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THE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

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MARCH 2018 No. 963 leads danish climate commitment

Energy efficiency: Battery tech and power saving China – Wuhan opens second tramway Grand Paris project faces tough audit UK to create dedicated LRT safety body

Midland M anx marks 125 03> £4.60 Regional growth for MER prepares its UK ‘under-achiever’ celebratory season 9 771460 832067 “The presentations, “The 12th Annual Light Rail networking, logistics Conference quite clearly and atmosphere were marked a coming of age Manchester excellent. There was a as the leader on light rail common agreement worldwide, as evidenced among the participants by the depth of analysis 17-18 July 2018 that the UK Light Rail from quality speakers and Conference is one of the active participation of the best in the industry.” key industry players and Simcha Ohrenstein – suppliers in the discussions.” CTO, Jerusalem LRT Ian Brown CBE – The UK Light Rail Conference and exhibition is the Transit Masterplan Director, UKTram premier knowledge-exchange event in the industry.

With a wide range of presentations, panel debates “An excellent conference and unrivalled networking opportunities, it is as always. done for Voices well-known as THE place to do business and build such a well-organised and V from the valuable and long-lasting relationships. highly-informative event.” David Hand – Global industry… Lead for LRT & Divisional There is no better place to gain true insight into Director, Mott MacDonald the workings of the sector and help shape its future. “I had a great time in Manchester. Thank you for everything, the conference To discuss how you can be part of it, ORGANISED BY was a great success.” Ana M. Moreno – visit us online at www.mainspring.co.uk General Manager, or telephone +44 (0) 1733 367600 Tranvía de Zaragoza

SUPPORTED BY CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association MARCH 2018 Vol. 81 No. 963 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL Editor – Simon Johnston 98 [email protected] Associate Editor – Tony Streeter [email protected] Worldwide Editor – Michael Taplin 104 [email protected] News Editor – John Symons [email protected] Senior Contributor – Neil Pulling Worldwide Contributors T ony Bailey, Richard Felski, Ed Havens, Andrew Moglestue, Paul Nicholson, Herbert Pence, Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Alain Senut, Vic Simons, Witold Urbanowicz, Bill Vigrass, 88 Thomas Wagner, Rick Wilson Production – Lanna Blyth News 84 at 125 102 Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 Wuhan opens second tramline; Amsterdam Andrew Scarffe examines the remarkable [email protected] completes Noord-Zuidlijn; UK to form light history of the ’s service and DESIGN – Debbie Nolan rail safety and standards board; Kawasaki looks to this year’s 125th celebrations. Advertising wins MTA Subway order; National auditor COMMERCIAL Manager – Geoff Butler concerns over Grand Paris Express; New sYSTEMS FACTFILE: MIDLAND METRO 104 Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 homes sought for ’s Variotram fleet. Neil Pulling explores the tramway’s role [email protected] in realising the potential for one the UK’s Publisher – Matt Johnston RETURN TO AARHUS 88 biggest population concentrations. Tramways & Urban Transit TAUT explores the construction and 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell , operations of ’s first modern light W ORLDWIDE REVIEW 110 Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK rail system – and looks to the future. Ouragla trams on test; Rio starts work on Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring VLT line 3; Leipzig Mayor proposes new on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each ELSEWHERE IN DENMARK... 95 sub-surface link; to launch national month preceding the cover date. Reviewing the latest progress on LRT smartcard; Bath confirms tram viability; projects in and . St Louis unveils north-south LRT plans.

TRACTION CURRENT EXPLAINED 98 mailbox 115 PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION David Gibson considers how power supply Queries over the RAIB’s Sandilands report; Warners () plc, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK can be simplified and made more efficient. high-floor benefits; driver vigilance systems. LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up TRAN SIT BATTERY INNOVATION 100 CLASSIC trams: w class heroes 116 members of the Light Rail Transit Association. Dr Nick Mallison appraises the latest Mike Russell’s Australian tour continues with Subscriptions, MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES advances in onbard energy storage. a brief history of the iconic W Class tramcars. a nd back issues LRT A Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Rules, regulations and rigorous reporting Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info In the immediate aftermath of the tragic derailment at Sandilands in , 14 months ago we echoed the thoughts of many when we called for for CORPORATE Subscriptions VISIT a ‘swift and rigorous’ investigation into the causes of the accident that killed www.mainspring.co.uk seven and injured so many more (TAUT 949). It was vital, we argued, to make LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE sure that any learning could be shared as soon as practicable, not just within 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling DA16 2BY, UK. the UK industry but also for the benefit of tramway and light rail operators everywhere. Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 Rigorous the 170-plus-page final report from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch in and Wales. may be, but its production has sadly not been swift. Occurring on a segregated section of LRTA Chairman – Andrew Braddock , with fewer complexities from external factors at play, this investigation should [email protected] not have been massively time-consuming. Indeed, the various networks did react © LRTA 2018 swiftly to some of the early recommendations – many months before the final version was published in December. This is encouraging, as is the fact that the UK’s Office of Rail Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution and Road is driving the creation of a new safety and standards body for the industry. is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the Hindsight is of course wonderful, but at a time when UK safety and regulation processes opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of are under scrutiny more generally (following the fire in London’s Grenfell residential the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. tower block and other incidents), it is worth having the debate about where these bodies No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in should sit. I would argue that they need to be independent, but with sensible levels of any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and industry input; and in our case not just a division of either a heavy rail or highways- retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from focused agency where there may be a temptation to apply inappropriate standards. the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the Going back to Sandilands, as we must never lose sight of the impacts of any fatality, magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. there will inevitably be calls for a technological answer to future system safety. But it is once again important to remember that a tram is not a , or a , and that such COVER: Denmark has joined the LRT revolution as solutions might not need to be overly complex (as it appears some are suggesting). There is it aims for a zero-carbon future. Aarhus 1105 uses plenty for a new safety body to consider, to learn, and to share... Simon Johnston, Editor the flyover near the control centre.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MARCH 2018 / 83 News Wuhan opens its second tramway Guanggu trams run -free trials in January

