THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE

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MAY 2020 No. 989 RIDERS STAY AWAY AS WORLD PAUSES

Pandemic devastates public transport as cities enter lockdown Operators respond to COVID-19 crisis CARES Act bail out for US transit Berlin signs biggest ever U-Bahn order

Doha Accessibility £4.60 Battery hybrid trams LRT’s lessons for for Qatar’s capital heavy rail networks Due to the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, some of our 2020 diary will be rescheduled in accordance with current advice from local and national authorities to protect the welfare and well-being of participants, guests and staff. We are delighted to have the full support of our event partners during these unprecedented and challenging times, and continue to work with them to deliver events that connect people and share knowledge and expertise from across the public transport sector. For those that have already booked places, we will keep you fully up-to-date with new information as it becomes available. For those who would still like to attend, speak or exhibit, please contact us for the latest details.

BIRMINGHAM, UK ENGINEERING LRT EXCELLENCE Dinner at the ROLLING STOCK Zaragoza, LRTEXCELLENCE Spain Roundhouse Derby, UK NEWCASTLE, UK

WOLVERHAMPTON LONDON, UK UK

Tramways and Urban Transit continues to deliver news, analysis and in-depth features on the latest industry developments worldwide – direct to your door or online. Subscribe now. www.mainspring.co.uk • [email protected] • +44 (0)1733 367601 CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association 166 MAY 2020 Vol. 83 No. 989 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL Editor – Simon Johnston 178 [email protected] Associate Editor – Tony Streeter [email protected] Worldwide Editor – Michael Taplin 186 [email protected] News Editor – John Symons [email protected] Senior Contributor – Neil Pulling Y-2.0 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, B / CC rentanni Thomas Wagner, Philip Webb, Rick Wilson A. T Production – Lanna Blyth News 164 NOT ALL RAIL IS CREATED EQUAL... 183 Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 Berlin signs its biggest-ever U-Bahn order; Daniel Pyke explains the different types of [email protected] Trafford Park Line opens early; COVID-19 rail used by urban mobility systems. DESIGN – Debbie Nolan pandemic devastates public transport Advertising demand around the world; US commits systems factfile: brandenburg 186 COMMERCIAL Manager – Geoff Butler USD25bn to transit emergency fund. Neil Pulling explores this small German city Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 [email protected] and its intriguing metre-gauge tramway. LESSONS IN crisis management 171 Publisher – Matt Johnston Morgan Lyons offers a step-by-step WORLDWIDE REVIEW 191 Tramways & Urban Transit approach to crisis communications for these Canberra commissions expansion studies; 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, unprecedented and challenging times. Bombardier replaces its CEO; Cork to assess Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK light rail route options; Krasnodar places Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring next-generation lrt: doha 173 order for up to 56 new low-floor trams. on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each Julia Wahnsiedler reviews the technology month preceding the cover date. behind the hybrid tramway that serves one MAILBOX 195 of the world’s greenest regeneration projects. UK Government report ignores LRT... again. PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION tram-train: BRIDGING THE GAP? 178 CLASSIC trams: leipzig museum 196 Warners (Midlands), Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK Dr Rob Carroll explores the challenges Mike Russell surveys the smart and spacious LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) related to the provision of level boarding. new tram museum in Saxony’s biggest city. Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up members of the Light Rail Transit Association. The future of transport is now very much in our hands LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY Brian Lomas Over the past month transport systems around the world have been stripped [email protected] [email protected] of their most vital asset – passengers. In just a few weeks our lives have been Subscriptions, MEMBERSHIP and back issues turned upside down as enforced lockdowns see many of us working from our LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley sofas or hastily-constructed home offices as the COVID-19 pandemic has spread Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 – its RNA structure making it remarkably easy to catch but very difficult to kill. [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info We’re not commuting or travelling abroad, and tram, metro, bus and train services have for CORPORATE Subscriptions VISIT been reduced to cater for only our most essential journeys. Yet cleaners, medical staff, www.mainspring.co.uk childcare providers, tram, train, bus and delivery drivers cannot work remotely; those that allow society to run smoothly and safely are the very ones being put most at risk. LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 4TU, UK. What is apparent is that our concept of ‘community’ is being reshaped before our very eyes. Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 Many scientists and economists predict that we’re in this for the long haul. A year that in England and Wales. started with such optimism will likely now be a year of managing decline, with 2021 LRTA Chairman – Paul Rowen offering a chance to stabilise, rebuild and recover. [email protected] Whether the dramatic changes we’re currently seeing are forever depends on our © LRTA 2020 response. We have a unique opportunity to reassess our place in the world and how we Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also will shape its future. Difficult decisions are coming: investment may well be diverted and later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution revenue forecasts will have to be recalculated as we rebuild. Emergency grants and loans, is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the where available, will hopefully get us through these challenging and unpredictable times. opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of An alternative view suggests an acceleration of key projects to leverage cost-saving the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. opportunities and pooled resources. There are other silver linings, too. This horrific global No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including pandemic has afforded us a snapshot of a potential future where the air is cleaner, roads photocopying, recording or by any information storage and are less congested and public transport is given its rightful place as a crucial element of retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from our communities. We may even see a major rebound in ridership as people realise they the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the don’t need the added expense of a car if they are working from home more in the future... magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. While we wait and see what the future holds, TAUT is still here. For the next issue or two, while we will still deliver the latest news from around the world, we will add more COVER: An empty Königstraße in the centre of ‘big reads’ – delving into greater detail to celebrate light rail and give us all half an hour’s Kassel, Germany, during lockdown on 3 April. respite from the incessant news of coronavirus... Stay well. Simon Johnston, Editor Carl / CC BY-ND 2.0

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2020 / 163 News BVG overcomes legal challenge to place largest ever U-Bahn contract Up to 1500 cars to be delivered to the German capital from 2022, as debate continues over expansion

n 20 March the A computer-generated impression regional appeal court of a Stadler JK U-Bahn train at rejected Alstom’s Olympia-Stadion on the small-profile legal attempts to stop network. Stadler OBerliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) placing a direct EUR3bn order for up to 1500 U-Bahn cars with Stadler Pankow. The contract contains provision for at least 606 cars and the supply of spare parts for 32 years, worth EUR1.2bn – 376 for delivery from 2022 and 230 to be confirmed at a later date – including two- and four-car trains for both small (U1-U4, 2.4m-wide) and large (U5-U9, 2.65m-wide) profile lines. This is two years later than BVG hoped when it tendered for the contract. The framework includes an option for a further 894 cars. This the second time that the A report presented to the Berlin development on the Tegel BVG and Stadler are already city’s U-Bahn orders have been Senate in March states that airport site – this comes with an working together on IK series delayed by legal challenges. In three U-Bahn extensions have estimated cost of up to EUR607m trains for the Berlin network (54 2018 Siemens challenged the been deemed ‘structurally and depending on the chosen route. four-car trains) and the new order award of an emergency EUR120m technically’ feasible. Other longer-term plans under will be classed as type J and JK. contract to Stadler (without The study is designed to consideration include a short To simplify maintenance the two tendering), but later withdrew inform transport priorities in western extension of U7 from types will use many common after BVG reduced the number of the German capital following Spandau to Heerstraße Nord; an components, so the JK will have trains covered by the ‘urgency’ completion later this year extension of U3 from Krumme two instead of three pairs of contract. The basis of the Alstom of the 2.2km (1.4-mile) U5 Lanke to Mexikoplatz (150m of doors and the same distance appeal was that BVG changed the extension to Berlin Hbf tunnel for this scheme has already between windows and doors. contractual conditions during between Alexanderplatz and been built); a 600m extension Stadler is to invest up to the tender process, including a Brandenburger Tor. The cost of of U2 to Pankow-Kirche; and a EUR70m in its Pankow factory in requirement that manufacturers this long-awaited ‘missing link’ southern U9 extension to serve the northern Berlin suburbs in had to guarantee the reliability has risen by almost 20% to an new housing developments at order to fulfil the order. “We are of the trains for up to 30 years, estimated EUR525m. Lankwitz. very proud to have won one of the and increasing the volume from The future projects include While there is broad bipartisan largest rolling stock contracts ever 1050 to 1500 cars. a southern U7 extension agreement on U-Bahn expansion, awarded in Europe, and that we BVG has a shortage of U-Bahn from Rudow to the new coalition partner Die Linke are able to implement it in Berlin trains, with the fleet having an Berlin-Brandenberg airport – backed by the Green party – for Berlin. We decided to speed average age of 28 years and the at Schönefeld, estimated to argues that it is more urgent to up our planned investments in oldest dating from the 1960s. cost EUR306m; a northern address the estimated EUR2bn locations in the German capital The total number of cars fell extension of U8 from Wittenau backlog of modernisation of to create an optimal basis for this from 1403 in 2001 to 1242 in to Märkisches Viertel and existing U-Bahn lines alongside large project”, said Jure Mikolcic, 2012, while patronage went up potentially Senftenberger Ring; short-term expansion of the CEO of Stadler in Germany. by 21% during the same period. and a U6 branch to serve future city’s tramway network.

NEWS IN PICTURES Trafford Park line opens early Metrolink’s 5.5km (3.4-mile) Trafford Park Line opened for revenue service on 22 March, seven months ahead of the original target. The GBP350m (EUR400m) construction contract was awarded in 2016 to the MPact-Thales consortium and was the first to benefit from the regional devolution deal for Greater Manchester. The scheme included a GBP20m (EUR23m) contribution from Trafford Council. Services currently operate as a shuttle from Cornbrook to the Trafford Centre and will be extended to the city centre and Crumpsall later in the year when additional M5000 trams are expected to be delivered. The new line was delivered on the day services were revised on the remainder of the UK network due to the coronavirus epidemic. As TAUT went to press, tram patronage had fallen by 95% with further reductions seeing a base 20-minute service from 6 April. New operating hours are 06.00-22.00

Transport for Greater Manchester Manchester Greater for Transport Monday-Saturday and 07.00-22.00 on Sundays.

164 / MAY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Nottingham Tyne & Wear Metro gains prepares three new routes improvement funding An outline business case has been prepared for three potential Latest UK Government investment for line upgrades and more new trains extensions to the Nottingham Express Transit tramway (UK). n its Budget statement on capacity by 30 000 passenger frequency to every ten minutes The longest would run from 11 March, the UK journeys daily. Trains are to outside the central area. the Meadows near Nottingham Government agreed to fund inter-work with heavy rail Passenger Transport Executive station, serving Meadow Lane, a GBP103m (EUR117m) services on the same basis as the Nexus has also called for studies the Cattle Market, the yet-to-be- Ischeme to increase service jointly-used Sunderland line. of the feasibility of up to ten built Waterside development and frequency, reduce journey GBP95m (EUR108m) is to proposed Metro extensions and continuing along Daleside Road times and improve reliability come from the Transforming local passenger rail re-openings. to the Nottingham Racecourse on the Tyne and Wear Metro. Cities Fund launched in These were identified in the 2016 park-and-ride site. A further ‘Metro Flow’ will see the Pelaw November 2017, some of which Metro & Local Rail Strategy and extension to a new park-and-ride – Bede freight line upgraded will be used to add four more include extensions in South near Gedling Country Park, is and electrified from September trainsets to the 42 already on Tyneside and Wearside, direct not included in the present draft 2022, eliminating three sections order from Stadler (see TAUT services from South Shields and proposals. of single track and boosting 987), to allow an increase in Sunderland to the International The other extensions are from Advanced Manufacturing Park, Clifton South park-and-ride to a rail link to Doxford, and a a forthcoming Clifton Pastures new route from Sunderland to housing and business estate; and Washington. the route to the planned Toton HS2 station and on to Long Eaton. Introduction of the new Stadler trainsets has been put back to summer 2023 as an intensive period of testing and training Glasgow’s 5G pilot will be required after deliveries Strathclyde Partnership for start in the autumn of 2022. Transport is to trial 5G signalling All the new trains should be in on the Glasgow Subway (UK). The use by autumn 2024. 18-month pilot will take place in a section between Buchanan Street LEFT: The latest UK Government and St Enoch in a partnership investment unlocks the funding for a between SPT, Cisco, the University further four Stadler trainsets for the of Strathclyde and the South Korean Tyne & Wear Metro, adding to the 42 Transport Agency. The results are to already on order. Stadler be shared with other underground systems as appropriate. New APPLRG Chair The LRTA’s campaigning arm TramForward has welcomed Saxon cities to combine tram orders Andy Carter as the new Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Light Rail In March the transport Group (APPLRG), the independent authorities in the German cities forum for MPs and Peers from all political parties whose object is to of Leipzig, Görlitz and Zwickau encourage, promote and develop published a joint tender for tramway and light rail schemes. up to 167 trams to serve both Mr Carter was elected as the fleet replacement and network Member of Parliament for expansion ambitions between Warrington South in 2019. 2023 and 2030. Re-routing Danhai LRT The initial order for the A new route for the second Danhai neighbouring cities in Saxony Light Rail line in New Taipei calls for 25 XXL 45m, 2.4m-wide (Taiwan) was announced by the low-floor trams for Leipziger city’s Department of Rapid Transit Verkehrsbetriebe for delivery Systems on 24 March. from 2023. The technical The Blue Seaside line was specification includes the ability, originally to run on separate single tracks between MRT Tamsui to negotiate 19m curves, capacity Station and Station V23 near the for at least 270 passengers (90 Fortress San Domingo, converging seated) and the capability of near V23 and extending westward running in coupled pairs. to Fisherman’s Wharf. However Leipzig still operates Tatra T4D cars from the 1980s; 2145 and 2146 are pictured local residents’ concerns over noise The tender includes options on Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße. Schnitzel-Bank / CC BY-ND 2.0 for an additional 64 XXL cars, and environmental damage in the as well as 66 shorter 30m L type 2024. SVZ has two options, each the procurement of new digital popular tourist spot of Tamsui Old cars (capacity for 176 passengers, for six further cars. ticket machines is already well Street will now see the entire line built alongside the Tamsui River. 60 seated). Görlitz operator GVB Bids were required by 3 April, advanced with all machines due If formally approved, work plans to buy eight 2.3m-wide with a contract for the base to be replaced by mid-2021, and could start in 2021 for completion L type trams by 2025, with an order expected to be awarded in a study is due to be published in 2024. The Green Mountain line option for a further six, while early 2021. shortly on a planned route to the opened in 2018; a further two lines Zwickau’s SVZ plans to put six Görlitz is looking to expand city’s hospital that could open are in the planning stages. 2.3m-wide L cars into service by and modernise its tramway; in 2026.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2020 / 165 News Special Focus: COVID-19 impacts

uring these extraordinary times, Tramways & Urban Transit has spoken to authorities, operators and Dsuppliers around the world to not only report the latest developments, but also to share first-hand experience. As the global pandemic affects every facet of society, we cannot possibly illustrate the whole picture of this rapidly-evolving crisis, but have endeavoured to give a snapshot of the challenges for the industry. A huge thank you to all those who have participated – you’re doing an incredible job and we are here to support to you all. Stay safe. Travel restrictions hit transport operators hard National lockdowns see patronage fall by up to 95%

ublic transport ridership worldwide had passed 1.3m, with has been decimated as 70 000 deaths. the global coronavirus Although national restrictions pandemic that began in varied by their start date, the PChina in December has spread immediate responses by transport rapidly around the world. authorities and operators followed Falls of between 60% and 95% a common theme: reducing have reduced tram, metro and timetables to weekend levels; bus services to serving all but enhanced cleaning for vehicles essential travellers as countries and stations; requirement of have increasingly adopted contactless payment or smart ‘lockdowns’ of their populations. ticketing to reduce cash handling; The amount of confirmed strict enforcement of social As one of Europe’s coronavirus hotspots, Milan’s normally busy streets were COVID-19 cases accelerated distancing; limiting staff numbers empty in March due to strict travel restrictions. A. Trentanni / CC BY-2.0 exponentially during March in depots and control centres; and and early April. As TAUT went home working for administrative Data released by mobility app In the US, the Santa Clara to press, reported infections staff where possible. Moovit showed that bus, train, Valley Transportation Authority metro, light rail and ride-sharing shut its three light rail lines numbers have fallen by more entirely on 26 March after a EXPERIENCES: BLACKPOOL than 80% in most European and trainee driver tested positive On Sunday 22 March we reduced our service from 15 to 30 US cities. The worst-hit cities are for COVID-19 the day before. minutes due to a drop in patronage of around 80%. We took those with the strictest travel Bus replacement services are the decision to close the tramway completely after service on restrictions and where there are in operation for an as-yet Saturday [28 March] as there are no tourists and we were down to higher instances of confirmed undisclosed period. less than 500 passengers. cases of the coronavirus – Elsewhere in California, San We’re lucky in one respect in that we also operate the number 1 Milan was down 86%, Madrid Francisco’s Muni light rail system, bus that runs parallel to the tramway, so we’ve enhanced peak 84% and New York 80% . which usually carries 175 000 services on that route to cater for key workers and essential Moovit’s data is updated daily at passengers/day, closed on 30 travel. We’ve also introduced free bus travel for NHS workers www.moovitapp.com/insights March with bus substitution and a GBP1.50 [EUR1.70] flat rate. In extreme cases services have services in place. The MTA said: Starr Gate depot is all sealed up, with CCTV and intruder alarms been suspended entirely. For “This is a unique opportunity to all monitored from Rigby Road depot and we’re sending security example, India’s strict 21-day improve the state of good repair patrols every two hours. We’re keeping the trams powered up for lockdown saw its metros closed of our system and come out of the time being, and if we need to we can move them around to from 26 March until 14 April, this shutdown stronger than stop wheel flats etc. with only essential freight ever,” adding that closing the Tramway staff have been furloughed inline with Government services allowed on the nation’s seven rail lines would allow more guidelines, but they are all on 48 hours’ notice to return as and when the passengers re-appear. Two are still working to look after rail networks. This approach staff to focus on works on the began in China, with urban network’s 151 vehicles, 116km essential overhead line maintenance. systems repurposed to deliver (72 miles) of track, three tunnels, Ian Middlemiss Tramway Manager, Blackpool Transport Services vital supplies instead of fare- nine subway stations, 24 surface paying passengers in some cities. stations and 87 surface stops.

Wuhan’s transport re-opens after lockdown Wuhan, the city in central Six metro lines re-opened the before entering stations and The city’s public China’s Hubei Province where following Saturday, although vehicles. Revised timetables were transportation services closed the coronavirus outbreak began, restrictions still apply, including posted at stations. To minimise on 23 January in an attempt resumed operations on 117 the requirement for passengers any further infection risk, those to contain the epidemic; bus routes on 25 March – around to wear face masks, register with over 65 or with underlying health similar restrictions were soon 30% of the city’s bus network their names and scan a QR code, conditions are still not encouraged introduced across Hubei capacity. and take a temperature check to use public transport. province and in other cities.

