro (19km/12 miles Los Leonas – following the violent El Peral) and 9 (17km/ 11 miles uprisings that swept Santa Lucia – Gabriela) have been throughT Chile in October and delayed by a year to April 2027. November are expected to cost Two-thirds of the EUR5.85bn the city EUR339m. investment in the three new lines The protests began on is government-financed. 18 October with organised mass Similarly, the 4km (2.5-mile) fare evasion in response to a expansion of line 4, with three proposed 4% peak-time fare new stations, has been delayed increase on the Metro (balanced by a year; this is now scheduled by reduction in off-peak fares). for completion in May 2027. These quickly spiralled into mass Ongoing works on lines 2 and 3 civil unrest related to increased have been affected to a lesser living costs, privatisation and degree, with both projects social inequality. Arson, looting pushed back to the summer of and vandalism were seen across 2023. Whether these plans will the country, leaving 26 dead, change further remains to be an estimated 3000 injured and Baquedano station in Santiago offers interchange between lines 1 and 5 of the seen however, as transportation metro; it was badly vandalised during the October protests. J. Englart / CC BY-SA 2.0 over EUR1.35bn in losses for budgets face additional pressure businesses. Eighty of the capital’s a priority as the 19.3km (12-mile) Much of line 4 will have to be from a refocusing of government 136 metro stations were damaged, line 1 is the network’s busiest and “effectively rebuilt”, Metro de spending towards social with 11 described as ‘destroyed’. accounts for 36% of the operating Santiago said, expecting works measures as demanded by the Most of the costs are related income of Metro de Santiago. to continue until March 2020 as population. These include higher to system repairs (EUR205.5m), By 4 November, six of the electrical and signalling systems basic pensions and an increase in with civil works estimated at seven lines were back in service; require replacement. the minimum wage. EUR95.5m and rolling stock all lines offered a partial service As the repairs are largely Economic growth projections repairs at EUR38m. Seven trains by the start of December, uncovered by insurance, for the country, in decline were set on fire during the although trains were still not expansion plans are being delayed before October and November’s protests. stopping at the most damaged as a result, with the budget for the uprising, have been downgraded Over the weekend of 19-20 stations. Riders complained of coming years being ‘readjusted’. as the country’s Finance October, the entire network delays of up to three hours for These include the opening of Ministry has revised its 2019 was closed for the first time in some journeys during November line 7 (25km/15.5 miles Brasil – growth forecast from 2 to 1.4%; its history, with line 1 partially and the operator claimed that Estoril), which has been pushed the 2020 figure has been revised reopening on 21 October. This was ridership had fallen by over 50%. back 11 months to December from 2.3% to 1-1.5%.

Torino Metro to grow The Italian Government has First phase of LRT launched committed EUR828m towards the construction of Torino’s Passenger service on Jakarta’s commuter rail network serving Province in August 2018. (Turin’s) second metro line, 26.5km first light rail line began on greater Jakarta. The 23.4km (14.5-mile) (16.5 miles) from Rebaudengo 1 December, a 5.8km (3.6-mile) Helping to alleviate chronic Palembang line opened on to Anselmetti. The state will route that links the industrial jams in one of the most traffic- time, using three-section contribute towards the EUR3bn and commercial areas of Kelapa congested cities in the world, the trains supplied by domestic project over a 12-year period, Gading in the north of the city line joins MRT Jakarta, a 16km manufacturer PT INKA. starting in 2020. Construction is with residential areas to the east. (ten-mile) heavy metro line A separate elevated expected to begin in 2021, with an opening in 2028. Mostly elevated, the new light that opened in March and runs standard-gauge light rail Two additional stations on the metro uses an initial eight through the main central and network, known as Jabodebek 13.2km (8.2-mile) line 1 are already two-car trains supplied by southern business districts. LRT (see TAUT 984 for details) under construction, with a further Hyundai Rotem. This is the The new LRT Jakarta line is planned to open in phases, extension to Rvoili planned. Line 2 first phase of a planned 20km was scheduled to open ahead beginning in 2021. This eventual will offer interchange with line 1 at (12.4-mile) line that will of the Asian Games co-hosted 43km (26.7-mile) network Porta Nuova. eventually include a link to by Jakarta and the city of will connect the city with its Paris Metro joint venture the airport and with the old Palembang in rapidly-expanding suburbs. A consortium of Alstom and Bombardier is to supply up to 410 new trainsets for the Paris Metro; a base EUR530m order for 30 five-car 76m walkthrough ’s South East Light Rail opens to passengers trainsets for line 10, and 14 four-car 60.9m trains for lines 7b and 3b A dummy timetable on the 13km that while the trams will operate In other news, the NSW was confirmed on 29 November. (eight-mile) South East Light until 01.00 at weekends, it is Government has exercised its The trainsets, designated MF19, are Rail route in Sydney, Australia, prepared to run later services if option with Northwest Rapid to enter service in 2024-26. began from 10 November, with the demand is there as part of Transit for the operation of the Assembly will take place at the opening date between its efforts to bolster the city’s North West metro line extension Alstom’s Valenciennes facility and Circular Quay and Randwick night-time economy. The branch to Bankstown. Consortium Bombardier’s Crespin factory. set for 14 December. The NSW to Kingsford, with a a further five member Alstom will supply 23 Government has announced stops, will not open until March. more six-car trains in 2023-24.

6 / JANUARY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Bolzano tram scheme moves ahead Italian city approves studies, although referendum complicates final steps for two-line tramway

elebrations were seen the results of an EUR853 400 in the Italian city of feasibility and engineering study. Bolzano on 15 December, A 7.2km (4.5-mile) east–west as the firstRailjet train line will be served by two routes linkC to the Austrian cities of with a common section between Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz and Stazione FS and Bivio Merano. Wien (Vienna) was introduced, From there L1 will continue to particularly pleasing those who Ospedale while L2 will run to remember the city’s history as Ponte d’Adige railway station part of the Austrian province on the Merano line; a 1.3km of Südtirol (the service also (0.8-mile) section of tramline in runs to Milano in the opposite the historic city centre will be direction). catenary-free and the planned Another reason for celebration double-ended trams will run was the news that the project to here on battery power. An impression of the future Bolzano tram at Bivio Merano railway station. tramBZ build a new tramline in the city Line L2 will run every 30 is moving forward. Bolzano was minutes; L1 will have a ten-minute It is hoped the first trams will upcoming elections are also once the centre of a network of service. The total cost of the carry passengers in 2025. complicating this process. tramways connecting the villages project is EUR192m, including The remaining doubt is the Another reason to visit Bolzano of the South Tyrol, opened in an allocation of EUR25m for result of a referendum held on is that it is the starting point of the 1909 and closed in 1948. The 20 double-ended trams with a 24 November intended to cable car to Soprabolzano, where launch of the website TramBZ.it capacity for 260 passengers. endorse the new Sustainable the isolated Renon tramway will keep people up to date with The national government and the Mobility Plan (including the can be found serving the link the project, the plans for which city will each provide EUR40m, tramway). On a turn-out of to Collalbo/Klobenstein, with were released on 6 November after with the balance coming from 32%, 70% voted No. The result stunning views of the Dolomite local authorities had digested the Sustainable Mobility Fund. is not legally binding, although mountains along the way. Hydrogen trams enter service and begin testing

Although hydrogen fuel cell- cells, with five required for the EUR420 000) per vehicle if powered trams have been in first phase. undertaken on a larger scale. passenger operation for seven Meanwhile, Sankt Peterburg’s The cost of hydrogen to provide years in Oranjestad (Aruba), operator began testing of 1kWh of traction power would be the technology has seen little converted LM-68M2 tram 7657 RUB1.5 (EUR0.02), compared with progress elsewhere in the world (delivered in 1985 as 7535) on the RUB5.5 (EUR0.8) the operator in the intervening years… 1 November. The experimental currently pays for electricity. 2020 may change all that. single-section tram is the Test running on the initial result of a partnership between California’s San Bernadino Hydrogen fuel cell-converted 6.5km (four miles) of Foshan’s Gorelektrotrans and the Central County Transportation LM-68M2 on test in Sankt Peterburg in Gaoming line (China) continued Research Institute of Electrical & Authority (SBCTA) has ordered November. Gorelektrotrans in November (see TAUT 984) Marine Technology; its interior a hydrogen-powered FLIRT LRV ahead of the line’s entry into is divided into three sections: from Stadler (with an option the fuel cells and hydrogen commercial service in December. compartments for the fuel cell for four more) for the 14.4km tanks – will have a seated The full 17.4km (10.8-mile) line and hydrogen storage tanks and (8.9-mile) Redlands passenger capacity for 108 passengers, in on the west bank of the Xijiang an area for technicians with eight rail project linking San addition to generous standing River is intended to include 20 seats. The tram’s speed is limited Bernadino Transit Center with room. The projected top speed stops when completed in 2020; to 10km/h (6mph) for the trials. Redlands University. is 130km/h (79 mph). The new the first phase will serve ten. Gorelektrotrans estimates the The FLIRT H2 unit – two hydrogen train follows on from CRRC Sifang is supplying eight cost to retrofit its trams could passenger cars with a power three diesel-electric FLIRT units trams powered by Ballard fuel be reduced to RUB30m (around pack in between that features ordered by SBCTA in 2017.

Napoli trams to restart NEWS IN PICTURES Warsaw votes for the ‘smiling’ tram The 13km (eight-mile) tramway Tramwaje Warszawskie (TW) confirmed the result of in Napoli (Italy), suspended a public vote on the styling of its new fleet of Hyundai for several years due to a variety Rotem trams in late November. The majority of the of roadworks, was due to re-open vote (69%), held between 25-30 October, came out in before Christmas. favour of the third option, known as the ‘smiling’ tram. The first tests on line 4, Corso TW signed a PLN1.825bn (EUR427m) base order San Giovanni – Via Colombo, using for 123 new low-floor trams with the Korean one of the 22 Sirio trams, took place manufacturer in June 2019, including 85 double-ended in late September. The other two and 18 single-ended 32.5m-long trams and 20 24m lines, 1 (Poggioreale – Via Colombo) single-ended versions. There are options for a further and 2 (San Giovanni – Piazza 45 double-ended and 45 single-ended trams, both of Nazionale), were due to reopen

Tramwaje Warszawskie Tramwaje 32.5m length. shortly afterwards.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org JANUARY 2020 / 7 News

Siemens wins Portugal’s second Nuremberg tram order CRRC to gain first city to give Chinese Siemens has confirmed an order from Nuremberg transport manufacturer its big operator VAG for 12 four-section break in light rail 36.9m Avenio trams for delivery European order? by the end of 2022. The EUR44m contract includes options for up etro do Porto has shift in fighting climate change. to 75 additional vehicles. The fleet reportedly selected Season tickets now account will be used to enhance services CRRC Tangshan for 75% of revenue, up from and cater for network expansion. as preferred bidder 67%. This growth in patronage, The 2.4m-wide trams will be Mto supply 18 low-floor LRVs to alongside cost savings from a 90% recyclable and feature a revised interior design with LED cater for significant ridership reduction in disposable single lighting throughout and high-speed growth and projected expansion tickets, have compensated for the passenger Wi-Fi. of its tramway. The Chinese reduced fares. VAG has secured more than manufacturer was shortlisted One less positive effect of EUR25m in funding from the State in April 2019 alongside such a sharp rise is that it has of Bavaria towards its acquisition Škoda and Siemens, although placed strain on the fleet, which of new trams and U-Bahn trains. Portuguese transport publication since September has been using The grants will cover around 40% of the cost of the base tram order Transportes em Revista reports it all available cars for passenger and around 25% of the cost of new was disqualified in August for service. If the trend continues, trains for U-Bahn line U1. bidding irregularities only to be the importance of an enhanced reinstated in November. delivery schedule for new trams Konya concession granted Offering a variant of the is of even more importance. for city’s first metro line low-floor cars supplied to Izmir A formal announcement A consortium formed by China (Turkey), CRRC Tangshan is said of the contract is expected in Porto’s newest LRVs were delivered National Machinery, domestic by Bombardier in 2009; the 30 Flexity contractor Taşyapı and the to be ahead of next-highest bidder December, with delivery of the Škoda in terms of price and design first trams envisaged by early Swift vehicles joined the system’s state’s General Directorate of original 72 Eurotram fleet. Neil Pulling Infrastructure Investments but behind in the technical 2021 ahead of entry into service (AYGM) has been awarded a specifications, which account for by the end of the same year. point as a platform for future EUR1.19bn concession to build the 40% of the overall ranking. It is Metro do Porto’s existing fleet business on the continent. first metro line in Konya, in reported that its bid of EUR49.6m, of 72 Eurotram LRVs are also Metro do Porto also expects to central-west Turkey. against EUR56m from Škoda – to be refurbished to improve award contracts soon for two new The 21.1km (13.1-mile) line alongside its ability to deliver accessibility and increase their extensions as part of a EUR307m is to have 22 stations, from the city’s University in the west to more quickly than its rivals – capacity; built by Bombardier expansion programme (see TAUT Meam Belediyesi via the high- places CRRC firmly in the lead. in Portugal, these low-floor 978). Work is to start in 2020 speed railway station that offers Ridership on the six-line articulated cars were delivered on the 3.2km (two-mile) Yellow connections to Istanbul and system has grown by around for the system’s opening. line and a 2.5km (1.55-mile) Ankara. Completion is due by the 20% since April 2019, following CRRC subsidiaries have made underground in the end of 2023. reductions in fares of up to 50% it clear that they seek a major city centre. Adding six stations to A second line is planned by as part of nationally-funded European vehicle order to give the network, the first opening is converting the existing north-south policies to encourage modal the conglomerate a key reference planned for 2023. tram route 1 to metro standards, including the creation of new underground sections. Laurent Dauby Laurent Dauby, UITP’s Director Zürich receives first newFlexity tram of Rail Transport and a respected The first seven-section 43m A fleet of 70 such vehicles are Zürich’s traditional wooden expert on light rail, died suddenly in early November. Bombardier Flexity 100% on order, with an option for a seats are fitted, alongside Mr Dauby spent 23 years low-floor single-ended tram further 70, representing the enhancements such as USB promoting active travel, public (Be6/8 4001) was delivered first new design for VBZ in charging and LED lighting. transport use, and a reduction in by road to Zürich’s central 20 years. The 2.4m-wide trams The floor height is 350mm at car dependency. During his time at workshops in Altstetten during are carried on four bogies, three entrances. The trams are also fitted UITP he led the association’s light the night of 12-13 November. of which are powered by two with Bombardier’s ODAS collision rail and suburban/regional rail It was ready to run, and shown 110kW asynchronous motors warning and braking system. divisions; managed its Guidelines to the press on 15 November, to deal with gradients up to 8%. When the first 70 arrive over the for LRT Planning, Design and Construction and was the Director but will not enter service until Inside there are 91 seats and next five years they will be put of Knowledge Services. summer 2020. It should be seen space for an additional into service on lines 7, 11 and 14. In 2013, he returned to the on city streets during test runs 188 standing passengers (at The new trams were position closest to his heart as before the end of 2019. four passengers/m2). tendered in 2011 but due to Director of Rail Transport. a disagreement with the city French strike disruption council they were not formally Early December saw major ordered until March 2017. disruption as strikes and The CHF358m (EUR325.5m) demonstrations against pension contract was placed in order to reform swept across France. start replacing the Tram-2000 Public transport across the generation dating from 1976-87. country was affected, including Under the original timescale metro, tramway and RER lines in deliveries should have begun the capital. Reports suggested up to a year ago to be ready for the 11 Paris Metro lines would be closed completely and other cities’ systems expansion of the network in 2019, were also severely disrupted. instead of which VBZ has been State railway operator SNCF struggling with a tram shortage, cancelled 90% of regional trains met in part by reinstating two on 5 December. Mirage cars from the heritage fleet The first Zürich Flexity makes a circuit of the workshops. IrakII into passenger service.