he first sections of Six routes will be operated the Guanggu (Optics eventually, using 26 trams. Valley) tram system A southern extension from opened on 18 January Fuzoling is proposed. forT fare-free trials: line T1 from This system is separate from Huazhong University to Fuzoling the Auto T1 opened in (12km/7.5 miles) and line T2 July 2017 in the western suburbs from Tangxunhu City railway as a feeder to metro line 3, and station to Optics Valley Botanical has a different design of 34.8m Garden (19.6km/12.2 miles). five-section tram from CRRC Optics Valley (Donghu New Changchun (the 21 trams for Technology Development Zone) T1 came from CRRC Zhuzhou); is China’s biggest photoelectrical 20 of the cars were assembled industry site. locally by Wuhan Zhongchang These lines in the eastern Ruian Industrial. The cars are suburbs will feed metro equipped with onboard energy and have a 2.5km (1.5-mile) storage for operation without shared section that includes overhead. a remarkable partly-covered The is predicted to A CRRC-built tram on a surface section of the new Optics Valley system in elevated triangular junction. carry 10 000 passengers/day. Wuhan. The lines are on surface private right-of-way or viaduct. CN-Wuhan

Amsterdam completes Noord-Zuidlijn New Tyne & Wear fleet After 15 years of work, necessary to ‘anchor’ construction of Amsterdam’s sections to maintain their to have ‘battery boost’ north-south metro, designated location. Further delays were line 52, was completed on 11 caused by the bankruptcy of The replacement metro which have carried passengers January. City transport operator contractors Royal Imtech and for the UK’s Tyne & Wear Metro since the system’s 1980 GVB is to begin passenger Oskomera Group. Against a are to feature a ‘battery boost’ to opening; the estimated cost of testing in February, ahead of a projected EUR1.4bn, the final allow onward movement to the the procurement is GBP362m planned July 22 opening. cost is expected to be EUR3.1bn. next station in the case of power (EUR414m), including a The 9.8km (6.1-mile) A four-minute peak service failure. Other specifications GBP337m (EUR385m) grant from seven-station line runs under is planned, and five minutes at include Wi-Fi, USB power the UK Government. the city’s historic centre and other times during the day and supplies for passengers and real- Separate to the planned has been plagued with years of ten minutes in the evening. time information screens. Seating fleet replacement, the system delays due to tunnelling issues The city is also planning is to be largely longitudinal, as on is undergoing significant which damaged buildings an east-west metro line and the , and infrastructure replacement in a in Vijzelgracht; difficult two new tram routes, Zuidas – the trains are to feature walk- GBP350m (EUR400m) renewal ground conditions and a high Schiphol and Amsterdam through carriages with greater known as Metro: all change, which water table that meant it was West – Sloterdijk. space for wheelchairs, pushchairs runs from 2010-21. and passengers’ luggage. An information day for The switch to contactless bidders is to be held in June, and payments and use of the ‘Pop’ pay- Passenger Transport Executive as-you-go card has now overtaken Nexus expects to announce cash. Six million contactless shortlisted suppliers by the end transactions were made in 2017 of the summer with a view to out of a total of nine million, a contract award in 2019. It is generating 56% of all revenue. expected that the first of 84 trains Following a trial launched in will be delivered in 2021. Nexus 2016, from 29 January bicycles is proposing a single procurement were allowed on services exercise, also covering between Jesmond to Callerton maintenance and provision of a Parkway outside of peak hours new depot at Gosforth. This will and weekends, with one bike come into effect in 2020. permitted per carriage. The trial The trains are to replace will be extended to further parts An M5 trainset on test on the Noord-Zuidlijn in May 2017. Bart/CC BY 2.0 the first-generationMetrocars , of the Metro later in 2018.

contract with Metro Service A/S (EUR800m) with the Danish Siemens to equip København LRT line (a consortium of operator Government contributing 40% The long-planned 28km a consortium of Siemens and ATM and Ansaldo STS) was also and the Capital Region 26%. (17.4-mile) orbital light rail line Aarsleff Rail. signed in January. Metro Service Construction should start this from Lundtofte to Ishøj around It is thought that 27-30 trams has a similar contract for the year for completion in 2023, and the western side of the Danish will be required for the line, city’s metro. opening to passengers in 2024. capital will be built by Danish expected to be the Siemens The total cost of the project, contractors, with infrastructure Avenio low-floor design; a 15-year including contingencies, For an overview of light rail and rolling stock awarded to operations and maintenance is estimated at DKK6.2bn projects in Denmark, see page 95.

84 / march 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Kawasaki wins MTA Subway order New York to modernise and create further capacity with up to 1612 new cars, beginning in 2020

s part of the The R-211 cars will feature 70% modernisation domestic content, being built in programme for its Kawasaki’s facilities in Yonkers, troubled subway, Westchester County, NY, and Athe New York Metropolitan Lincoln, NB. Transportation Authority plans The first 535 cars will include 75 to spend USD3.7bn on up to 1612 for the Staten to replace new 18.35m metro cars over the all its existing stock, plus BMT/ next decade. On 24 January MTA IND city cars to start replacing the agreed to award the contract to fleet of over 750R42/46 cars built Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a in 1969-78. Twenty trains will be Japanese company with plants in of open-gangway design, with the US that has been supplying passengers able to move between cars to the system since 2005. all five cars. If this is successful, Key to the award was a promise further batches (1077 cars) will be that delivery will start 30 months built to this design. after the contract award, in July The cars will be equipped with 2020 – the entire first batch is onboard fault monitoring to A mock-up of the Kawasaki R-211 Subway car displayed at 34th St/Hudson Yards required by the end of 2023. send real-time reports to MTA station. MTA/Marc A. Hermann The MTA board has committed engineers; reliability will be part an initial USD1.44bn to buy of the warranty criteria, with The new contract will be a judged not to meet the minimum 535 cars, with an agreement to Kawasaki having to meet repair blow to rival Bombardier, which technical requirements. purchase more in two options costs that fall outside the contract. has been struggling to get the Kawasaki has also built if the initial batch performs Wider doors should reduce first batch ofR-179 trains from EMUs for the Metro-North and well, up to 1612 cars. The total station dwell times by 30% and its order for 300 running reliably Long Island Rail , and is USD3.7bn price is 18% lower Wi-Fi and USB charging points after late delivery, and put in a delivering 528 subway cars to than MTA’s original estimate. for passengers will be provided. joint bid with CRRC. This was Washington Metro.