166 / MAY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org US enacts urgent rescue package USD2.2trn emergency fund launched, including USD25bn to support transit agencies

s nations surveyed the Association President Paul economic impacts of P. Skoutelas, representing the pandemic, the US 1500 public and private sector Senate and House of organisations, applauded ARepresentatives unanimously Congressional leaders and agreed a USD2.2trn stimulus the Trump administration for package – the Coronavirus Aid, reaching bipartisan agreement so ABOVE: MTA staff Relief and Economic Security quickly on the provision of these disinfecting frequently- (CARES) Act – that was signed desperately-needed funds. used surfaces at the New into law on 27 March. The USD25bn figure matches York Subway’s Fulton Center. P. Cashin / MTA The largest economic rescue the amount the ten largest deal in US history, the CARES transit operators in the US LEFT: The Tyne & Wear Act includes over USD110bn in said would be the minimum Metro is continuing to grant funding, loans and other to help the industry cope with operate for NHS and other direct relief to transportation COVID-19 disruption on 23 key workers, but has seen sectors severely affected by March, although city leaders passenger numbers fall COVID-19. USD25bn has been and transit advocates believe it more than 90%. Nexus directed to transit agencies to may take as much as USD40bn to offset either capital or operating keep agencies solvent if the crisis losses, including direct costs such continues into the summer. EXPERIENCES: INDUSTRY as additional cleaning or the purchase of personal protective On 23 March UK Transport Such significant falls in patronage and reduced timetables equipment; farebox losses and Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed clearly have an impact on revenues, and we’re actively working with the Department for Transport to explore the support lost income related to advertising that existing heavy rail franchise members need to meet the fixed costs associated with maintaining and sales tax revenues; and contracts would be suspended for what is a vital service in key cities. recovery and restart costs. at least six months, transferring Unlike some other forms of public transport, a sector-wide USD13.79bn has been allocated all revenue and cost risk to the solution is not possible due to the differing contractual obligations to urban systems, USD2bn to Government, with operators under which networks operate, but we’ll continue to raise the rural areas, USD7.51bn to ‘state paid a small management fee. concerns of members with Ministers and officials and press for of good repair’ maintenance A separate agreement allocates suitable financial support where it is needed. and USD1.71bn to systems in GBP567m (EUR646m) for the growing and high-density states. country’s bus operators. James Hammett Managing Director, UKTram The law stipulated that funds As TAUT went to press, there be distributed according to were no details of such a package “fiscal year 2020 apportionment for light rail systems despite vital that we continue to offer “The Government really does formulas” with seven days of the pressure from authorities, public transport networks for key need to take this issue seriously signing of the Act. USD1.02bn operators and the supply chain. workers to get around... but we’re if it wants to preserve vital local is also allocated to support In a video message released on actively discouraging people systems like the [Tyne and Wear] Amtrak’s passenger rail services. 2 April, Tobyn Hughes, Managing from travel unless their journey Metro and tram systems in other American Public Transportation Director of Nexus, said: “It’s is absolutely essential. UK cities.”

KEEPING PASSENGERS AND STAFF SAFE

From our operator survey, these are such as doors, handrails and ticket available to duty staff and cleaning the most common approaches being vending machines etc throughout kits for drivers’ cabs to apply at the taken to limit the spread of infection: the day. Review the use of the most start and end of each shift appropriate cleaning products Installation of floor markings to give Develop a business continuity plan Limit the number of passengers guidance on social distancing at that deals with scenarios resulting per vehicle, with directions to sit stops and stations from staff shortages due to illness diagonally at a 2m distance Regular situation updates with local, and self-isolation Minimise personnel overlap in regional and national authorities to Support management, depots and control centres, rotating determine the level of services to

administrative and support staff to teams to limit transmission risk be maintained – and in the case of a DPP work from home where possible, with Distribute information on health worsening situation, at what point Canteens separated to single tables daily video conferences replacing and service alterations, using services should stop entirely placed two metres apart, with face-to-face meetings to address physical and digital means, staggered break periods updated guidance and key issues. updated regularly as guidance from Where possible/appropriate: Change the configuration of air Online training and guides for all staff government, emergency services Rear door boarding only for all conditioning and heating systems, Adjust service frequency to meet and health authorities change public transport vehicles with additional filters to ensure passenger demand/expectation Review revenue protection Pedestrian crossing and door the circulating air contains fewer Inform driver-trained staff they may measures to reduce contact opening/closing buttons automated potentially harmful particles; be required to maintain service between staff and customers or controlled remotely change filters more regularly Enhanced sanitisation of vehicles Personal protective equipment for Remove cash handling with Offer financial incentives such as and stops, with regular cleaning all customer-facing staff passengers encouraged to reimbursing or pausing monthly of frequently-touched surfaces Alcohol-based hand sanitisers undertake contactless payment ticket subscriptions

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org may 2020 / 167 News Special Focus: COVID-19 impacts Germany’s operators follow pre-prepared VDV guidance Industry body’s head calls for compensation after ‘devastating’ fare income decline

erman transport body companies, bringing forward Verband Deutsche financial aid for the rest of EXPERIENCES: stuttgart Verkehrsunternehmen 2020, a total of EUR67.5m, to We are facing unusual times indeed, and much that seemed (VDV) has rejected provide short-term support to be certain proves not to be so. Gsuggestions that public transport to aid cashflow and prevent We are adjusting staff rosters to the changed patterns of the passengers could be registered, bankruptcies. timetable; there are some personal requirements for additional [as has been implemented in However, light rail operators days off, for example to care for children, so this gives some relief China] arguing that with 30 have instead been able to draw in terms of counterbalancing the reduction in ‘hours in duty’. million passengers/day, such an on a comprehensive approach to To communicate with passengers we are using social media approach would be unrealistic. pandemics developed in response channels, our website, announcements at stations and short Public transport is exempt to the swine flu outbreak in 2009. messages on platform displays. We are aiming at maximum from Germany’s ban on contact On 28 February VDV reproduced transparency in our internal and external communication. between more than two people, its guidance paper, No. 9040 Reinhold Schröter introduced on 23 March. Influenza - Pandemieplanung in Operations Manager Bus and Tram, SSB However, on 3 April VDV reported Verkehrsunternehmen (Influenza – that sales of single and monthly pandemic planning in transport tickets had fallen by 70%-90%. organisations) – that covers both that at the peak of the outbreak materials free of charge. In VDV head Oliver Wolff described management and operational 40%-50% of an organisation’s addition, the organisation has the financial consequences situations, as well as advice for employees might be unavailable. published a ‘charter’ arguing for transport organisations employees when away from work, It also cautions that a pandemic that freight movement should as ‘devastating’, calling for such as how to shop effectively might be expected to have two or be concentrated on rail, given its government compensation to and maintain social distancing. three waves, each of around eight relatively low personnel intensity. offset losses. Some moves have Drawing on research by the weeks in duration. It is also recommending that already begun in that direction, US-based Centers for Disease Separately, the VDV has set up planning starts on how to reduce such as the establishment by Control and Prevention, the a members’ area on its website crowding and maintain social the state of Lower Saxony of an guidance warns that in a city to share coronavirus-related distancing once the strictest emergency fund to ensure the of 600 000, around 500 people information and made access restrictions are lifted – for example liquidity of public transport may be expected to die, and to its professional education by staggering school hours.

EXPERIENCES: prague Cleaning robots and We are doing our best to run the shortest ‘subways by appointment’ interval between vehicles Working in partnership with with a mobile device from up possible to avoid Hong Kong-based biotech to 20 metres. It takes four hours overcrowded services and company Avalon, MTR to deep clean an eight-car train all passengers must cover their nose and mouth Corporation has begun the in automatic mode. Dr Tony before entering DPP deployment of ‘Vapourised Lee, MTR Operations Director, premises and vehicles. Hydrogen Peroxide Robots’ to said that a plan to deploy 20 of It does not matter if they sterilise its trains and office the robots for train cleaning in use a face mask, a bandana buildings. depots was in progress. or a scarf, the most important thing is to be kind and courteous to The robots spray an atomised The collaboration includes each other and especially drivers. Front doors of almost all hydrogen peroxide solution the creation later in the year vehicles are closed, with rear boarding only. to penetrate gaps that may be of a dedicated face mask All vehicles are disinfected daily and all stations are difficult to reach during manual manufacturing facility for MTR, wet-cleaned regularly. We are testing two new types of cleaning; they can be preset with producing masks capable of disinfectant, based on the ability of nanopolymers to destroy a floorplan of the designated blocking PM2.5 particles with bacteria, viruses and other micro-organisms. The tests are being area, or remotely controlled nanofibre technology developed undertaken on two 15T trams and one SOR NB 12D bus, and both with Hong Kong Polytechnic products have health certificates from the National Institute University. of Public Health and meet the relevant Czech and European standards. They have been shown to be effective for up to 21 days, Chinese metros are trialling a while the effectiveness of conventional disinfectants is in the ‘subway by appointment’ system order of tens of minutes or hours. to prevent overcrowding as These products create an ultra-thin invisible hydrophobic layer and have a ‘self-cleaning’ effect. This layer is anti-bacterial, and travel restrictions are lifted. respectively anti-viral. In addition to their durability, they are In Beijing, commuters can non-flammable, water- and alcohol-soluble, colourless, use smartphone apps to book fragrance-free, do not irritate eyes or mucous membranes or their entry to two of the Chinese cause allergic reactions. They are effective from 0°C to 100°C and capital’s busiest subway stations are non-corrosive, biodegradable and do not contain alcohol, during rush hour. Once signed aldehydes or phenols. Up to 20 ‘VHP Robots’ are to be up to the app, users are given Jiří Došlý deployed across MTR’s network to a QR code that is valid for a Head of Corporate Affairs, Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy enhance the sterilisation procedures for 30-minute window for their trains and office buildings. MTR Corp. journey.

168 / MAY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org EXPERIENCES: Tube overcrowding row Jerusalem We have introduced a London Mayor at odds with the UK Government over reduction of services revised timetable with last trams from both sides leaving at 20.00 instead of eeping cities moving On 25 March London Mayor UK Health Secretary Matt 00.00. There is no service while maintaining Sadiq Khan said Transport for Hancock claimed there was “no from 20.00 on Thursday until the recommended London (TfL) was doing its best good reason” why timetables 05.30 on Sunday morning. two-metre social considering that “nearly a third have been cut, with Mr Khan Staff patterns have been Kdistancing has proved a of staff are now off sick or self- responding that “[TfL will do] modified accordingly and the challenge, with reduced isolating – including train drivers everything possible to continue activity of inspectors has timetables seeing overcrowded and crucial control centre staff. safely running a basic service been limited to avoid vehicles in contravention of the Many have years of safety-critical for key workers including interaction with passengers. recommendations in some cities. training in order to run specific our amazing NHS staff”, but The Operations Control Centre (OCC) is isolated, with While countries such as lines – so it is simply not possible warned that staff numbers could a limited number of Sweden have relied on voluntary to replace them with others.” continue to fall due to sickness or controllers allowed in the responsibility and trust to limit Over 500 British Transport self-isolation. room at one time. the spread of the virus, other Police officers have been Train drivers’ union Aslef Our supply chain is approaches have led to fierce deployed across London, opening joined the argument by saying currently running well, debates on the role of government different routes to platforms and that more should be done to limit however we have received in enforcing lockdown rules. turning off down escalators to the number of people still using a notice from Alstom that this Complaints that peak time slow the flow of passengers. public transport: “As MPs vote to may be interrupted in the London Underground services With well-documented leave their own place of work, it is medium-term. were dangerously overcrowded in budgetary pressures, TfL forecasts disgraceful that the government March due to service reductions suggest the impact of the puts key workers’ lives at risk by Simcha Ohrenstein Consultant, Israel Ministry of drew the city’s Mayor into conflict pandemic on its finances could refusing to close other non- Transport and Road Safety with the UK Government. be up to GBP500m (EUR566m). essential workplaces.”

CANADA: Work on the EXPERIENCES: Edinburgh EXPERIENCES: CAD6bn (EUR3.9bn) Réseau We have halved our regular frequency. Trams isle of man Express Métropolitain (REM) now run a 15-minute service, with spare Operation of the steam railway, light metro in Montréal was suspended on 25 March in capacity as required. Government advice on horse tramway, Manx Electric and response to Quebec’s partial non-essential travel and the near-closure of the Snaefell Mountain Railway are all lockdown and the closure of all Airport has reduced our patronage by over 90%. suspended until 28 June. We will review non-essential businesses the I’m proud to say I have 100% buy-in to the this position during May and issue day before. Around 100 workers Government’s job retention scheme with every another update then. reportedly walked off construction colleague agreeing, if required, to enter into the We are maintaining bus services, sites related to the project the scheme, with over half confirmed already placed running a Saturday frequency from start week before over fears of the onto furlough leave for the next two months. of service until 10.00 and then Sunday spread of the coronavirus. My goal was always to ensure that by maintaining hours to allow key workers to get to work. the safety and security of the staff and our We have reduced staff numbers due to POLAND: From 25 March only 50% of seats were allowed to be customers we would be able to continue running a loans to other key areas of Government. occupied on public transport service capable of supporting Edinburgh through For example, railway staff are driving vehicles in a nationwide measure. these difficult times. We’ve managed to do this, buses, minibuses and ambulances, and which I believe is a fantastic endorsement of the acting as security staff at the hospital and RUSSIA: Moscow Metro has leadership team, and in the future of the business. virus testing sites. Railway and catering been using modified infrastructure Patronage will bounce back, but we could well staff have been being redeployed to inspection vehicles to spray all see a fundamental shift in travel behaviour once the increase the frequency of bus cleaning. its tunnels – both running tunnels pandemic is over. Working from home may become For passengers arriving on the Island and those used for stabling or more of a norm and, for example, discretionary by air and sea we are using a special connections to depots – with travel demand outside of peak hours could grow as service, with even more cleaning, to take liquid disinfectant. people re-think their travel options. them to quarantine for 14 days. UKRAINE: Metro service in the Lea Harrison Ian Longworth cities of Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kyiv Managing Director, Edinburgh Trams Director of Transport Services, Isle of Man was suspended from 18 March as part of tactics to prevent mass infection. UK: In April, Transport for West Midlands made travel on its bus and tramway network free for NEWS IN PICTURES Museum and heritage tramway closures National Health Service staff, as The effect on the fragile finances of transport museums and well as school travel for all children heritage lines is still to be fully understood, but as an example the of key workers. Kapiti Coast Electric Tramway – home of the Wellington Tramway Museum – closed to the public on 22 March. Located in Queen USA: New York Metropolitan Elizabeth Park, about 45km (28 miles) north of New Zealand’s Transportation Authority (MTA) capital, the tramway uses equipment salvaged from the city’s Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye four-foot (1219mm) gauge system that closed in May 1964. tested positive for COVID-19 a day Built in 1923, double-saloon tram 151 is seen at the terminus for after the authority, in partnership Whareroa Beach. It awaits its passengers on 14 March, for whom with state health authorities, said the tramway visit formed part of a cruise ship itinerary. it had secured 75 000 masks for employees on 27 March. New York In response to the pandemic, public transport in Wellington State has become the epicentre of

Neil Pulling Neil and Auckland were made free from 26 March until June. the pandemic in the US.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org may 2020 / 169 News Special Focus: COVID-19 impacts ‘An experiment in cleaner air’ New figures show how cities are seeing public health benefits as industry slows and roads clear

ata from the UK’s The UK data mirrors trends National Centre for seen around the world as people Atmospheric Science have spent less time in cars, (NCAS) released in offices and factories and more Dlate March showed marked time at home. Monitoring reductions in nitrogen dioxide stations in Hong Kong recorded

(NO2) and PM2.5 particulate PM2.5 levels down by 32% matter in many cities as in February, while the larger industry slows and forced travel particle pollutant PM10 fell by restrictions take effect. up to 29%, and nitrogen dioxide

Speaking to the BBC, NCAS (NO2) was reduced by up to 22%. Director of Science Professor It is also reported that in Ally Lewis said that in an Germany these factors and unexpected way, the pandemic the associated reductions in offers something of a policy electricity usage could see the Blue skies over Bratislava. A deserted Jesenského Street in the heart of the old experiment to test realistic nation emit between 50m and town on 13 March. Young Shanahan / CC-BY 2.0

targets for clean air: “We’re 120m tons less CO2 this year, essentially looking into the meaning it could even exceed its production in the UK on hold, In Spain, CAF agreed with future when we don’t have annual climate target. with skeleton teams remaining, local authorities and unions to diesel cars because we plan to But it is not just general industry under ‘enhanced safe working cease production in Zaragoza, take them off the roads. This that is closing factories, as rail practices’, to maintain rolling Beasain and Irun until 20 April, summer may tell us what level of manufacturers across Europe stock maintenance, technical creating agreements to recover PM2.5, for example, is likely to closed their plants in March. support and spares, as well as the lost hours when restrictions be achievable in big cities such as Bombardier, CAF and Hitachi ensuring that production lines are lifted and the hiring of extra London or Birmingham.” have temporarily put rolling stock can be restarted at short notice. staff to fulfil orders.