8 / JANUARY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Ottawa LRT chaos forces bustitution A month of major technical issues plague Canadian city’s showpiece transportation project

ttawa’s new Experts have been brought in 12.5km (7.8-mile) to investigate the causes of the Confederation line computer issues and operational saw weeks of serious changes have been made to help Odisruption in late October and crews reset the system faster. Door throughout November, with the opening systems have also been city forced to set aside a dedicated adjusted and extra staff allocated fleet of buses to help transport to monitor switches at Tunney’s passengers during the delays. Pasture and Blair stations. The key causes of the technical The city reorganised its services issues relate to the computerised around the new line on 6 October, signalling, onboard systems that removing approximately 180 control LRV movements, doors on The R1 bus service fleet was rolled out from 2 December, clearly marked as a buses from parallel services and the new Citadis Spirit vehicles and replacement for the disrupted Confederation light rail line. City of Ottawa cancelling several routes from the rail switches. Problems frequently suburbs into the downtown core. occurred during weekday and maintains the line. Millions the new line, which opened to As a result, disruption to the LRT peaks, leading to stalled service, of dollars in payments have been great fanfare on 14 September. service has caused a ripple effect crowded stations and thousands withheld from the consortium This fleet is staged at Raymond across the whole transit system. of commuters taking to social since September. Chabot Grant Thornton The onset of winter weather media to vent their frustrations. During the worst of the Stadium, near Tremblay station, and sub-zero temperatures has Operator OCTranspo insists disruption, Transit Commission and can be deployed quickly not helped matters; additional the problems did not manifest Chair Allan Hubley said: “We without drawing resources from snow-clearing equipment has themselves during testing of the don’t want anybody freezing in other routes. These 20 buses been installed at the line’s ten line in the summer, nor during a snowbank or unsure if they can are on top of an additional 40 above-ground stations. the first three weeks of operation. get to work in the morning… That’s committed in mid-November. An external audit process has Many city politicians have laid not the system we asked for.” Although the number of delays been launched. the blame with Rideau Transit Beginning on 2 December, was reduced in early December, Maintenance (RTM) – part of the OCTranspo introduced 20 buses RTM is as yet unable to commit to For more on the Confederation Rideau Transit Group that built to be on-call for delays related to when the issues will be resolved. line, see TAUT 984. Crossrail’s London tunnels to open in 2021 London’s GBP18bn the overground Paddington (EUR21.3bn) Elizabeth line will – Reading section, with the not open through its central firstAventra EMUs running in core in 2020, but “as soon as late November and Transport practically possible in 2021”, for London taking over local Crossrail Ltd has announced. services from Great Western A more definite opening date is Railway on 15 December. expected early in 2020. When Crossrail opens Inauguration of the east-west throughout, its trains will run route across the UK capital from Reading and Heathrow had already been delayed from Airport in the west, through December 2018, but an opening 42km (26 miles) of tunnels TRIC EC R L A E I X L in 2020 had previously been under central London, to W N A A

Y Y

M

M thought possible. However, Sheffield and Abbey Wood in services have now started on the east.

Moskva commuter lines open The first two Moskva Central that total over RUB700bn Diameter commuter rail (EUR21.3bn) for 2020-22. lines (Russia) opened on These include completing 21 November. MCD-1 is 52km the 69km (33-mile) circular

AN (32.3 miles) from Belorussko to line 11; Delovoy Tsentr – M RA F I O L W E A Savelovsky with eight stations, Khoroshyovskaya would work LL YY SS

I I

MCD-2 is 80km (50 miles) as a branch, becoming part of from Kursk to Riga with 11 the future line 13 in 2025. stations. Both new lines offer Other schemes include a interchange with the Moskva 3.7km (2.3-mile) connection Central Circle (MCC) and the of line 8’s eastern and western metro. Services use 39 Oriole sections between Delovoy EMUs from Transmashholding. Tsentr and Tretyakovskaya. The city has also confirmed A link to Vnukovo Airport is metro investment plans planned in the longer term.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org JANUARY 2020 / 9 UK Light Rail policy UKtram: DRIVING A UK AGENDA The role of local ‘champions’, informed and empowered transport authorities, light rail funding and delivery were all up for discussion when TAUT met new UKTram Chairman George Lowder MBE.

he need for a UK-wide light rail strategy and a clear narrative around what it can deliver are “critical”. This is the view of the new Chair of UKTram. TGeorge Lowder MBE has plenty of experience he can draw upon for his new role, as his ‘day job’ involves leading Transport for Edinburgh (TfE). TfE is the Arms Length Company responsible for enacting the mobility policies of the Scottish capital and its population of over half a million residents. He is clearly enthusiastic for his own city’s prospects for sustainable growth and is a strong advocate for its overarching transport objectives, including, of course, expansion of the now-successful tramway. “Edinburgh is growing by about 7500 new Edinburgh’s tramway experienced a “difficult permanent residents per year," he explains. genesis” according to UKTram Chair George Lowder "Our neighbouring authorities are growing (left), but city transport would now be unimaginable apace, because it’s clearly easier to develop without it. An extension to the initial line is underway in the more open spaces given that the city is – with more planned. TAUT / Transport for Edinburgh pretty well developed already. “The city has an aspiration to put the tram network back in, probably not too dissimilar “Cities are expanding, in size and scale to the system that came out in the mid-1950s. It still has to sit alongside urbanisation is increasing, other modes of course, but we’ve hung our hat on the fact that the tram is going to form populations are both the backbone of this integrated system.” It’s this growth – and the similar challenges growing and ageing. of moving people more effectively, more efficiently and more safely faced by regions We need to deliver across the country – that Mr Lowder sees replicated in other cities, and is a key driver against that.” of his decision to take over the leadership of UKTram in July 2019. The time is right for light rail concluded that while light rail systems were A highly-decorated military man with On the realism of developing a national succeeding in getting people out of cars, costs over 35 years’ service, he brings a similarly strategy for light rail development, something were too high and a lack of integration wasn’t pragmatic approach to his new role: “There’s many have argued toward for decades, allowing them to reach their full potential. a solid strategy and a good high-level vision Mr Lowder is very clear in how he feels the The report went on to recommend that the for Edinburgh, and these policies are being current imperatives are creating the right Department for Transport (DfT) should take enacted to make it happen, along with space for this to happen: “We may have been the lead on reducing cost through greater adequate resource. Of course, you’d always in dialogue around this for 20 years, but we standardisation and implement measures like more resource as the more you have the didn’t have a proponent to draw all these to increase timetable reliability to improve faster you can do things or the more you can strands together and be ‘the voice’, the one services further. Thus UKTram was born. do. But clearly there’s difficulties in there for focal point. That’s changed with UKTram.” A decade on, another two systems had been the nation, Scotland and the city. The history of the trade body that built – both featuring delays and cost overruns “A lot of that is equally relevant across represents tramways and light rail systems – and the body was reconstituted with a wider the UK. Cities are expanding, urbanisation across the British Isles dates back to 2003. mandate and, importantly, greater resources is increasing, populations are both growing Its creation stems from concerns expressed through DfT funding. and ageing and the need for urban mobility by promoters that the ‘ad hoc’ nature of “Although a relatively new organisation has never been greater. We need to deliver the implementation of new systems was [in its current form], it’s now bedded-in to against that. Everyone is thinking about escalating costs and increasing risk for a position where it can lift its head a bit and all that in a context of sustainability and operators, developers and investors. start to do what it was designed to do. environmentally-friendly, clean, transport. These fears were crystalised in a 2004 We’re there or thereabouts now, so can focus The tram ticks all those boxes.” report by the UK’s National Audit Office that on the deliverables.”

10 / JANUARY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org One of the ‘deliverables’ he describes is approve it, adopt it, endorse it and celebrate it. providing the support and guidance required Until we’re in that place, we’re still going for other cities to realise the benefits that light to have that conundrum where people are rail has brought – and continues to bring – to doing ‘bottom-up’ projects without the cities and city regions such as London, necessary ‘top-down’ champions.” Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, “The other aspect is that if, say, Bristol or Sheffield, and Blackpool. But other cities were trying to build tramways at what are the key barriers to others who want the same time, have we got enough expertise to develop their own schemes? to go around? There’s a question mark around “Funding is a tricky one,” Mr Lowder that because there are always other major concedes. “Cities’ ambitions in general are infrastructure projects in and around any city. only constrained by their resourcing, and I That may bring potential constraints around suppose the availability of service industries the availability of industry partners to do this. to do this stuff. But there are alternatives to Then we’ve got this European uncertainty and central government finance. the whole issue of Brexit that certainly isn’t “There’s the ‘build it and they will come’ helping anybody…” mechanism, and bits of Copenhagen and Of course, it’s not just vocal advocates others are really well vested in that approach at a national level that are required. Light as you see long stretches of new light rail rail schemes are very much locally-driven lines going across reclaimed land or initiatives and much of the success of the brownfield sites. Lo and behold, it’s not long UK’s existing systems is down to identifying until the developers arrive. and harnessing strong local proponents. “There’s also land value capture, where the Indeed, one of the lessons we can take from value of land around a potential route can the renaissance of light rail around the world be harnessed to help pay for the scheme. over the past 30 years is that it has been Local authorities often own a lot of land driven to a large extent by prominent local around old suburban railway lines, so that’s political or business leaders – light rail and a very viable option that’s being used in the tramway evangelists if you will. north-east of England, Canada and elsewhere Mr Lowder argues that giving appropriate as we speak. It may not pay for all of your new powers to cities is also vital: “A properly- network, but it will certainly help. Committed and resilient local champions are vital empowered local transport body or regional “If you start to look at some of these options to the success of major infrastructure schemes. transport partnership can help enable all this light rail can be affordable, we just need to One such pivotal figure is Pat Armstrong – now retired, and facilitate integration. Nottingham is a he was the original Nottingham Express Transit give people the confidence to do it. good example with its Workplace Parking Levy. Project Director for the city’s council. S. Johnston “We’re lucky to have Transport for That generates revenue that’s going back into Edinburgh which owns a successful bus transport and helping to build the tramway. company and a successful tram company and “The joining it up piece is Nottingham’s tramway also includes things can leverage those assets to fund the tramway’s like big park-and-ride sites at the ends of the expansion. Currently, the rate of prudential still a challenge, but you lines – that’s smart joined-up thinking. borrowing for authorities is pretty low (about “The joining it up piece is still a challenge, 1.3%). European funding is also presumably have to have a mechanism but you have to have a mechanism whereby going to dry up at some point fairly soon, so whereby that thinking that thinking can happen. That could be yes, resourcing is important, but that shouldn’t through ‘Directors of Place’, a visionary be the major constraint in my mind.” can happen. That could be mayor, or even a council that really ‘gets Prudential borrowing allows local it’. The cities who think like that, and who authorities to borrow money for capital through ‘Directors of behave like that, will probably succeed [in projects from the UK’s Public Works Loan their light rail aspirations] first. There’s plenty Board (PWLB), a statutory body that issues Place’, a visionary mayor, of cities who are starting to think like that and loans from the National Loans Fund within a really deliver in that space.” policy framework set by HM Treasury. Low, or even a council that Identifying these local champions and fixed interest rates are linked to the gilt-edged giving them the evidence to make soundly- market. As well as financing major projects, really ‘gets it’.” based decisions is where Mr Lowder sees this form of borrowing has seen authorities across the country embark on a spree of large commercial property purchases in recent years. The revenues from these investments are helping to plug the gap in delivering services left by a fall in central government subsidies. Proponents argue that this has enabled investments that support regeneration that may not have been possible otherwise. Critics have suggested it creates the potential for a ‘risky credit bubble’, with councils becoming – at least in balance sheet terms – property companies first and local service providers second. It is worth noting that these rates rose by one percentage point in November 2019.

The need for a national ‘narrative’ Once an overarching policy is agreed, the next step is clear communication: “The resourcing issue would be resolved if there was a clear national strategy for light rail,” Mr Lowder argues. “But first we need the members of UKTram to agree what that is. After that we need a clear narrative and Ministers need to London Trams is another UK success story, carrying around 35m passengers each year. S. Johnston

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org JANUARY 2020 / 11 UK Light Rail policy

the city. It is also very highly-regarded by our visitors, of which we have around 4.5 million each year. So we have a peculiarity in this city, but I think we’ve got over that. “An awful lot of people travel widely now and will have experienced a fast, clean light rail connection from their port of arrival – most likely the airport or railway station. You don’t have to go very far to hear people telling you how good the transport systems are in other parts of the world, and often citing the tram as part of that. “I think it’s very much a truism that customers recognise the tram as a ‘clean’ and environmentally-friendly way to travel and I think people are increasingly considering that in their modal choice. “We obviously need to be careful not to patronise local authorities, who will be conducting their own wide-ranging public consultations on various transport options. But they will need a vision and a visionary, a chief proponent or champion, and then the broad backing of the population. If any guidance of conducting such consultations is needed, then UKTram is there to help them do that too.” Due to open in 2020, the 5.5km (3.4-mile) Trafford Park Line is the latest extension to Greater “I can see it being quite Manchester’s Metrolink network. The system is a Complement vs competition fantastic example of a common transport vision daunting for a city to come For light rail to have the greatest effect in crossing political boundaries. Courtesy of MPT driving modal shift it cannot operate in to the table and say ‘right, isolation, and Mr Lowder has clear views on its UKTram’s role – starting now: “Once we role within overall local transport strategies. have a national strategy and build a strong my folks have said they He also stresses the importance of having an narrative around that, we can then get out even playing field when authorities look at there and start saying to folks ‘if you agree want a tramway, but I have their options. then can you champion it and do all you “There’s no point writing a light rail strategy can do to impart this wisdom’. We need no experience of this, in isolation, or delivering it in isolation. So, to be more sophisticated in that influence in creating this national policy you’ve got to campaign to hit the right people, but and we’ve got no legacy have the right conversations with other modes you can’t have an influence and and other providers to understand how you communications campaign until you’ve knowledge’.” integrate and how you interoperate. got a strategy and a narrative.” “I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by how The logical ‘one-stop’ shop much co-operation and collaboration I’ve Influence through unity Mr Lowder goes on to elaborate how he seen here in Edinburgh. Transport operators The UK Government has long advocated sees the body as a ‘one-stop shop’ for advice in general are very amenable to working having a ‘single voice’ for light rail – and and guidance, from the early stages of with one another, particularly where there Mr Lowder argues that UKTram is now ready consultations and creating the business case, is an agreed, recognised need and where to be that conduit: “We’ve got to get the through to construction and operations. there’s enough demand to meet a number members, and others, to collaborate and to “I can see it being quite daunting for a of aspirations. Of course organisations are have a common view of the world. Within city to come to the table and say ‘right, commercially sensitive, and rightly so, and that there may well be compromise, but my folks have said they want a tramway, there’s competition law which we must generally speaking I think there is a broad but I have no experience of this and we’ve all be cogniscent of, but I have been very, consensus about where we’re all headed – for got no legacy knowledge. We’ve not got very pleasantly surprised with the level of the greater good and mutual benefit of all some transport planners in the back office collaboration that exists. those who are contributing. You will always who did this ten years ago’ – that could be a “Take something like Uber, for example. have a few naysayers who may say “you can’t real challenge. Every bus, tram or rail journey is going to end do it like that,” but that’s life. “So instead of every city, regional or somewhere. There’s a destination, but that “Generally, most people are in the same transport authority doing everything for will unlikely be the ultimate destination of place and I don’t detect lots of divergent itself, wouldn’t it be helpful if there were a set the customer. But as long as they have safe, views. Maybe all those actors are looking for of templates where UKTram can say: efficient, sustainable options to get to where someone to bring it all together, someone to ‘This authority have just done this, here’s they’re going then that’s fine by me. We can lead and act as the catalyst. I think UKTram what they did and how they went about it. help stitch together that complementarity can do that. It comes back to coming of age This went well, that might help you work and I think light rail has a major part to play and having the right resource and the right through this issue faster etc. That would in heavily-built cities where other options, people to actually deliver against our aims certainly improve timelines and the faster such as heavy rail, are not going to work… and objectives. delivery of new tramways.” or where you don’t want to just keep putting “There’s significant pressure at all levels – On the subject of timelines, new systems more buses onto the already struggling and strategic, national, local – to deliver solutions have a reputation amongst some for being congested road network. to people’s concerns about the environment overly-expensive, disruptive and not the “Some of the new technologies out there and the need for better transport. Everybody’s most cost-efficient way of spending ever more have got a little way to go before they are got a target and, while some often feel like constrained local public finances. How is legislated for and before we fully benefit from they’re moving targets, it would be good to UKTram altering that perception? them. Some are going to be disruptors along have a bit of coherence amongst them. Those “A fair point, but look at the situation here the way. They are coming, but are they all are the sort of conversations we need to be in Edinburgh. After a difficult genesis, the tram coming at once? Probably not. So we need to having with government.” is now, mostly, well-regarded by the citizens of be mindful of them – it’s a question of when,