New trams and in UK to form safety and standards board Lisbon’s 2018 budget The 2018 budget presented by The UK’s Office of Rail and and recommendation 1, which is “We need to get on with Carris includes reinstatement of Road (ORR) called a special a new standards and co-operation deciding how big this thing tramline 24 to Campolide (closed meeting of the country’s light body, so we can make some needs to be, where it should sit in 1995) and plans to extend line 15 rail operators on 22 January, to progress quickly.” – should it sit within RSSB [Rail from Praça do Comércio Square to discuss implementation of the 15 A key outcome of the meeting Safety and Standards Board], Santa Apolónia station. A study is to be carried out on an extension recommendations from the Rail was the decision to form a within UKTram, or should it be to Parque das Nações, as well as Accident Investigation report shadow safety and standards completely independent? – and the preparation of a tender for 30 (TAUT 962) into the Sandilands board, with a steering group of also, very importantly, to get on new low-floor trams. accident in November 2016 that representatives from the sector, with some of the work that needs Under a total investment of resulted in seven deaths and UKTram, the ORR and the UK to be done relatively quickly. EUR57m, EUR43.9m is included multiple serious injuries. Department for Transport (DfT). “We’re looking to make for a fleet of 250 new buses as well Ian Prosser, HM Chief Inspector This new body would initially significant progress within the as programmes of renewal, of Railways at the ORR, told be funded by the DfT and the next six months, but some learning modernisation of the fare collection TAUT: “My objective was to get operators while the full scope of has already been implemented. system and the installation of Wi-Fi on all buses and trams. the industry together to ensure its operations are determined, For example, in Croydon they’ve we have a co-ordinated approach and “how much funding is already implemented a driver Indiana backtracks on to the recommendations, needed on a yearly basis so we vigilance device, so we want to see light rail prohibition particularly recommendation 2, can make sure it’s sustainable,” if we can get that implemented City and state officials in Indiana to do with common risk analysis, Mr Prosser added. across the whole sector quickly.” are reconsidering a state-wide ban on public funding for LRT projects in the hope of securing a stronger position in the bidding for Amazon’s new USD5bn HQ2 campus. The retail giant has announced NEWS IN PICTURES Brussels M7 mock-up on display that Indianapolis is on its A full-size mock-up of a CAF M7 trainset for the was 20-strong shortlist for its second put on display in January as part of the WeAreMobility exhibition. North American headquarters, CAF has an order for 43 trains, with an option for a further 47, under expected to employ 50 000 a EUR353m 12-year framework agreement with STIB signed in 2016. people, stating that public The first sets for lines 1 and 5 will be delivered in 2019;M7 sets will transit options are an important also be deployed on the future line 3. Each six-car M7 train will be consideration for the project. 94m long and in driverless configuration will seat 758 passengers, Initial approval was given on 24 30 more than the M6. Following display at the WeAreMobility January for a measure to repeal exhibition, the mock-up was transferred to the tramway museum in the prohibition of spending on Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. LRT schemes in Marion, Hamilton, The extension of tramline 94 from Woluwe to Roodebeek is due Hendricks, Hancock, Johnson, to open on 14 October. Before then, coinciding with the start of the Delaware and Madison counties,

STIB university term, new line 9 will be inaugurated. introduced in 2014.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org march 2018 / 85 News

Tram-train unaffected by Carillion problems Concerns over Grand Paris The collapse of construction giant Carillion should not affect progress on the UK’s tram-train pilot project to Rotherham Express cost escalation Parkgate, according to . NR is working to guarantee Finance and project management criticised by French national audit body payments to Carillion staff working across the railway s the first TBM for Paris’ projects has added a reported led to a concentration on speed of network until at least mid-April. 200km (125-mile) EUR3.4bn. delivery rather than costs, with It is still expected that the project will be handed over in the spring, Grand Paris Express The agency has called for the independent experts believing with operations starting in late orbital metro was scope and schedule of the project this to be unachievable. The Alaunched on line 15 in late to be revised, highlighting a Government has already had to summer. The pilot scheme marries NR’s system with the Supertram January, Cour des Comptes – the succession of delays and cost provide a EUR1.7bn loan to ensure network in South Yorkshire. French national audit authority projection increases. The Cour the CDG Express is completed in Alstom completes first for publicly-funded schemes des Comptes has suggested that time for the Olympics. Citadis for Lusail – released a report criticising these issues require the project’s Six recommendations have The first 32m low-floorCitadis for governance and financial ‘socio-economic relevance’ to be been made, including more the future Lusail Tram project management of the project, where called into question. detailed target costs for each was presented to officials from costs have risen from EUR19bn in Of the four planned lines, line, revisions to the project’s Qatar Rail at Alstom’s La Rochelle 2010 to over EUR35bn today. The the requirement to have lines scope and cost phasing, factory on 25 January. Deliveries Government’s requirement to 17 and 18 ready for the 2024 tighter management controls are due to commence in March. include contributions to related Olympic Games is said to have and widening the powers of Alstom is supplying 28 trams and APS surface-contact power the Société du Grand Paris’ supply for the 18km (11.2-mile) first supervisory council. phase of the network, scheduled to open in January 2019. Completion Construction of light rail route of the full 38.5km (24-mile) T9 in the south-western suburbs network is planned for 2020. is to begin this year following BART introduces first new the completion of a EUR404m cars, glitches remain funding agreement. The California PUC (US) issued The 10km (6.2-mile) route permission for BART’s new will run from Porte de Choisy on Bombardier-built metro line 7 to the centre of Orly, trains to enter service in late serving 19 stops and providing January. However only 20 of interchange with RER line C and the 775 cars on order had been tramline T3a. Expected to open delivered by then. BART sidelined two cars on the first day of full in 2020, a fleet of 22 trams is service for repair - but said such required, as well as completion teething troubles were expected. The 1600-ton Herrenknecht TBM is lowered into the first tunnelling site for line of a new depot in Orly that is 15 at Champigny-sur-Marne; it started work on 23 January. Société du Grand Paris already under construction.