EXPERIENCES: brussels although some supplies are hard to acquire reduction in frequency [occupancy has as we are competing with the rest of the fallen by 90%]. All weekend night services We’ve introduced a new timetable for world, and supply chains are making have been cancelled. weekdays and another for weekends, health care facilities their top priority. Our city is not badly affected, we have with priority given to lines which run close among the lowest confirmed cases in to a hospital. We have redeployed staff to the country, and from 23 March we have clean all vehicles after each service and EXPERIENCES: london offered a free service. Passengers who there are people on certain endpoints to All employees are aware of the bought a non-single ticket from 1 to 15 March clean all the handles etc. Government’s social-distancing and have only used it three times will The first door is not accessible on our guidance, however where close contact is receive a complimentary ticket with similar buses and some types of trams and each required to assist our customers, staff are conditions when the lockdown is over. driver has a kit to disinfect their cab at the required to wash their hands as soon as end of their shift. While cleaning products possible. Gloves are also made available to are in short supply, we have a stock and a all staff who request them. EXPERIENCES: Zaragoza daily update is done with a redistribution of We have not experienced any supply From March 30 all services use double products organised every day. chain issues so far, but are aware that other trams. Frequencies are now 10 and 13 companies have received hand sanitisers minutes in the central hours on weekdays, EXPERIENCES: that were out of date – this was only and 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. discovered because staff reported a burning In this way, the availability of space is fully bucharest sensation upon using it. maintained and distributed among the Taking into account the significant connected trams, while maintaining the decrease of passenger traffic, around highest frequencies. 50%-60%, as well to protect our own staff, it EXPERIENCES: The seats in which it is forbidden to was decided to decrease the number of los angeles sit have been marked on the tram, to trains by 15%. All holiday requests have Trains are running often and we guarantee compliance with the maximum been approved. Metrorex has already asked continue to provide service on a daily capacity decreed for each type of vehicle the sanitation companies to intensify their basis, but in accordance with ‘Safer at Home’ and prioritise the safety of both users cleaning actions and using 3D nebulisation, emergency orders. We have asked employees and employees. The maximum capacity subway trains are disinfected using a to work from home where possible. for each five-module tram has now been portable device patented and We have strengthened sanitation limited to 70 passengers. manufactured in Romania. This is one of the operations and are reviewing these as the The impact of the coronavirus in most efficient forms as it can sterilise every situation evolves. METRO has installed Zaragoza has not been as hard as other corner in the wagon, also the ventilation hand sanitiser dispensers at major transit Spanish cities, like Madrid. However, the systems. hubs and is exploring equipping buses and city council has decided that all healthcare trains with these dispensers. employees can now travel for free by tram and by bus, as well as those who work in EXPERIENCES: denver nursing homes. Certain staff can work from home and EXPERIENCES: tenerife In recent days the tramstops have all at this point this is happening through Our timetables have been revised in been disinfected by the Unidad Militar de 10 April. Front-line employees are being accordance with instructions from Emergencias (Emergencies Military Unit), provided PPE as it becomes available, the Central Government, meaning a 50% like many other places in the city.

170 / MAY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Crisis management whack-a-mole: A lousy crisis strategy Remember the Kipling line, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs?” Morgan Lyons takes a calm and methodical approach to crisis communications.

like smacking arcade vermin as much as the next person. Whack-a-mole is alternatively satisfying and frustrating – I but the frustration generally lasts longer than the satisfaction. Just reacting to the problem popping up in front of you only gets you so far. Think about that when planning for or managing a crisis. Communicators An almost empty Qingdao Metro line 3 service in February; ridership on public transport networks around the don’t have to play along. world has declined dramatically in many cities due to the COVID-19 outbreak. qdjuncheng / CC BY-SA 4.0

Consider coronavirus advantage of the time and consider what talk about what they’re doing, and you The response in some sectors to the customers, stakeholders and the media need to should do the same. The good news is that ongoing coronavirus pandemic seems a bit know about how this is affecting operations. health and emergency management agencies whack-a-mole. One problem pops up, it gets In the case of transit systems, people want are going to get a lot more media attention hammered, another pops up somewhere else to know if the trams, trains and buses are than transport operators. and the cycle repeats – it’s hard to see the running and if they will be safe when riding. Take extra steps to keep those organisations strategy through the chaos because all anyone in the loop about your operations and is doing is reacting. There are some notable 1. You have been here before future plans so they can be included in their exceptions, but as the coronavirus situation Your organisation may not have experienced a communications. Transit operators live in a plays itself out on a global stage it looks like a pandemic, but chances are it has been through political environment and it is never a bad lot of people are just whacking away without something that has significantly interrupted thing to have local officials brag about your following a coherent strategy. its business. In the case of transit, something service in the media. After all, this is about The pandemic was a significant discussion that has forced a service reduction. Remember keeping the communities we serve healthy topic among public information officers at what you told people then and review your and happy – we’re all in this together. the recent Marketing and Communications notes – this might not be hugely different. Follow industry colleagues and see Workshop of the American Public what they’re doing. Compare notes. Transportation Association (APTA). People 2. You are not a healthcare expert Vent frustration with trusted friends and compared notes on preparations by their This is the part where the operations counterparts as needed. Do what it takes to respective agencies. Keep in mind that APTA and emergency management folk tell stay sane. These events can break quickly but is a diverse trade association with members communicators to “stay in their lane”. tend to resolve themselves slowly. Remember as large as New York, and as small as agencies They’re right. You run public transport that every location will handle things with fewer than ten buses. The discussions systems; you talk about trams, buses and trains. differently. Also remember not all of your were obviously varied and wide-ranging. It’s your job to know how the timetables and excellent advice will be followed. It’s likely to Because I’ve been in the industry a long schedules are being affected. What you’re not not be the first time that’s happened. time, I’ve handled crisis communications at is an infectious disease specialist. Stay focused Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) during on your operations, and in online comments 4. Keep your messages clear and your the Ebola (2014) and Swine Flu (2009) link widely to the vast resources of agencies like information easy to find outbreaks, amongst others. I have also the World Health Organisation, Centers for Your core message is simple and should be lectured frequently on the topic, so my fellow Disease Control and Prevention (in the US), or familiar: “We are going to keep you safe.” transit communicators had many questions Public Health England (UK), as well as local and It’s not only the truth, it also provides some about their current preparations. regional emergency management officials. coverage if you have to change your normal It’s simple: focus on what you know. In any case, those agencies should be the operations at short notice. principal communicators on all things related During your communications planning, The nature of a crisis to public health. consider the best ways to deliver information. The events moving a crisis from emergent How can you use your website or social to imminent are typically fast-moving and 3. Stay connected with your peers channels? E-mail still works. Can you use local confusing. The randomness of the situation is This is another element of being prepared. media to spread the word? How you can reach often no-one’s fault, just the nature of a crisis. Make sure you understand who has the lead people outside regular work hours? But while seeking information about larger in your organisation for the agency response Tell the truth. Always. organisational plans (and being part of the and know who they’re going to for their conversation), act upon what is known. facts. Establish (or re-establish) contacts Predicting the future Trust the science. Seek the known experts. with counterparts at the local emergency Posing hypothetical or ‘what if?’ questions is Put aside the non-essential tasks, and take management or health agencies. They should a common media interview tactic. It’s a cheap

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2020 / 171 Crisis management

and easy ‘gotcha’ that makes for fun live reduced (and revenue lost) because large ride- one in place. By all accounts this incident television or radio. But the answers are rarely generating events – sporting events or concerts is probably going to last for some months. illuminating and that’s why most media – are cancelled or closed to the public. Take advantage of the time to improve your advisors counsel their clients to pivot from Whack-a-mole players know the varmint processes as the situation develops and look them back to their message. In any case, one is in the box and will pop up. But they do not out for future crises. Trust me, you’ll be here cannot predict the future. know when, where or how many will do that again. Just like the flu. Just as a person preparing for an interview at the same time. The best players consider the Think about the messages you’ve been has to anticipate these kinds of questions, possibilities based on previous experience and delivering. Do some resonate with your crisis managers must not only expect plan their strategy accordingly. audiences more than others? Have you hypothetical incidents or outcomes, they are found new tactics, or do some work well-served to develop contingency plans. better than others? They cannot be expected to develop complete In my long years of public relations plans for every eventuality (again, no-one has practice, and as a working reporter before a crystal ball), but multiple scenarios should that, I’ve learned that the crucible of a critical be discussed with the crisis and executive incident can lead to clear thinking because teams. Such work is rarely wasted time. all of the other day-to-day stuff is truly Let me give you an example. A driver on burned away. Consider what you’re doing a break at a busy end-of-the-line station is now that you should be doing after this seen sneezing and coughing by customers. incident has passed. She’s actually dealing with a pre-diagnosed sinus problem, but almost immediately a Always remember the team nervous bystander shoots a video and posts This is a final thought, but maybe it should J. Kontur / CC BY-ND 2.0 it to their social network with the headline, be the first: how are the employees in your “Hey ‘X’, what are you doing about your organisation holding up under the pressure? infectious drivers?!?” “The best players consider What about the people responsible for The mind boggles over the possible communicating all this change? People need outcomes in the current overheated the possibilities based rest and need to take a break. High-pressure communication environment. It is reasonable incidents can, and do, take a toll on mental, to expect broad social sharing of the content, on previous experience as well as physical, health. People need time which leads to panicky media coverage, which to NOT be employees and be the face of the leads to increased calls to the transit agency and plan their strategy organisation. They need time to be human. customer service, which in turn leads to Their kids are out of school and their family complaints from the transport workers union accordingly.” members are in nursing homes or may be about health and safety at work protocols. dealing personally with serious health issues. In quick succession this leads to a demand for Review, adapt, act, repeat Team leaders need that time and space more detailed cleaning of transport facilities, One advantage to sustained critical incidents too. Go ahead, the crisis will be here when to possible service reductions caused by like the current coronavirus outbreak (or you get back. the need to limit vehicle pullout to allow any major public health emergency) is the for more time for servicing. However this is ability to do things differently – and better. Conclusion already slowed because vehicle maintainers Calm and considered situational analysis and Viruses and other critical incidents have are either actually sick and cannot come to planning is the key to success. While there always been with us – they endure because work, or they are scared to come to work, or will likely be no slow days, take the time they size up the current environment and they have to stay home because their child’s to review what has been done in your seek opportunities to change and sustain school is closed in response to concerns about organisation and peer agencies. Was the themselves. Effective organisations and the a local outbreak. And all following the public communication quick, clear and did it communicators who support them must do sighting of a ‘sick’ operator at a busy station. promote calm action? Want a do-over? that too – in good times and bad. Perhaps less dramatically, think how service Be open to new ways of addressing the You and your agency have been here before. adjustments can be more sanely made and problem. If a ‘lessons-learned’ process is not It’s all relative, so take a moment to breathe effectively communicated when demand is already in place at your organisation, put and reflect on what you know and how you’ve managed previous critical incidents. You got through that, so with robust planning you’ll get through this latest round of whack-a-mole too… and the next one… and the one after that.

LEFT: Transit agencies are ramping up intensive ‘deep clean’ programmes for vehicles and stations. NYCT personnel disinfect a R-160 subway train at Coney Island Yard in early March. M. A. Hermann / MTA

About the author

Morgan Lyons is a recognised expert in crisis communications and media relations. Transitioning from a career as an award-winning journalist, he was Vice-President, External Relations, at Dallas Area Rapid Transit in Texas before opening his own communications consultancy, Lyons Strategic. Morgan has served as Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee for the American Public Transit Association, and as a member of the body’s Board of Directors. He is presently a member of the Legislative Committee. Visit his website at www.lyonsstrategic.com

172 / MAY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Doha next-generation lrt: doha

Julia Wahnsiedler updates TAUT on TIG/m’s progress in ABOVE: TIG/m’s MRV-3 Tram operating in Msheireb delivering battery-dominant hybrid transit systems that reduce Downtown Doha, Qatar. capital and operating costs, including using hydrogen fuel cells All photos and illustrations for more sustainable, less intrusive urban tramways. by Brad Read, except where stated otherwise.

n the eve of 2020, Qatar’s Msheireb The trams complete a circuit of the loop in can generate zero pollutants. The company’s Properties launched an innovative 18 minutes, operating at six-minute system requires four essential energy 2km (1.2-mile) light rail line in its intervals, benefiting from virtual tram components to operate under municipal O newly-constructed and revitalised detection and priority at traffic signals, as well conditions: LEED Gold standard Msheireb Downtown as real-time passenger information, onboard 1. Onboard energy storage Doha development. As the world’s first CCTV, and Wi-Fi. 2. Regenerative braking sustainable downtown regeneration project, Each 15m MRV-3 series low-floor vehicle 3. Onboard power generation this 31ha scheme has been designed to has 33 seats and capacity for 100 passengers 4. A fuelling station for the onboard generators revive the city’s old commercial district by in total. They are fully air-conditioned and “All of our projects are bespoke,” explains combining traditional Qatari architecture incorporate special glass panels that inhibit TIG/m President and principal vehicle with the latest construction methodologies over 90% of the heat from Doha’s intense designer Brad Read. “We build custom and materials. sunlight. These modern single-body vehicles with the propulsion systems The USD5.5bn investment incorporates cars, unique to the Msheireb Downtown configured especially for the site conditions, a modern tramway circulator supplied by Doha tramway, are also ‘convertible’ with but the end goal is always the same: 20 hours TIG/m, that by early February had already removable windows – they can be operated as of continuous operation with no wayside recorded 40 000 riders. A fleet of three modern open-air trams during the cooler months. power requirement at all.” battery dominant/hybrid trams – designed For the Msheireb Downtown Doha and manufactured by TIG/m in Chatsworth, Removing the wayside supply tramway, the ancillary power supply to the California – circulate the TIG/m was founded in 2005 with the goal onboard batteries is provided by an LPG district counter-clockwise in a closed loop of eliminating wayside power systems by generator. “However,” Read continues, with nine stops, improving travel between supplying self-powered vehicles with enough “the generator set is self-contained and can be key locations, as well as providing a onboard stored energy for a revenue cycle of swapped in about an hour, with no impact at connection to the underground Central up to 20 hours without the need for in-motion all on the vehicle’s design. Our preference for Msheireb Metro station. This key interchange, or opportunity charging. To date, it is the the generator is a hydrogen fuel cell, but our directly below the streetcar route’s Nakheel only streetcar manufacturer to have achieved clients can choose between hydrogen, LPG, Square, is the largest in Qatar and serves as that goal through the design and manufacture or CNG as the fuel for this function. the network hub where all three of the city’s of self-powered heritage-style and modern “The overall configuration is project-specific new metro lines (Red, Green and Gold) low-floor streetcars that require no overhead and designed for uninterrupted passenger intersect. catenary wires, or wayside power stations and service during a duty-cycle, while maintaining

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2020 / 173 Doha

a 25-30% surplus of power in the traction a key specification for sections of many new- wayside power supply system, meaning battery, thereby avoiding deep-cycles and build streetcar and tramway systems, as well additional costs to install and maintain, extending the battery service life.” as extensions to existing networks, that cross involving underground conduits and The system is still battery-dominant areas of visual or architectural significance. equipment enclosures. Again, dwell time at however, and each vehicle is equipped with With the trend to move away from catenary- stations is increased. two 375V dc 400A/hr LiFePO4 lithium-iron dependent power transmission systems, • Hydrogen fuel cell technology has been phosphate battery cells, which TIG/m vehicle manufacturers have employed a variety around for some time. Several tram builders guarantees for ten years. These are controlled of methods to get energy onboard vehicles, for are testing hydrogen-powered vehicles that by a proprietary battery management system example: rely solely on a fuel cell for primary traction which uses a generator to prevent them from • In-motion charging – intermittent contact power. But a traction system on a streetcar, deep-cycling and maintains a charge between systems – if incorporated into a tramway, depending only on a fuel cell, would need 30%-85% of full charge to extend their life. still requires a large percentage of the capital to carry over 20kg of hydrogen onboard “We eliminate all of the infrastructure and maintenance costs of a full overhead and a large 40kW fuel cell in order to required to distribute power, which consists catenary wire system. handle the loads of starting and stopping of about 40-60% of the initial infrastructure • Contactless in-track systems (contactless the vehicles. This would require cost,” says Read. He adds that, as steel wheels induction, for example) are very expensive relinquishing a lot of passenger space. offer only 15% of the rolling resistance and inefficient. If the vehicles were to carry less hydrogen compared with rubber tyres, they were • Contact-type in-track systems can be equally and a smaller onboard fuel cell, frequent also able to develop a specially-engineered expensive to install and are subject to refuelling stops would interrupt continuous propulsion system designed for the reduced damage and environmental degradation. revenue service. rolling resistance of steel wheel on steel rail. • Supercaps – onboard supercapacitors – can Most of these concepts are serviceable, Furthermore, the energy to power handle very large loads very quickly without but far from ideal, off-wire strategies. the vehicles can be 100% renewable and overheating, but they hold energy only for However, TIG/m’s fully self-powered emissions-free, as demonstrated with the a short period of time and require frequent propulsion system solution has demonstrated tramway line installed in Oranjestad, Aruba. opportunity recharging if used as a primary efficiency that has been lowering CapEx and In this case, both the power to charge the energy storage system. OpEx for over 20 years already. batteries and conduct the electrolysis process • Station-installed overhead opportunity In January 2015, a TAUT feature described to create the hydrogen is powered entirely charging, which employs top-down how TIG/m’s strategy of containing all using wind-generated electricity. pantographs that lower from overhanging traction power onboard the vehicle entirely conductive charging structures. While eliminates the lifecycle – and not just The range of off-wire solutions off-wire, this may expose passengers in monetary – costs of installing, maintaining, The move to off-wire operation has inspired loading areas to high-voltage output and and replacing overhead catenary, as well as many new, as well as long-established, light risk damage from birds nesting on and their requisite wayside power station. rail vehicle system promoters to explore inside the structure and, well... doing what Removing the need for the track system and introduce strategies for eliminating the birds do. Opportunity charging is also time- to act as part of an enormous electrical installation, operation, and maintenance consuming, increasing dwell time at stations circuit has other significant benefits. challenges – as well as the visual pollution by up to several minutes. The trackform itself can be less intrusive as – of the labyrinthine spiderweb of overhead • Station-installed in-ground opportunity the technology required to isolate and wires. Globally, off-wire capability is now charging units, while ‘invisible’ are still a ground the system is no longer needed, “We eliminate all of the infrastructure required to distribute power, which consists of about 40-60% of the initial tramway infrastructure cost.”

BELOW AND RIGHT: Accessing roof-mounted equipment and swapping out a generator set in the Doha depot.

174 / MAY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org ABOVE: TIG/m’s new MRV-4, a 200-passenger articulated tram.

LEFT: The HRT 1A operating in Oranjestad, Aruba. Richard Panse and the long-term maintenance and energy carrier. If a renewable energy The Oranjestad streetcar is one of the remediation of stray current is eliminated. source is used, such as wind or solar power world’s first light rail systems to utilise a Plus, with an onboard propulsion system, generators, it can be produced and consumed hybrid battery/hydrogen fuel cell traction dwell time at stations can be as brief as 40 with zero impact on the environment, power system, operating full 20-hour duty seconds, enough time for passengers to alight while reducing dependence on traditional cycles. Aruba is committed to a fossil fuel- and board. fuels. Its use is as safe – and in many cases free future, and its streetcar is thereby a safer – than that of gasoline or natural gas. groundbreaking example of zero-carbon rail Hydrail: An elegant solution TIG/m hybridised this technology into transit. Wind farms supply power to the grid, Hydrail is now a common descriptor for the rail-based transit systems designed and which then supply power to the batteries used rail-borne vehicles that utilise hydrogen as a built for the Downtown Dubai Trolley System on the streetcars, as well as the current used to primary or auxiliary power supply. in UAE, and for the Downtown Oranjestad electrolyse the water for hydrogen isolation, Hydrogen is the most abundant element in Streetcar System in Aruba, both delivered pressurisation, storage and delivery: it is a the universe and, like batteries, is classed as an in 2015. genuinely sustainable system.

whenever available

at peak hours

WHEN NECESSARY Renewable energy source

THE GRID Hydrogen generation at off-peak hours

once daily continual

TIG/m STREETCAR ADVANCED HYDROGEN PROPULSION BATTERIES FUEL CELL SYSTEM Hydrogen fuel REGENERATIVE storage and BRAKING dispensing

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2020 / 175 Doha

TIG/m's tramway system is one of the core features of Qatar’s Msheireb Downtown Doha, transporting residents and visitors in an eco-friendly way around the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project.