12 / JANUARY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org not if they arrive – but we’ve got enough UK LIGHT RAIL STATISTICS time to properly consider their implications Financial Passenger km Passenger Passenger Passenger revenues (GBP/m – and how we integrate them into wider year (m) miles (m) journeys (m) adjusted to 2019 prices) transport strategies.” “Some may never come to fruition, because 1983-84 294.9 183.2 56.0 32.9 they either don’t make economic sense, they 1984-85 328.5 204.1 63.2 33.8 don’t move people fast enough for people’s 1985-86 320.6 199.2 65.3 35.1 desires, or 101 other reasons where they don’t 1986-87 315.3 195.9 52.6 36.1 fit as part of the solution. But we shouldn’t 1987-88 300.8 186.9 50.3 37.1 close our mind to them, we just need to be in the business of reminding people of the 1988-89 356.4 221.5 57.4 43.4 success of the reality.” 1989-90 373.8 232.3 59.6 44.3 1990-91 340.6 211.7 57.4 40.8 Supporting that reality 1991-92 325.1 202.0 53.5 41.0 Concluding our discussion, we pose the 1992-93 372.9 231.7 59.1 53.9 million-dollar question: How many schemes does the new Chair of UKTram think we 1993-94 401.4 249.4 63.4 60.1 may realistically see get off the ground in the 1994-95 435.9 270.8 68.2 66.0 next ten years? 1995-96 464.3 288.5 73.2 74.6 With a smile, he replies: “That’s another 1996-97 495.6 308.0 78.2 82.0 tricky one and I don’t want anybody to hold 1997-98 518.8 322.3 83.7 90.4 me to this! I think it depends on the appetite of local authorities to really drive this kind of 1998-99 584.9 363.4 89.3 99.9 change. When finances are tight, are they going 1999-2000 667.2 414.6 98.2 108.8 to prioritise public transport over another 2000-01 823.4 511.5 123.6 138.9 public service? It all depends on the local 2001-02 850.6 528.5 132.2 150.0 circumstances and I think we need to recognise 2002-03 917.9 570.3 140.7 164.9 that cities have their own juggling acts around 2003-04 946.3 588.0 146.5 167.0 priorities. What we can do is support the logic trail that sits behind those decisions. 2004-05 1035.9 643.7 158.7 183.2 “We can help with the evidence that 2005-06 1058.0 657.4 163.4 191.6 allows them to make informed decisions and 2006-07 1134.1 7047 178.6 201.4 highlight that link between public transport, 2007-08 1197.5 744.1 186.2 212.6 development, place-making, employment, 2008-09 1205.4 749.0 188.6 211.8 social benefit and then getting on a positive upward spiral of economic improvement, 2009-10 1229.2 463.8 186.2 218.2 prosperity and growth. 2010-11 1268.8 788.4 196.5 240.4 “We can help make sure that any local 2011-12 1327.6 824.9 204.8 265.1 authority that’s thinking about light rail really 2012-13 1419.8 882.2 222.5 296.7 understands the impact and that the case for 2013-14 1484.5 922.4 227.1 314.2 transport investment has been well-made. If they take the bold step to build a new 2014-15 1605.7 997.7 238.2 336.7 tramway, they will also know there’s support 2015-16 1723.5 1071 257.1 368 and expertise backing it up to help them 2016-17 5.7 1146.9 273.3 387.3 deliver it. 2017-18 1824.0 1133.4 273.8 394.0 “One size is never going to fit all for the UK 2018-19 1881.6 1169.2 279.7 401.7 given the diversity of our cities and regions, Source: UK Department for Transport – www.gov.uk/government/collections/light-rail-and-tram-statistics and we should never close our minds to Notes: These figures are for UK only and do not include the London Underground and Subway. innovation. If there’s a good idea out there 1983-88: Blackpool Tramway and Tyne & Wear Metro only; Docklands Light Railway opened in August 1987; Manchester that’s going to add value then these things Metrolink opened in July 1992; Sheffield Supertram opened in March 1994; West Midlands Metro opened in May 1999; London should always be considered. However, Trams opened in May 2000; Nottingham Express Transit opened in March 2004; Edinburgh Trams opened in May 2014. against that you have thriving tram networks that are continuing to expand and grow and move more people year-on-year, so there’s “We shouldn’t close our mind to new technologies, we also a reality that we need to support – which could be perceived as light rail not getting the just need to remind people of the success of the reality.” recognition and support it deserves. “Once we recognise that regions are important, as cities are becoming full and people might want or have to live a bit further afield, then regional is the way we’re all going. If that is a truism, and I think it is, then we have to properly empower the right bodies to join all this stuff up. But that conversation will change in different parts of the country. “I think we can help, and if you can help someone they are generally receptive to your ideas.”

Find out more about the work of UKTram at www.uktram.com Close co-operation and integration between transport providers is vital as no single mode can guarantee door to door service – DLR, bus and Underground services all converge at Canning Town. Neil Pulling

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org JANUARY 2020 / 13 in your next issue of D. Wilson / CC BY 2.0 BY / CC Wilson D. what is your tramway and lrt SYSTEMS FACTFILE: tramway worth? openings in 2020 BERLIN Reg Harman offers a short critique of the Worldwide Editor Michael Taplin Neil Pulling looks at the role played by development and approvals process for unpacks his crystal ball for another year Berlin’s tramway in the context of the new tramways and light rail schemes in to make his predictions of the prospects German capital’s wide-ranging and the UK, and asks whether the full range of for new openings around the world fascinating public transport network that benefits are properly considered. over the coming 12 months. continues to unify a once-divided city. PLUS... FEBRUARY + Classic Trams: Gotha’s double anniversary 2020 issue + The latest news and analysis, rolling stock orders, system developments, and transport policy and industry comment from On sale around the world 17 January

TWO days of interactive debates... EIGHT hours of dedicated networking... European Light ONE place to be Rail Congress 10-11 June 2020 Ibercaja Patio de la Infanta – Zaragoza, Spain

The European Light Rail Congress brings together leading opinion-formers and decision-makers from across Europe for two days of debate around the role EU Light Rail Driving innovation of technology in the development of sustainable urban travel. With presentations and exhibitions from some of the industry’s most innovative suppliers and service providers, this congress also includes technical visits and over eight hours of networking sessions. For 2020, we are delighted to be holding the event in the city of Zaragoza in partnership with Tranvía Zaragoza, Mobility City and the Fundación Ibercaja.

+44 (0)1733 367600 @ [email protected] www.mainspring.co.uk Asset management TOWARDS ‘INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE’ Clive Pennington and Olga Evstafyeva of Amey share some insights into how technology has the power to transform light rail operations and maintenance strategies.

Clive Pennington discusses Remote Condition Monitoring developments at Manchester Metrolink: In 2002 I was part of the operations team tasked with supporting the construction and maintenance of Nottingham’s new tramway. At 14km (8.7 miles) long, with 23 stops and Laser equipment 15 trams, it was a small system with around measuring a tram tyre 4km (2.5 miles) of on-street-running. profile. SelectraVision During the design and construction phase, we spent a lot of time planning our ongoing maintenance strategy, fault reporting and Fast forward 15 years to 2017 when Building a business case condition monitoring. We had all the same the joint venture of Keolis and Amey Over the last few years, ‘intelligent concerns as today’s operators and maintainers (KeolisAmey Metrolink – KAM) was infrastructure’ has become an important in terms of looking after the assets, awarded the ten-year contract to operate buzzphrase for the rail industry. Embedded considering rail and component wear and and maintain the Metrolink light rail devices, linked by both fixed and wireless tear, and the interactions between vehicles network that serves Greater Manchester. infrastructure, now report the condition and infrastructure such as track and overhead The Transport for Greater Manchester of network assets through real-time alerts, lines. But, given the size of the system and the (TfGM) contractual specification included enabling faster, more effective maintenance. cost of the available technology at the time, a number of requirements, including a key Enabled by the IoT, ‘intelligent devices’ can manual inspection was the only real option commitment for the concessionaire to collect track assets 24 hours a day, seven days a week for monitoring asset condition – and this was asset condition information. In response by gathering real-time data through sensors, necessarily resource- and time-intensive. KAM gave commitments surrounding asset cameras, and other mobile technologies, and ‘Automated’ solutions for gathering asset management systems, processes and the feeding this data into analytics engines for data were available, but these were created collection of asset data – this would inform further processing. Such systems can monitor for heavy rail applications and capable of TfGM’s ongoing renewals programmes and temperature, motion, vibration, pressure, gathering data over hundreds of miles at and all manner of other criteria. Once speeds of up to 130km/h (80mph). this is collected, operators have a holistic Although this would have provided useful “[In 2002] there was no view of their networks to identify where information about our network, the cost maintenance is needed before components of the technology, either as a service or ‘Internet of Things’ and show signs of compromise and/or failure. purchase, was prohibitive. It wasn’t scalable data transmission While new-build networks around the to our requirements and the economies of world have some of this functionality scale just weren’t present for a system that networks just weren’t up to ‘built-in’ from construction, operators of could be walked in less than a day, or for established networks – often up to, and systems capable of measuring hundreds of the job without prohibitive beyond a century old – will traditionally have wheels in service when the fleet of 15 trams relied on intelligence gathered by personnel returned to the depot each night. levels of investment.” out in the field. Such personnel would Remote Condition Monitoring (RCM) transfer this knowledge via paper reports and data collection as we know it now was additionally be invaluable for the operator in detailing the integrity, safety, and compliance in its infancy. Remember that in 2002, the ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of of their vehicles and infrastructure. Keeping first BlackBerry smartphone had only just the network. It would also allow appropriate track of this information and using it to been released, iPods were still fairly radical resources to be dedicated to maintenance for inform investment decisions was often a technology for most people and 64-bit an ever-expanding light rail network – time-consuming and problematic process. processing power and 3G were still firmly now the UK’s largest, with almost 100km Whilst Metrolink may now be much in the ‘coming soon’ category. There was no (62 miles) of route, eight lines (nine in 2020), larger than Nottingham’s network of 2004 ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) and data transmission two depots and 120 trams (with another – allowing economies of scale to be realised networks just weren’t up to the job without 27 on order) and carrying around 120 000 more easily – the cost of the technology prohibitive levels of investment. passengers each day. is also now more affordable. These factors Technical and engineering opportunities for KeolisAmey Metrolink’s obligations combine to make a compelling business case. maintenance efficiencies were undoubtedly included automation of wheel and tyre With advances in sensor technology, limited, particularly for the then-small measurements; rail wear and track geometry; processing power, IoT and cloud computing, operations in the UK, so asset inspections were and video capture of strategic assets. Further RCM solutions have become more scalable carried out in the traditional manner with contractual requirements include monitoring and affordable – offering numerous track walks, manual measurement and daily of contact wire height, stagger and thickness, possibilities for the transport industry, checks of the trams in the depot. as well as monitoring tram ride quality. and light rail in particular. As part of the

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concessionaire, Amey’s Consulting division to these questions helped inform the business accordance with ISO 2631 (the International was employed to develop a range of solutions case and could do the same for authorities and Standard related to the evaluation of to meet KAM’s committed obligations, operators of all types of rail infrastructure. vibrations and shock on the human body). drive efficiencies and improve the asset For example, our tram tyre measurement With minimal installation, this equipment management of the Metrolink network. system supplied by SelectraVision utilises is easily transferred from one vehicle to At the start of our procurement process, we lasers to measure the wheel profile and another and uses GPS location to ‘map’ the began with a number of key parameters and back-to-back tyre distance. This identifies ride quality across the network, removing considerations: exceedances of two key values as defined by empirical observation and replacing it with The technology and equipment had to TfGM’s tram maintenance specification and objective data that can better inform both be tried and tested. Although technology is capable of unattended operation, virtually vehicle and infrastructure interventions. could be imported from another sector, it eliminating manual inspection. For track measurement, SelectraVision was important that we were not buying ‘an Furthering the aim of improving tram ride equipment is mounted onto the tram bogie experiment’ quality, monitoring equipment supplied by to measure geometry, corrugation and rail The chosen solution must be supported by Donfabs Consilia can be easily installed in wear to identify exceedances beyond TfGM’s a rigorous business case and cost-benefit the tram’s saloon, employing accelerometers set parameters. Lasers measure differing rail analysis – no-one is going to spend to measure vertical, lateral and horizontal profiles – both Vignole and grooved – and GBP250 000 to solve a GBP20 000 problem values of perturbations. Algorithms high-resolution cameras capture video of the It must be aligned with the KeolisAmey combine this data to produce a ride index in rail head. Again, unattended operation is key, Metrolink pillars of safety, operational and GPS allows for accurate data location. excellence, value for money, partnership, “The technology and A similar system from SelectraVision that people and leadership and, importantly, uses lasers, light beams and high-resolution ‘thinking like a customer’ equipment had to be tried video mounted on the tram roof is being used The solution must be easily integrated with to measure the height, stagger and contact the existing asset management software and tested. It could be wire thickness. These measurements are The implementation must be easy to supported and synchronised with thermal manage and communicate to staff members imported from another imaging cameras at the pantograph, video of What other benefits can be derived from the pantograph contact wire interaction and RCM? sector, but it was important panoramic video of the location. None of these requirements were in any Monitoring of in-service pantographs is way revolutionary and could all be achieved that we were not buying one of the technologies that I am most excited through the application of existing and about and sits above and beyond KAM’s readily-available technologies. The answers ‘an experiment’.” contractual commitment. One of the most disruptive incidents on any tramway is when Measured wheel profile the overhead line is taken down, often by a (red) vs worn damaged pantograph, so this technology is profile (blue). significant if it allows for detailed monitoring SelectraVision of the interaction at the contact wire. There is no quick and easy fix and repairs can take many hours: services are heavily affected, passengers face significant disruption, valuable revenue is lost and there are also obvious safety concerns. Our solution uses wayside equipment, Pantobot supplied by Camlin Rail, to provide a regular health check of in-service pantographs, using high-resolution imaging to identify damage, missing components and misalignment. If anomalies are detected, alerts are sent via email and/or SMS to maintenance staff. Detailed visualisation, accessed via a web portal, allows engineers to examine parameters such as section views of the pantograph and analysis of pitch and roll angles, and provide an informed response

An example of the installation of tram tyre measuring equipment. SelectraVision Roof-mounted OLE measurement equipment. SelectraVision

16 / january 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Track geometry measurement results. SelectraVision

On-screen visualisation of OLE measurement results. SelectraVision

to the defect, thus preventing a potentially Zero Harm. We estimate that over capability to understand and apply that service-disrupting incident. 5000 hours/year of track inspections data to the smooth and cost-effective A functional, yet customisable, interface can be saved. This reduction in manual running of the network. allows users to easily conduct various analyses and repetitive tasks may also diminish Value for Money. The productivity (comparative, timescale, histogram etc) instances of human error and offer further benefits are perhaps the most striking, with with live data, with reports generated either protection against derailment due to more an estimated 7000 hours saved in measuring automatically, after extreme events or ad hoc regular measurement. tram tyre profiles, OLE and track equipment. based upon specific templates. Custom alerts Operational Excellence. Prediction of Partnership. Technology is an enabler, can be set when sensors pass set thresholds, asset degradation optimises availability informing better asset investment choices and these thresholds can be modified easily. and reliability by identifying potential OLE by TfGM and offering opportunities for Taken together, the monitoring and incidents before they occur. This improves improved design of future routes. measurement of tram wheels, track, OLE, overall system resilience. Beyond the solutions outlined here, pantograph and tram ride provide ‘a 3D Thinking like a Customer. All of we have already identified a number of view’ of the essential interfaces. These are all the above should result in significant opportunities where RCM and data analysis synchronised by location allowing invaluable reductions in unplanned disruption. could offer real benefits to both Metrolink insights that were previously unavailable – for People and Leadership. Through and other light rail systems. These include example, how track condition affects vehicle technology, KAM is moving from being pantograph impacts; substation monitoring ride or the performance of the pantograph. a ‘reactive maintainer’ to an ‘intelligent (for example, circuit breaker operation); Aligning these systems to the Metrolink operator’. Staff are focused on interpreting elevator and escalator operation; rail and ‘pillars’, we see immediate advantages: data and developing future skills and contract wire temperature – to avoid icing

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org january 2020 / 17 Asset management

RIGHT AND BELOW: A high- resolution image of a pantograph and an example of an alarm raised due to chipped pantograph carbon. Camlin

A wayside installation of Pantobot 3D pantograph monitoring on a high-speed rail line in Italy. Camlin or heat-related damage; weather monitoring it needs to be processed and analysed using where it is used to generate real-time and and remote CCTV/OTMR downloads. appropriate algorithms. Finally, by applying historical insights on asset performance, Work is currently underway to develop suitable detection flags it can be used to allowing engineers to make robust, data- these opportunities and investigation has pre-emptively identify a change in condition driven decisions. Its state-of-the-art machine already begun into the remote download of and recommend intervention. This will learning and smart alarm capabilities tram fault data to provide instant alerts, and drive a step-change in maintenance cycles. provide an extra layer of reassurance, alerting remote access to the full detail of tram defects We don’t envisage technology replacing engineers to potential problems before they to drive reliability improvement. These are expert engineering knowledge, purely become major problems. certainly exciting developments and just allowing such skilled resource to concentrate For Transport Scotland, Mercury provides the start of a journey which will provide our on interpreting data and implementing assurance that the bridge, a complex asset engineers with better information and decisions more rapidly based upon it. with over 300 sensors, is safe and fit for TfGM and its customers with a more resilient Integrating data sources to allow real-time purpose. By aggregating all of the data in tramway. It is also one which other tramways or automated reporting will also allow one place, analysing it in real-time, and would do well to follow. valuable engineering staff to focus on producing automatic reports that can be Chris Stinchcombe, Engineering Director distributed to the engineering team and at KeolisAmey Metrolink, says “We are stakeholders, Mercury allowed the FRB team very fortunate to have a client with such a “It provides a ‘single source to significantly streamline engineering commitment to investing in industry-leading of truth’ to better inform decisions and processes. practices, and through a collaborative effort For example, following Storm Ali on in researching available technologies, have decision-making and 19 September 2018, engineers were able now agreed the best solutions to apply to to evaluate in real-time how the bridge the Metrolink network. This enables us to investment choices.” was performing and ensure it was fit for improve performance for our customers, and purpose – confirming that the storm had not create value for money by informing the best value-added tasks, rather than data gathering damaged key components. After the event an renewals and enhancements into the future.” activities. Technical teams will still be automatic report was generated, highlighting co-located close to the assets in question, how key bearings performed before, during To create a truly ‘intelligent asset’ with a central analytics team crunching the and after the storm. This information was network it is necessary to combine ‘Big Data’ to provide engineers with the then easily distributed across all FRB teams. RCM data with other sources and most up-to-date and accurate information. This example of breaking down convert it into actionable insights. This provides a system-wide view and a information silos is easily transferable. Olga Evstafyeva explains how she is ‘single source of truth’ to better inform Metro and light rail systems already generate working with Clive to explore how decision-making and investment choices. vast amounts of useful data and Metrolink to maximise the value from the data To enable this transition to intelligent will soon have detailed asset condition they are collecting at Metrolink: infrastructure, our team developed a Big Data information that can drive significant analytics solution called Mercury – a sensor- improvements. What we often find with There are a number of steps in the journey agnostic IoT platform for remote condition our clients is that the information is not towards intelligent infrastructure. First the monitoring and enhanced maintenance of always used to the best advantage, data data (both real-time and historic) needs to a wide range of smart assets. The platform comes in through disparate systems, in be aggregated and collated in one place, then has been deployed on the Forth Road Bridge, different formats and at different intervals.