Basel tests collision warning system Midland Metro advances tram plans Basel operator BLT () Proposals are being brought There is particular reference CAF and Transport for began the first tests of a new forward to acquire a further to catenary-free operation and are working collision warning system on its 50 low-floor trams to cater for the ability of any new proposed on proposals to convert the tramway in January. system expansion on the UK’s systems to be retrofitted to the existing fleet to catenary- Working with Stadler and Midland Metro. existing fleet ofUrbos 3 trams. free operation by the end Bosch Rail, the system uses a 3D The extension to Five Tram 18 is back in the UK, of 2019 for use on both the video camera and radar to scan Ways will require seven to undergoing site acceptance extension the track up to 160m ahead to nine vehicles, with 22 for tests following its return from and that to detect obstacles and warn the the Wednesbury – Brierley CAF’s Zaragoza factory for (which has wire-free sections driver of any potential collision Hill route and 20 for the conversion to catenary-free from Centenary Square to risk. Initially the system will Eastside line. operation. It cannot run in Brindley Place, and from Five issue an audio-visual warning, The new trams would be passenger service until the Ways to Hagley Road). but it can also be configured to needed in 2021 and 2022 for Secretary of State for Transport automatically apply the tram’s the first two extensions and gives agreement due to the For more on the Midland brakes if the driver does not react 2026 for the Birmingham provisions of the Midland Metro, see this month’s Systems or reacts too slowly. Eastside route. Metro Act 1989. Factfile starting on page 114.

bad of new business models and joins Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities technologies.” Keolis has joined 14 other pledge to prioritise people “For most cities, urban “We see the mobility of the transport and technology over vehicles, lower emissions, planners, legislators and future as connected, autonomous, providers to sign the Shared promote equity and encourage residents, there is a cacophony shared and electric, said Bernard Mobility Principles for Livable data sharing. The partners of advice,” said Chase. “Our Tabary, Keolis’ International Cities initiative. include BlaBlaCar, Citymapper, goal is to align cities, the private CEO. “This partnership with its The principles, devised by Didi, LimeBike, Lyft, Mobike, sector, and civil society around guiding vision of more liveable Robin Chase, Co-Founder of Motivate, Ofo, Ola, Scoot a shared vision to ensure we cities comes at the perfect time.” car-sharing pioneer ZipCar, Networks, Transit, Uber, Via. harness the good and avoid the www.sharedmobilityprinciples.org

86 / march 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org 90 years of Milan’s Peter Witt cars Celebrations held for venerable Ventotto, the Italian city’s dominant tramcar design

he 90th anniversary of entered passenger service a few the Ventotto trams on days after delivery, a contrast with ’s Milan network today when new rolling stock can was celebrated on take months to commission. T20 November (the first car of this Although withdrawals began type was delivered by Carminati in the 1990s (one was destroyed & Toselli on 20 November 1927). by wartime bombing), 125 of The Ventotto followed the US these rugged and reliable trams Peter Witt design with the are still in service (they have 13.9m bogie car featuring been modernised over the years; passenger flow past a seated pantographs replaced trolley conductor between the front poles in the 1970s). The next entrance and the centre exit, batch of new trams for the city permitting faster boarding. is predicted to replace the 1950s ATM Milano had two 4600/4700 articulated cars, Milan Peter Witt 1756 has been repainted in the original livery of 1928. Others prototypes (1501/2) that were leaving the Ventotto to soldier on. can be seen in the 1940s two-tone green and the 1970s orange colours. G. Stagni followed by 500 cars built by Many of the withdrawn Breda (110), Carminati & Toselli cars have found new homes, brothers, some are still in service elsewhere in Europe. Brussels (110) OM Regio Emilia (50), OM particularly on San Francisco’s alongside the PCCs serving the bought one in 1932, which Milano (110), OE Tallero (110) line . One arrived for the 1984 Embarcadero – Market St line. formed the basis of the 5000, and and OM Lodigiane (10). All were Trolley Festival, and ten more The Ventotto also heavily another was demonstrated in in service by April 1930. Trams in 1998. Like their Milano influenced tramcar design -am-Main.

Preston progress Auditors criticise Jaén tram project A sod-cutting ceremony The Court of Auditors in the The auditors could not find an agreement on meeting took place on 9 January for the 1.25km (0.8-mile) demonstration autonomous community of evidence that any studies had accumulated debt charges tramline on the disused Deepdale Andalucia in southern has been carried out comparing the (now over EUR6m, though this railway branch in Preston (UK). A criticised the Junta de Andalucia economic viability of the project figure is disputed). Memorandum of Understanding for a lack of planning and compared to other modes, or At a press conference at the has been signed between Preston feasibility studies related to the the predicted revenue against end of 2017, the Mayor of Jaén Trampower and contractor tramline in the city of Jaén. operating costs. They are still and the President of Andalucia Eric Wright Civil Engineering. Political support for the 4.7km investigating the contracts for declared they had agreed to Construction of the first phase is to (2.9-mile) tramline led to a the construction and operation open the tramway before the begin in March. The demonstration decision to go ahead in 2008; of the tramway. end of 2018, with the Junta line would form the first part of a proposed 5.6km (3.5-mile) line building work began in 2009, EUR128m was spent on the contributing EUR370 000 extending to the city centre. with infrastructure completion tramway, with 94% coming from towards publicity costs. There is in 2011. But in May 2011, after the Junta de Andalucia and 6% also a budget of EUR1m Brescia tramline funded two weeks of trial service, the from the city council. The Junta earmarked for the costs of Italian state railway operator project was mothballed as the assigned project management to reactivation. FS Group has confirmed its intention to finance the EUR150m This is not the only tramway city refused to take responsibility its own entity, Ferrocarriles de la construction of a tramline in for meeting the operating losses Junta, which in turn contracted in Andalucia to fall foul of a Brescia. The line would run from of EUR3.7m/year anticipated all work to third parties, disagreement between the Junta Pendolina in the north-west to by the appointed operating resulting in a perceived absence and city politicians. Vélez-Malaga the new Pala Eib sports centre contractor (the local bus of oversight. opened a Junta-built line in in the south-west via the city operator, which did not expect The city is waiting for the 2008, but it was mothballed in centre, mostly following the line of to change its network to take Ministry of Finance of Andalucia 2012 due to the inability of the current bus route 2. account of the tramway). to meet the mayor to discuss city to pay for running costs.