“An entire hydrogen system can be produced and the battery systems are always maintained at an optimal state of charge and balance, installed for less than the cost of 1km of overhead line.” allowing them to double the battery manufacturer’s warranty for service-life. The hydrogen/hybrid streetcar utilises a production. This involves the electrolysis of Additionally, there is an answer to the high-capacity lithium-iron phosphate water using Millennium Reign Energy (MRE) by-product question: the only emission from battery system that is charged overnight by equipment, cutting the cost per kg by about this propulsion system is a small volume an onboard system. Battery banks located half. MRE, based in Englewood, Ohio, has of pure water, which can be collected for below the vehicle’s chassis keep the centre designed and developed a fully-automated reintroduction into the electrolysis cycle or of gravity low, and are configured as hydrogen generator, the AutoARK®, which simply expelled along the route. cassettes that can slide easily in and out is ideal for producing hydrogen as an energy on a rack system. supply for the vehicles. Passing current Keeping ahead of the curve This charger receives its energy from the through water, the generator splits water Doha’s tram fleet includes the advanced electric power grid. Energy stored in the via electrolysis into its constituent gases: systems expected now by most operators batteries is augmented while the vehicle is in hydrogen and oxygen. An internal membrane and their passengers, including virtual tram operation by regenerative braking and a fuel isolates the hydrogen, and the captured gas detection, ‘next stop’ (onboard) and ‘next tram cell that produces 12kW of power for a total is transferred into a larger tank for storage arrival’ (station) notifications, onboard CCTV, of eight hours. and pressurisation. The oxygen is purged into IP camera broadcasting and Cisco WAP. The fuel cell is programmed to operate the environment, actually improving the air TIG/m has spent the past 15 years whenever the PLC (programmable logic quality surrounding the unit. redesigning every system and sub-system in controller) requires energy to keep For dispensing hydrogen into the streetcars’ its streetcars to operate at minimum energy the batteries at a programmed charge state; onboard fuel tanks, TIG/m’s contracts consumption, while maximising power and the generator consumes about 2kg of included – in both Dubai and Aruba – the safety. Its streetcars require no overhead hydrogen during this period. This hydrogen installation of MRE’s SHFA (Scalable Hydrogen catenary or other type of external power is stored in a cylinder at 350 bar (5075psi) Fuelling Appliance), a renewable fuelling supply, operating entirely on an internal within the self-contained fuel cell generator. station providing three required functions for battery/hybrid system. A fleet of three vehicles, for example, would high-pressure hydrogen delivery: Along with many system designers who therefore require a daily fuelling capacity of • Transfer of hydrogen from the are reaching towards the next level of approximately 6kg of hydrogen gas. generating unit at 90psi (6.2 bar), up technological advancement, the California Regardless of the type of fuel used to power to 375psi (26 bar) pioneers are likewise developing software to an onboard generator, a system to store and • Compression of gas to 5000psi (345 bar) allow its MRV-3A to be outfitted as an dispense the fuel to vehicles is required. • Storage of pressurised hydrogen in steel APM (automated) vehicle to run on This is essentially a storage container (a tank vessels within the cabinet, with capacity dedicated alignments. or cylinder), which must be replenished by up to 6kg (additional storage is provided The company is also manufacturing an external supplier, and a pumping station in adjoining sheds). scalable tram configurations, as well as located trackside at the entrance to the depot The entire system can be procured and systems installed with a virtual coupling to dispense the fuel to the vehicles – once per installed for considerably less than the cost of system. Virtual coupling wirelessly connects day – before the start of revenue operations. 1km (0.6 miles) of overhead line and, being a two or more trains, so that the consists run in However, with the use of hydrogen gas as the single point ‘return-to-base’ system of getting sync without being physically connected, and fuel, rather than CNG or LNG that must be energy on-board the vehicles, it is far more at much closer proximity (at absolute braking transported from distant production facilities, cost-effective to maintain than a far-flung distance). This helps to reduce coupling time another option is available: the fuel can be wayside electrical distribution system. and excessive driver costs, and eliminates produced right at the pump with the proper So, by sizing the fuel cell generator to deadheading empty seats. specialised equipment. provide the additional energy required After researching available suppliers for a specific duty cycle, the system can be Thanks to TIG/m for its assistance with this and comparing the options of purchasing customised to maintain a nominal 25-30% article. TIG/m provides a full turnkey service, hydrogen from a third-party producer and surplus usable energy in the battery banks. from feasibility and full system studies, design transporting the gas in pressurised cylinders, This eliminates deep-cycling and ‘hot and manufacture, through operations and TIG/m concluded that the most cost-effective charging’ of the banks. The comprehensive maintenance. AutoARK® is a registered trademark means of supplying hydrogen is onsite EMS (Energy Management System) ensures of Millennium Reign Energy, Ohio, USA.

176 / MAY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org NO WAYSIDE POWER SYSTEMS Reduced infrastructure costs • Lower O&M costs • Increased system resiliency

TIG/m is an innovative turn-key design/builder of street-running public transportation rail systems commonly known as streetcars or trams. We are changing light rail transit: there is no longer any need for overhead wire or any other type of wayside power systems, resulting in savings of up to 50% in infrastructure construction and lifetime system maintenance costs.

Each of our vehicles is self-powered by a battery-dominant propulsion system and can operate for 20 hours on a single charge.

TIG/m • 9160 Jordan Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311, USA • Tel: +1 818 709 8500 • Web: www.tig-m.com

TIG/m ad May 2020.indd 1 06/04/2020 09:23 Minimise Disruption The design and implementation of urban and light rail networks in busy towns and cities presents signi cant engineering challenges. At the same time, the pressure to minimise disruption and cost has never been greater.

Whether it’s for pedestrian crossings, tram stops, depots or complex crossovers and turnouts, our engineered solid rubber panels help you overcome your challenges faster and more cost-e ectively than other systems.

Rosehill Rail – Setting New Standards

For more information, or to enquire about training, please call the Rosehill Rail sales team on +44 (0)1422 317 473, or email [email protected]

Road Crossings // Pedestrian Crossings // Tram Stops // Depots // Anti-Trespass

Rosehill Rail - TAUT Half page Ad_185x130mm_MAY2020.indd 1 06/04/2020 09:01 Accessibility for all Accessibility: Can Tram-Train bridge the gap? Dr Rob Carroll of Mott MacDonald describes the challenges to the provision of level boarding and presents some of the solutions to extend the greater level of accessibility from tramways to heavy rail networks.

rom 1 January 2020 rail vehicles therefore debatable if access to railways is What do tramways do? in the UK were required to meet truly equal for all. It will take significant Accessibility requirements legislation that acts to improve the funding to resolve many of the legacy issues, for tramways are defined in accessibility of the service for all some of which date back to the Victorian era. the Rail Vehicle Accessibility users1. However, there is one key To accelerate change, a campaign for level (Non-Interoperable Rail gapF still to be overcome in providing heavy boarding has recently been set up – Systems) Regulations 2010, rail passengers with the same accessibility www.levelboarding.org.uk. known as RVAR2. Along with that modern tram systems provide. In contrast to main line railways, many providing vehicle design The ‘gap’ between platform and vehicle, modern tramways and light rail systems – requirements, RVAR sets out for the majority of trains, is bridged by a including all those in the UK – are designed various ways of ensuring manual ramp, with passengers requiring to be fully-accessible, with level boarding easy access for those with assistance from staff. This often has to between vehicle and platform guaranteed mobility impairments. be booked in advance and can result in for all passengers. Additionally, level All tramways in the UK have been designed increased station dwell time, leading to boarding provides wider benefits for those for level boarding. With full access to vehicles service delays. Despite the Equality Act travelling with pushchairs, luggage or other and no need for additional staff assistance or having been in force for ten years, it is large items. requirement for ramps, the other advantage

Portable ramps are the traditional railway approach to accessibility.

178 / may 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org An example of the integration of high-floor tramstops within urban environments, St. Peters Square in central Manchester. R. Briggs is minimising the dwell time at stops for fleets. Where new rolling stock has been people to alight and board3. Level boarding is “Level boarding is defined introduced, level boarding and clearance have defined as a vertical step of less than +/-50mm as a vertical step of less been maintained through the specification and a horizontal step of less than 75mm (see and adaption of the vehicle – such as the Fig. 2, below). As a minimum this access must than +/-50mm and a Bombardier M5000 in Greater Manchester or be provided at one door per vehicle on each the Citylink in Sheffield – or by infrastructure side, indicated by a sign. These tolerances horizontal step of less modifications such as the platform alterations must be maintained at all times, therefore made on the West Midlands Metro to the design of the interface between vehicle than 75mm.” accommodate the CAF Urbos 3. and infrastructure needs to consider any possible track movement, vehicle suspension strike the platform edge when moving. UK Why can we not do this on heavy rail? behaviour, wheel and rail wear and tramways originally benefited from being Accessibility on the heavy rail network is maintenance of the platform edge. built to accommodate just one vehicle type, required to be in accordance with the Persons For all systems there is a balance that however some have realised this is not always with Reduced Mobility Technical Standard needs to be found between the small gap an advantage if the original vehicle is of a for Interoperability (PRM-TSI); the stepping between the vehicle and platform for bespoke design or network expansion, or distance requirements are identical to those boarding while ensuring the vehicle does not indeed time, requires the operation of mixed stated within RVAR. There are several challenges here to level boarding however; in contrast to tramways the network has to accommodate many different vehicle types with a range of sizes. Platforms need to be positioned so they Door threshold allow passenger access but are sufficiently far away for non-stopping passenger and freight trains to clear them easily. Vehicle movement 50mm increases with speed and as trains travel faster than trams the platform clearance 50mm requirements are greater. Railways, in the UK in particular, were built many years before level boarding became desirable and also before the application 75mm of national standards. Platform height is nominally 915mm above rail (but in reality can be anywhere between 700 and 1100mm4 5; Platform there is also a set distance for the platform edge height from the rail, which can have similar variance. Vehicle height Platforms on curves add a further challenge. The traditional approach to vehicle construction has been for the level of the doors to be much higher than the platform, with a step up of 200-400mm. Only in the last few years have new trains been ordered Figure 2: Allowable tolerances for level boarding required by RVAR 2010 and PRM-TSI. from Stadler by Greater Anglia, Merseyrail

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Track fixity blocks

The track fixity solution at Rotherham Central; concrete blocks have been installed between the sleepers and the platform face. and Transport for Wales that are designed for journey for passengers. As a result they need Manchester Metrolink was designed as a level boarding. London’s new Elizabeth line to provide level boarding on both systems high-floor system because of the conversion (Crossrail) will also provide level boarding, to meet the expectations of passengers in of the legacy heavy rail routes in the but only in the central tunnel section as the terms of accessibility, and meet the gauging original planning, however changes have platforms have been built at approximately requirements on both systems for safety. been required at stops to ensure they are a 1100mm above rail to match the height of For those developing tram-train projects consistent height to guarantee level boarding vehicle doors 6. This means that level boarding several factors need consideration to deliver at all doors. For the system’s proposed will not be possible where the line operates on level boarding. The first is the choice between tram-train extensions, the promoters need to existing Network Rail infrastructure, however. high- and low-floor vehicles. For projects that ensure the heavy rail stations to be used meet interoperate with existing tramways, the the standard height to provide the same level How do tram-trains help? choice in most cases will already be determined boarding as on the tramway. Tram-trains operate on both tramways and – hence low-floor was chosen for the UK Pilot The choice is harder for schemes with heavy rail networks, providing a seamless between Rotherham and Sheffield7 . no extant tramway and will depend on the requirements of each promoter. Where the proposal involves operation on existing heavy rail routes – with limited new on-street running as in the case of the South Wales Metro – then high-level platforms may be an option, although any aspirations for network Platform edge gap filler expansion should be considered. While high-level street platforms are sometimes considered to present barriers to pedestrian flow and have a perceived safety risk, Metrolink has shown how they can be integrated into the urban landscape (see page 181).

Horizontal gaps The challenge for tram-train is to minimise the horizontal gap while maintaining the clearance between the platform and all vehicles allowed to travel past. Although the RVAR requirement is less than 75mm, this should not be the target; the horizontal gap should be minimised as much possible to ensure that wheelchairs and mobility scooters Anti-trespass measures with small wheels do not fall into the gap. The designer therefore needs to consider Connected sleepers the ‘as built’ situation, while also factoring in changes due to use. These include wheel flange and rail side wear, the ability of the track to move away or towards the platform Rotherham Central: Gap fillers affixed to platform edges, connected sleepers for track fixity and various – called ‘track fixity’ – and an understanding anti-trespass measures. of vehicle and infrastructure maintenance

180 / may 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Factors affecting level boarding:

Figure 7A: Vehicle Door threshold level with platform level with platform

35mm RVAR and PRM-TSI Max. Step Up = 50mm 915mm above rail Upward track movement 15mm 915mm above rail Vehicle suspension 10mm Wheel wear 10mm RVAR and PRM-TSI Rail wear 14mm Max. Step Down = 50mm Downward track movement 10mm The sliding step on an Alstom Citadis Dualis as used 6mm on a the Paris T11 tram-train service. actions and when they are carried out. To allow for these changes, Light Rail Safety Figure 7B: vehicle Door threshold 15mm above platform and Standards Board (LRSSB) LRG1.0 Tramway above platform Principles and Guidance give a target of 40mm as the gap to aim for during design 8. 20mm RVAR and PRM-TSI There is a clear conflict between a small Upward track movement 15mm Max. Step Up = 50mm stepping distance and the requirement for 915mm above rail 10mm vehicles to remain clear of the platform when 15mm Vehicle suspension 900mm above rail moving. This is possible for tramways where Wheel wear 10mm speeds are low and only tram or tram-train vehicles operate, although the scrapes on the Rail wear 14mm RVAR and PRM-TSI side of some vehicles demonstrate it is still Downward track movement 10mm Max. Step Down = 50mm a challenge. For platforms that heavy rail 31mm vehicles pass the challenge is greater still. The UK Pilot has demonstrated that an infrastructure solution is possible with platforms positioned to provide the required Figure 7C: vehicle stepping distances with no impact on the below platform Door threshold 10mm below platform speed of heavy rail trains passing by. The solution here has been to fix the position of the track relative to the platform by the 45mm RVAR and PRM-TSI Max. Step Up = 50mm “The choice of low-floor 925mm above rail 10mm Upward track movement 15mm or high-floor is harder for 915mm above rail Vehicle suspension 10mm RVAR and PRM-TSI schemes with no extant Wheel wear 10mm Max. Step Down = 50mm tramway and will depend Rail wear 14mm Downward track movement 10mm on each promoter.” 4mm use of concrete blocks positioned along the the heavy rail signalling system to guarantee ability to serve platforms that may be further ends of the sleeper against the platform face they are retracted when vehicles are moving away from the track than the standard (see opposite top left). To ensure there is no will be extremely complicated. Regular allows; and the elimination of gauging and movement away from the platform, towards maintenance will also be needed, requiring clearance issues for all rolling stock. Balanced the opposite track, one in five sleepers of both track access when trains are not running against this is the slight increase in dwell tracks are fastened together (see left). and offering potential delays to other train time while the step deploys and is proven to To minimise the step into the vehicle a operators if faults develop. The suspension be in position before the doors are allowed to small rubber ‘gap filler’ has been affixed to of all rail services could incur significant open, and the reverse during closing. There the platform edge. To ensure the horizontal financial implications. is also additional equipment on the vehicle distance is within the 75mm requirement, the The alternative is a vehicle-based solution, to maintain and the potential for failures position of the platform edge to the nearest a sliding step at each door that extends resulting in the vehicle being withdrawn. rail is less than the 730mm minimum allowed towards the platforms and can be positioned by the Rail Industry Standard4 requiring far enough away to ensure there are no issues Platform height and vertical gaps a deviation to be granted. If platforms are with clearance. Such steps are in use on many Level boarding requires close control of located on a curve, like those at Rotherham, systems including Paris (see above), and are the platform height in relation to the rail this presents additional constraints on proposed for the new South Wales and Tyne to ensure that the vertical step is within +/- the gauging requirements that need to be and Wear Metro fleets. The steps are designed 50mm at all times – this is a harder challenge. overcome by the designer. to deploy, detect the edge of the platform and However, the height of a vehicle in relation Although the platform gap fillers in use in then retract to provide a set gap of around to the platform is not fixed but changes over the UK are fixed, the tramway in the French 30mm. This mechanism allows for track time: the suspension moves to accommodate city of Orléans has adopted moving gap fillers curvature to be overcome with the step at each the number of people onboard; even with air on curved platforms that move into position door moving by different amounts to provide suspension that automatically adjusts there once the vehicle has stopped 9. The benefit of the same gap. The retractable bridge plates in is a range the vehicle will remain within and platform-based moving gap fillers is to ensure use in Portland, OR, are similar but rest on the a time lag for the adjustment to take place; clearance to all non-stopping vehicles; it does platform when in the deployed position. wheel and rail wear means the vehicle gets however require accurate stopping by the The benefits of the vehicle-based sliding lower to the platform over time; the track also driver to ensure they align with the doors. For step are readily apparent: a reduction in moves in relation to the platform. a tram-train, the interlocking required with requirements to alter infrastructure; the All of these variables (Fig. 7A, above) need

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Example of a dual height tram-train vehicle, planned for the tram-train system in León, Spain, that was eventually cancelled on cost grounds.