18 / january 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org A visualisation of axial forces, moments, and stresses around Storm Ali, demonstrating in real-time that the rocker continues to articulate normally. Amey

For example, in a tramway this could be from potential issues early on, allowing advice on Big data is no longer a buzzword. It is onboard the trams, sensors, control systems operational interventions to be provided to becoming part of the ‘business as usual’ in and from the supervisory control and data tram drivers and control room staff. It also transport and is already a major part of our acquisition systems (SCADA). enables trend analysis which may indicate everyday lives, from weather forecasts to Through this approach we have been emerging issues with individual components, advice on travel modes, traffic conditions able to transition our clients from a ‘react or highlight inconsistencies due to unforeseen and the prediction of arrival times. For light and remedy’ approach to a far more effects of maintenance interventions. rail, the access, analysis and the use of data effective ‘predict and prevent’ model. Similarly, having all this data for will result in more efficient, reliable, and Being able to interrogate their asset base interrogation in one place allows for sustainable systems contributing to making at any time, and from anywhere, allows modelling of extreme events by creating a light rail more affordable and supporting the for greater collaboration between teams, digital twin of the asset. If it is detected that case for future investment. contributes to reducing risks, and improves a particular weather event is responsible for the ability to make data-driven and timely certain asset failures, analysis engines can This article is adpated from a presentation given decisions. For light rail systems, having replicate the effects of similar occurrences at the 2019 EU Light Rail congress in Brussels. access to these insights could provide a going forward in a safe environment. Linking greater understanding of asset condition, in future weather forecasts, engineers can Have your say... degradation and the relationship to the predict ‘hot spots’, providing assurance Give us your views on drivers of performance such as delays, safety during and after major events and using and cost. Ultimately this will provide a better predictive models to inform operational and the role of technology tram system for the customer. maintenance decisions. [email protected]

Conclusions Data is useless unless it allows us to make better ABOUT THE AUTHORS decisions. Capitalising on modern capabilities in sensing technologies, cloud computing Clive Pennington is a lifelong railwayman, joining Olga Evstafyeva comes from an academic and programming is what allows us to join all British Rail as a rolling stock apprentice in 1976. background in mechanical and aeronautical of this together in platforms like Mercury. He held a number of engineering management engineering. She completed her doctorate research Looking wider, with the increasing positions in the heavy rail sector, including three in simulation, analysis and the control of flows past years in consultancy, before joining the operating road vehicles at Imperial College London, after availability of intelligent tools – such as drills company of Nottingham Tram – which was which she joined Amey Strategic Consulting as a that record the location, angle and depth then under construction – as Engineering Manager Data Scientist and Senior Consultant. that the bit travels, to wrenches that record in 2002. Since joining Amey, Olga has worked on the torque, time and place of their use – we After five years in Nottingham he joined a variety of projects: from developing a Big can now create a full audit trail of work being Metrolink in Manchester as Head of Engineering Data analytics platform for remote condition done, improving safety, enabling regulatory and oversaw the network as it trebled in size. monitoring, to assisting with large transformation assurance and demonstrating long-term In 2014 he moved to Mott MacDonald as Principal programmes. Over the last year, Olga has worked value for money. Light Rail Engineer, working on projects both in with researchers, agile developers and data Combining the data on one platform allows the UK and internationally, before taking on his scientists to deliver remote condition monitoring current position of Technical Director, Light Rail and predictive analysis tools for critical assets at a us to easily analyse and model the data to, Systems at Amey in 2018. waste management plant. for example, enable engineers to identify

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org january 2020 / 19 KUSEC SECTION INSULATOR – SAVING TIME AND MONEY

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The Finnish capital’s systems tramway has seen appreciable changes in the present century’s www.lrta.org factfile second decade, a process www.tautonline.com that is now embracing new light rail schemes. No. Helsinki, FINLAND Neil Pulling reports in JANUARY 2020 N O. 985 147 Finland words and pictures. Helsinki Subscribe now! REWRITING THE RULES Tram-train: Reviving the railway and driving modal shi Now in its 83rd year, Tramways & Urban Transit is

limate, topography and the world’s leading monthly publication dedicated solely to Rebuilt and extended , total around 1.5 million. trade have contributed Helsingin seudun liikenne (HSL) in in 2011 from the The metropolitan area spreads to Finland’s population specification delivered Finnish and Helsingforsregionens around mainland peninsulas and of about 5.5 million in 1985, Valmet MLNRV2 trafik (HRT) in Swedish. islands, connected variously by becoming most descends towards the In 2018 public transport accounted concentratedC in the far south and city centre past Uspenski bridges, tunnels and ferries. for 33% of journeys in and around Orthodox Cathedral on Helsinki was founded as part around the coast. An inland exception the capital, within which buses 28 June 2019. of Sweden, becoming the Finnish is , the country’s third-largest made up 13%, metro 10%, tram 7% capital in 1828 when under Russian city, which is due to open the country’s and trains 3%. Buses in the network control. National independence was second active tramway in 2021. are contracted to other concerns. declared in 1917. Although Finnish Unlike this 1435mm-gauge newcomer, Ownership of the tramway and metro is the native language of around the established metre-gauge, uni- infrastructure, vehicles, ferries and 94% of residents, Swedish is also an directional Helsinki system has been operations lies with the city’s own light and urban rail developments. official language. This accounts for Tale of ten cities: Europe’s 11 new lines regarded as being amongst the most transport body, Helsingin kaupungin a duplication of location names on traditional of major urban systems. liikennelaitos (HKL; HST in Swedish). destination displays, timetables and Helsinki is Finland’s biggest city in The network featured 11 normal EUR339m for Santiago Metro repairs its own right with a population of signage. The Finnish form (used in tramlines in 2019, (1-10), including 6T 648 042 (2019). Helsinki Region this Factfile) usually appears first, which is a regular extended version of often in bold text. The regional New Ottawa LRT’s ‘month from hell’ (www.helsinkiregion.fi), which includes line 6 that serves West Harbour ferries. authority responsible for public Finland’s second and fourth most Most tram alignments are long- £4.60 transport planning, co-ordination populous municipalities, and standing, although line designations and service information is Technology UK’s LRT future and routes have had many changes. Using data to drive ‘A national policy is crucial for success’ www.tautonline.com. investment priorities www.lrta.org january 2020 / 25

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The first section of the Paris T11 Express opened in June 2017; Citadis Dualis 312 is at Epinay-sur-Seine on a service bound for Bourget. Sébastien Godefroy

Tram-Train: Making new connections Philippe Bernard and Derek Small from SYSTRA, and Stephen Ware from TSP Projects, a SYSTRA company, examine the benefits of tram-train with case studies from France and the UK.

he announcement by Transport “The tram-train option works brilliantly for Further to this impressive expansion of for Greater Manchester (TfGM) cities or large towns seeking to extend their its light rail system, tram-train could be a that its strategy for the next 20 coverage via the conventional rail network. game-changer by increasing the network’s years to expand its Metrolink Tram-train links adjacent economies by reach still further by connecting Metrolink network includes improving connectivity between cities. with existing rail lines outside the main Ttram-train suggests that the concept is “The rolling stock can accelerate and conurbations. gaining momentum. brake almost in the same way as a bus,” he In January 2019, then-Secretary of State Well-proven around the world, tram-train adds. “Tram-trains can also travel at speeds for Transport Chris Grayling said: “A Greater combines the flexibility and accessibility of a of up to 100km/h (62mph) on railway lines Manchester tram-train has the potential to tram network with the speed of a heavy rail [tramway operational speeds are lower]; run seamlessly integrate our existing rail and system, enabling passengers to get directly on tramway lines as well as conventional tram tracks and services,” and added that the into a city centre, shopping or business rail infrastructure, with certain adaptations; UK Department for Transport would work district without having to switch modes. climb gradients of 8-10%, depending on closely with TfGM to explore such proposals. Offering seamless interchange, it enables the chosen propulsion method; and where The transport authority is exploring the sharing of infrastructure with conventional appropriate, operate at a minimum curve possibility on a number of routes under rail services although tram-train vehicles radii of 25m.” the ten-year ‘Our Network’ vision outlined (commonly derivatives of low-floor LRV by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy platforms) require adapted signalling and Expanding Metrolink Burnham in June 2019. Three ‘pathfinder’ power supply capacities, specific wheels, At 97.5km (60.6 miles), Greater Manchester’s routes are progressing to the business as well as control and telecommunications Metrolink light rail network is already the case stage, designed to test the viability technology that allows them to run on both largest in the UK, with services running on of tram-train technology: Altrincham – light and heavy rail networks. seven lines and serving 93 stops. This will Hale; Bury – Rochdale; and Manchester The concept has many more benefits over expand by another 5.5km (3.4 miles) in Airport – Wilmslow. It is likely that the Bury single or mixed-mode travel, says Philippe 2020 with the opening of the new Trafford – Rochdale route would share part of the Bernard, Director of Tram Train Projects at Park Line (see TAUT 980); an additional 27 heritage East Lancashire Railway. A wider SYSTRA, which has designed and delivered trams are on order to bolster the existing roll-out includes routes south-east from tram-train systems around the world: 120-strong fleet. Manchester to Marple, east to Glossop, west

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org january 2020 / 21 Tram-train to Wigan via Atherton, and south-west to network, utilising specially adapted Stadler An increasingly popular concept Warrington Central. Citylink LRVs and tram tracks between Elsewhere in Europe, tram-trains have But before that can happen, TfGM says Sheffield Cathedral and Meadowhall/South performed a vital service for over 25 years. there would need to be a trial scheme with Tinsley before crossing onto a new 170m The first tram-train service was introduced in Network Rail to gain technical approvals. section of track (the Tinsley Chord) that Karlsruhe, Germany, as a way of increasing If this is the case, it will need to absorb some allows the connection of 80lb tram rails to mobility by connecting the city’s tramway to of the learning from the South Yorkshire 113lb rail tracks. The route then continues under-performing suburban rail lines while pilot that has seen tram-trains running for another 5km (three miles) to Rotherham also taking cars out of the central areas. on Sheffield’s Supertram network and Parkgate via Rotherham Central on the It started operating as a fully-shared continuing on the main line railway to national rail network. system between the rail and tram operators Rotherham since October 2018. At the moment this is still officially a pilot in 1992, and improved service frequencies This government-funded pilot programme scheme, with SYPTE monitoring customer and additional tram stops near residential is a partnership between South Yorkshire satisfaction, passenger numbers and areas saw ridership grow rapidly. The system Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), reliability. If successful, the tram-train section has expanded significantly since then, with which owns the tram infrastructure in will continue to run as a local service and any passengers now able to travel from towns Sheffield; Network Rail, which owns the lessons learned will be used to inform other such as Baden-Baden, 30km (18.6 miles) national rail infrastructure; Stagecoach, potential tram-train projects in the UK. away, directly to destinations in central which operates Supertram services; and rail The innovative South Yorkshire service carried Karlsruhe without having to change modes. franchise holder Northern Rail. over a million passengers in its first year, and The success of the ‘Karlsruhe model’ has led Stagecoach currently operates three tram- this success has led to the exploration of the other European city regions to introduce tram- train services per hour on this section of the feasibility of other routes across the region. train networks, including those in Alicante,

Metrolink's Altrincham terminus; Transport for Greater Manchester is exploring the potential of extending Metrolink services to Hale using the adjacent railway (platforms on the far right). Neil Pulling

Stadler Citylink 399203 traverses the Tinsley Chord on 25 November 2018, opening day of the UK’s tram-train pilot scheme. Tinsley Chord is the vital connection between tramway and main line railway. Neil Pulling

France’s first tram-train line, T4, is soon to be extended by a 6.5km branch from Gargan station; an SNCF-operated Siemens Avanto is pictured at Gargan in 2014. Neil Pulling

22 / january 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org THE BENEFITS OF TRAM-TRAIN Haluchère-Batignolles station in Nantes is an For users: More effective Greater operational The possibility of important transport hub, served by the city’s trams, Reduced travel times use of resources flexibility according using non-electrified trains and tram-trains. Neil Pulling Single ticket journeys (for example, to the time of day lines or those that Higher frequencies reorganisation of One operator per cannot be electrified  Saarbrücken, Kassel, Paris, Aarhus, Den Haag Easier access local bus networks) vehicle and one driver Participation in the An alternative to the Reduced operating training programme reduction of gas and and Utrecht; it is also being considered as car for suburban- costs and energy noise emissions part of the South Wales rail network upgrade urban journeys consumption For the environment: programme. Significant expansion is planned compared to heavy rail Re-use and For the community: in France and Germany, and the concept has For operators: Integration of sharing of existing Reduction in delays been introduced in the US. An increase in the stabling and infrastructure linked to traffic jams, SYSTRA has designed and delivered many zones covered by the maintenance (bridges, tunnels, road maintenance tram-train projects including those in Aarhus, transport offer facilities stops, depots) and incidents Denmark, and Mulhouse and Nantes- Châteaubriant in France. “All of The Greater Paris region currently has four these schemes have a common goal: to extend “The tram-train option tram-train routes either already in operation the existing urban transport network into the or under construction. The oldest is the surrounding region”, says Mr Bernard. works brilliantly for cities T4 line between Bondy – Aulnay-sous-Bois Despite this expansion, there are currently in the north-east of the city. France’s first no international standards for tram-train or large towns seeking tram-train line, the former low-frequency design or operation. Many cities still use to extend their coverage regional commuter line that dates from the original rules developed for Karlsruhe 1875, was converted to tram-train operation as a yardstick to measure a proposed via the conventional with new Siemens rolling stock, increased scheme’s viability. Recent years have seen frequencies and additional stops. It opened moves towards standardisation of vehicles rail network.” in November 2006. however, with the Verband Deutscher In mid-December 2019 a 6.5km (four-mile) Verkehrsunternehmen (Association of Stephen Ware, Senior Project Manager extension is to open, linking directly into German Transport Companies, or VDV) at TSP Projects, a SYSTRA company, who the national rail network by branching off leading an ‘alliance’ of operators and worked on the South Yorkshire pilot, says at Gargan station at the line’s approximate authorities looking at opportunities for joint this is one reason why the Meadowhall – mid-point. The cost of the new 11-stop line procurement to reduce costs by up to EUR1m Rotherham route was chosen: “The existing is estimated at EUR270m (GBP230m) for per vehicle (see TAUT 968, 977 and 981). railway runs very close to the tram network, infrastructure work and a further EUR100m Mr Bernard says tram-train works so we could put a short link in from one (GBP86m) for additional rolling stock, Citadis particularly well in cities or regions where piece of infrastructure to the other, Dualis vehicles supplied by Alstom. Funded there is disused or underused conventional and provide benefits to various places on approximately 86% by the Île-de-France rail infrastructure, or those operating the route.” region and the State, and 14% by national vehicles on semi-urban equipment with rail operator SNCF, the vehicle and multiple level crossings and stops. Paris and its suburbs operational costs are being financed by He explains that it is cost-effective as long One city-region that has embraced Paris transport authority Île de France as it can be done without needing to build tram-train very successfully is Paris. Mobilités (formerly known as STIF – significant new infrastructure: “Tram-train While the city’s Metro is undergoing Syndicat des Transports d’Île-de-France – is an economically-attractive solution as massive expansion under the EUR22.6bn until its rebranding in 2017). long as the programme is limited to the (GBP19.3bn) Grand Paris Express programme In the meantime, another new tram-train redevelopment of an existing line and does – four new lines totalling more than 200km service has started operating in the northern not impact too much on its surroundings, (125 miles) to be delivered by 2030 – suburbs: the T11 Express. This 10.6km and providing that levels of availability and tram-train is seen as the best way to open (6.6-mile) line between Epinay-sur-Seine – reserves of equipment have been defined at up under-served suburban areas and Le Bourget opened in July 2017 and serves the early stages of the project and shared encourage people to use public transport seven stations and was created by laying two with the transport operating authorities.” through new rail-based connections. new tracks along an existing freight alignment.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org january 2020 / 23 Tram-train