New homes sought for Helsinki’s metre-gauge Variotrams

Helsinki City Transport unsuccessful. Bombardier HKL is currently receiving (HKL) and Bombardier have has been responsible for deliveries of 27.6m three- reached an agreement that maintenance since 2007. section low-floorArtic LRVs will see the city’s 40 Variotram The two parties are now from Škoda subsidiary vehicles (delivered 1998-2004) reportedly co-operating in Transtech; 40 were ordered withdrawn by the end of 2018. finding a new home for the in 2010, the first production Despite modifications, vehicles, which are expected vehicles arriving in late 2015. attempts to make the 24.4m to have a further 20 years A fleet of 29XL variants low-floor trams more reliable of operational life. In July (34.5m) was ordered by HKL in Variotram 220 was one of the last for operation on the metre- 2017 two were transported to 2016 for the future Raide-Jokeri deliveries to Helsinki in 2003; a new gauge system’s demanding different locations in orbital route to , part of home is sought for the system’s 40 track profiles, tight curves and for testing. The fleet is believed an option for 90 additional such vehicles as fleet replacements are winter conditions have proved to have a value of EUR40-50m. trams from the original order. underway. T. Page

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org march 2018 / 87 LAUNCHING ABOVE: One of the many new bridges for the Aarhus LRT project is this DENMARK’S complex arrangement that extends over the existing railway towards the new depot and network management centre, LRT REVOLUTION seen in the background.

The East city of Aarhus Driving the green agenda impacts, a more efficient public With a population of 330 000, Aarhus is transportation network is seen as essential. is the first in Denmark to Denmark’s second-largest city. Over the past This forms part of wider policies to help meet reinstate modern LRT service, ten years the largest population centre in the both national and regional climate targets East Jutland region has welcomed 15 000 as the municipality aims to become carbon- with a network that uses both new residents and created 20 000 new jobs. neutral by 2030. street-running and tram-train Conservative projections suggest that by Addressing air quality, waste and 2030 the city will grow by an additional related issues, Denmark has the highest operation. TAUT reports. 50 000 inhabitants, creating a further environmental tax revenues of any EU 30 000 employment opportunities and country. Companies face large levies on ollowing a couple of false starts, student places at the city’s expanding and potentially harmful products and emissions the new tramway in Aarhus, world-renowned university. related to manufacturing and the discharge Denmark, opened for business The greater Aarhus city region is now of pollutants, and there are also significant on 21 December 2017, returning almost as big as the capital region of taxes attached to the exploitation of scarce steel wheel-on-steel rail service Copenhagen, although its urban and natural resources. Fto the city following a hiatus of 46 years. infrastructure is nowhere near There are plans to go even further. The final parade of first-generation tramcars as comprehensive. Yet given the city’s By 2020, half of the nation’s energy ran on the city’s metre-gauge rails on ambitions to establish itself on the world requirement will come from renewable 7 November 1971. stage and move away from the private car in sources, and greenhouse gas emissions are As the first such installation of the mode stimulating urban regeneration, it is therefore anticipated to be a third lower than in 1990. in the country in the 21st Century, the first apt that its first tramline opened at the tail By 2050 the country plans to be completely phase of this eventual 110km (68-mile) end of the same year that it celebrated its independent of fossil fuels. mix of standard-gauge tram and tram-train status of European Capital of Culture, Meeting these targets at the same time as operation is the first step in re-establishing under the theme ‘Rethink’. implementing ambitious growth strategies light rail in a nation that boasts some of the Furthermore, decisions have been taken for its key urban areas requires a different highest environmental credentials in Europe. over the last two decades to increase the approach to transport. The popularity of Aside from being a Danish pioneer, what urban density by ‘condensing’ the city cycling sees 16% of all trips made on two makes the Aarhus project interesting is that it through the design and construction of wheels, with 36% of Danes cycling to work covers just about every application of modern high-rise development which will increase at least once a week. The Government light rail: street-running in mixed traffic, the number of people living in the core areas. uses fiscal incentives to increase the use of segregated rural sections, complex bridge As a city struggling under the weight of alternative modes, adding substantial taxes construction and tram-train running. congestion and its associated environmental to the cost of new road vehicles.

88 / march 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org With existing bus and urban rail services reaching capacity in many cities, trams and Featuring both urban and rural alignments, the Aarhus light rail are seen as key to not only reducing LRT project is catering for gridlock, but also as a catalyst for urban future city region growth; development to stimulate both public and Variobahn 1202 in July 2017. private investment.