to be considered when designing or modifying platforms are outside this range 10. trains to extend the accessibility benefits platforms. The majority of the tolerances Therefore, when introducing a new high- from the tramway to heavy rail. result in the vehicle height reducing over floor tram-train utilising existing railway time and designers should therefore consider platforms, a gauging assessment is required, Images courtesy of Dr Rob Carroll unless stated. designing the interface so that the vehicle with the results likely to show that changes is higher than the platform (Fig. 7B, page to the platform height or to the track will be 183) when new rather than being an exact required in some locations. match (Fig. 7A), or lower (Fig. 7C). It should The ability to have one vehicle that can About the author be borne in mind that the likelihood of all stop at low-floor tramway platforms (heights the variables occurring at the same time of 350-400mm) and heavy rail platforms is Dr Rob Carroll is part of Mott MacDonald’s Light Rapid Transit Practice and is responsible for is low, therefore some form of probability possible. For example, the Stadler Citylink in the company’s tram-train activities across the gauging assessment should be included when operation in Chemnitz has doors at different UK, including delivery roles for clients in South designing the stepping interface. heights, the first and last doors for tramway Wales and future routes in Greater Manchester. In the UK, Network Rail standards dictate use with the middle doors for railway; ramps He was previously involved in the UK Tram-Train that measurement of platform gauging is have been included within the vehicle Pilot on behalf of Stagecoach Supertram. required, however these may not be at the allowing access between the doors. However, Mott MacDonald is the current Global Light intervals required to ensure maintenance is the difference in level within the vehicles, Rail Awards Supplier of the Year and can draw carried out so that level boarding remains between 435mm and 600mm, is manageable upon its knowledge of all UK LRT systems, a wide portfolio of heavy rail projects and its within the set limits. Additional inspections as the railway platforms in Germany are successful design role as part of the team that may therefore be required. A sliding step may around 550mm. The much higher heavy rail delivered the UK Tram-Train Pilot. solve many of the problems with horizontal platforms in the UK make the provision of stepping, however the majority still require ramps within the vehicle impracticable. the height of the platform to be within the A similar challenge was encountered in same tight parameters. León, Spain, where a vehicle was proposed REFERENCES One of the considerations associated with and built with different door heights (see a low floor tram-train is that new-build above), with steps and lifts within the 1. Equality Act 2010, 2010 Chapter 15. platforms will be required on the heavy vehicle. This was never put into service as the 2. Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable rail infrastructure which can be designed project was cancelled for financial reasons. Rail System) Regulations 2010, Statutory specifically for them. This requires additional Although this provides a solution to level Instruments, 2010 No. 432. platforms, often in locations where space boarding the provision of lifts inside the 3. Van der Bijl, R., Bukman, B. & van Oort, N. Investeren in de stad; Lessen uit 47 light rail can be a major constraint, and the potential vehicle comes at the dual costs of reduced projecten. Amsterdam: Milete Media, 2015. requirement for land purchase and planning passenger space and increased maintenance. 4. Interface between Station Platforms, Track, permission. One of the additional challenges Station dwell time is also likely to be an issue Trains and Buffer Stops. London : RSSB, 2019. for the provision of low-level platforms on with the reduced number of doors for each RIS- 7016-INS Issue 1.1. heavy rail networks is the assessment and platform and ensuring the passengers are at 5. Investigation of platform edge positions on the mitigation of the risk they potentially bring the correct level for the platform. GB network. London: RSSB. T866. to the operational railway. These risks include 6. Stacy, Mungo. ‘Mind the Gap!’ Rail Engineer, people falling or deliberately trespassing Conclusions January 2017. 7. S heffield Rotherham- Tram-Train: onto the track from a low-level platform The provision of unassisted level boarding Construction, Testing and Commissioning. and the proximity of passengers to heavy on tramways is one of the key accessibility Bilcliffe, R, I Carroll & J. Manchester: PWI & rail vehicles. The UK Pilot has shown that benefits they bring for all passengers. UEEIV, 2018. PWI & UEEIV Technical Seminar these risks can be safely controlled with the The UK rail industry is only now starting to - Urban Railway Infrastructure Engineering. measures shown on page 182. implement level boarding, but in the short 8. Tramways Principles and Guidance. High-floor tram-trains have the ability to term this will be limited to a few locations Birmingham: LRSSB, 2019. LRG1.0. use the same platforms as heavy rail rolling where new rolling stock is introduced that 9. Comble Lacune. Bigorre Ingenierie. [Online] stock. In the UK, new platforms should has been designed to provide it. [Cited: 5 3 2020.] www.bigorre-ingenierie. be built to a height of 915mm (+/-15mm), The solutions presented here, based on com/fr/produits/comble-lacune/. 10. Anon. Investigation of platform edge positions however the historical nature of the rail Mott MacDonald’s experience, could be on the GB Network. London: RSSB, 2011. T866. network means the majority of existing implemented in the introduction of tram-

182 / may 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Track track masterclass: not all rail is created equal

Urban networks use a wide variety of rails to guide, steer, the side. Check rails are used in areas where extra axle steering forces may be needed, such restrain and even power our transport systems. In the first part as very sharp curves or to provide additional of a new series, Daniel Pyke explores the different types of rail safety for switches and crossings. and their uses, while demystifying some common terminology. In tight curves the short vertical edge bears against the flat back of the rail wheel to provide extra lateral steering force (restraint) and t might come as something of a surprise The taller the rail profile (and generally prevent the wheel flanges climbing the rail to the layman to learn that there is more heavier weight per metre), the higher head which could lead to a derailment. Because than one type of rail used by railway the vehicle loads it can withstand. the wheel back essentially ‘scrubs’ against and tramway networks – and yet, Main line railways typically use 50-60kg/m the face of the rail, rather than rolling over it, perhaps, still something of a surprise to profiles; tramways and light rail systems check rails usually require adequate lubrication evenI those within the industry as to the variety are more usually 35-50kg/m for comparison. to reduce wear and noise (the dreaded ‘wheel and broad range of uses for these types of rail. squeal’ heard on some tramways). Due to the Put simply: not all rail is created equal... Check rails scrubbing action they require adjustment as With differing requirements for load bearing, A special type of rail is required where the rail they wear to keep the clearances correct and speed ratings, there are also literally thousands vehicle does not run on top, but rather against prevent flange climb derailments. of types of steel out there fulfilling different needs in different parts of the world. So, let’s start by examining the most commonly-used types of rail, and how and why these are used.

Vignole rails Flat-bottomed, or Vignole, rail, is the most common type and takes its name from engineer Charles Blacker Vignoles, who introduced it into Britain in the 1830s. This type of rail can be found in many applications, from high-speed to heavy haul – and of course urban transit. Vignole rails come in a multitude of sizes and profiles, with over 100 types being found around the globe, but all share a few common features: they are symmetrical (vertically) and have a flat base to enable them to locate easily ABOVE: Vignole rail is also called flat-bottomed rail, ABOVE: Check rail can be used in areas where extra on pads/sleepers. and is the most commonly-used rail type. steering forces might be needed, such as corners.

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ABOVE & ABOVE RIGHT: Grooved rail features deep and wide grooves to provide safe flangeway clearance – ABOVE: Bullhead rail was reputedly designed to be it is usually fitted flush to its surrounding area. 'flipped' upside down to extend life usage.

Check rails have a similar function in switch Typically set flush into its surroundings, in like grooved rails, but does not have a web and crossing layouts. Here they ensure the use you see very little of a grooved rail – just and foot in the traditional sense. Instead it is correct route is followed by the wheel flanges, the head, the groove and the top of the keeper essentially a block of steel with small flanges giving extra lateral steering forces as required. are visible in the road surface. The latter at its base for fixing. Various types of rail can be used as check often also serves the dual purpose of not only rails – even normal flat-bottomed rails in some restraining the road from obstructing the Bullhead rails circumstances – however, the most common rail wheels, but also as a built-in check rail. A bit of a peculiarity, bullhead rails are a check rail used today is 33C1, with virtually In these applications the back of the wheel throwback to days past but are still in fairly identical equivalents U69 and UIC33 also contacts the keeper to provide extra steering common use today. The London Underground employed depending on specification used. forces as a tram negotiates a curve. uses them, as well as other UK railways, so I Some within the industry refer to check rails Personally, I’m not enthusiastic about have included them here for completeness as ‘guard rails’, however that term also has using the keeper as a check rail as it is as several thousand tonnes of the type is another common meaning (explained later), generally quite thin with a small wear installed each year replacing life-expired so care when using terminology is required. allowance. If significant wear occurs to this rails. It is reputed that the design lent itself to part of the rail and there is a failure of the being flipped upside down once it was worn Grooved rails keeper, the wheelset travels to the wrong to extend its useful life – however in practice Grooved rails – as the name implies – feature side of the keeper and pulls the axle into a that doesn’t work and I’m not sure this ever a deep and wide groove used to provide safe derailment. I’m aware this is normal practice actually happened. flangeway clearance for rail vehicles such as in many tramway networks, so perhaps my In 1905 one of the first British Standards trams and LRVs. Typically laid into the road concern isn’t justified – but I’ll voice it here issued (BS 9) covered their requirements. There surface (either paved, concrete or asphalt) or all the same. were once many types of bullhead rail, but within grassed areas, the grooved part of the A similar but noteworthy extra type of only the 95lb/yd variety – often nicknamed rail stops the road surface fouling the space grooved rail is the ‘block rail’ – although ‘95RBH’ – is still commonly produced. The needed for tramway wheels to pass. unusual, this type uses the head and keeper BS11 standard largely remains current due to Grooved rails may also be called tramway the continued use of this rail section. rails and even girder rails, but these aren’t The profile essentially forms a dog bone names I favour as many systems also contain “Guard rails are only shape with the similar head and foot joined by a significant proportion of flat-bottomed rails a parallel web. Its narrow shape and compact also, leading to potential confusion. there for when things have height make it more flexible than flat-bottomed Similar in construction to a flat-bottomed rails, lending itself well to the tight curves of rail, made up of a head, a web and a foot, already gone drastically underground or subway systems; but it does grooved rails have an extra part often called require special housings for the rail to sit in the ‘keeper’ (as it keeps the road away from wrong... they are the last (as it has no flat foot), and it is restrained via the the wheels), or sometimes the ‘horn’ (as it web with keys made from either steel or wood. looks a little like a rhino horn to some). line of defence.” Its low height and special fastenings have resulted in it having such a long life and replacement with ‘modern’ flat-bottomed rails requires a replacement of all track components, and often excavation in tunnels to deliver the same clearances. This is vastly more expensive, not to mention disruptive, than simply changing the rail.

Guard rails I mentioned earlier that some people call check rails, guard rails. This is at best confusing, so I discourage this practice. Guard rails in the ‘correct’ sense are used to control the path of a vehicle when the normal guidance from the rails has failed; so in reality they are only there for when things have already gone drastically wrong – they are the last line of defence and prevent a derailment becoming a catastrophe.

LEFT: An example of both guard and check rail use on a tramway curve. Left to right: Vignole rail, guard rail, check rail, Vignole rail (repeated on both tracks).

184 / may 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org ABOVE: Asymmetric rail is used to produce shallow depth switch rails.

RIGHT: Forged transition rails allow the joining of dissimilar rail profiles.

Typically, guard rails are seen around bridges, tunnels and other vulnerable areas where a derailment could be disastrous if the vehicle significantly deviated from the route. Many different standard types are used as guard rails, so you’ll not usually see a separate section with that name.

Asymmetric rails Asymmetric rails are just that – they aren’t symmetrical around their vertical axis. Often found in and around switches and crossings, some look much like a Vignole rail, but their foot is inclined at an angle e.g. 50E6A2 (U60), while others are much more clearly asymmetric with very short ‘dumpy’ rails such as 60E1A1 (pictured) which are used for ABOVE: 75kh conductor rails. These have a unique ABOVE: Piste rails provide the running surface for machining into shallow depth switch blades, job: to convey electricity to the vehicle/s. rubber-tyred vehicles. and then forged to join with standard ‘full depth’ flat-bottomed rails. This range of rails variety of proprietary types, although they conventional rails to support and guide contains some weird yet wonderful profiles; broadly fall into two categories: Steel/iron the train, as well as rubber tyres to provide essential for allowing traffic to pass from one rails, and aluminium/stainless steel rails. additional traction and braking forces (over track to another smoothly and safely. Where steel conductor rails are used, the what a steel rail could typically achieve). composition is tailored to give a very low Suited to steep gradients, and offering Thick web rails resistance to allow efficient conduction. The higher acceleration and braking rates, this These like asymmetric rails, are typically found electrical resistance may be around half that of double-rail system is adopted in networks in switch and crossing manufacture. Visually a standard rail and they are therefore generally such as those in parts of the Paris Metro. they resemble Vignole rail, but with an made of nearly pure iron, making them much The reason these are classed as ‘piste rails’ unusually thick web to enable complex switch softer. Conductor rails may also have a heavy rather than a construction section is because and crossing layouts to be created section (up to 75kg/m, to carry large currents), the tolerances for rail are far tighter than for with the necessary machining and welding and a flat head to allow good contact with the standard steel construction sections to ensure required in their construction. pick-up equipment mounted on the vehicle. a smooth ride for the passengers. Other multi-metal conductor rails are Transition rails also used in rail networks, and these often Images by the author unless stated. Specially-produced short rails that join two rely on the excellent electrical conductivity Profile photographs courtesy of British Steel. different profiles together, forged transition of aluminium coupled with a surface layer rails are used to connect flat-bottomed rails of of stainless steel to give the necessary wear different heights or weights. performance related to the electrical contact ABOUT THE AUTHOR Another more complex transition may be from the vehicle. The contact between rail and required when joining flat-bottomed rail to vehicle is made via a shoe that slides across the Daniel Pyke is a technically-focused marketing grooved rail – for example, entering a street- surface, and so good electrical conductivity manager, most recently working for British running area of a tramway – and in these cases and wear resistance are important factors for Steel. With a strong background in rail, steel the transition must introduce the presence of years of trouble-free service. and materials science, metallurgy, product development, manufacturing, quality assurance the keeper by funnelling the wheel flange into The nature of the operating environment and certification, he helps infrastructure owners, the groove at the same time as dealing with can place significant challenges on conductor maintainers, installation contractors and any difference in height. rails, with snow and ice being a challenge for operators in building stronger and safer railways some systems and bi-metallic corrosion another by using the right rails in the right place. Conductor rails significant task that requires management. Another unusual type of rail, essential for subway operation, the conductor or ‘third’ Piste rails Next time... rail has one unique job: to convey electricity Resembling a construction section more than for the train to pick up and use for motive a rail, piste rails have another unique function: Rail degradation and rail wear: power. This function requires a very different providing the running surface for rubber-tyred Solutions and remedies composition to running rails and there is a metro trains. These transit systems use both

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org maY 2020 / 185 Brandenburg

The reach of history is strong in this small city – systems beneficially for tourism, but less benignly for its tramway. Brandenburg Neil Pulling explores a city of an der Havel renown greater than its size. factfile germany No. Brandenburg an der 151 Havel, Germany

S Bach’s Brandenburg the decline of the city’s former main Tatra KTNF6 181 Municipal transport operator Concertos, Berlin’s industries, textiles and steel making. leaves Jacobstrasse Verkehrsbetriebe Brandenburg an der Brandenburg Gate and Brandenburg is about 60km (38 stop to join the Havel GmbH (VBBr) evolved from a the German state of miles) west of central Berlin and 35km southern loop to horse-drawn tram service begun in the Hauptbahnhof. Brandenburg formed in (22 miles) from Potsdam, the state 1897. It connected two points that Steintorturm in the J1990 have all eclipsed the fame of capital. The main station, Brandenburg remain important on today’s system, background is one the city and associated lands that Hauptbahnhof (Hbf), is around the of Brandenburg Nicolaiplatz and the main station. bequeathed the name. In common mid-point of the Berlin-Magdeburg an der Havel’s four These are located at either end of with many communities in the former railway. It is primarily served by remaining gate the ‘figure of eight’ layout in central East Germany, Brandenburg an der regional trains, with most long- towers and now Brandenburg. The original tramway Havel (mainly just Brandenburg in distance services having transferred to contains a museum. was taken over by the city in 1910 this Factfile) has suffered a population the high-speed Berlin-Hannover NBS and electrification began in the decline since national reunification. line which opened in 1998. following year. Rising costs in Berlin and good The Hbf is at the southern edge of Post-war repair and reinstatement transport links with the capital have, Brandenburg’s urban spread, a location from 1945 under communist however, helped to slow the trend. that has helped the metre-gauge administration was soon followed Younger people moving in are tramway, a reliable fixed-link feeder by extensions to serve growing especially valuable for Brandenburg’s service, to remain a part of public industrial and housing areas to the future: the 2018 population of 72 369 transport coverage. Befitting the city’s north and west. These lines and included almost 20 000 over age 65. full name, Havel river channels and subsequent reconstructions greatly A tourism-related study published canals are the main geographical increased the proportion of track during 2016 forecasts an overall feature, crossed by the tramway at with dedicated rights of way. 11.5% population decrease for the several points. The tram-served main This now applies on all of the system’s 20 years up to 2030. Federal funding commercial area in the Neustadt – an lines out from Fouquéstrasse/ has helped economic readjustment historic site despite the name – is on one Words and pictures Technische Hochschule and on and environmental repair following of Brandenburg’s several river islands. by Neil Pulling. the southern arc nearest the Hbf.

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THE FLEET Magdeburg had Gotha trams and Brandenburg received four new, trailers in regular service until 70% low-floor Duewag/Siemens 1998 when commissioning and MGT6D (100-103). Built in 1995, modernising newer stock allowed they remain the system’s newest withdrawal. Two-car, uni-directional trams. Bi-directional, double-sided ČKD Tatra KT4D (170-185) were and with three sections, they are received in 1979-1983. Two (174 and 29.9m long with 68 seats and 98 179) remained in that configuration standing places. Two similar vehicles for passenger services. All were (104-105) arriving in 2014 are the modernised in the 1990s at Berlin latest acquisitions, although they Schöneweide railway repair were respectively built in 1992 and workshops. In 1997-98, ten had a 1993 in a version as used on the centre car added by Mittenwalder Bochum (Bogestra) system. New as Gerätebau, a specialist in rolling stock Halle’s 500 and 501, they stayed upgrades located just south of Berlin. ‘low mileage’ due to their use in The new KTNF6 indicates six axles testing and working on other and low-floor space (NF/niederflur), systems, including Brandenburg representing about 30% of the during 1995. vehicle overall. They are 28.1m long, The network livery is cream and capacity 145 including 45-50 seats pale green, with advertising as full depending upon configuration. wraps or on roof boards. ABOVE: Fouquéstrasse Fachhochschule in Altstadt district is near 19th Century military buildings, partly now occupied by Brandenburg’s Technical University.

LEFT: Hauptbahnhof tramstop which is opposite Brandenburg’s main railway station. Tram 183 ‘Zander’ is one of several KTNF6 carrying the name of freshwater fish.

BELOW LEFT: Düwag MGT6D 100 on the junction at Nicolaiplatz, the connection of Brandenburg’s outer lines with the city’s central ‘figure of eight’.