SYSTRA teams have been heavily involved in the design and engineering of the EUR306.7m T13 tram-train line in Paris’ western suburbs. This is due to open in 2023. SYSTRA

by franchised companies, often with more than one franchisee operating on the same lines; trams may be either privately or publicly-operated; and different regulators and bodies oversee everything from safety to ticket pricing. “There is no worldwide way of implementing tram-train,” says France’s only true tram-train operation; Siemens Avanto 23 is seen about to join the main line railway section SYSTRA Engineering Director Derek Small. north of Lutterbach, heading to Thann. Neil Pulling “And there is no one way of doing it in the UK, because no two tramways are the same The T11 Express, originally known as the “Integration into an in the UK. Every system is bespoke, so the Tangentielle Nord or Tram-Express Nord, is application of tram-train is bespoke.” eventually planned to become a 28km existing network is Because of this, Mr Bernard says it is (17.4-mile) route between Sartrouville in the vital that all the main players are involved north-west of Paris and Noisy-le-Sec to the the most complex issue at the earliest possible stage: “The method east. The project is being co-ordinated by the employed to maintain and operate the line Île-de-France region, Île de France Mobilités, and must be fully must be accurately defined from the very SNCF and the municipalities of Seine Saint- understood from the start and, if possible, validated by those who Denis and Val d’Oise, with the EUR603m will work on it in their respective areas.” (GBP517m) cost split between Ile-de-France preliminary design phase.” Mr Ware says this is one of the lessons that (47%), central government (27%), SNCF (24%), must be learned from the South Yorkshire Seine Saint-Denis (2%) and Val d’Oise (1%). pilot programme: “When working with This line is also served by Citadis Dualis The importance of collaboration two separate operators that have different vehicles, and like T4 is operated by SNCF The introduction of tram-train in France is requirements, such as signalling, it can be a and its subsidiaries. not limited to Paris, says Mr Bernard: “Other challenge to make it work. On the Sheffield Also under construction is the T13 Express projects are scheduled to be launched across system we worked with the two operators line in the western suburbs. Being built in the country in the coming years to enable the to ensure that the project was completed phases, the first 18.8km (11.7-mile) section gradual replacement of lines currently served and the tram-train operated successfully. brings tram-train services from the existing by regional express trains, or to reopen lines That may not always be the case on other RER station at Saint-Cyr to Noisy-le-Roi on with a conventional rail system abandoned schemes unless parties go the extra mile a currently-disused segment of the Grande due to low levels of use.” to ensure requirements are co-ordinated Ceinture (GC) freight route, and from Noisy Mr Bernard, Project Director of France’s effectively”. to Saint-Germain GC on a section that first tram-train (the T4 line between Bondy Moving forwards with future tram-train currently carries passenger traffic. and Aulnay-sous-Bois) and also involved in projects, Mr Ware believes that for a smooth Around 4km (2.5 miles) of new the T11 and similar schemes in Mulhouse, and successful operation all parties need to infrastructure is being built to join Bordeaux line C and Nantes – Châteaubriant, work collaboratively together, dovetailing Saint-Germain GC to an interchange with says every new project comes with its own their programmes and requirements to RER line A at Saint-Germain-en-Laye; six new specific technical and operational challenges. deliver a streamlined solution. stations are being built with a further five However, they all have a ‘transition zone’ Experience in other countries shows that, if being refurbished. The new route is due to go where the operating, power supply, signalling all these issues can be ironed out, tram-train into service in 2021 with ridership predicted and telecommunication systems are is an extremely attractive proposition with at 21 000 passengers/day. changed if the infrastructure necessitates it. many benefits for municipalities, operators The EUR306.7m (GBP263m) project is “Integration into an existing network – and and passengers alike. being financed by Île-de-France (53.2%), especially the definition of its transition As Philippe Bernard concludes: “Tram- the municipality of Yvelines (30%) and zone – is the most complex issue the project train constitutes an economical transport the central government (16.8%). Île-de- faces and must be fully understood from the system in terms of cost, investment, France Mobilités is financing the EUR68.4m preliminary design phase,” he says. maintenance and operation, and enables (GBP58.65m) purchase of tram-train vehicles As most countries use different bodies to passengers to travel safely from the city (again of the Citadis Dualis type, ordered in regulate heavy rail and urban tram or light centre to surrounding cities several dozen a joint procurement for T12 in 2018). In the rail operation, he adds: “The main challenges kilometres miles away – the potential for the longer term, a northern extension to Achères exist in getting these two different worlds UK is huge.” via Poissy is planned, taking passenger to co-habit, so they communicate and numbers up to 40 000 a day. co-operate during design phases, and are A further route, the T12 Express, is under compatible in operation and maintenance.” Have your say... construction between Évry-Courcouronnes – The UK regulatory and operational Give us your views on Massy-Palaiseau RER stations to the south of landscape is more complex than most. the role of tram-train Paris. This 20km (12.4-mile) route, with Different organisations own the rail and [email protected] 16 stops, is due to open in 2022. tram infrastructure; rail services are operated

24 / january 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Helsinki

The Finnish capital’s tramway has seen systems appreciable changes in the present century’s second decade, a process factfile that is now embracing new light rail schemes. FINLAND No. Helsinki, Neil Pulling reports in 147 Finland words and pictures. Helsinki

limate, topography and Rebuilt and extended Vantaa, total around 1.5 million. Helsingin seudun liikenne (HSL) in trade have contributed in 2011 from the The metropolitan area spreads Finnish and Helsingforsregionens to Finland’s population specification delivered around mainland peninsulas and trafik (HRT) in Swedish. of about 5.5 million in 1985, Valmet MLNRV2 islands, connected variously by In 2018 public transport accounted becoming most descends towards the bridges, tunnels and ferries. for 33% of journeys in and around city centre past Uspenski Cconcentrated in the far south and Helsinki was founded as part the capital, within which buses Orthodox Cathedral on around the coast. An inland exception 28 June 2019. of Sweden, becoming the Finnish made up 13%, metro 10%, tram 7% is Tampere, the country’s third-largest capital in 1828 when under Russian and trains 3%. Buses in the network city, which is due to open the country’s control. National independence was are contracted to other concerns. second active tramway in 2021. declared in 1917. Although Finnish Ownership of the tramway and metro Unlike this 1435mm-gauge newcomer, is the native language of around infrastructure, vehicles, ferries and the established metre-gauge, uni- 94% of residents, Swedish is also an operations lies with the city’s own directional Helsinki system has been official language. This accounts for transport body, Helsingin kaupungin regarded as being amongst the most a duplication of location names on liikennelaitos (HKL; HST in Swedish). traditional of major urban systems. destination displays, timetables and The network featured 11 normal Helsinki is Finland’s biggest city in signage. The Finnish form (used in tramlines in 2019, (1-10), including 6T its own right with a population of this Factfile) usually appears first, which is a regular extended version of 648 042 (2019). Helsinki Region often in bold text. The regional line 6 that serves West Harbour ferries. (www.helsinkiregion.fi), which includes authority responsible for public Most tram alignments are long- Finland’s second and fourth most transport planning, co-ordination standing, although line designations populous municipalities, Espoo and and service information is and routes have had many changes.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org january 2020 / 25 Helsinki

LEFT: Looking north from Ylioppilastalo on Mannerheimintie, the spine of central Helsinki tram services. An east-west route crosses between the distant tram and yellow van.

BELOW: Shortly before a line 1 cut-back due to works on the Eira loop (towards left-background), then recently-commissioned Artic 463 is near Eiran sairaala on 29 June 2019.

LEFT: Wholly clear Most current lines take around 30-40 of road traffic, 458 in an avenue of trees minutes between termini, with the near Rautalammintie majority passing through the city stop. centre. Exemplifying such changes by being in its present form only since RIGHT: Brought 2016, line 5 is now by far the shortest to Helsinki in 2004, service, timetabled for ten minutes 1967-built and between Katajanokan Quay and the ex-Ludwigshafen Düwag GT8 150 was centre. The latest ‘new’ service, line 9, converted for tour/ is an identity dropped for over 30 charter use in 2006, a years until re-adoption in 2008. The role it still performs. concentration of Helsinki’s tracks, including some retained after revenue use ended, allows for short-notice and scheduled re-routing. With continuing modifications due to infrastructure works, intending visitors may wish to check the updates as shown on the HSL website. A high proportion of the system is on-street, much with continuing use of routes dating from the mode’s early 20th Century expansion. This has bequeathed tight curves and multiple junctions, some set in what have become heavily-used traffic intersections. Although Helsinki may seem low-lying, particularly when approached from the sea, the tramway features some steep gradients. Rising traffic levels have slowed journey times, a problem identified by the Škoda ForCity Smart Artic 407 between the arrival and departure platforms at Västra terminalen 2 (T2 ferry terminal). operator as both inconveniencing Eckerö Line’s ‘Finlandia’ is one of several vessels on the Tallinn route, Helsinki’s busiest ferry service. passengers and being an inefficient use of assets. A broad thoroughfare in the main THE FLEET commercial area which usually has several trams in view during service Used for proving the design and to yield modifications, have fully-pivoting bogies with continuous axles; hours, Mannerheimintie illustrates Artic prototypes 401-402, built in 2013, were sold to the all wheels are powered. Notable internal features how the system has remained as SRS system in Schöneiche (Germany) – see TAUT 978 are small tables, a slight offset between seat pairs, a Helsinki’s public transport mainstay. for more details. Including Voith traction equipment, remote-controlled powered wheelchair ramp and The peninsula containing the city they and the production series were made in large information displays. centre is little over 4km (2.5 miles) Otanmäki, about 450km (280 miles) north of Helsinki. Other service trams are from 1970s (Nr I) and 1980s across at the widest point; this HKL ordered 70 of what has become branded as (Nr II) series built by Valmet/Strömberg. Derived from configuration and deep-level stations Škoda’s ForCity Smart Artic. Numbered from 403, these the Düwag GT6, they were originally 20m long and were built 2015-19, with the first brought into service in built in Tampere but have since been modernised, have constrained the appeal of the early 2016. Featuring three sections, Helsinki’s single- with the main change from 2009 being an added 6.5m metro which opened in 1982. With ended Artic is 27.6m long and 2.4m wide, with 74 fixed low-floor centre section; the earlier Nr I were extended extensions on a mainly east-west seats, 14 folding seats and capacity for 125 standing after Nr II. New specifications and re-numberings are axis, the 35km (22 miles) of metro are passengers. Low-floor with slight undulations, they MLNRV1 (113-122) and MLNRV2 (71-112). primarily to connect central Helsinki and outer communities.

26 / january 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Non-revenue track 1 Pohjolanaukio

DEPOT

6 8 10 Arabianranta Korppaanmäki

Kumpulan kampus Uintikeskus 9 Pasila Paavalinkirkko

2 7 Rautalammintie 3 4 Kuusitie Saunalahdentie DEPOT Eläintarha Roineentie Töölön tulli

Kansaneläkelaitos Urheilutalo

DEPOT Karhupuisto

Ooppera

Hakaniemi

Apollonkatu

Rautatieasema Lasipalatsi Senaat- 5 intori Merisotilaantori Yliopp- ilastalo 4 Kauppiaankatu Fredrik- inkatu Katajanokan Ruoholahti terminaali

Kirurgi 5 2 3 Huutokonttori 10 Hietalahti Olympiaterminaali 1 Notes: 6 Eira 1) Some intermediate stops omitted for clarity. Saukonpaasi Eiran 2) Due to infrastructure works, please check sairaala up to date service schedules ahead of travel. 8 9 Länsiterminaali T1 0 1 2 Länsiterminaali T2 Kilometres 6T 7

Trams and buses provide the main the station’s east side, Rautatientori, north-south public transport; heavy includes a platform for the ‘Pub Tram’ rail with urban coverage (termed and other special services. ‘commuter trains’) includes the Around 3km (1.9 miles) to the airport service which is part of the north, Pasila now vies with Central national railway operation, VR. as being Finland’s busiest railway The main interchange between station. The core of the new Pasila VR, metro, trams and buses is at station opened in 2019, but the Helsingin päärautatieasema (Central district remains under long-term Railway Station). This imposing Art redevelopment, mostly using Nouveau/Modernist structure is just redundant railway land. The changes east of Mannerheimintie; the tram here are intended to facilitate some Near a coastal inlet and beach, Saunalahdentie terminus is in the platforms are directly opposite the of the capital’s projected growth. prosperous Munkkiniemi district; 404 is unusual as an Artic with an main entrance. The large square to Construction works have required all-over advertising livery.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org january 2020 / 27 Helsinki

Named after a Finnish-Swedish musician, Crusellinsilta (Crusell Bridge) enabled tram access to the west side of Jatkasaari in early 2012.

“Baltic ferries and

RIGHT: Helsinki’s cruise liners loom metro is a branching network facts route run as two large around the lines. A westbound Opened: 1891 (electrified 1900) CAF M300 train, indented southern Lines: 11 the system’s newest Length: 48.8km (30.3 miles) stock, approaches shoreline, a trade Kulosaari on Depots: 3 29 June 2019. influencing the tram Approx. weekday hours: 05.30-23.30 (wide variations) system’s evolution.” Line frequency: Ten minutes Gauge: 1000mm LEFT: The south side of Pasila Power: 600V dc, overhead supply station in summer Fleet: 122 2019, with the Regional transport authority: BELOW: westwards tram Helsingin seudun liikenne (HSL) – Hakaniemi hosts crossing (to left) out www.hsl.fi four tramlines and of use due to works the metro, also around this major City network/operator: Helsingin being known locally redevelopment site. kaupungin liikennelaitos – www.hel.fi/hkl for its produce Civic information: www.hel.fi markets. The future Tourist information: Kruunusillat (Crown www.myhelsinki.fi and Bridges) tramway www.discoveringfinland.com would join the system in this area.

ABOVE: Saukonpaasi is a basic terminus installation that will become redundant when the tracks are extended further to Västra terminalen 2.

LEFT: The interior of a Helsinki Škoda ForCity Smart Artic.

28 / january 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org re-arrangement of tram coverage, but the mode will remain a key part of the growing Pasila hub. Baltic ferries and cruise liners loom large around the indented southern shoreline, a trade influencing the tram system’s evolution. Helsinki was identified as the world’s busiest passenger port in 2017, with the scale of activities being apparent on the website www.portofhelsinki.fi. Although the ferries are primarily vehicle carriers, they handle a high proportion of foot passengers relative to, for example, English Channel counterparts. Länsiterminaali (West Harbour) on Jätkäsaari peninsula is the busiest such point. Changing Jätkäsaari from its previous role as a container port included levelling the site and removing a heavy rail connection. The new commercial and residential developments here have been supported by expanding tram coverage, as to the ferry terminal, now T1. The much bigger T2 opened local conditions and despite extensive ABOVE: Helsingin to further the Kruunusillat (Crown in early 2017 and became the remedial measures by the operators pärautatieasema, Bridges) project for a 10km (6.3-mile) terminus for lines 6T and 7 with a and Adtranz’s successor, Bombardier, Central Station. tram/cycle/pedestrian route east of 450m extension. all were withdrawn by 2018. Logos on 107 central Helsinki to Laajasalo island. Western tram access from 2012 has Replacing these and expanding are the Finnish The tramway would leave the present and Swedish been via the Crusell Bridge, with a services was made possible by a abbreviations system at Hakaniemi: the target for second track to Jätkäsaari terminus substantial order for Artic trams for the regional completion is 2026. being added in 2017. It is intended developed for Helsinki by Transtech. network (tram front) The project that the track will extend from here to Created in 1985, this Finnish and operator (side). (see TAUT 983) will bring better serve new developments around the company – later acquired by Škoda connections across the northern peninsula, completing a circuit with a Transportation – had incorporated part of the conurbation by 2024. connection near T2. The exchange of the rail interests of Valmet, an earlier The 24.5km (15.2 miles) of metre- identities between lines 2 and 3 trams supplier of Helsinki trams. gauge Jokeri line will briefly overlap is outside the Tallink Silja ferries’ One of three active depots is next with the metro at both ends and Olympia Terminal, with local ferries to Töölön halli stop, where Töölö replace the no.550 trunk bus line. and tour boats nearby at Kauppatori. depot had also served the 1949-74 BELOW: Although JLR will be a distinct The eastern ends of lines 4 and 5 are trolleybus line. Works functions Helsinki’s Adtranz/ entity north of the tramway’s current also near quays for passenger ships. are on the site near Vallilan varikko Bombardier coverage, the systems’ compatibility Helsinki has the unwelcome stop. Access to the newest and biggest Variotram vehicles would allow for future connections. had a problematic distinction of withdrawing a fleet of facility, Koskela, is by non-revenue and prematurely The new Jokeri Artic XL trams can also relatively modern low-floor trams. track about 1.6km (one-mile) north curtailed service be tested on the city system. Longer Forty Adtranz Variotram (201-240, of where the Arabia service leaves the life – 240 passes than Helsinki Artics at 34.5m and received 1998-2003) proved to be main highway. In November 2019 Vallila depot on with five sections, they also differ by structurally unsuited to the particular a group of companies was selected 3 June 2014. being bi-directional.

essential facts Local travel: From machines and service points, HSL tickets are in permutations of zones A-D and cover tram, metro, bus, ferry and designated ‘commuter trains’ run by VR. Only the A-B combination is needed for all of the tramway: single tickets are EUR2.80, with 1-7 day tickets costing EUR8 and EUR32. If your day is to include travel to or from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (train in either direction to/from Central Station), ticketing for A-B-C zones is needed. Prices as at November 2019.

