THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE www.lrta.org www.tautonline.com FEBRUARY 2016 NO. 938 A BUMPER YEAR FOR TRAMWAY OPENINGS Hard rails: Neglecting engineers could spell danger Olsztyn trams return after 50 years UK demonstrates ultra-light vehicle US Congress agrees funding plan ISSN 1460-8324 £4.25 Seville Montreal 02 Tram and metro From rubber tyres operations in Spain to steel wheels 9 771460 832043 For booking and sponsorship opportunities please call +44 (0) 1733 367600 or visit www.mainspring.co.uk 27-28 July 2016 Conference Aston, Birmingham, UK The 11th Annual UK Light Rail Conference and exhibition brings together over 250 decision-makers for two days of open debate covering all aspects of light rail operations and development. Delegates can explore the latest industry innovation within the event’s exhibition area and examine LRT’s role in alleviating congestion in our towns and cities and its potential for driving economic growth. VVoices from the industry… “On behalf of UKTram specifically “We are really pleased to have and the industry as a whole I send “Thank you for a brilliant welcomed the conference to the my sincere thanks for such a great conference. The dinner was really city and to help to grow it over the event. Everything about it oozed enjoyable and I just wanted to thank last two years. It’s been a pleasure quality. I think that such an event you and your team for all your hard to partner with you and the team, shows any doubters that light rail work in making the event a success. and thank you for always being in the UK is here to stay and I really appreciated the extra respective to our suggestions.” can present itself in a way that is attention to detail on our behalf.” Sarah Alton – Communications & second to none.” Marsid Greenidge – Head of Marketing Business Partner, Colin Robey – Managing Director, Communications, Keolis UK Nottingham City Council UKTram SUPPORTED BY ORGANISED BY 50 CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association FEBRUARY 2016 Vol. 79 No. 938 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL EDITOR Simon Johnston Tel: +44 (0)1733 367601 E-mail: [email protected] 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tony Streeter E-mail: [email protected] WORLDWIDE EDITOR Michael Taplin 61 Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. E-mail: [email protected] NEWS EDITOR John Symons 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. E-mail: [email protected] SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR Neil Pulling WORLDWIDE CONTRIBUTORS Tony Bailey, James Chuang, Paul Nicholson, Richard 64 Felski, Ed Havens, Bill Vigrass, Andrew Moglestue, Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Vic Simons, Herbert Pence, Alain Senut, Thomas Wagner. NEWS 44 TRACK DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS 61 PRODUCTION US reaches agreement on transportation bill; The unforseen consequences of neglecting Lanna Blyth Sydney commits to more LRT; Olsztyn the engineers at the base of the supply Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 E-mail: [email protected] tramway opens; tram and S-Bahn orders for chain are considered by Andrew Parkinson. DESIGN Berlin; Moskva approves new tramlines; Debbie Nolan UK lightweight railcar launched; Edinburgh SYSTEMS FACTFILE: SEVILLE 64 ADVERTISING moves ahead with Leith extension plans. It’s among Spain’s most-visited and vibrant COMMERCIAL MANAGER Geoff Butler cities, but has a less than cohesive urban Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 E-mail: [email protected] UK TRAM-TRAIN LAUNCHED 48 rail system. Neil Pulling explores. PUBLISHER Sheffield pilot creeps closer to main line rail Howard Johnston connection; Richard Buckley reports. WORLDWIDE REVIEW 69 Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the Bombardier wins Innsbruck tram-train LRTA and LRTA Publishing on the third Friday of each 2016 TRAMWAY OPENINGS 50 order; Stadler to establish rolling stock month preceding the cover date. Michael Taplin considers the new tramways plant in Utah; LRT plans for Kampala. LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY we can expect to see in 2016, with a Brian Lomas E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] potential record number of openings. MAILBOX 74 LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Trams’ key social role, and safety queries Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up MONTREAL: FROM METRO TO LRT 56 members of the Light Rail Transit Association. Canada’s second city takes a multi-pronged CLASSIC TRAMS: BERN AT 125 76 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES approach to tackling its public transit Mike Russell reports from the Swiss capital’s LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), issues; Herbert Pence reports. celebration of 125 years of tramways. 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 9517785 BACK ISSUES Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 Why LRT has never been more relevant PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION In the first ‘proper’ edition of 2016, Mike Taplin presents his round-up Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. of predictions for the year’s tramway openings – and the next 12 months LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE promise to be some of most interesting yet. With the potential of 20 new c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, Kent DA16 2BY, UK. systems carrying passengers this year, more and more cities are choosing Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 the steel wheel on steel rail urban transportation solution to deliver in England and Wales. transit to the masses while combating congestion and pollution. LRTA CHAIRMAN The latter concern is particularly poignant given the dangerous levels Andrew Braddock of pollution recorded in some major cities over the past month. In China, for example, E-mail: [email protected] Beijing closed its factories and banned cars from the roads in December as smog LRTA DEPUTY CHAIRMAN reached hazardous proportions. Schools were closed and people were advised not to Paul Rowen take to the streets in some areas of the city as PM2.5 and PM10 levels reached 20 times LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE c/o 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU, the level considered safe by the World Health Organisation. UK. Private Limited Company, No. 06169422 Although this is certainly one of the most serious events to hit the headlines in in England and Wales. recent times, Paris has taken similar measures in banning cars on certain days of the © LRTA Publishing 2016 year over the past few years; and a stroll through central London can easily leave one Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also battling to breathe after extended periods on the streets. later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the Elsewhere in the issue, Andrew Parkinson tackles the issue of track design and opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of installation, asking whether enough attention is paid at the earliest stages of a new LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. line’s development. He asks whether the right advice is being taken at the right time, No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in and whether the right questions are being asked, to save further cost down the line. any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and Andrew’s article on page 61 is well worth a read... retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from Finally, Herbert Pence takes a tour of Montreal and looks at the development of the the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the rubber-tyred Metro and how the city is restructuring its transport authorities. These magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. plans also include a commitment from new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to steel- COVER: Cincinnati CAF Urbos tram 1175 on the city wheeled LRT to serve the airport and beyond. Enjoy the issue. Simon Johnston, Editor streets in November 2015. E. Schwarz www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org FEBRUARY 2016 / 43 News Bangkok Metro expansion, but US Congress agreement fares are ‘too high’ Test running on the 16-station on new transportation bill 23km (14.3-mile) elevated Purple line service that Five-year compromise hailed by Transportation Secretary Foxx connects Bangkok’s Bang Sue district with the Bang Yai district of Nonthaburi Province n 1 December railroads install positive train The FAST Act also includes began on 14 December. The first the US House of control, which many have been the establishment of a new passenger runs are planned Representatives and unable to do by the 31 December National Surface Transportation for May, with revenue service, the Senate finally 2015 deadline. and Innovative Finance Bureau Oreached agreement on a five- US Secretary of Transportation within the Department of operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority under a year USD305bn transportation Anthony Foxx said: “After Transportation to serve as a 30-year concession, planned bill, needed to avoid the cycle hundreds of Congressional one-stop shop for state and local for 12 August. of temporary extensions and meetings, two bus tours, visits governments to receive federal JR East subsidiary Japan threatened shutdowns of to 43 states, and so much funding, financing or technical Transport Engineering Co transportation programmes uncertainty – and 36 short-term assistance. (J-TREC) is delivering 21 three- that have bedevilled Congress extensions – it has been a APTA President Michael car Sustina trainsets; six have for seven years. long and bumpy ride to a Melaniphy said, “As the first arrived with the remainder The 1300-page bill, signed long-term transportation bill. long-term surface transportation due by February.