BELOW: One of the two ex-Halle MGT6D trams, 105 leaves Rosa Luxemburg Allee towards Hohenstücken Nord, an area of system-built housing now being thinned by demolition.

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network facts

Opened: 1897 (electrified 1911) Lines: 3 (+1 limited hours) Length: 17.2km (10.8 miles) Stops: 39 Depots: 1 Approx. weekday hours: 04.00-21.00 Line frequency: Wide variations Gauge: 1000mm Power: 600V dc, overhead supply Fleet: 16 City network/operator: Verkehrsbetriebe Brandenburg an der Havel – www.vbbr.de Regional network: Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB) – www.vbb.de Civic and tourist information: www.stadt-brandenburg.de

ABOVE: Named in 1929 to mark the city’s 1000th anniversary, the Jahrtausendbrucke BELOW: Both Hauptbahnhof-bound from this Neustädtischer (Millennium bridge) site has had many structures: 176 is on the mid-1990s version. Pre-dating Markt Katharinenkirche platform, lines 2 and 6 take different routes BUGA 2015, the tower in the background became a viewpoint for a garden show site. to the station.

Plauer See

ABOVE: The Neustädtischer Markt Katharinenkirche platforms are around the junction in the central shopping area.

ABOVE: KTNF6 and MGT6D cross at Fontanestrasse. LEFT: Quenzbrucke terminus on the turning loop for lines 2 and 12; these were suspended in 2020 due to an emergency bridge closure. The artwork represents a preserved 1954 Gotha tram.

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0 1 2

6 Kilometres Hohenstücken Nord

Tschirchdamm

Willibald-Alexis-Straße Rosa-Luxemburg-Allee DEPOT Beetzsee Waldcafé Görden Betriebshof Hohenstücken Geranienweg Kaltenhausener Asklepios Klinik Bahnhof Weg Görden Rotdornweg Gördenallee

Am Silokanal Anton-Saefkow-Allee August-Bebel-Straße 1

Fontanestraße

Karl-Marx-Straße Ritterstraße/ Magdeburger Museum Straße Technische Jahrtausendbrücke Hochschule Quenzsee Nicolaiplatz Hauptstraße

Luckenberger Neustädtischer Straße Markt Steinstraße Sankt-Annen- Kanalstraße Straße Jacobstraße Geschwister- Große Gartenstraße Scholl- Straße Plauer See Blumenstraße

NOTE: Map indicates the Hauptbahnhof situation following the 1 6 closure of lines 2/12 in early 2020. For current position refer to www.vbbr.de

in September 2000. Access is from “In the 21st Century the city has a delta junction near a line 6 stop with the depot’s name, Betriebshof contemplated tramway closure... Hohenstücken, sometimes also termed as Upstallstrasse. Part of a The system’s costs and falling 1992 reconstruction – one of several ABOVE: Heading north from the central patronage were however tempered bridge-related events to have affected area on Hauptstrasse, ČKD Tatra KT4D the tramway – another delta junction 185 climbs towards Jahrtausendbrücke south of the stop links with a spiral on 29 July 2019. by environmental benefits.” towards the level of the Silo Canal. This became the new connection Rebuilt in 2012, Hauptbahnhof tram VBBr identifies 8.5 million with one of the two long western stop allows for its use as a terminus for annual passengers on its bus and branches. From line 1/12 Waldcafé the three regular Monday-Saturday tram network. It is a member of Görden stop – referring to woodlands lines. There are also interchanges Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg to the west – are single-track sections between trams and trains on the GmbH, an association covering the with a turning loop amongst the trees hourly-served Brandenburg-Rathenow two states which since 1999 has had at Anton Saefkow Allee. The name line. They are Bahnhof Altstadt a common tariff system. Outside of commemorates one of over 2000 and Bahnhof Görden, the latter Berlin’s own A-B-C fare zones, the killed on an adjacent site (now with an at-grade railway-tramway Brandenburg system was (before Brandenburg-Görden Prison) crossing. emergency cutbacks in December during its greatest notoriety in the Despite modernisation either side 2019, see below) operating as three Nazi era. A memorial museum of the 1990 German reunification, lines (1, 2 and 6). Line 1 is the longest, (www.brandenburg-zuchthaus-sbg.de) the system’s future has at times scheduled for 27 minutes between is near the terminus. Beyond here been uncertain. As elsewhere in the termini. A fourth, line 12, runs only lie infrastructure remnants of a Eastern Bloc, the 1970s oil cost rises on Sundays and public holidays 5.6km (3.5-mile) route used by the assisted the tramway’s retention, when it replaces lines 1 and 2. Plaue and Kirchmöser West service, but a planned run-down to closure Despite not entering the city centre which closed in 2002. remained possible. During the 21st and with a 30-minute interval, line The outer end of the other western Century the city authority cut back on 12 is configured to overlap at several line which ends at Quenzbrücke service levels and again contemplated stops for transfer with line 6, which (line 2/12) was added in the 1950s closure. The system’s costs and falling does run every day. to support heavy industry. Metal patronage in a shrinking economy Replacing the depot at Kanalstrasse working remains in the city, but a 1993 were however tempered by the near the city centre, a new facility closure represented a drastic change associated environmental benefits. also handling VBBr buses opened from Brandenburg’s former position as

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East Germany’s main steel producer. Near Am Stadion/Industriemuseum stop is a reminder of those times, with retained buildings and equipment (www.industriemuseum-brandenburg.de). Following an emergency closure in late 2019, lines 2 and 12 have been replaced by bus services. This is due to an over-bridge, opened in 1969 and titled in honour of East Germany’s 20th anniversary, deemed in danger of collapse. As the bridge near Bahnhof Altstadt carries an arterial road and the tramway, it has raised local concerns over this becoming a permanent system cutback. The tramway’s northern reach to the urban spread in the late 1970s to Hohenstücken Nord stemmed from a policy to create new mass housing for a demand expected to No. 177 ‘Karpfen’ Added low-floor space and other continue. Some of the development co-host of the biennial national (Carp) taking modernisation improved the Tatra stock, but that was planned, including tramway the route from horticulture show (BUGA), a major it no longer meets expectations and VBBr is extensions, did not happen. Social Nicolaiplatz as used event bringing extra local public seeking replacement. and economic reversals are reflected by Brandenburg’s transport demands. Although not by the over-provision of tracks on the original horse- as significant for this system as was Hohenstücken Nord turning loop and drawn tramway. BUGA 2001 in nearby Potsdam, the demolition of some housing blocks. 2015 show brought some timetable Between April and October 2015 rearrangements that were retained. Brandenburg was a Havel Region It was also felt to have stimulated greater patronage of trams by local users, possibly substantiating the marketing premise that a crowd attracts a crowd. With some challenges in common, VBBr joined two other operators of Brandenburg state’s metre-gauge tramways, Cottbus and Frankfurt Oder, to increase their buying essential facts power. These systems to some degree rely on old stock that falls below Local travel: VBBr office prevailing access requirements and (Fahrgastzentrum) at 66 Steinstrasse, passenger expectations. Their pooled close to Neustädtischer Markt. Vending machines aboard VBBr passenger requirement was for 45 new trams vehicles; some also in fixed locations. with at least 70% low-floor space, of Single (60-minute) ticket EUR1.80; day- ABOVE: The oldest of VBBr’s service trams, new as a KT4DM in which Brandenburg would have four ticket EUR3.80. If Brandenburg Havel 1979 and carrying boards commemorating the tramway centenary in firm orders and eight options. In late visits include Berlin and/or Potsdam, 2007, 170 is on Ritterstrasse. 2019 this process – intended to replace the VBB day ticket (Tageskarte VBB- BELOW: Used by line 1, the western crossing of the Havel which all of the Tatras by 2025 – was delayed Gesamtnetz) covers public transport includes Kanalstrasse stop. The junction for the old tram depot is in due to a challenge by a potential networks in all these cities and regional the foreground. supplier. trains between them after 09.00 (M-F) 00.00 (S-Sun): EUR22.00 if bought from machines (up to five adults at EUR33.00). Prices as February 2020. What is there to see? A helpful tourist information office near Neustädtischer Markt tram stop. This is in the main retail area which is dominated by Sankt Annen Galerie centre. As short-stay visitors are unlikely to indulge in the watersports and angling for which the area is known, Brandenburg an der Havel’s main appeal is its unhurried calm. Trams pass through the central areas, but these and waterside districts are better explored on foot. Despite wartime destruction, amongst many historic buildings are watchtowers from now-removed city walls, the Old Town Hall, and a cathedral amongst several churches. Travelling on the tramway’s north-south arms adds a contrasting reminder of developments during the communist era. Brandenburg combines easily with visiting Potsdam (20 minutes by regional train) and Berlin (50 minutes to Berlin Hbf).

190 / may 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Worldwide Review

AUSTRALIA deliver 28 four-car trains ready for ADELAIDE. The successful bidder opening in mid-2022. RGI to run the Adelaide tram network from July was Torrens Connect, a BULGARIA joint venture of Torrens Transit, SOFIA. Sofia Metro has exercised UGL Rail Services and John the option in its contract with Holland. P. Nicholson Metrowagonmash and will CANBERRA. The ACT send a further 40 metro cars for Department for Transport has modernisation to ensure a further commissioned studies for two 15 years service. The initial further extensions to the city’s contract covered eight cars, which tramway. Stage 3 would create an were completed in February. RGI east–west line linking Belconnen to the airport, while stage 4 would CANADA see the existing north–south line INDUSTRY. Bombardier shut extended from Woden to Mawson down all work at its rolling stock The new diversion of the Belgian coastal tramway along the N34 coast road to and Tuggeranong. G. Sutherland plants in Québec and Ontario bypass the village of Lombardsijde has two stops at Schoolstraat and Zeelaan. NEWCASTLE. A summary of the from 24 March in response to the BN 6004 is seen at Schoolstraat on 8 March. C F Isgar business case for extensions to the Coronavirus pandemic. city’s tramway has been released by On 6 April Éric Martel became EVO2 trams are 1822/23. FRANCE the NSW Government, indicating the new President and CEO of The ex-Praha T6 sets are 1228+1223 AVIGNON. Tramway service was that the most feasible next stage Bombardier, taking over from (ex-8681+8684), 1221+1227 suspended from 27 March due to is a route to John Hunter Hospital Alain Bellemare who had held (ex-8613+8676), 1229+1222 the COVID-19 pandemic. Just four through Broadmeadow and along the post since 2015. (ex-8686+8646) and 1225+1226 bus lines served the town. lineoz.net Russell Road. Newcastle Herald OTTAWA. On 10 March the (ex-8664+8666). BS BORDEAUX. During the PERTH. An AUD200m city issued a notice to Rideau OLOMOUC. Work has started pandemic lockdown tram services (EUR111.2m) contract between the Transit Group (RTG) claiming the on stage 2 of the new tramway in were operated 05.30-08.30, Government of Western Australia consortium misled the city about Novy Sad to Schweitzerova, for 13.00-16.00 and 19.00-22.00 with and a Huawei-led consortium to its ability to build and maintain completion at the end of 2021. BS a basic 20-minute service. lineoz.net renew communications on the the CAD2.1bn (EUR1.35bn) OSTRAVA. Withdrawn Tatra K2 MONTPELLIER. This is one suburban rail network has been Confederation light rail system. tram 803 has joined the museum of several French systems that scrapped due to the potential effect RTG responded on 31 March fleet, while 802 is now works car operated Sunday timetables of US trade restrictions. ABC with a plan of how it would 8210. Seventeen T3 cars have been throughout the week from meet the city’s milestones for sold to Kyiv and ten scrapped. BS 25 March due to the reduction AUSTRIA improving performance and PLZEŇ. Astra 03T low-floor in patronage resulting from GRAZ. Ex-Duisburg eight-axle addressing recurring issues. CBC articulated trams 306/10 have government-enforced travel tram 524 has been scrapped after TORONTO. Infrastructure been sold to Brno, where they will restrictions. lineoz.net no interest was expressed by Ontario and Metrolinx have be used as a source of spare parts; STRASBOURG. Line D was potential purchasers; 521 has selected an HDR-led team to 301/3/7-9 remain in service. BS cut back from Kehl to Port du gone to a fire department training serve as technical adviser for the PRAHA (Prague). Finance Rhin from 08.00 on 16 March ground, and 530 has joined the CAD8.2bn (EUR5.3bn) Ontario has been made available for the at the request of German police fleet of Tram Museum Graz. BS Line, a free-standing subway extension of metro line D from implementing COVID-19 WIEN (Vienna). All eight that will link Ontario Place/ Pankrac to Nove Dvory. The line is prevention precautions. DS Bombardier Flexity Wien were Exhibition Place to Ontario expected to open in 2023 at a total withdrawn on 1 March due to Science Centre via the city centre. cost of CZK70bn (EUR2.7bn). BS GERMANY a gearbox fault. Repairs were Bombardier Flexity 4406 is now TÁBOR – BECHYNĚ. This BAD SCHANDAU. The anticipated to take a week. DS in passenger operation; 4402-05 24.1km (15-mile) line, opened as a Kirnitzschtalbahn suspended are still testing. Prototype 4401 light railway in 1903, will complete tram operation from 28 March due BANGLADESH finally returned to Toronto on 20 its conversion to a heavy railway to the coronavirus pandemic. DS DHAKA. An order for traction March but is still to enter service. in 2023-24 with its conversion BERLIN. Work on the 2.7km energy storage systems for metro CLRV 4024 has gone to the from 1500v dc to 25kV ac. TR (1.7-mile) tramway extension line 6 has been placed with Halton County Radial Railway for from Adlershof to Schöneweide Toshiba Infrastructure Systems storage; its eventual destination is DENMARK was to start in mid-May, for & Solutions Corp (one 500kW the American Industrial & Mining KØBENHAVN. The 2.2km completion in September 2021. output and seven 2000kW units). Museum in Brownsville, PA. (1.4-mile) branch of metro line Services in the Köpenick area were R. Barrows, D. Drum M4 from Osterport to Orientkaj to return to normal from 2 June on BELGIUM opened on 28 March, without completion of infrastructure work. BRUXELLES/BRUSSEL. COLOMBIA ceremony due to coronavirus Tenders have been invited for From 18 March headways were BOGOTÁ. The Arco Bogotá restrictions. urbanrail.net the construction of a EUR120m, increased on all public transport Zipa consortium of Ardanuy 50 000m2 60-car tram depot at lines, and again from 30 March. Ingeniería and Coral Delgado EGYPT the former coal yard between the Work has started on the new Toots has been awarded a 17-month EL QAHIRA (Cairo). On Görlitzer Bahn and Köpenicker Tielemans metro station in contract to oversee studies and 30 March, Transportation Minister Strasse, that will be brought into Stalingradlaan that is on the 650m planning for the Regiotram Kamel al-Wazir called upon the use in 2025-28. section being built to divert around del Norte light rail project. The Cairo Metro to provide commuters KT4D trams 6104/25/9/31-4/46 Lemonnier tram stop by 2024. 39.5km (24.5-mile) line is expected with free face masks to prevent the have been sold to Magdeburg. to open in the first half of 2024, spread of the COVID-19 virus. The shuttle U-Bahn line U55 BRAZIL built, operated and maintained Since the introduction of a was discontinued from 27 March SALVADOR. Chinese company by China Civil Engineering two-week national curfew due to lack of traffic. It is unlikely BYD and Metrogreen have formed Construction Corporation. IRJ (19.00–06.00) on 25 March, the to re-open but will be replaced by the Skyrail Bahia Consortium metro saw extreme overcrowding the extension of U5 in December. to build a 19.2km (11.9-mile) CZECH REPUBLIC – regular operating hours are The elevated U-Bahn between monorail line estimated to cost BRNO. The first two Allianz 05.30-01.00. More trains were Kottbusser Tor and Warschauer BRL2bn (EUR3.5bn). BYD will TW/Krnov/Pragoimex/Cegelec added to help the issue. Zawya Strasse was closed from 14 April to