The move to LRT The first consideration of light rail in Aarhus was undertaken at the start of the century, although it took nearly a decade for funding approvals and detailed planning to progress. Following studies by COWI and SYSTRA, the scheme’s Environmental Impact Assessment was completed in 2010, and a key milestone was the passing of a Bill in the Danish Parliament on 8 May 2012 that gave legal powers for the project’s first phase. Promoter Aarhus Letbane was established in August 2012 to develop an urban tramway loop and interface with the national railway BELOW: Opening day at in central Aarhus on 21 December. Asger Christiansen operator for joint running over railway routes to the north and south. Although Denmark has a well-established construction sector, it lacks expertise in tramway construction. The first utility diversions and preliminary works for the LRT project began in the spring of 2013, but it would be another year before a consortium “Light rail forms part of wider policies to help meet both national and regional climate targets as the municipality aims to become carbon-neutral by 2030. ” of European partners could begin the first to in the south and to the heights to the Variobahn vehicles (+5mm), major construction works. north that are planned to open later in 2018. a different door arrangement and a slightly A Stadler and Ansaldo STS joint venture Constructed at the firm’s plant in Pankow, modified wheel profile to accommodate both was appointed in the summer of 2014 to Berlin, the Variobahn cars are similar in urban tracks and the converted heavy rail provide vehicles, electrification, signalling design to those in service in Bergen, infrastructure. They will share stabling and and railway systems ahead of the first : 32.6m long, 2.65m wide and with maintenance facilities. major works beginning in October that three double doors and a single door on Both vehicle types benefit from onboard year. This joint venture was later enlarged each side of the five-section vehicle. wi-fi and charging points for mobile devices, to include Italian lead contractor Generale Passenger capacity is 216, 84 seated. as well as uprated HVAC systems and double- Costruzioni Ferroviarie (GCF) – a firm with The Tango LRVs are being built at the glazing to cater for operations in the region’s growing experience in all aspects of railway manufacturer’s factory in Altenrhein, cold climate. Relatively moderate in terms of construction, maintenance and renewal Switzerland. These 40m-long vehicles are temperature shift (East Jutland varies from – for the trackwork, platforms and other capable of 100km/h (62mph) operation single-digit sub-zero conditions in December civil works, as well as the Control and can accommodate 256 passengers, and January to around 20°C in the height and Maintenance Centre (CMC). 108 seated. They have marginally higher floor of summer), rain is fairly evenly distributed Civil works are costed at DKK1.9bn throughout the calendar, with winter being (EUR255m) with an additional DKK1.7bn the most humid time of year. (EUR226m) for rolling stock, railway systems Although detailed investigations of and operations (DKK3.6bn total) – 47% of catenary-free power supply were undertaken project funding is from the state, 47% from in the early stages of the project’s design, the municipality and 6% from regional supply at 750V dc was funds. The European Investment Bank has chosen as the most suitable solution with provided DKK14.2m (EUR1.9m) as part careful design to limit visual intrusion of of the European Local Energy Assistance the system’s 29 substations and 3000 OLE programme (ELENA) to support construction support structures. and transportation projects that contribute to energy savings. The routes in detail Stadler has delivered 26 low-floor The first section to open is the 7km (4.3-mile) vehicles for the new service, comprised of route between Aarhus H railway station and 14 Variobahn trams for the urban tramway An example of Aarhus’s island platforms, designed Universitetshospitalet, with ten intermediate loop that has opened first and 12Tango for efficiency in terms of road space allocation. stops. The full 12km (7.5-mile) line north tram-trains for the converted railway sections Green track is prevalent along Randersvej. Helge Bay to , including some interurban and

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org march 2018 / 89 Aarhus

Above left: The alignment along Randservej is the core of the northern street-running alignment, linking many major corporate and educational institutions as well as the city’s hospital. Seen in July 2017 before final surface finishing. Above right: The first tram-train is delivered in September 2016.

Grenaa LEGEND

Tram NORDDJURS KOMMUNE Tram-train Ryomgård Station

Depot/CMC Kolind Trustrup

Mørke

Hornslet

Løgten SYDDJURS KOMMUNE Skødstrup

Hjortshøj Hovmarken Nye Lystrup

Lisbjerg - Terp - skolen Lisbjerg Bygade Klokhøjen

Torsøvej CMC Humlehuse

AARHUS KOMMUNE Kongsvang GI. Vestre Strandalle Øllensgårdsvej Rosenhøj Universitetshospital Olof Palmes Allé G. Clausens Vej Nerhus Allé Tranbjerg Nørrevænget Vandtårnet

Mølleparken Mårslet Stockholmsgade Stjernepladsen Beder Aarhus Universitet (Ringgaden) Malling Universitetsparken Østbanetorvet Nørreport

Skolebakken Assedrup CMC Aarhus H Dokk1 Rude Havvej ODDER Parkjev KOMMUNE

Odder

Aarhus map 2.indd 1 20/12/2017 18:29 90 / march 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org generale costruzioni ferroviarie s.p.a.

Leader in Railways Construction Works

350 million 900 employees Consolidated High specialisation financial statements

Certifications 600 machinery Quality, Safety and Environment High efficiency and flexibility

6 Offices in Italy - 7 International branch offices For the Aarhus LRT Project, GCF successfully delivered: - Design - Track works - Platforms in urban area - Cladding of the electrical substations - Control Maintenance Metro and Tram Systems Centre and Depot

Track Works: New Constructions and Renewals Electrification Works & Signalling

VIALE DELL’OCEANO ATLANTICO, 190 - 00144 (ROMA) - EMAIL: [email protected] - TEL. +39 06 597 831 - www.GCF.IT Aarhus