What is there to see? Very cold winters and the related lack of daylight hours make Helsinki best appreciated during the summer. Tourist information can be found in Central Station’s main ticket hall (also worth a visit for the architecture); another is at the airport. The landmark white Helsinki Lutheran Cathedral overlooks Senate Square. Downhill is Kauppatori, the market square which opens onto the inner harbour. The Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral is nearby. A sequence of parks and inlets extends north from Central Station to the 1952 Olympic Stadium and in the harbour archipelago, UNESCO World Heritage listed Suomenlinna (www.suomenlinna. fi) combines history, geography and walking trails: free to access, the public ferry from Kauppatorilta is included in HSL day tickets. The tram museum (http://ratikkamuseo.fi) is behind Töölö depot.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org january 2020 / 29 Worldwide Review

AUSTRALIA (9.3-mile) line has been suspended BROADBEACH – since August 2016, when the HELENSVALE. An agreement original partners became embroiled has been reached to finance the in a corruption scandal; 15% of the 6.7km (4.2-mile) Broadbeach – work is complete. The line could Burleigh Heads Gold Coast light open before the end of 2023. IRJ rail extension, with the Federal Government promising AUD219m BULGARIA (EUR134.9m). The Queensland SOFIA. The first of 13 more Government is contributing 1009mm-gauge 30m Pesa Swing AUD351m (EUR194m) and the city trams (2326), entered service on council AUD92m (EUR56.7m). IRJ line 18 on 28 November. RGI CANBERRA. Construction of the Woden tram extension will CANADA require the purchase of four more TORONTO. Construction on trams, taking the fleet to 18. TW the Finch West light rail line started PERTH. The NERWest Alliance on 15 November at the depot of CPB Contractors and Downer site on Yorkgate Blvd. Passenger Driver training was in progress in November on the rebuilt TEC tram layout at broke ground on the 14.5km service is expected to start in 2023. Anderlues, with passenger service to hopefully resume before Christmas. Thim (nine-mile) extension of the The City Council voted on Joondalup suburban rail line on 13 November to back ten-year ZHENGZHOU. Metro line 1 was For more detail on the Jokeri Light 25 November. Opening is provincial plans for the 15.5km extended from Wenyuanbellu Rail Project see TAUT 983. scheduled for 2022. RGI (9.6-mile) Ontario line subway to the New Campus of Henan line, to build a three-station University on 21 November. FRANCE AUSTRIA subway extension to replace the urbanrail.net LILLE. On 14 November the INNSBRUCK. Bus substitution on Scarborough rapid transit line, first of a new generation of Alstom the tramway ended with the new to build the Yonge North metro rubber-tyred VAL metro trains timetable on 15 December, with extension to Richmond Hill and BRNO. The first two of 40EVO2 was rolled out. Alstom is supplying tramway service resuming on lines the Eglinton West light rail line. trams being assembled in the 27 four-car sets. The automated 1, 3 and 5. BS TTC will retain ownership of the undertaking’s workshops from trains will be in service by the SALZBURG. 1988 SGP Lokalbahn subway network. parts supplied by Krnov were due end of 2023. lineoz.net car 49 returned to service in October CLRV trams were to make to start testing in December. LYON. Free travel was offered for with a new low-floor centre section their last run on 29 December, A major heritage event on 20 the rest of the day following the from Krnov. Electric loco 64 has 42 years to the day after the first June 2020 will mark 120 years of inauguration of tramline T6 at been re-sold to Stern & Hafferl. BS arrived on TTC property. Two electric tramway operation. 14.30 on 22 November. WIEN (Vienna). On 2 December were to run between Bathurst St BS, M. J. Russell MARSEILLE. The city’s metro tramline D was extended by 1.1km and Greenwood Ave offering free PRAHA (). CZK250m is to be automated under a (0.7 miles) from Hauptbahnhof rides 10.00-14.00; seats on the last (EUR9.8m) has been allocated for EUR430m contract awarded to Ost to Absberggasse (interchange ride were to be allocated by ballot the return of trams to Vácklavské Alstom on 26 November. RGI with lines 6 and 11). EB through the TTC Instagram page. nám by the end of 2022 with 500m PARIS. The first of 22 Alstom TTC purchased 196 CLRVs in of new line. In the meantime four Citadis trams for future tramline BELGIUM 1977-82 and their withdrawal new extensions are going ahead: T9 (opening October 2020) ANTWERPEN. Temporary means that all TTC tramlines will Barandov – Slivenec (1.9km/ was delivered to Orly depot on tramline 70 ran for the last time be operated by low-floor trams 1.2 miles, CZK691m (EUR27m), 22 November. lineoz.net on 7 December, so there is no from 30 December. The agency is to 2021); Modrany – Libus (2.1km/ ST-ÉTIENNE. To mark longer a link between Eilandje and retain CLRV 4001 and ALRV 4207 1.3 miles, CZK500 (EUR19.6m), the extension of line T3 on Noorderlaan. From 8 December, for its heritage fleet. Halton County 2021); Depot Hostivar loop 16 November, there was a weekend in addition to the inauguration of Radial Railway museum has CLRVs (500m, CZK168m (EUR6.5m), of free travel on the city’s trams new line 1 and the diversion and 4003/10/39 and ALRV 4204. 2021); Záhradni mesto tram loop and buses. With line T3 running extension of line 24 to Havehuis, Prototype Bombardier Flexity (300m, CZK120m (EUR4.7m), to La Terrasse, line T2 was cut line 8 was cut back to Astrid. The re-entered service on 21 November, 2021); Divoká Sárka – Dedina back to Cité du Design (formerly traditional surface terminus at 465 days after it last ran. Flexity (2.4km/1.5 miles, CZK893m Manufacture d’Armes). Y. Allain Melkmarkt is now served by route trams were withdrawn from Queen (EUR35m), 2022). TOULOUSE. Coupled VAL sets 11 only. Vicinal tram 9994 was St for a couple of days at the end of Škoda 15T trams are being (creating 52m trains) started trials to tour the new extensions on November after a bad rail joint was transferred from Pankrác to on metro line A from 10 November, 14 and 21 December with found to be damaging their track Strasnice depot to avoid their use and should be running in service departures from Groenplaats at brakes; 80 buses were required to on the Modrany line that requires by the end of the year. lineoz.net 13.30 and 15.10. T-2000 replace 35 trams. D. Drum, P. Webb 60km/h (37mph) operation to keep BRUXELLES/BRUSSEL. Plans the schedule. There have been GERMANY to extend tramline 7 from RP CHINA continuing problems with the BONN. SWB is to extend its Churchill to Albert and Anderlecht HEIHE. In 2022 a 973m POMA wheelsets on these trams and DPP programme of total rebuilds of were published on 5 November, cableway will open linking this city prefers to use them on lines where Stadtbahn-B cars by adding a with three alternative routes to on the Amur with Blagoveshchensk only 40km/h (25mph) is required. further 15 to the current be consulted on. Tram operation in Russia on the opposite bank. All 15T trams are to be refitted programme of 25. Tenders have to Ban Eik was to resume on Four 60-passenger cabins will carry with air-conditioning at a cost of also been invited for 22 new 20 December after completion of 450 passengers/hr/direction on CZK400m (EUR15.7m). A. Prescott Stadtbahn cars; tenders for 26 new track relaying. T-2000 the six-minute crossing that is low-floor trams are to be evaluated noted for its intensive hovercraft FINLAND shortly. A shortage of drivers is to BRAZIL service at present. RGI HELSINKI. The first 350m section be addressed by recruitment in SÃO PAULO. The state is making WUHAN. On 6 November metro of track for the Jokeri Light Rail Italy and Spain. UTM a deal that would see Spanish line 8 was extended by 4.8km Project was installed in Espoo in BERLIN. A delay in planning company Acciona take over the (three miles) from Yezhi Lake to November. When it opens in 2024, permission means the extension PPP contract to build Orange Military Athlete’s Village. it will link in the west for line M10 from Hbf to U-Bhf metro line 6. Work on the 15km urbanrail.net with Itäkeskus in the east. Turmstrasse will not open in 2020;

30 / JANUARY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org late 2021/early 2022 is predicted. between Opernhaus – Alter Markt A 3.3% fare increase takes effect using heritage trams 23 and 124. on 1 January, the first increase From the following day they were since January 2017. Day tickets used by lines 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 and 10. BS for zones A-B, B-C and A-B-C cost RHEIN-MAIN. A pilot to test the EUR8.60, 9 and 9.60. Seven-day use of mobile phone location data tickets are EUR34, 35.50 and 41. A for ticketing, RMVsmart-In/Out, day ticket for Berlin, Potsdam and was launched on 4 November. Brandenburg/Cottbus/Frankfurt Project partners are operator RMV, (Oder) valid after 09.00on technology company Fairtiq and Monday-Friday, all day at Cubic Transportation Systems. weekends, is available for EUR22. The first phase is with a trial group Delivery of Bombardier Flexity of 1000 passengers and will run Berlin trams had reached 9119 by until March 2020. the end of November. SCHWERIN. The contract to VBB is planning to carry modernise 30 Bautzen-built passengers on the S-Bahn extension low-floor trams dating from to Flughafen Berlin-Brandenburg 2001-03 has been awarded to from 4 October (if the latest Kiepe Electric; electrical The Lyon Alstom Citadis 54-58 line up for the opening of tramline T6 in France’s deadline for the airport opening equipment will be replaced second city on 22 November. SYTRAL is met). It is hoped the first of and air conditioning installed. reconstruction remains behind approaching via Martelsgracht the new S-Bahn trains will be Work should be completed by schedule and it is still not known to use the eastern as well as the entering service by then. BS the end of 2023, giving the trams whether a horse tram service will western turning circles. BONN. After 35 years of planning a further 20 years of life. IRJ run in 2020. The Department of CAF metro set 78 has been a further feasibility study is in Infrastructure has no contractual withdrawn for use as a source of progress for the so-called Westbahn INDIA obligation to run the service, spare parts. OR (formerly Hardtbergbahn). BS HYDERABAD. The although it has done so where ROTTERDAM. The re-opened BRANDENBURG. For the 40th metro was extended 1.5km (0.9 possible to support the economy. metro line to Hoek van Holland is anniversary of KT4D operation miles) from Hitec City to Raidurg The Island is already taking already carrying 24 000 passengers/ on 5 October, 174 was repainted on 29 November. urbanrail.net bookings from coach and tour day compared with predictions in a special livery (the left half in KOLKATA. The planned operators up to 2022, many of for year three of 22 000/day. current cream and green and the inauguration of 5.7km (3.5 which include horse tram journeys. UTRECHT. Alstom has been right in original red and cream). BS miles) east-west metro line 2 on The 2020 season starts on the awarded a four-year contract for BREMEN. The first ADtranzGT8N 24 October was postponed at Isle of Man Steam Railway on tram maintenance, covering both low-floor tram to be withdrawn is the last minute. No new date has 6 March, the MER on 13 March the SIG high-floor trams dating 1994-built 3005, which has been been announced. IRJ and the Snaefell Mountain from the 1980s and the new CAF used as a source of spare parts. BS Railway on 24 March. Urbos fleet. The contract includes DARMSTADT. Plans have been IRELAND . two options to extend its length by published for a new tram depot DUBLIN. Fine Gael TD for A suggestion by a Member of the three and two years respectively. and workshop at Wixhausen in Dublin North West, Noel Rock, House of Keys that the line between the northern suburbs, to replace has confirmed that the Luas Laxey and Ramsey should be NEW ZEALAND the existing facility at Böllenfalltor. extension to Finglas is in the singled, with a cycleway replacing CHRISTCHURCH. The City This will require a tramway ‘design and planning phase’ with the track, has been dismissed by Council has agreed to extend the extension to Wixhausen Bhf. DS a preferred route expected to be Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer heritage tramway south from HALLE. Fifty years of Tatra identified in 2020. on financial and safety grounds. the current stub terminus in tram service was marked on 7 The annual fares increase has He cited issues such as installing High St to a loop around Tuam September by the operation of been split into two with monthly a new signalling system plus legal St, Poplar Lane and High St, 901+101, 985+931, works car 035, and annual ticket prices adjusted issues with leases where the tracks connecting the tracks laid before double-ended 900 and modernised from 1 December. Details of other run through land not owned by the the earthquake but never used. It set 1201+1176+204. There was rises (including to Leap cards) MER, as well as concerns connected is hoped to complete work by May. another parade on 12 October. BS are to be announced in March to having a footpath or cycleway HANNOVER. Delivery of GTZ6-H for implementation in April. next to a railway line. PANAMA trams from HeiterBlick reached The December adjustments PANAMA CITY. A joint venture 3140 by the end of November. include increases to rail, bus and ITALY of Hyundai and POSCO has been Green Stadtbahn car 6217 has been Luas-only fares, but a decrease of ROMA. Tenders have been invited selected to build the 26.7km broken up for spare parts. BS 5% on ‘short hop zone’ tickets for 20 metro trains, five for line A (16.6-mile) monorail as metro KARLSRUHE. DB Regio has covering all modes in Dublin. and 15 for line B. infotram.pl costing USD2.5bn; 28 six-car been awarded the concession The National Transport trains will be supplied. RGI for passenger service on the Authority (NTA) is looking at JAPAN lines Karlsruhe Hbf – Rastatt introducing account-based TOKYO. The 2.7km (1.7-mile) POLAND – Freudenstadt, Karlsruhe Hbf ticketing, which could see Leap JPY111.4bn (EUR924.5m) CZĘSTOCHOWA. Tramway – Rastatt – Baden-Baden and cards withdrawn by 2027. The 1067mm-gauge Soetsu service resumed on 21 September Karlsruhe Hbf – Bretten – Heilbronn agency is also examining location- link was inaugurated on after completion of major Hbf, and will replace AVG based technologies that will not 25 November, and from infrastructure renewal. BS tram-trains in December 2022. require commuters to tap on and 30 November service started ELBLĄG. The first of four Withdrawn Stadtbahn cars off on Luas trams. between Futamatagawa – Shinjuku Modertrans Beta MF09AC bogie 512/3/7/8/68/71-3/86/7/9 have using 20 000-series EMUs delivered trams on order is being tested on been scrapped; only museum car ISLE OF MAN to provide the through service the Łódź system, which is also 502 of this type remains. BS DOUGLAS. The horse tramway from Yokohama suburban lines metre-gauge. The undertaking LEIPZIG. Sightseeing Tatra trams resumed service on 2-3 November and central Tokyo. RGI has also purchased two rebodied 1700 and 1800 have returned to for the last 2019 weekend of 805N trams from Łódź. RGI traffic after overhaul. H. Tschirner heritage transport operation NETHERLANDS GORZÓW WLKP. The planned MAGDEBURG. Around 450m of on the Island. It operated AMSTERDAM. The first part of resumption of tramway service new tram tracks in the northern between Derby Castle and Best 2020 will see new connections on 1 October was not achieved section of Breiter Weg were opened Western Palace Hotel. laid as part of the Stationsplein as infrastructure renewal work on 27 October with a shuttle service Work on the Promenade rebuilding, permitting trams over-ran. All 14 Pesa low-floor

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org JANUARY 2020 / 31 Worldwide Review