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KARLSRUHE. Withdrawn INDIA Stadtbahn car 519 has been moved PATNA. Tenders have been to the fire department training invited for the construction centre in Bruchsal, replacing of the first section of metro, earlier tram 174 (now scrapped). 6.1km (3.8 miles) of elevated line Waggon Union car 502 of 1983 has that will form part of the 14km joined the museum tram fleet. BS (8.7-mile) east–west line 2. RGI KASSEL. In common with several other systems, from 17 March, IRELAND due to COVID-19, the public CORK. Consultants were to be transport system operated to a appointed in April to assess route Sunday timetable on every day options for a proposed EUR1bn of the week, with service 17km (11-mile) light rail system, provided 06.30-20.30 only. DS which would link Ballincolig with LEIPZIG. LVB has launched a Mahon via the city centre with tender for two new tram driver 25 stops. The line forms part of Pending the arrival of new Škoda trams, RNV Mannheim is carrying passengers in three sets of 1957 Düwag trams originally used on the Rhein–Haardt-Bahn. GT8NF simulators for delivery in 2022, an expected overall EUR3.5bn including options for further framework for transport in the permit renewal of infrastructure. buses running the night bus units to support its future tram Cork metropolitan area over the Bus replacement is provided. BS routes and timetables all day. DS procurement. next two decades, with completion BOCHUM-GELSENKIRCHEN. FRANKFURT/MAIN. Twenty of MAGDEBURG. The new tram during the latter half of the plan. New Stadler Variobahn trams the 45 Alstom Citadis 305 type T tunnel at Hbf is due to open for Initially EUR545m will be spent 140-2 were delivered in January trams on order will be fitted with passenger service on 27 August. to improve bus services, with – March, completing the series. an additional 8.5m body section, The transfer point between tram dedicated bus lanes including a The option for eight further bringing their length to 38.5m and train will be Kölner Platz. high-frequency east-west corridor vehicles has been converted into and redesignation as Citadis 405. Eight Tatra KT4D trams have expected to form the basis of the an order, that should be fulfilled The mayors of Frankfurt and been purchased from Berlin proposed light rail route. in 2021. Original low-floor Bad Vibel have signed a letter of with a budget of EUR300 000 DUBLIN. A collision between cars 404/40 were sent to Łódź intent to study a tramway extension for acquisition and overhaul. a Luas tram and a lorry at the in Poland in February. Regular from Bodenweg (Preungesheim) They will enter service on line junction between Queen Street operation was expected to return to Bad Vibel (Südbhf or perhaps 10 from 27 August, repainted in and Benburb Street saw the Red to lines 309/310 on 1 April. BS Bad Vibel Bhf). MVB colours. BS line closed between Belgard and BRAUNSCHWEIG. It is hoped When the new terminal 3 at NAUMBURG. The heritage the Point from 16.30 on 30 March. to start work on new tram links to Flughafen opens in 2023 it will tram carried 185 900 passengers Tram services were running Rautheim and Volkmarode Nord have its own station on the S-Bahn in 2019, a 4% increase on 2018. normally as of the start of April, in 2022, for completion in 2024. BS network for lines S7 and RE70. BS The Technical University at although a number of operational BREMEN. Work to renew the FRANKFURT/ODER. KT4D 228 Braunschweig is to produce a changes were in place to maintain infrastructure of lines 2 and 10 from 1990 has been scrapped, study of the potential for recreating social distancing and passenger between Lindenhof Strasse and leaving 205/8-10/2/5/-26 still in the Ring tramway, possibly and staff well-being. Gröpelingen depot started on service. The peak run-out is 15 to coincide with centenary 2 March, resulting in various trams of which six are low-floor celebrations in 2028. BS ISLE OF MAN diversions and bus replacement. cars. BS ROSTOCK. An open day to mark GENERAL. All Isle of Man Line 2 was cut back to Waller HAMBURG. The new Elbbrücken 30 years of Tatra trams is planned heritage lines suspended operation Friedhof, resulting in the use of S-Bahn station had to be closed for 12 September; three T6 after service on 19 March, shortly 2.65m-wide trams on this line for several hours from 17.40 on trams remain in the fleet. BS before non-residents were banned for the first time. Once the work 10 February due to a south-west SAARBRÜCKEN. Saarbahn line from visiting the island. The is completed the whole network storm wind causing the River Elbe S1 was cut back to Hanweiler Douglas Bay Horse Tramway will be open to 2.65m-wide trams. to flood. Service resumed during from 16 March due to closure of had not begun operation. April The first of 77 new four-section the afternoon of 12 February. BS the French border in connection heritage events have been shelved. 37m Siemens Avenio trams arrived HANNOVER. Delivery of GTZ6-H with COVID-19 precautions. on 31 March. Public presentation trams from HeiterBlick had reached SCHÖNEICHE. Škoda ForCity ITALY of the new tram will not take 3147 by the end of February; Smart Artic 53 was delivered from MILANO. Due to the coronavirus place due to the coronavirus social 6117/45 have been withdrawn. BS Finland on 18 February. BS pandemic public transport is distancing restrictions. HEIDELBERG. The renewal of SCHWERIN. The first fare operating Saturday timetables Correcting our earlier report, the infrastructure to Leimen started changes since December 2014 on Monday-Friday, and Sunday new Windhoff works car is 3903. BS on 2 March and will be carried out took effect from 1 February; timetables at the weekend. UTM CHEMNITZ. With all the new in five phases up to March 2022. the 24-hour ticket was reduced in Škoda trams in service, operation Several potential tramway price to EUR4. BS JAPAN of Tatra sets is reduced to five alignments have been identified STUTTGART. An attempt to TOYAMA. The link between the (515/6, 517/8, 509/19, 525/6 and to serve the former US Army introduce Sunday timetables to two networks at the railway station 529/30). Variobahn prototype quarters Patrick Henry Village, respond to reduced traffic (due was due to open on 21 March. BS 601 (ABB 1993) from 1993 has which is being redeveloped as a to coronavirus) on S-Bahn routes OSAKA. A new three-section been withdrawn. residential area. BS failed on 24 March when the low-floor tram from Alna Sharyo Planning is going ahead for INDUSTRY. Check-in/check-out 30-minute morning headway (Series 1100) has doubled the the EUR120m Stage IV of the ticketing using the Fairtiq app is was incapable of carrying all fully-accessible fleet available for Chemnitzer Modell, a 17km (10.6- now available across trains, trams intending passengers. Lines daytime services on the Hankai mile) tram-train line to Limbach- and buses in the Verkehrsverbund reverted to a 15-minute headway. DS Tramway. The 14.1km (8.8-mile) Oberfrohna. A 2.3km (1.4-mile) Mittelthüringen region covering WOLTERSDORF. The re-opening tramway serves the city’s Sakai urban section could open in Erfurt, Weimar, Jena, Gera and of the tramline to Schleuse district, operating a diverse fleet 2027, the remainder in 2030. The Gotha. was postponed to 6 April and of modern and heritage vehicles, project involves rebuilding 12km Introduction of the app has may be postponed futher. BS some dating back to the 1920s. RGI (7.5 miles) of the 17km (10.6-mile) been brought forward due the WUPPERTAL. The historic railway line closed in 2003. BS COVID-19 outbreak, removing Kaiserwagen on the Schwebebahn MEXICO DESSAU. Tram service was the need for passengers to handle should return to service in July after MEXICO CITY. A contract has withdrawn on a temporary basis cash, or buy tickets from vending being fitted for the new signalling been placed with Leitner Ropeways from 25 March, replaced by machines or drivers. system and 750V dc operation. BS to provide two Cablebús 2 urban

192 / MAY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org cable car lines by mid-2021. EU Cohesion Fund confirmed The two lines, totalling EUR107m in investment to 10.6km (6.6 miles), will feed support upgrades to the Yellow metro stations at Constitución line, including the 3.2km de 1917 and Santa Martha. RGI (two-mile) extension from Santo Ovídio to Vila d’Este. The NETHERLANDS EUR169m project includes three AMSTERDAM. The Vervoerregio new stations – Manuel Leão, the Amsterdam (VRA, commissioning Santos Silva Hospital and Vila authority for public transport) is d’Este – construction of a new in discussions about its direct depot, a turning track south contract award with GVBA to of Santo Ovídio and two new operate the Amsterdam network. substations. Passenger service on This is due to run until 2024, the extension is expected to begin but the VRA may decide to put a in 2023. new contract in place from The city’s three heritage December 2021 with more tramlines were suspended from The Vladivostok tramway in Russia’s far east has been modernised with ambitious targets (at present 13 March as part of the city’s ex-Moskva KTM-19 trams. Alexander V GVBA must achieve annual response to COVID-19. The growth of 1% in passenger km). planned parade on 9 May is also livery. The first carried passengers metro to Son Espases, and for From 30 March the direction of now unlikely to take place. on 8 March. transphoto.ru the long-planned tramline from operation of the Centraal Station M. J. Russell YEKATERINBURG. The first of Plaça Espanya to the airport via tram loops was changed as part of ten Uraltransmash 71-418 100% the seafront. BS the the general rebuilding ROMANIA low-floor three-section trams was programme for the area. Line 26 GALAŢ I. Eight Autentic on trial in March, carrying fleet SWITZERLAND was using the emergency loop low-floor trams have been ordered number 395. transphoto.ru BASEL. Tramway operation under the bus station. With ten from Astra Vagoane, with an on line 14 from Muttenz of the new CAF trams delivered, option for ten more. The contract SERBIA (Rothausstrasse) to Pratteln is passenger service on line 24 was value for 18 trams is RON119.7m INDUSTRY. The Government suspended from 23 March to due to start in mid-April. OR (EUR24.8m). RGI has committed EUR900 000 28 June to permit replacement of towards a 16km (ten-mile) rail the tramway infrastructure. POLAND RUSSIA link to Kragujevac, the site of the Be6/8 5006 has received a special BYDGOSZCZ. A further EUR38m KRASNODAR. A fleet of 29 new Siemens plant, to enable livery to mark 125 years of BVB. in EU Cohesion Funds have been 71-623-04 bogie trams with raw materials to be delivered and Sunday service was operated on awarded towards the EUR86.6m low-floor sections at the doors transport for new rolling stock. BS a daily basis from 21 March due to programme to enhance and have been ordered from Ust-Katav reduced patronage. modernise the tram network and for delivery before the end of the SINGAPORE Basler Zeitung, BS the procurement of new trams. year; a further 27 more should MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY. ZERMATT – DISENTIX (MGB). The project is expected to finish follow in 2021. The contract price The Land Transport Authority A CHF148.5m (EUR140m) by 2021. transport-publiczny is RUB31.6m (EUR366 000) per has awarded the contract to build contract has been signed with CZĘSTOCHOWA. The first of tram. transphoto.ru 2.3km (1.4 miles) of elevated Stadler for 12 rack-equipped ten new Pesa trams worth MOSKVA. Nekrasovskaya metro metro, the Pandan Reservoir EMUs, with an option for 15 PLN90m (EUR19.7m) was line 15 was extended 14.4km (nine branch of the Jurong Region more. Delivery will start in 2022. IRJ delivered in mid-March. infotram.pl miles) from Kosino to Lefortovo line, to a joint venture of John ZÜRICH. A referendum on GRUDZIĄDZ. A second round on 27 March. The opening brings Holland and McConnell Dowell 9 February rejected CHF1.1m of tendering for four new double- the line’s length to 22.3km South East Asia. RGI (EUR1m) plans for two new ended trams saw Modertrans (13.8 miles) with ten stations sections of tramway: submitting the only bid, urbanrail.net SOUTH KOREA Albisriederplatz – Hardplatz and PLN22.75M (EUR5m). infotram.pl NOVOKUZNETSK. An order SEOUL. SG Rail has placed an Escher-Wyss-Platz – Bucheggplatz OLSZTYN. EUR85m in European has been placed with Ust-Katav order for 15 eight-car trainsets – Milchbuck. Regional Development Funding for seven single-ended and two for the 83.1km (51.6-mile) line Prototype Bombardier Flexity has been granted for expansion double-ended low-floor trams for A commuter rail service with 4001 started test runs from of the city’s transport network, delivery in 2020. infotram.pl Hyundai Rotem. The line is due Oerlikon depot on 17 January. as well as the installation of a new ORSK. Tramline 5 was suspended to open in 2024. RGI Driver training was expected to intelligent transportation system. from 17 March in an effort start in April and passenger service The projects have a combined to reduce the undertaking’s SPAIN on line 11 in the summer. EA, BS value of EUR122.5m and cover the electricity bill. transphoto.ru CÁDIZ. Test running on the city’s second 12.3km (7.6-mile) UFA. The first 71-407 bogie tram common section with RENFE TURKEY tramline, a new 16.6km (10.3-mile) with a low-floor centre section between Cadiz and Rio Arillo ISTANBUL. Tuesday 19 May bus line and the procurement of was delivered from Uraltransmash using dual-voltage tram-trains was to see the inauguration of six new trams. transport-publiczny on 20 March for testing. It carries finally started on 13 March, over the first section of new metro line WARSZAWA. The 3.4km fleet number 1004. transphoto.ru three years late. There is still no M7 from Mahmutbey to Sisli- (2.1-mile) extension of metro line SAMARA. Metrowagonmash date for passenger service. RGI Mecidiyeköy on the European side M2 from Rondo Daszynskiego has delivered another further MADRID. On 19 March Metro de of the city. urbanrail.net to Ksiecia Janusza opened on four-car metro train of type 81, Madrid awarded Knorr-Bremse a 4 April. Services are operated by a boosting the fleet on the 11.6km two-year EUR5m contract for the UKRAINE fleet of 20 six-carInspiro trains. (7.2-mile) line to 50 cars. RGI supply of components and spares GENERAL. Rapid tram service in urbanrail.net SMOLENSK. Half the tramway for its train’s air braking systems. Kryvyi Rih was affected for three WROCŁAW. Due to a drop in is out of service due to MÁLAGA. A contract has days in March; regular tram service passenger numbers because of reconstruction work. Line been awarded for the 1.8km continued. In Lviv restrictions COVID-19, Saturday timetables 2 is worked by back-to-back (1.1-mile) subway extension of of ten passengers per tram have were operated on Monday-Friday operation of bogie trams line 2 from Guadalmedina to been introduced. transphoto.ru from 17 March. infotram.pl due to a lack of turning circles. BS Hospital Civil. TR KHARKIV. Prequalification VLADIVOSTOK. The ten 71-619K PALMA DE MALLORCA. for the contract to build a 3.5km PORTUGAL trams acquired from Moskva are Government approval has been (2.2-mile) southern extension of PORTO. On 17 March the entering service as 330-9 in a blue given for the extension of the line 3, including two underground

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2020 / 193 Worldwide Review

TYNE AND WEAR. Metro after problems identified in 2019 services were reduced to were resolved, and all should be on 24-minute frequencies from the property by 2025. 23 March, which means a train SEATTLE, WA. Light rail every 12 minutes between Pelaw returned to double-track service and South Gosforth. Additional in central subway stations from peak services have been 30 March following the withdrawn. The changes conclusion of Connect 2020, the reflect availability of train crew programme to join the existing and fewer people travelling. system in central Seattle with the WEST MIDLANDS. A temporary new East Link line, that should timetable was introduced from carry passengers to Redmond from 30 March. Frequency on Monday- 2023. Saturday is 15 minutes from start Light rail patronage is down of service to 06.30, then every nearly 70% due to the coronavirus 12 minutes until 20.00, after pandemic. R. Barrows which trams run every 15 minutes WASHINGTON, DC. Responding A tram is pictured at Victoria Falls station (Zimbabwe) on the tramway that until normal end of service. There to a 90% drop in patronage on opened in August 2018. The open-sided replica tram seats 21 passengers and is is no change to Sunday times. Metrorail, 19 stations were closed powered by an internal combustion engine capable of 25km/h. Pure Africa Although design and planning from 26 March. R. Barrows stations, has been published. operating to a basic frequency of work on network extensions is Work is to start in 2021 and take 12 minutes to a Sunday pattern, continuing, physical work was MUSEUM NEWS 48 months; the project is financed but with as many services as halted in late March. BEAMISH (UK). The museum using EBRD and EIB loans. possible being formed of double closed to visitors on 20 March, units to enable social distancing USA with the tram service worked that UNITED ARAB EMIRATES of two metres between passengers. NEW YORK. The driver of a Subway day by Sheffield 264 and Blackpool DUBAI. The Roads and Transport Monday-Saturday trams will train was killed in a fire onboard a 31. During the pandemic as many Authority launched a three-month run 06.00-23.00; on Sundays, train in the early hours of 27 March. of the historic fleet as possible trial of autonomous shuttles at the services will start an hour later. Emergency services responded will be kept under cover in secure Expo 2020 site in late March. The The early morning Airport service to a call just after 03.00 to 110th storage, with additional CCTV electrically-powered EasyMile is suspended due to reduced Street Central Park North and installed. Various planned events shuttles have a maximum speed numbers of flights and staff at Lenox Avenue in Manhattan; the have been cancelled or deferred. of 25km/h (15.5mph) and can the airport. 36-year-old driver was found on CRICH (UK). Following UK operate up to 16 hrs/day, carrying The stored T68 donated to the the tracks suffering from smoke Government advice in relation up to 15 passengers, ten seated. Manchester Transport Museum inhalation and died later in to the coronavirus pandemic, the Society left Trafford Depot in hospital. A further 16 people were National Tramway Museum has UNITED KINGDOM mid-March for a period of display injured. Other fires were reported been closed until at least 22 May. BLACKPOOL. Blackpool at the Crewe Heritage Centre. at the same time, at 86th Street, LOFTUS (AU). The Sydney Council’s Executive meeting It is likely to stay there for at least 96th Street and 116th Street, Tramway Museum was closed on 23 March approved funding 12 months as the MTMS has yet leading to an investigation into from 23 March in response to the for demolition of the existing to find space for it to be displayed co-ordinated arson attacks. coronavirus pandemic. TW Wilko store at Talbot Gateway. at the Heaton Park Tramway. New York Times This facilitates completion of LONDON (TRAMS). The PHILADELPHIA, PA (PATCO). CONTRIBUTORS the new tramway interchange at tramway adopted a Sunday Four of the 13 stations on the Worldwide news items for Blackpool North station, plus an service in late March, but with a Speedline closed from 28 March inclusion should be sent to underpass, hotel and retail and greater number of trams during due to reduction in patronage Michael Taplin at Flat 8, Roxan leisure facilities. The tramway peak times in response to the (Ashland, Westmont, City Hall Villa, 33 Landguard Manor extension is to be completed to a COVID-19 outbreak. and 12th/13th), with headways Rd, Shanklin, Isle of Wight temporary terminus in 2021, with NOTTINGHAM. From 24 increased from 15 to 20 minutes. PO37 6EA, UK. Fax: full completion in 2022. March a Sunday timetable was W. Vigrass +44 (0)1983 862810 or All heritage operations and introduced throughout the PHILADELPHIA, PA (SEPTA). e-mail: [email protected] events have currently ceased in week: trams run every 15 With patronage down 70% UK and Ireland items are light of the coronavirus pandemic. minutes 06.00-07.00 and 19.00- because of the coronavirus welcomed by Home Editor, EDINBURGH. A decision was 23.00. From 07.00-19.00 a ten- pandemic, Saturday service John Symons, 17 Whitmore taken to stop physical construction minute headway is operated. has been introduced Monday- Avenue, Werrington, Stoke- of the Newhaven extension Proposed fare changes from Saturday. W. Vigrass on-Trent, ST9 0LW, UK. in March, as a result of the 29 March have been deferred. SALT LAKE CITY, UT. An E-mail [email protected] coronavirus crisis. Off-site work SOUTH YORKSHIRE. Re-routing earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Acknowledgements are due to is to continue and the project’s the tramway from the rear to the Richter scale on 18 March saw all Australian Broadcasting Corporation contact centre will remain open. front of Sheffield station is among services on the TRAX light rail (ABC); Basler Zeitung; Blickpunkt From 22 March the tramway redevelopment proposals for system brought to a standstill. No Strassenbahn (BS); Drehscheibe operated a reduced service between the area. Work could take place damage was reported, although (DS); Canadian Broadcasting Edinburgh Airport and York Place from 2026-31 and create a new the earthquake knocked out power Corporation (CBC); Edinburgh to a basic 15-minute headway. line between Granville Road and across the metropolitan area. Evening News; Eisenbahn Amateur First and last trams remained at Fitzalan Square, serving Sheffield Beginning on 5 April, weekday (EA); infotram.pl; International normal times. Hallam University and Sheffield headways were increased from Railway Journal (IRJ); Irish Times; GLASGOW. From 21 March the Interchange using railway 15 minutes to 30 minutes in lineoz.net; Manchester Evening News; Subway moved to an eight-minute formation. response to a 60% decline in New York Times; Newcastle Herald; service on both inner and outer From 23 March tram services ridership associated with the Nottingham Evening Post; Op de Rails circles with the last train from were reduced on the Yellow and COVID-19 outbreak. Weekend (OR); Railway Gazette International St. Enoch at 21.00. Passengers Blue lines to every 20 minutes services were reduced from (RGI); Railway Track & Structures are being asked to pay for tickets/ and on the Purple and tram-train every 20 minutes to 30 minutes. (RT&S); transport-publiczny; load their smartcard by credit/ lines to every 30 minutes until RT&S Today’s Railway (TR); transphoto.ru; debit card rather than cash. 20.00-21.00. Limited Yellow SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Muni). Trolley Wire (TW); urbanrail.net; GREATER MANCHESTER. and Blue route services operate The delivery of 219 Siemens Urban Transport Magazine (UTM), From 22 March lines began 21.00-00.00. LRVs has resumed its schedule urbanrail.net and Zawya.