rural running, will complete Phase 1. In such areas, construction was limited to certain months to avoid adversely disturbing wildlife conservation areas. Once out of the city and along the harbourfront section, the mainly single- track-with-loop alignment has brought its own challenges, involving the conversion of existing regional railway infrastructure to light rail operation. New catenary and signalling systems have been installed, platforms have been lowered to accommodate the new Tango LRV fleet and electrification of these two lines – north to Grenaa (69km/ 43 miles) and south to Odder (26.5km/ 16.5 miles) – has been undertaken in partnership with national railway agency Banedanmark for 100km/h (62mph) running on the line to Grenaa. The will have a maximum speed of 75km/h (47mph). Vehicles operate on line-of-sight principles ABOVE: The new landmark Dokk1 cultural and knowledge centre on the harbourfront is a key passenger within the city, while Ansaldo STS has generator, involving the construction of a new bridge over the harbour. installed Automatic Train Protection based on axle counters for the lines to Odder and BELOW: This short harbour crossing on the approach to Dokk1 was one of the most complex to construct as it Grenaa. EMC immunisation work has had to needs to carry both light rail and freight trains. be completed on Banedanmark lines due to potential interference to legacy equipment. With the agency’s nationwide ERTMS rollout due for completion in the region by 2020, a hybrid solution was developed to replace the legacy track circuits to significantly reduce the cost of full conversion of the system. Eight new bridges have been constructed; with a combined length of almost 500m, and at a maximum height of 12m, most are on “Eight new bridges have been constructed. With a combined length of almost 500m, these structures are all 15m wide with integrated cyclepaths.” the northern section of the loop on the route piling would cause potentially damaging Predating the light rail project by two to Lisbjerg, as the route extends over major effects to sensitive equipment, so a different years, two new bus lanes were opened on the motorways and the Egådalen river valley and technology was employed that increased key northern Nørreport, Nørrebrogade and nature reserve. All of these new structures are both the timescale and cost. Nevertheless, Randersvej thoroughfares. Having the bus 15m wide with integrated cyclepaths. Aarhus Letbane and its construction partners lanes in place meant the original four-lane As a sign that the LRT project is being managed to complete both without road configuration could be preserved when built with one eye on the future, the village applying any additional pressure to the tight construction began on the double slab-track of Lisbjerg (population around 850) and the schedule – and while maintaining good in the road median. In order to maintain town of Lystrup (approx. 10 400) are both relationships with the neighbouring hospital. service speeds, full signal priority is given served. Land along the route to the north of Within the city itself, one small bridge on 17 of urban intersections, the city is being snapped up by developers posed significant construction challenges. with enhanced priority at two others. and dense housing estates are planned that Situated over a stream close to the city’s will help to cater for the growth of the region. harbour, the bridge was required to carry Operations and the future Another bridge crosses a heavy rail yard twin tracks, one of them strong enough to International transport specialist Keolis to access the 27 000m2 (approx. 290 000ft2) accommodate a freight train, yet without was chosen to operate the new system in CMC on the south-western outskirts of the compromising height under the bridge. May 2015, beginning the recruitment city. The route to the CMC runs parallel to Otherwise, only minor adjustments have process for the 80 drivers required for the and is squeezed into available space between been made to the city’s streets, mainly network later that year. existing heavy rail routes. involving laying new foundations to support Testing began on the city section in July A further important feature is the slab track for the light rail tracks. Four types 2017. The opening date of 23 September construction of a pair of new pedestrian are used across the system: segregated sections (the second such planned date) at the tunnels to connect the University and Aarhus use sleepers placed on stone ballast; paved landmark Dokk1 library and cultural centre University Hospital on the Nørrebrogade track is used in the key urban elements on the harbourfront had to be called off at throughfare. These brought additional and green track is used on more suburban the last-minute following the refusal of the complexity due to their proximity to the sections. These three types are supplemented Danish Transport, Building and Housing hospital’s delicate laboratory instrumentation. by the use of asphalt surfacing at the system’s Agency to give final approval for passenger Initial tests showed that traditional sheet numerous road crossings and intersections. service, stating concerns with safety

92 / march 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org RIGHT: The depot and CMC are built to the highest environmental standards, featuring rainwater harvesting and a green sedum roof.

w Thebelo : heart of the system: controllers have full visibility of the full network via CCTV networks. Geoff Butler

“Plans for Phase 2 will bring more than half of the city’s residents, workplaces and educational institutions within reach of the light rail system.” documentation and maintenance procedures imminently. Delays have been caused on provided by the operator. this section due to the line’s 21 level GCF’S EXPERTISE At the time, Thomas Friis Brændstrup, crossings, with a specific risk assessment Managing Director of Keolis Aarhus Letbane, required for each. Aarhus Letbane has Generale Costruzioni Ferroviarie (GCF) is an said: “It is the first light rail in Denmark, adopted similar dynamic Italian railway construction specialist, so we must acknowledge that, from all sides, detection technology to that used in Lyon, founded in 1950. there has been a learning process – this has , where Tango vehicles are also in Over the last decade it has grown its expertise only made Keolis Aarhus Letbane a stronger service. This system shortens waiting times from track construction into electrification, and smarter organisation. Now we are by altering traditional trigger points, an and expanded from many successful domestic looking forward to seriously starting to run important consideration given that there are contracts to develop international experience. the system and thus helping to lift public 50 level crossings along the southern and The company now covers the design and construction of all facets of the modern railway – transport in Aarhus.” northern heavy rail alignments. from tramway and metro systems to high-speed The opening hours of the new service are Services on the northern section to lines – including safety and signalling systems 05.00-01.00, seven days a week, with eight Grenaa are expected later in the year. and renewal and maintenance projects. departures per hour in peak hours between Plans are already well underway for GCF’s competitive edge is based on its Aarhus railway station and Phase 2, including an 8km (five-mile) route experience, organisation and vast equipment Hospital in Skejby. Ridership predictions are from Lisbjerg West to , a short resource (more than 600 railway machines), 39 000 passengers/day. spur into the new ‘Aarhus Ø’ residential and with significant high production efficiency. Tickets are purchased from platform commercial district under development In addition to main infrastructure works TVMs (payment by card only) and validated on the new harbourfront and a line to on the Aarhus Letbane, GCF has completed high-speed lines in Italy, over 3000km (over via tapping-in or out upon boarding or , 11km (6.8 miles) west of Aarhus. 1850 miles) of track renewal projects in France alighting. Letbane tickets are integrated with These additional routes will bring more than (2013-18), slab track and ballast tracks for the Midttrafik bus network, allowing for half of the city’s residents, workplaces and Switzerland’s Monte Ceneri base tunnel; easy transfers, and the AarhusCARD offers educational institutions within easy reach of 30km (18.6 miles) of tunnel slab track and third discounted travel across city and regional the expanding light rail system. rail installation for Copenhagen’s CityRingen; bus services and airport shuttles, as well as Elements of Phase 2 are still under and track and OLE rehabilitation on the free admission to city attractions and special evaluation and funding applications are still Plovdiv-Burgas line () and the offers at local shops and restaurants. to be made, although planning is underway Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway (Turkey). Adjustments have been made to the bus and the Environmental Impact Assessment Find out more at www.gcf.it network to feed the new light rail service and is to begin in 2018, so it is likely that the provision has been made not only for bicycle short extension to Aarhus Ø could be parking at stops, but also with new cyclepaths realised first. along the light rail corridor between Skejby and Lisbjerg. A new park-and-ride site has All images courtesy of Aarhus Letbane unless been created in Lisbjerg. otherwise stated. Thanks are due to Helge Bay, The next phase of the project sees Jens Velling, Communication Manager of Aarhus integration of services on the Odderbanen Letbane and the team at Midttrafik for their Read more about Denmark’s and the final approvals for this are due assistance in the preparation of this article. other LRT projects on page 95