trams (301-14) had been delivered SOUTH KOREA by the end of October; 105Na SEOUL. Ten ten-car trains 117/34 have been retained for from Hyundai Rotem are being heritage purposes. BS introduced on metro line 2 as GRUDZIADZ. Tenders have been the start of a project to replace all invited for four single-ended low- the existing rolling stock. IRJ floor trams for delivery by the end of 2021. Passenger capacity of 175 SPAIN (30 seated) is required. infotram.pl ALACANT. A last-minute reprieve ŁÓDŹ. A PLN268m (EUR62m) was given to keep the L5 tramline contract has been placed open over the winter, reversing an with Modertrans for 30 Moderus early decision to close the line on Gamma low-floor air-conditioned 29 November. The line (two trams trams. infotram.pl providing a 30-minute service) POZNAŃ . The last three connects the Playa de San Juan single-ended Duewag trams with the Puerta del Mar square, a (obtained second-hand from few metres from the Esplanade. CAF Urbos 954 carries a special livery to mark the opening of St-Etienne’s tramline Germany) were withdrawn on Tenders have been launched to T3 on 16 November, when the early onset of winter was an unexpected hazard. 10 November. Surviving cars construct a 500m tunnel extension Y. Allain of this type are museum trams to link the tram at Luceros/Estels to dc operation will end by the time expected until August. Deliveries 615 and 702 (ex-Düsseldorf the high-speed railway station. they arrive in 2022. A. Moglestue were due to be completed in June 2513 and 2661) and works cars 20 minutos, P. Robinson 2021 but are now expected to run 2603/8/16/7 (ex-Frankfurt-am- BARCELONA. On the night of until later in that year. Main 603/36/7/1). Duewag 13-14 November the local Alstom BLACKPOOL. A conference on New fares from the start of 2020 double-ended 903-7 (ex-Frankfurt factory delivered the first of 12 five- 18 February is to bring together local freeze the cost of single journeys at 903-7) have been retained for use car metro trains, a 9000-series set authorities, transport professionals 2019 prices with others increasing when stub termini are created by for line 4. In the first half of 2020 and the public to debate the past, by an average of 2.2%. New track works. DS CAF will deliver four 6000-series present and future of light rail, products will be introduced to cater trains for line 1 and 12 5000-series trams and other forms of public for early and occasional workers, ROMANIA for lines 1, 3 and 5. These will be transport in Blackpool, Wyre including a carnet-style ticket. ARAD. Recent timetable changes followed before the end of the and Fylde. Jane Cole, Managing Four months after its introduction, reduced the peak run-out of trams year by the first of 42 new trains to Director of Blackpool Transport, more than a million payments had from 120 to 80, with the result replace stock on lines 1 and 3. will be one of the speakers. been made by contactless means. that there has been a scrapping R. Felski Organised by Trams to Lytham, A report from the Rail Accident programme for many second-hand CÁDIZ. There was still no sign of the conference is sponsored by Investigation Branch into an German trams. BS any operation on the tram-train the Light Rail Transit Association. incident that resulted in facial IASI. On 4 November a EUR30m line in early November; issues on Further details can be obtained injuries to a passenger with order was confirmed with operation over ADIF tracks are from Sam Flynn at Trams to impaired mobility falling onto the Turkish supplier Bozankaya for 16 preventing progress. P. Robinson Lytham by emailing track at Ashton-under-Lyne stop metre-gauge five-section 30m VITORIA-GASTEIZ. CAF is to [email protected] has made four recommendations. 100% low-floor trams, with deliver seven new seven-section CAIRNGORMS. Two reports The incident on 12 May 2019 delivery from mid-2021. Urbos trams in time for the 2.5km commissioned by the owner of the saw a 46-year-old man fall from (1.6-mile) extension to Bulvar de Cairngorm funicular, Highlands the platform as a tram that he was RUSSIA Salburuna, due to open in early & Islands Enterprise (HIE), have leaning on (due to an inability INDUSTRY. PK Transportnye 2021. Once in service, four of the confirmed that work is required to stand unaided) departed. The Systemy has won orders from 11 existing five-section trams will to strengthen the railway’s man was spotted on the tracks by Tatarstan systems for ten City Star be transferred to Bilbao. UTM piers, beams and foundations the driver of the next tram. trams, five for Naberezhyne Chelny, at an estimated cost of GBP10m RAIB recommendations include and five for Nizhnekamsk. BS SWITZERLAND (EUR11.7m). HIE was hoping to three to operator KeolisAmey KAZAN. On 18 November BEX (TPC). Plans are being have a business case submitted Metrolink (KAM): improving tramline 5 was extended along drawn up to replace one kilometre to the Scottish Government by guidance to drivers on the use new tracks in Baki Urmanche to (0.6 miles) of street track between the end of the year. The funicular of side-view CCTV monitors; Midhat Bulatov. urbantransit.net Arveyes and Villars-sur-Ollon with opened in 2001 but has been improving passenger visibility NOVOCHERKASSK. Ex-Moskva a diversion through a 700m tunnel. closed since September 2018 at stops; and reviewing guidance 71-619 trams 2121 and 4333/47 CHF380m (EUR345.4m) is in the due to structural deficiencies. given to staff who may encounter arrived on 13 November. budget for 2020-2024. EA EDINBURGH. The tramway was impaired passengers. A fourth transphoto.ru LAUTERBRUNNEN – MURREN to provide free Hogmanay travel calls for KAM and the North West OSSINIKI. Four KTM-19 (BLM). Three new Be4/6 cars between West End and Edinburgh Ambulance Service to develop trams are coming from Moskva have been ordered from Stadler Airport for a fourth year running, new protocols so the tramway’s (4309/12/23/61); the first two for delivery in September 2003, to with a 20-minute service between control centre is informed of any were delivered on 7 November. replace the 1967 stock. EA midnight on 31 December and actions of the ambulance service transphoto.ru ZÜRICH. Changes to the tramway 05.00 on 1 January. As in previous that may be relevant to operations. network from 25 November saw years trams will not serve the INDUSTRY. Alstom Network SINGAPORE line 17 withdrawn, line 6 diverted West End to York Place section. UK has been fined GBP15m MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY. from Bahnhof Enge to terminate GLASGOW. A pre-Christmas (EUR17.8m) over bribes made to Canberra station on the at Werdhölzli, and line 10 extended Subway timetable improvement secure a Tunisian tram contract. North-South line opened on from Bahnhof to Albisgütli. was introduced from 17 November, The decision brings to a close 2 November. urbanrail.net This reduced the peak run-out by with Sunday services extended a decade-long investigation by ten trams, helping with the rolling to 20.30 and trains running every the UK’s Serious Fraud Office. FT stock shortage. BS six to eight minutes at busy times. LONDON (UNDERGROUND). . A new circular ZÜRICH – UETLIBERG (SZU). GREATER MANCHESTER. The London Mayor Sadiq Khan has tramline around the city centre is Stadler has won the CHF46.7m first of an extra 27 Bombardier confirmed a fare freeze during to be created by 2024 by linking (EUR42.4m) contract to supply five M5000 trams, expected to be 2020; this does not include the Saleziáni and Prístavná with trains for the Uetlibergbahn. They delivered in February, has been daily and weekly price caps, or Safárikovo nám. A. Prescott will be equipped for ac current delayed by supply chain issues at weekly, monthly and annual travel collection only, so the existing Bombardier; the first is not now cards, which will increase by 2.8%.

32 / JANUARY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org A new Victoria line timetable when accompanied by a fare from 4 November has extended paying adult. the times during which services WEST MIDLANDS. The majority run at 100-second headways. of the CAF Urbos fleet was to These are now 07.15-10.15 receive battery retrofitment by (previously 08.15-09.45) and the end of 2019 and all vehicles 16.15-19.15 (previously 17.00- have now been re-liveried into 18.30). Off-peak services continue TfWM blue. Tram 28 was named to run every 135 seconds. after comedian Jasper Carrott in a Transport for London has ceremony in early November. contracted EAMS Group, a Events have been held subsidiary of design consultancy across Sandwell and Dudley for Arcadis, to deliver a single asset, residents and businesses to find health, safety and environmental out more about the Wednesbury management system for both to Brierley Hill extension, intended London Underground and to open in 2023. If you want winter sunshine, a visit to Porto in Portugal is recommended. In addition London Trams. A fares increase was applied on to a modern light rail system, heritage trams operate on two routes. STCP 131, 287 and 220 are seen at Massarelos. Y. Sos NOTTINGHAM. Conversion of 8 December with GBP0.40 19 spaces to electric vehicle (EUR0.47) added to the cost of NEW ORLEANS, LA. The SAN FRANCISCO, CA charging bays has taken place at a GBP4 (EUR4.70) Off Peak Day collapse of the Hard Rock hotel (Muni). The 16km (ten-mile) Wilkinson Street Park-and-Ride. ticket and the Birmingham under construction at the corner BART extension from Milpas The work is part of Nottingham City Hop GBP1 (EUR1.18) fare of Rampart and Canal streets was to Berryessa was expected Council’s ‘Go Ultra Low’ increasing to GBP1.50 (EUR1.77). still disrupting tram service in to start carrying passengers programme, which has installed The through single fare to mid-November, with suggestions before the end of 2019. over 300 charging points. Wolverhampton will now cost that it will be several months A further 9.7km (six-mile) SOUTH YORKSHIRE. The GBP4 (EUR4.72). before the area can be made safe extension to San Jose is at the Stadler Citylink tram-train fleet is and services resume. There is design and engineering phase. IRJ again complete with the return USA no Canal service south of Liberty of 204 (399 204) to Sheffield in ATLANTA, GA. The contract and no Loyola-Rampartt- November after repair in Spain. for 127 two-car metro trains from St Claude service at all. A. Drake HANOI. Deputy Prime Minister It is the amalgamation of an end Stadler was signed in November. ST LOUIS, MO. The Loop Trolley Trinh Dinh Dung called for the section of 202 and the centre and They will be assembled in Salt has been given a USD90 000 loan city’s metro network to open by end section of 204, which were Lake City and enter service from while the Bi-State Development the end of 2019, although safety damaged in separate accidents in 2023. IRJ Agency is evaluating whether to tests were still being carried out as October and November 2018. BOSTON, MA. The first of the take over the line. Mass Transit TAUT went to press. The seven tram-trains have Chinese-designed subway car also undergone modification, sets for the Red line (301) was requiring a reduced timetable with delivered on 1 November. The two services per hour rather than MBTA board has voted to budget three while the work was carried USD28.9bn to electrify and out (from the end of November to upgrade the 610km (379-mile) 15 December). commuter rail network over the Major flooding in November coming years, aiming to introduce affected Supertram and tram-train 15-minute headways. R. Barrows services. The River Don burst its HUDSON – BERGEN, NJ. Work banks, including under the Tinsley should start in 2020 on the 1.3km bridge close to Meadowhall. Trams (0.8-mile) western extension were unable to reach Meadowhall, of the light rail line from West terminating at Meadowhall South Side Avenue to the Hackensack for a period. The railway around River, where a new housing Rotherham Central was also development is being built. nj.com flooded, with service diverted to KANSAS CITY. MO. The second ANNIVERSARY Meadowhall or Meadowhall South of the two new CAF-built Urbos for more than a week. trams, 806, entered service at From 15 December a new the end of October, permitting timetable was introduced, Saturday schedules to be boosted extending evening services and through the operation of four trams with a new promotional ‘After 8’ (while scheduled maintenance GBP2 (EUR2.36) ticket allowing takes place on two). D. Drum unlimited travel from Parkgate LOS ANGELES, CA. The Blue or Rotherham Central for those light rail line to Long Beach travelling after 20.00. re-opened on 2 November as TYNE & WEAR. Nexus has Line A after a USD350m appointed a new Chief Operating refurbishment, with the journey Officer, Martin Kearney. Currently time reduced from 58 to 51 Chief Officer for Train and minutes. However in the first 19 Ferry Operations at Transdev days of operation there were 24 Australasia, Kearney will take up periods of significant disruption his appointment on 20 January. due in part to signalling and The annual fares increase takes power supply issues. la.streetsblog effect on 2 January with a GBP0.10 MIAMI – FORT LAUDERDALE, (EUR0.12) increase in single FL. Virgin Trains USA has journey and Day Rover prices. announced that its Brightline Family Metro travel will become local trains will start serving a cheaper with up to three children new station in the Port of Miami able to travel free at weekends before the end of 2020. IRJ

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org JANUARY 2020 / 33 Worldwide Review

devoted to the history of the 1 November, except 12-15 June company. Work is about to start on when the museum will be closed. setting up the first, next to the old A programme of special events is Ruby station building and devoted being formulated. to the Barcelona – Sabadell/ It is expected that Blackpool Terrassa standard-gauge lines, Brush car 298 will be moved while the project for a metre-gauge from the Clay Cross store to network exhibition, to be located the museum workshops for the in Martorell, has just been drawn start of its restoration to 1937 up. Finally, the former goods area condition, following completion at la Pobla de Segur station will of the current work on London become the home for the Lleida – County Council 1 and Newcastle Pobla de Segur Spanish-gauge line 102. The project is being funded historical display. in part by the Tramcar Sponsorship The first two areas will also Organisation. contain examples from the FGC HEATON PARK (UK). Following collection of historical rolling the reopening ceremony, after stock – in this context, work reinstatement of stolen overhead, The first 71-411 metre-gauge low-floor bogie tram for a Russian system is seen on its is at present in progress on on 26 October, the regular delivery run to Yevpatoriya. A. Pyatetsky refurbishing both a cabin from Sunday service ceased for the Construction of the system’s from the original VND8.8tr the Sant Jeroni de Montserrat winter after 17 November but first two lines began in 2011, (USD343m) to over VND18tr – Monistrol suspension line (in the tramway participated in the with completion set for 2013, (USD700m) according to the operation from 1929-1983) and Lightopia Festival (21 November- but the project has faced numerous state auditor, which has heavily a set of metre-gauge wooden 29 December), with trams running setbacks related to construction criticised the Transport Ministry railway coaches, while restoration on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and finance. Since September for its planning and of a 400-series standard-gauge evenings. Blackpool 623 received 2017 the city has employed 1000 implementation of the project. EMU has been recently completed lights and was the main tram in operational staff and yet the two VN Express with an inaugural run planned for use, supplemented by Manchester lines only entered the testing the first quarter of 2020. 765 and Hull 96. phase in March 2019. MUSEUM NEWS The company is also working SEATON (UK). The crossing at Project costs for the two lines BARCELONA (ES). FGC on setting up a website to allow Colyford is being replaced using (2A – 13km/8.1 miles from Cat President Ricardo Font digital access to the FGC’s historical track surplus to the requirements Linh to Ha Dong; and line 3 – recently gave details of a heritage rolling stock and company of the National Tramway Museum 12.5km/7.8 miles from Nhon programme that includes the document collections. R. Felski at Crich. The crossing has not been to Hanoi Station) have doubled creation of three display areas BEAMISH (UK). Construction re-laid in 30 years and then only of a new bus depot adjoining the with second-hand track from the tram depot was completed at the Leeds system. The work is being end of November and formally undertaken by the tramway and opened by guests from Go North- Alan Keef Ltd. East, The Reece Group and the UNION, IL (US). 1979 Toronto Heritage Lottery Fund. This has CLRV 4034, built in Canada by allowed the bus fleet to vacate Hawker-Siddeley, has arrived here part of the tram depot, the space for preservation. D. Drum now being occupied by a number of steam engines plus an area for CONTRIBUTORS Friends of Beamish to undertake Worldwide news items for restorations. Further space close inclusion should be sent to to the existing machine shop will Michael Taplin at Flat 8, Roxan become a heavy engineering area. Villa, 33 Landguard Manor Rd, BENDIGO (AU). The ‘Royal Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 Tram’ has been moved from 6EA, UK. Fax: +44 (0)1983 862810 Rosalind Park to the Central or e-mail [email protected] Deborah Gold Mine as additional UK and Ireland items are seating for the site’s café while a welcomed by the Home News new owner is sought. Editor, John Symons, 17 The SW2 car has two bogies but Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, no running gear, and an asking Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 0LW, UK. price of AUD80 000 (EUR49 000) E-mail [email protected]. has been set to raise funds to Acknowledgements are due to support ongoing restoration 20 minutos, BBC News, Bendigo ANNIVERSARY projects. Bendigo Advertiser Advertiser, Blickpunkt Strassenbahn CRICH (UK). Closure of the (BS), Drehscheibe (DS), Edinburgh National Tramway Museum for Evening News, Eisenbahn Amateur the winter has allowed the start (EA), Eisenbahn (EB), infotram.pl, of renewal of the double-track International Railway Journal (IRJ), from the Victoria Park stop Irish Independent, la.streetsblog, towards Wakebridge. The work lineoz.net, Manchester Evening also includes removal of old News, Mass Transit, nj.com, Op de track stored at Glory Mine and Rails (OR), Progressive Railroading, upgrading the two substations Railway Gazette International (RGI), with equipment to allow a radio Sheffield Star, Trolley Wire (TW), interlink and safety interlocking Tram-2000 (T-2000), transphoto.ru, of the dc power supply. urbanrail.net, Urban Transport The 2020 season is to begin on Magazine (UTM), urbantransit.net, 14 March with daily opening VN Express and Wolverhampton through the season until Express & Star.

34 / JANUARY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Letters

Mailbox Get your views into print [email protected] Letters submitted by post should be clearly typed and preferably not handwritten. We reserve the right to shorten contributions for publication. Reigniting the debate on trams, trailers and trains...

May I make the case for the use of, where appropriate, peak periods these can take forever to load, depending on the small/smaller trams, linked to the use of trailers. ticketing system. At present (with the exception of the Parry People Mover The erstwhile smaller trams and trolleybuses worked and similar), modern trams tend to be single-deck gargantuan perfectly well most of the time. Even then they were not filled vehicles. These can be linked together for multiple-unit to capacity by any means all of the time. There was a frequent operation, making them even bigger. service and they generally earned a good profit. These are quite suitable for quick crowd-moving and are Given developments in ticketing, is there merit in considering absolutely fine if there is a steady demand. With a wonderful both double-deck single-unit cars (possibly with trailers) and crew/passenger ratio, they have restored the tram’s capacity single-deck cars (with, possibly multiple, trailers)? Thus supply advantage compared to other forms of street vehicle. could better cater for demand and avoid increasingly expensive Portsmouth (UK) in 1901 introduced (two-man) electric cars equipment trundling through the streets (largely empty) at that seated 22 inside and 33 outside, total 55. The replacing off-peak times. Control trailers could be used as appropriate. trolleybuses again had a two-man crew and seated 52. This ought to considerably extend the working life of trailer These were replaced, in part, by Leyland Atlantean buses, cars compared to ‘empty’ bits of the current leviathans. seating 78 or thereabouts (which, incidentally, juddered Meanwhile, why do modern vehicles appear to cost so much themselves to bits much faster than replacement trolleybuses more, even taking inflation into account, and have shorter would have done). We now have (inter alia) standee working lives, than their predecessors? single-deck buses with a carrying capacity of about 100; at Chris Malone, by e-mail