194 / MAY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Letters

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Now is the time for us all to hit the reset button It is disappointing to read that the UK Government’s routes would go a long way to reducing roadside pollution publication Decarbonising Transport: Setting the Challenge where it is at its worst and where it affects the most people. – apart from a passing reference to the expansion of the The Government has in the past shown a tendency to view Metrolink system in Greater Manchester – makes no mention problems in isolation, as with the diesel car debacle. It is of the vital role played by trams and light rail. time for joined-up thinking in the corridors of power to find Such modes have very low (or zero when using renewable- solutions that will address environmental problems equally, sourced electricity) carbon emissions; the low rolling not to lessen one at the expense of worsening another. resistance of steel-wheel on steel-rail gives inherently lower The air quality benefits from the current, vitally necessary energy consumption than rubber tyres on asphalt, especially drop in road use to minimise the impact of the coronavirus must when combined with more efficient drive systems that allow not be lost or ignored. It will be instructive to see how society high levels of regeneration. bounces back and whether we will see a return to the levels of Trams also have a far better track record of encouraging private car usage seen previously when the ‘lockdowns’ end. modal shift from private to public transport than buses, and The fact that Government has undergone a significant change would therefore reduce congestion and help fulfil one of the in its outlook, behaviour and spending in tackling the public Department for Transport’s stated aims of making public health threat posed by Covid-19 has highlighted, inadvertently, transport ‘the natural first choice for our daily activities’. the benefits of modal switch to home and raised the public The UK Government would do well to remember that carbon awareness of ‘clean air’. There is now a rising expectation emissions represent just one of the environmental challenges that improved public health is wanted, nay demanded, and that currently face society. Air quality is also of huge transport pollution to be tackled in a vigorous manner. importance and seems not to be given the priority it deserves. One must hope decision-makers will stop ‘kicking the can While electrifying cars and buses may reduce CO2 in our down the road’ as the benefits of cleaner air are being seen around atmosphere and the pollution created by tailpipe emissions, the world, albeit due to the most unfortunate circumstances. such measures do nothing to lessen pollution from non- As towns and cities recover, the time to re-evaluate our exhaust emissions (NEEs) – the damaging particulates caused transportation priorities is now. More roads and more cars are by tyre and road wear. Indeed it is likely to make the situation not the answer. Authorities at national and local levels have to worse as electric vehicles tend to be heavier than their internal prioritise people over traffic by creating a sustainable, user- combustion-powered counterparts. friendly public transport system that reduces car dependence While we would not suggest that trams replace buses and transforms both the environment and quality of life for all. everywhere, their use on the most heavily-trafficked urban Jim Harkins, LRTA Campaigns Group Chair

THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE Brandenburg

The reach of history is systems strong in this small city – beneficially for tourism, but less benignly for its tramway. Neil Pulling explores a city of Brandenburg www.lrta.org an der Havel factfile renown greater than its size. www.tautonline.com No. Brandenburg an der germaNy MAY 2020 N O. 989 151 Havel, Germany RIDERS STAY AWAY AS WORLD PAUSES Subscribe now!

S Bach’s Brandenburg the decline of Concertos, Berlin’s the city’s former main Tatra KTNF6 181 industries, textiles and steel making. Municipal transport operator Brandenburg Gate and leaves Jacobstras Brandenburg is ab se Verkehrsbetriebe Brandenburg an der the German state of out 60km (38 stop to join the miles) west of central Berlin and 35km Havel GmbH (VBBr) evolved from a Brandenburg formed in southern loop to (22 miles) from Potsdam, the state horse-drawn tram service begun in 1990J have all eclipsed the fame of the Hauptbahnhof. capital. The main station, Brandenburg Steintorturm in the 1897. It connected two points that the city and associated lands that Hauptbahnhof (Hbf), is around the background is one remain important on today’s system, bequeathed the name. In co mmon mid of Brandenburg Nicolaiplatz and the main station. with many communities in the former -point of the Berlin-Magdeburg railway. It is primarily served by an der Havel’s four These are located at either end of East Germany, Brandenburg an der regional trains, with most long- remaining gate the ‘figure of eight’ layout in central Havel (mainly just Brandenburg in towers and now distance services having transferred to Brandenburg. The original tramway this Factfile) has suffered a population contains a museum. the high-spee was taken over by the city in 1910 decline since national reunification. d Berlin-Hannover NBS line which opened in 1998. and electrification began in the Rising costs in Berlin and good following year. transport links with the capital have, The Hbf is at the southern edge of Brandenburg’s urban spread, a location Post-war repair and reinstatement however, helped to slow the trend. that has helped the metre-gauge from 1945 under communist Younger people moving in are Pandemic devastates public transport as cities enter lockdown tramway, a reliable fixed-link feeder administration was soon followed especially valuable for Brandenburg’s service, to remain a part of public by extensions to serve growing future: the 2018 population of 72 369 Operators respond to COVID 19 crisis transport coverage. Befitting the city’s industrial and housing areas to the included almost 20 000 over age 65. full name, Havel river channels and north and west. These lines and A tourism-related study published CARES Act bail out for US transit canals are the main geographical subsequent reconstructions greatly Now in its 83rd year, is during 2016 forecasts an overall Tramways & Urban Transit feature, crossed by the tramway at increased the proportio 11.5% population decrease for the n of track several points. The tram-served main with dedicated rights of way. order 20 years up to 2030. Federal funding Berlin signs biggest ever U Bahn commercial area in the Neustadt – an This now applies on all of the system’s has helped economic readjustment lines out from Fouquéstrasse/ £4.60 historic site despite the name – is on and environmental repair following one Words and pictures Technisc of Brandenburg’s several river islands. he Hochschule and on by Neil Pulling. the southern arc nea Doha Accessibility rest the Hbf. LRT’s lessons for 186 / may 2020 www.tautonline.com Battery hybrid trams . www.lrta.org for Qatar’s capital heavy rail networks

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www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org May 2020 / 195 Classic Trams Leipzig’s new 1 tram museum Saxony’s biggest city has a smart and spacious new tramway museum in the former depot at Wittenberger Strasse. PART Mike Russell surveys its premises and impressive collection. ONE

eipzig is no stranger to heritage GLSt name) were set aside for preservation. the urban operators. In 1939-43, 11 cars were tramcars. With great prescience, After municipalisation the operator assigned rebuilt in the Heiterblick works and fitted with examples of its first electric trams type numbers to its rolling stock. Today, three-axle Westwaggon trucks. were put aside after World War ‘blue’ car 308 (type 10), built for the GLSt After serving as works car 5097 until 1977 One and since then an impressive in 1896 by AG für Eisenbahn-Wagenbau of and designation as a museum car in 1988, collectionL has been built up, featuring almost Breslau, and its contemporary six-window LAAG 20 exchanged its three-axle truck for every type of motor and trailer car. car 64 (type 14), built by Herbrand of Köln maximum traction bogies still fitted to works The collection was formerly housed in for the LESt, are amongst the most treasured car 5081. With three forms of braking (air, Möckern depot, which was damaged by fire possessions. Car 308 is claimed to be the electric and hand) and fitted with a stove for in 1972 and later given up as an operating oldest tram with its original equipment still internal heating, these cars must have been depot. The site provided some covered serviceable anywhere in Europe. a welcome sight for passengers making long accommodation but was cramped, and did No fewer than nine motor cars and five journeys to and from the city; the magnificent not allow for the growing collection. trailers in the collection date from before 1914. restoration is a tribute to the skills and Möckern depot was vacated for Some have been rebuilt to original dedication of the museum’s volunteer team. redevelopment at the end of the 2018 season. specification from works cars, whilst others The wartime rebuilding of 11 former During that autumn and winter, the heritage have been recovered and restored from LAAG maximum traction bogie cars included fleet was transferred to new premises at the uses such as garden sheds and fitted with lengthening of the platforms and fitting three- former Wittenberger Strasse depot. This site is appropriate running gear. axle trucks. The rebuilt cars were designated much more light and spacious, and in The oldest cars remain in LVB ownership. type 24a (1378-88) and several survived in the addition to extensive covered accommodation GLSt cars built in 1897 by Breslau were works fleet after their passenger days. One of with workshop facilities, features a large open- designated types 11 and 12 and are represented those built by Falkenried, originally LAAG 1, air track fan on which parades can be staged. by 349, sold out of service in 1926, recovered latterly GLSt 1378 and finally LVB tool car from a local garden in 1987 and now fully 5096, was saved after withdrawal in 1980 and The ‘red’ and the ‘blue’ restored. The series of 90 motor cars that later renovated to illustrate their rebuilt state after Tramway operation in Leipzig, one of formed type 13 were the first to be built in the passage through Heiterblick in 1943. Germany’s oldest and most culturally GLSt Central Works at Lindenau, which built Nominally the oldest pre-World War distinguished cities, began in May 1872 with almost all the company’s subsequent rolling One GLSt trailer is 183, one of 126 built in a horse-car route network that ultimately stock delivered before 1914; car 500 represents Lindenau works in the years following 1900. reached 46.5km (29 miles). The original this type. This example dates from 1907 and when taken track gauge was 1435mm but owing to poor The LESt continued to purchase from out of service as a works trailer in 1980 was construction standards, the tracks gradually commercial firms and in 1900, Herbrand the last survivor of the class. The body was spread until it was decided, from about 1879, supplied 20 cars of Salon design, which became found to be in such a degraded condition to standardise on a slightly broader gauge of type 15 and are represented by 179. Type 16 is that it was scrapped, with useable parts saved 1458mm, which the system retains today. the designation given to 97 former LESt motor as templates for a completely new body to As was the case in other German cities, cars later modernised by GLSt as type 27; the original type 51 design. This is a rare two companies provided the original urban after withdrawal from Leipzig service in 1955 example of a Nachbau (replica) in the electric services in Leipzig. The Grosse car 257 passed to Erfurt and then Eisenach, Leipzig collection. Leipziger Strassenbahn (GLSt) was known as from where it was returned in 1976. The car In 1900 the GLSt ordered a batch of 250 the ‘blue’ company, after the principal livery has since been returned to its type 16 state. trailers divided between Gottfried Lindner of in which its rolling stock appeared, whilst the The sole type 17 car is 506, built at Lindenau Ammendorf and its own Lindenau works. Leipziger Elektrische Strassenbahn (LESt) cars in 1907 to a more modern design with fully- Car 751 (type 52) – entering service in 1913 – were red and described accordingly. glazed platforms, sliding doors and radial has survived. It was designated as an historic The GLSt was first to open its electric route trucks. The latter were replaced in 1925 car in 1972 and was the first car restored by from Connewitz – Gohlis on 17 April 1896. by a Brill underframe fitted with Peckham volunteers of today’s Arbeitsgemeinschaft The LESt opened its first line on 20 May, from trucks. After a career as special car 5000 it was Historische Nahverkehrsmittel Leipzig e. V. Mockau Kirche to the Concerthaus. Cars were withdrawn in 1982; it is now being restored. The oldest trailer of all is former LESt supplied from a newly-built depot, workshops In 1913 Lindenau works built a series of 86 (type 53), one of 20 small cars built by and headquarters at Wittenberger Strasse – 145 cars (type 20) that maintained the glazed Waggonfabrik Steinfurth of Königsberg for the the site of the new museum. Later a network vestibules of car 506 but reverted to open system’s May 1896 opening. LESt trailer car of long, interurban lines was developed and platforms; 809 is their representative. 305 (Type 55I) represents the 120 similar cars operated by the Leipziger Aussenbahn AG built by AG für Eisenbahn-und Militärbedarf (LAAG), some of whose routes (e.g. to A particular gem of Weimar and Gottfried Lindner of Schkeuditz and Böhlitz-Ehrenberg) survive The remaining pre-World War One tram Ammendorf starting in 1908, though this one today as part of the Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (type 24) is an absolute gem and the pride of did not enter service until 1911; it is identical (LVB) network. The Wittenberger Strasse the fleet. Car 20 of the former Aussenbahn in design to motor cars of type 16, such as 257. depot was destroyed during a heavy bombing (LAAG) fleet is one of ten built in 1910 by Summer-trailer 103 (type 54I) built by raid in December 1943, but later rebuilt. Norddeutsche Waggonfabrik of Bremen. The Breslau in 1896 was in service until 1937, then As early as 1924, examples from the first LAAG solely operated these magnificent cars served as a garden house. In 2002 it returned to fleets of the two original operators (united at with their maximum-traction bogies, with the collection but is now also a Nachbau. the end of 1916, before full municipalisation the other ten built by Falkenried of Hamburg; in November 1919 under continued use of the trailers, when required, were hired in from To be continued in the next issue.

196 / MAY 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org 1. Placed in historic service as a museum car in 1988, former Leipziger Aussenbahn maximum-traction bogie car 20 of 1910, seen attached to trailer 751 of 1913, with LESt Salonwagen 179 behind, is in Rudolf-Breitscheid-Strasse on 28 June 1991.

2. Former Leipziger Aussenbahn (LAAG) maximum-traction bogie car 20 turns from Berliner Strasse into Apelstrasse on special route 21E on 15 September 2019. An authentic touch is the attachment of LESt trailer 86; the LAAG had no trailers of its own and borrowed suitable stock from the urban operators.

3. The oldest surviving LESt motor car is 179 of 1900, which after its service days were over served as a mobile advertising car until joining the historic fleet in 1965. On 15 August 2010 it is seen about to depart from the former Möckern depot with a full load of passengers. 2 4. Former GLSt motor car 308 of 1896 is the oldest in the collection. It is claimed to be the oldest working tramcar in Europe with its original equipment and on its original system; shown in the Möckern depot on 2 October 2018.

5. Herbrand of Cöln (Köln) built the first series of motor cars for the LESt, and number 64 represents them in the museum fleet. It is seen here displayed within the Wittenberger Strasse premises on 15 September 2019. 3 4 6. The extent of the transformation during 1943 upon 11 of the former fleet of 20 LAAG bogie cars was extensive and in addition to major bodywork remodelling, evident by car 1378, involved replacement of the original maximum traction bogies by three-axle Westwaggon trucks. This view in Wittenberger Strasse museum was taken on 15 September 2019.

7. Motor car 349 was built at Breslau in 1897 for the GLSt 5 6 and lived on after withdrawal for 60 years as a garden house. This four-window car is one of the museum’s more recent restorations. It is shown at Wittenberger Strasse in September 2019.

8. Former LESt motor car 257 and trailer 305 in Apelstrasse on 15 September 2019, approaching the museum entrance with another group of museum visitors arriving by the special 21E Zubringer line.

7 8 All photography courtesy of Mike Russell.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MAY 2020 / 197 NEWS FROM THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT ASSOCIATION New website Act now for clean air The Association’s new website is now up and running and can be he UK Government introduced its found at www.lrta.org long- awaited Environment Bill in February, The redesign is the first element T replacing existing EU legislation and claimed of a three-stage process. Next will by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as an opportunity be a ‘new look’ shop, followed by to demonstrate that the UK has adopted tougher an enhanced members’ area. For policies than the EU. those wishing to access articles and However, we are disappointed that the Bill resources on the original site, they contains no legally-binding targets to meet World can do so at www.lrta.org/archive Health Organisation (WHO) air pollution standards Please log on and sign up to by 2030. This is despite the July 2019 Government our campaign to include statutory report Assessing progress towards WHO guidelines targets in line with WHO levels of PM2.5 in the UK, which stated: “It would 1.0 / CC0 PixFuel Via guidelines in the Environment be technically feasible to meet the WHO guideline Tory MPs vote down binding limits Bill which is currently before level for PM2.5 across the UK in the future.” At the last bill committee in March, Conservative Parliament (see left). MPs voted against an amendment to put binding What are the WHO recommended levels? limits in line with WHO guidelines. TramFoward The World Health Organisation guideline levels of believes this is a retrograde step and is pushing for PM2.5 are 10µg/m³ as an annual mean threshold this vote to be reversed once the bill returns to the by 2030. At the moment only the Scottish floor of the House of Commons. Government has adopted these guidelines. LRTA Chair Paul Rowen explained: “There is still Client Earth, the environmental law charity that an opportunity to reverse this decision, that’s why has in the past instigated judicial reviews against we have tabled a petition on the Parliament website the UK Government for its failure to meet binding and drafted a letter to send to MPs. Light rail can All LRTA meetings have been EU air quality targets, has estimated that 83% of play a huge role in helping the UK meet clean air cancelled until further notice – reporting air zones in the UK have air pollution targets. Go to our website, sign the petition and stay updated at www.lrta.org levels that breach legal limits. write to your local MP. Act now to clean our air.”

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Tramways & Stadtbahnen in Hannover

New from the LRTA. Believed to be the first history of the system to be published in English, this book relates the pioneering nature of the extensive network in and around the city from the 19th Century through the conversion of most routes to the modern light rail lines of today, with several underground axes.

The author, the late Reverend Richard Buckley, was editor of Tramway Review from 2008 to 2017.

(Due for publication on 1 April, but may be delayed due to coronavirus restrictions).

> A4 softback; 232 pages, fully-illustrated in colour and black & white plus several maps. £35.50 (UK addresses) £42.50 (outside UK) £47.50 (Airmail beyond Europe) LRTA Members: £3.25 discount

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Metropolitane d’Italia ТРОЛЛЕЙБУСЫ ПЕТЕРБУРГА Mappe e numeri di tutte le rotaie e i fili delle città italiene (St Petersburg Trolleybuses)

Fascinating guide to the seven Chronological history of what metro/light rail, 13 tram and is now the world’s largest 14 trolleybus systems in Italy. trolleybus network, richly illustrated with photographs Comprehensive statistics include and artworks detailing the national and local heavy rail the huge fleet and route networks. Italian text. developments over its 85-year history. Russian text.

> A4 hardback, landscape format; 276 pages, 170+ colour pictures, > B5 hardback, landscape format; 240 pages, 233 colour and 145 pages of maps. 113 black & white pictures, 12 colour drawings, three maps. EUR30.00 – www.shop.ferrovie.it £40 – www.nationaltrolleybusassociation.org

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Vol 56 No 350 March-April 2020 For a free sample copy, please email the Editor at [email protected] or for more information write to him at 24 Heath Farm Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 8JW.

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