Beware developers hijacking the tram maybe because the big office scheme did not and city centre. That would involve a major I agree with P. Geon’s letter (‘Considering the materialise; the official reason was to save rephasing of the global economy and there wider environment’ – TAUT 984), and consider (I think) around GBP34m [EUR40m]. are very, very few places in the world where the tram to be of immense and lasting benefit Sadly, Davenport Green is under threat this could even be contemplated. to urban centres. However, we need to be on again, this time from the proposed HS2 In our utopia, higher tax revenues placed our guard for tramway and railway schemes high-speed railway line into central upon the motorist who has an alternative in being ‘hijacked’ to serve developers’ schemes Manchester. A station is proposed for the high-quality public transport would be spent for breaking into open countryside for no airport – but located on the open space over on delivering high-quality public transport for other discernible gain but their own. a mile away from the existing airport trams all – thus creating a virtuous circle. However, I have in mind Manchester Metrolink’s and trains! This is desired by the landowner, while all the technology in the world may Airport line that opened in 2014. When first to enable the development of the whole site. be thrown at cars to make them cleaner and proposed, the route completely omitted the This would no doubt re-activate the tramline more convenient, the battle against private very large Wythenshawe Estate (approximately via Newall Green, and generate a circular car use will not be fought in the public eye, 77 000 people); after traversing Southmoor argument of one scheme justifying the other. but rather it will be quelled from the very deep Road (as it now does), the line would turn It is very sad to see publicly-funded transport pockets of the automotive industry. sharply right into Hospital Road towards projects commandeered to destroy valuable Name and address supplied Wythenshawe Hospital. At this proposed right and irreplaceable environmental assets. turn, the current line turns left into Hollyhedge Peter Thompson, Altrincham (UK) Removing the disruption of strikes Road, then on to Benchill, Crossacres, Civic The huge demonstrations and widespread Centre, Peel Hall, Shadowmoss and then Deep pockets buy a lot of influence strikes that have swept through France on to the airport. It is within reach of many I couldn’t agree more with the comments of in recent weeks put in mind a particular Wythenshawe residents, thus serving a Nick Meredith in the latest edition (‘There’s question: is this one of the best arguments for valuable public purpose. still a lot of fight in the ‘demon’ car industry’ – automation? The original proposal, after leaving TAUT 984), but it comes down to a question For, whatever the merits (or otherwise) of the hospital would then have traversed a of who holds the real power in society: the any particular case, strikes inevitably cause considerable area of green belt, known as people, the politicians or big business? mass inconvenience, and affect the economy. Davenport Green, with a proposed stop at With millions of jobs worldwide at stake, Indeed, is that not at least part of their Newall Green, coincidentally quite near a as they are in the automotive sector and its purpose? How else do you gain recognition proposed office development of one million extensive supply chain, it would be a brave and publicity for your cause? square feet (approximately 93 000m2). It would politician indeed to risk such a jolt to the In contrast, automation equals reduced then have entered the airport rail station economy as to divert even a fraction of the reliance on people, which in turn must surely complex from the western side. The current hundreds of billions spent each year globally mean fewer staff-related problems... and trains and trams enter from the east. on highway projects to rail-based solutions. potentially less disruption. There had already been objections to We must remember the persuasive power and There are of course other arguments, both the offices plan; these were extended to influence of the automotive sector, and also in favour of and against automation. But it is the tram route. By contrast, Wythenshawe that of the vast petrochemical sector. also true that through the history of public people objected to being completely left out While I concur with Mr Meredith that ‘in transport, the reliance on human labour has of the scheme. GMPTE [now Transport for the long-term there is no getting around the gradually grown smaller over time. Greater Manchester] hastily put together fact that cars are simply not the solution to As that process continues, perhaps future the line through Wythenshawe, the line we urban mobility’, I fear that it will take a major tramway and metro passengers will consider have today. With the Newall Green section, shock to the system – perhaps many times the inconvenience of strikes to be something this would have formed a loop through the greater than the current climate crisis, to that’s purely of historical interest. airport. This rural section was not built, see road vehicles banned from every town V. Graham, by e-mail

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org JANUARY 2020 / 35 Classic Trams Brno’s BIG 1 TRAMWAY PARTY In the second part of Mike Russell’s celebration of 150 years of tramway operations in Brno, he reviews the Tramway PART Street Party and outlines the regular heritage operations. TWO

hat could be better than that remain in city service, extensively rebuilt September, special route H4 operates hourly a grand Tramway Street and refurbished. Nevertheless, it is worth on Sundays and holidays from Komenského Party? That is what Brno mentioning that, along with Sarajevo and náměstí via náměstí Svobody to Mendlovo staged on 31 August, as the Bratislava (where all but one have been rebuilt náměstí. Use of a solo two-axle car (usually culmination of celebrations as type K2S), Brno remains the last operator of 107) is necessitated by the stub terminal siding markingW the 150th anniversary of operations K2 cars in passenger service. at Komenského náměstí. Fares are in-line with in what had been the Austrian city of Brünn. Unfortunately 1123 suffered pantograph the normal city tariff, making the operation Behind horse car 6 and Krauss & Co. damage and had to be pushed to Medlánky an attractive option. The operation of an 1889-built steam tram ‘Caroline’ was arrayed by KT8D5 three-section articulated car 1704, historic service now extends to encompass a long retinue of tramcars, illustrating the decorated in a special 150th anniversary the trolleybus fleet and any one of seven system’s development of electric traction. First livery of white with gold braid. For the second historic vehicles can be expected to turn up in line and representing the first generation of parade it was replaced by K2P 1024. on Sundays and holidays on route H24. This Brünn electric trams (but propelled by Tatra Further Tatra products followed, including runs hourly between Mendlovo náměstí T6A5 car 1217), was car 10. This was built T3 motor car 1525, part of the retro fleet whilst and Komín depot, en route operating along by Waggonfabrik Graz in 1899 for the 1900 some refurbished sisters remain in regular extensive wiring otherwise used solely for inauguration, but its motors are currently not service. Then came a three-car set of T6A5 depot-connection purposes. operable. Next came car 57, built by Stauding motorcars formed of 1211, 1212 and 1208. Not that these impressive offerings now in 1913 for the former Wien-Pressburg T6A5 cars are becoming rare on Czech systems represent the full extent of heritage operations interurban line and which, with two sisters, and this unusual formation can sometimes be in Brno, because a new ‘retro’ feature has came to Brünn as a refugee in 1915; it towed seen operating a Monday-Friday peak duty on been added. Tram line 10 operates mainly trailer 205, built by the same firm in 1920 to a line 1. A heavily-rebuilt K2 car followed: 1753 over metals shared with trunk line 8, with just more traditional Austro-Hungarian design. is one of four rebuilt as a K3R-N, with Pars three stops on its freehold section to Stránská Matchboarded car 107, built locally by Šumperk characteristic single-piece curved skála. The latter area is sparsely populated and Královopolská Strojírna (KPS) in 1943 and in windscreen and a new low-floor central section. the ultimate destination is an old industrial continuous DPmB ownership, was followed Škoda 13T 1934 completed the parade, along plant where employment levels have declined by a three-car rake headed by matchboarded with T3 works car 1544. Car 4058 was placed significantly. Only during Monday-Friday motor car 99 of 1941. It hauled two trailers in a on Lidická to act as a local media studio. peak periods is anything approaching a display that deliberately lacked homogeneity, When the convoy left Medlánky shortly frequent service operated, and on Sundays an for time was when every available car had after 15.30 to return to the city via Kounicova hourly service with one car suffices. to be pressed into service to cater for traffic. and form up in Lidická for the second time, From this year, the Sunday daytime service First was ELV trailer 296 built by KPS in 1947 some minor changes took place. Horse car 6 on this route has been worked by a retro attached to 215 of 1926, constructed by was drawn by motor car 107, though for its fleet car. Restored TatraT2 1435 is a regular Ringhoffer of Praha with more traditional eventual return to Medlánky it was hauled performer and the renovated T3 1525 and painted waist and rocker panels and part of by back-to-back coupled Vario LFR.E set K2YU 1123 are also employed. However, DPmB’s own heritage fleet. The company 1541+1597 of 2014. T6A5 motor car 1217 without doubt a high point of the August has in recent years been building up its own had been shunted at Medlánky in order to event took place the following day, when the heritage and ‘retro’ tram fleet to complement tow, rather than propel, car 10. 1615, newly-restored two-axle set of 1950 KPS cars the cars curated by the Technical Museum. rebuilt to mid-1990s condition, also featured. 134 and 303 emerged down the hill of Husova Next in line was a newly-restored gem of to take up daytime service on the line, with a a two-car set: two-axle 4MT motorcar 134 Regular historic services last departure from Nové sady at 18.30. Cars and 3VL trailer 313, built by KPS in 1950 to For those unfamiliar with the present-day of this type were withdrawn from service distinctive designs. Car 134 was originally Brno fleet, it may have become apparent that years ago, and 1 September 2019 was the first presented to the Technical Museum for it features a wide variety of rolling stock. On occasion since 30 April 1974 that a set of these restoration but languished outside at Lisen many routes, moreover, the car allocation distinctive cars operated in service in Brno. until re-acquired by DPmB in 2017, being is arbitrary, provided that some low-floor Coupled with an extensive public relations taken to Medlánky works and restored under element is included in each formation; campaign featuring a range of souvenirs and the guidance of enthusiastic engineering staff. a broad spectrum of vehicles is used. The long a new book covering the history of trams, The task was completed in July and that of route 1 from Řečkovice to Bystrc tends to trolleybuses, motor buses and (yes) river-going trailer 313 only in mid-August. feature mainly heavily-rebuilt K2 motor cars vessels in the city, this series of events was Brno later took delivery of various models of with low-floor centre sections towing a rebuilt a great credit to the tramways undertaking. Tatra tramcar produced by ČKD at the former bogie trailer. A facet of this operation is that This rightly continues to raise the profile of its Ringhoffer works at Smíchov, Praha. A large on westbound journeys at Mendlovo náměstí, operations amongst citizens and enthusiastic fleet of T2 cars arrived and Brno was the last the stopping positions vary so that longer sets members of Tramvajklub Brno. major operator of this type, which was still do not obstruct other tracks at this important in widespread service into the late-1990s. junction, though they instead obstruct exit Car 1435 survived as works car 4121 and was from the square by trolleybuses and motor 2020 CELEBRATIONS restored in 2016-17 to its condition after its buses. The fleet has new Škoda13T and Vario The next major heritage event is planned for first major overhaul in 1970; it led the convoy low-floor trams, but a large number of rebuilt Pisarky depot on 20 June 2020, marking 120 of Tatra products. It was followed by K2YU examples of types K2, T3 and KT8D5 remain. years of electric tramway operation and the articulated car 1123, in original condition Operation of historic tramcars is not limited 150th anniversary of Brno’s oldest depot. with corrugated side panels – unlike those to special occasions. From mid-June to late

36 / JANUARY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org 1. If anyone doubted the level of interest generated by these grand tramway events, this image should surely reassure them. Steam tram ‘Caroline’ (Krauss, 1889) hauling trailer 25 processes alongside an admiring sea of onlookers during the great Tramway Street Party. Luc Koenot

2. A highlight of the August event was the appearance of the newly-renovated 1950 two-axle set 313 + 134. On 1 September, the pair were put into service on route 10 and are seen approaching Nové Sady terminus by the 14th Century cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. Mike Russell

3. An example of the non- homogenous rakes of rolling stock included motor car 99 of 1941, with trailer 296 of 1947 and 215 of 1926, here having just entered Štefánikova. Mike Russell

4. Two-axle car 107, from 1943, 2 has never left the tramway company’s ownership and is in regular use on the summer season heritage route H4. It is seen in náměstí Svobody whilst working a journey from Komenského náměstí. Mike Russell

5. Although seen with bow- collector in contact with the overhead, car 10 (Graz, 1899) is currently unable to move of its own volition and for the two parades during the great Tramway Street Party was propelled by 3 4 car 1217. Luc Koenot 6. Unlike its predecessors in the Tatra catalogue, the T6A5 bogie car has not withstood the passage of time so well and examples are now increasingly rare. An unusual three-car train of cars 1211+1212+1208 took part in the Street Party parade but can also still occasionally be found in service on trunk line 1. It is seen in Benešova approaching the main railway station on just such a peak- hour duty. Mike Russell 5 6 7. There are still plenty of Tatra T3 cars in service on central and eastern European tramways but many of them have been modernised. Brno has had the foresight to conserve one example, 1525 of 1967, in its earlier condition, as shown in Lidická during the Street Party. Luc Koenot

8. Participating vehicles in the parade on 31 August were first marshalled in Lidická, affording a chance for close inspection. Nearest is the two-car set of trailer car 205 7 8 and motor car 57. Mike Russell

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org JANUARY 2020 / 37 NEWS FROM THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT ASSOCIATION Your views on TAUT and the LRTA

he results are in. Over 400 of you deliver content that is of most relevance responded to the survey we issued a to members. T couple of months ago, seeking your “While it can be a challenge to please all of views on both TAUT and the role of the the people all of the time, we always strive to Association – here’s what you told us: put together the best magazine possible with • You think the balance of UK and worldwide each and every issue, and it is heartening to coverage in the magazine is about right see so many responses including the phrase • You continue to value the ongoing ‘Keep up the good work!’. illustrated Systems Factfile series “We value all correspondence and do our • You enjoy the ‘Comment’ and analysis best to respond to as much of it personally pieces on current issues in the industry as we can. Your news submissions and • Some readers want more technical content, suggestions for articles are important to us, so some less so keep them coming!” • There is definitely a place for news and LRTA and TramForward Chair Paul Rowen features on heritage tramways as well as added: “My thanks to the 400-plus people modern systems who have taken the time to respond to • We need to highlight best practice around the survey. The overwhelmingly positive the world more, and look at some of the response shows how TAUT has established more ‘exotic’ places implementing new itself as the world leader for light rail news tramway and light rail projects and analysis. • The name of the magazine is right in “As an organisation, the LRTA prides reflecting the worldwide appeal of light rail itself on serving our members. I particularly in its various forms appreciate the comments on what we can do • You like the system of continuous page as an organisation to campaign and spread numbering for Index purposes the word further about the benefits of light • You think the Association needs to work rail for towns and cities around the world. harder in influencing local stakeholders – The Council will be reflecting on these including the public at large and especially helpful suggestions over the coming months.” new MPs and leaders after elections Our reader survey showed that you value the • We all need to promote the environmental worldwide coverage of the magazine, and you believe The 25 respondents chosen to receive a and economic benefits of tramways and that we should continue to highlight examples of best free LRTA book will be sent them early in the light rail systems more – and their role as practice from around the world. TAUT New Year. part of integrated transport networks TAUT Publisher Matt Johnston commented: “The overwhelmingly positive response to our survey “Thank you to all those who completed the survey. The magazine is a team effort from shows how TAUT has established itself as the world contributors from all walks of life around the world, and these insights help us to leader for light rail news and analysis.”

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

December 2019 Saturday 11. Birmingham 14.00. Keith Ballinger: ION – New light rail Wednesday 12. Brighton 19.45. AGM Brian Edwards: Brian entertains. system in south-west Ontario. (TLRS) and film show, Terry Russell. (TLRS) Saturday 21. Beeston 14.00. John (LRTA/TLRS/ERS-TMS invited) Thursday 30. Manchester 19.00. Friday 14. Glasgow 19.30. Donald Huddlestone: Derby trams. (TLRS) Monday 13. Thames Valley 19.30. Paul Abell: Steam trams – Pioneers of Stirling: Yesterday & today. (STTS) John Laker and Keith Spillett: Video mechanical traction on the roads. Saturday 15. Taunton 14.00. January 2020 Brussels trams 150 etc. (TLRS) Friday 31. Edinburgh. 19.15. TBA Members’ slides/videos. (TLRS) Saturday 18. Taunton 14.00. AGM Tuesday 18. London 19.00. Tuesday 7. 19.30. plus David Edwards: Algeria. (TLRS) February 2020 John Laker: Trams on video. Mike Russell: 50 years of following Tuesday 21. London 19.00. Graham Thursday 27. Manchester 19.00. Belgian tramways. (LRTA/SEG) Dolan: Ripples in time – Greenwich Saturday 1. Mike Ballinger: Mike Crabtree: Trams in Algeria. Wednesday 8. Brighton 19.45. Power Station and Royal Observatory. Algeria 2019. (LRTA/TLRS/ Friday 28. Edinburgh. 19.15. Members’ evening. (TLRS) Friday 24. Leicester 19.30. John ERS-TMS invited) Cllr Lesley MacInnes: TBC. Friday 10. Glasgow 19.30. Lessells: 60 years of Crich. (TMS) Tuesday 4. Southampton 19.30. Friday 28. Leicester 19.30. David Gavin Booth: Britain’s new-generation Saturday 25. Beeston 14.00. AGM Stephen Bigley: British tram depots. Witt: European contrasts – Romania, tramways. (STTS) plus photo competition, followed by (LRTA/SEG) Italy, Alsace and Poland. (TMS)

For more information on the Association and its activities visit www.lrta.org Bookshop

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Trams through Charleroi’s trams This book covers the since 1940 Once the centre of a vast the Dunes Coal, steel and network of Vicinal routes development of tram cornfields The Belgian Coastal serving this coal and steel subways and light rail producing area, Charleroi concepts in Belgian cities. Tramways 1885-2010 had an independent town The gradual conversion of tramway but now only pre-Metro lines in Brussels Covers the development of the Vicinal the ‘Light Metro’ system to full Metro contrasts with coastal tramway and its connections inland. remains, although it has the continued use of trams Geoffrey Skelsey and Yves-Laurent Hansart Includes a review of the variety of rolling Featuring photographs by Michael J Russell and Peter Haseldine gradually been expanded. in the tunnels beneath stock over the years. Published 2009. Published 2013. Antwerp.

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Comprehensive history of the city’s public Third in the series of four books illustrating transport, the decision to adopt the TVR, and its the city’s tram network prior to opening of the recent replacement by a tramway. French text. Noord-Zuid Metro, covering the lines which did not pass Centraal Station. Dutch text. > A4 softback; 160 pages, fully-illustrated, several maps. EUR30.00 www.boutiquedelaviedurail.com > A4 hardback; 152 pages, 295 colour and black & white pictures. (also available at www.amazon.com) EUR39.90 www.lyckatill.nl (also available at www.amazon.com)

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