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org march 2018 / 93

Denmark

Siemens was named as preferred rolling stock supplier for Copenhagen in January ELSEWHERE IN 2018. Siemens / Hovedstadens Letbane DENMARK… Following the inaugurations in Aarhus, TAUT explores the two other key light rail developments in Denmark – in Odense and Copenhagen.

enmark has a rich tramway The city of Aarhus may be the location of and commissioning. By the start of 2018 history. Its capital opened one the first modern tramway in Denmark, but relocation of most under-street utilities was of the earliest horse-drawn more are to follow. As the pathfinder for the completed, and the construction of new roads, passenger services in Europe in mode, many lessons are being learnt and pavements and bicycle lanes begun along the 1863, passing through phases of there is a great deal of collaboration and route, with the exception of a short inner city Dsteam power and onboard battery operation sharing of experience. Because street-running section. This will be started in spring. before overhead electrification just before light rail is, in effect, a brand new mode to Mogens Hagelskær, CEO of Odense the turn of the 20th Century. the country, one of the biggest challenges Letbane, told TAUT: “This is a major The mode was never widely spread across surrounds regulations and standards: they phase shift for the project. Until recently the nation however, with city tramway need to be written. A joint group of clients, has foremost been co- operation only developed in Aarhus, Odense representing all the municipalities looking ordinating the utilities project and handling and Copenhagen (as well an unusual at light rail, is creating a framework based procurement process. Now we are stepping 750mm-gauge service on the island of Rømø). around the German BOStrab regulations, up as a construction enterprise, with all the Mirroring the familiar tale worldwide, the adapted to take into account local factors. obligations, tasks and challenges that come increased cost of maintenance fought against with this. The organisation has adapted the competition from other modes and Odense to this situation by upgrading its focus on the growth of the private automobile; Odense’s modern tramway project began overseeing the contractors in respect to the Denmark’s final passenger tram ran in construction in 2015. A 14.4km (nine-mile) contracts, security issues at construction sites Copenhagen on 23 April 1972, with its line is being built, from in the and not least the informational obligations to rolling stock sold to Alexandria in Egypt. north-west through the city centre to our neighbours disturbed by the project. A handful of these cars were repatriated Station in the south. It will also “At the same time, an intense design for preservation in 2001. connect the city’s main railway station, process is taking place in co-operation with Examples of the country’s city tramcars the University of Southern Denmark and our suppliers. Spanish contractor Comsa can be found at the Sporvejsmuseet its large university hospital. has been chosen to build the tracks, stations Skjoldenæsholm museum around 65km A contract for 16 Variobahn trams of a and technical elements of the system, and (40 miles) south-west of the capital. similar specification to those in Aarhus was Swiss manufacturer Stadler is delivering the Another important factor which makes awarded to Stadler in 2016; the first batch vehicles that will operate the line. trams an ideal transport solution for Danish will be delivered in autumn 2019 under the “The track works will start by mid-2018 cities is their generally moderate size. EUR45m contract, with work on schedule to and will last until mid-2020. Even though Copenhagen, the capital, is the exception, open the line to passengers in late 2020. the trackworks have not been seen in the city and here the Ring 3 LRT line will encourage SYSTRA and COWI are acting as principal development and inward investment in consultants for system design, procurement the municipalities investing in the scheme, forming a key part of the overall regional development plan.

With utilities work already largely complete, works will begin to create space for the future light rail alignment on Middelfartvej in Odense in February 2018. As with other Scandinavian projects, extensive use green track will be used. Odense Letbane

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org march 2018 / 95 Denmark

of Odense in many years, the construction work and the traffic regulations will be handled the same way as during the utilities programme and the road works to make the work as tolerable and predictable as possible. This is possible due to close co-operation with the local road authorities.” As well as installing the tracks, Comsa is also responsible for the Control and Maintenance Centre, located next to a park-and-ride site with around 600 spaces that offers easy access to the E20 motorway. When the tracks are laid and electrification is complete, the incoming operator will take care of the test and trial phase, securing the necessary permissions to begin operations. Five companies have prequalified for the operations and maintenance of the new ABOVE AND BELOW: Roadworks on Ørbækvej in December 2017. Odense Letbane / K.Krebs line, all with extensive light rail experience: Danmark (operator of buses in Jutland and rail lines in through Arriva Sverige); Keolis Danmak (operator of the Aarhus LRT network); Metro Service (operator of the ); Odense Lightrail Service (a partnership of Swedish bus operator Umove and Sverige, operator of the Norrköping tramway and bus services across the country); Spårvägar (operator of the Djurgårdslinjen and Lidingöbanan tramlines in Stockholm). An appointment is expected by the end of the year for the ten-year contract with an option for a further five years. The tramway will run for 20 hours each day – 05.00-01.00 – with up to eight services per hour in each direction. Ridership is predicted at 13m passengers per year and the project has a cost of approximately DKK3.1bn (EUR415m). Further phases include branches from via Vesterbro, connecting to the first phase at Rosengardcentret; and from to the city centre stop. “Copenhagen's Ring 3 LRT project is expected to support Copenhagen Ring 3 Moving back to the capital, a framework the creation of up to 36 500 new jobs by 2035.” agreement for the development of an express tramline paralleling the busy Ring 3 road preferred bidders for seven work packages been selected for the civils packages, with to link eight outlying municipalities in the on 11 January 2018 to build, equip, operate CG Jensen also chosen to build the Control west was signed in June 2011. and maintain the line. These contracts must and Maintenance Centre. Following the discounting of a cheaper Bus now be approved by the Danish Government Railway infrastructure and rolling stock Rapid Transit option, the LRT project will see and the eight municipalities along the route will be handled by a consortium of Siemens top speeds of up to 70km/h (43.5mph) along which own Hovedstadens Letbane. and Aarsleff Rail, with the former supplying a 28km (17.4-mile) route with 29 stops placed The project’s earlier phases were managed a fleet of 27 low-floor 35m LRVs for the line, around 1km apart between Lundtofte in the by metro authority Metroselskabet – which is scheduled to open in 2024. north and Ishøj station in the south. Hovedstadens Letbane and Metroselskabet The 15-year operations and maintenance Mainly segregated from the main road, it is share a CEO and offices in central contract is to be undertaken by Metro hoped that average service speeds can reach Copenhagen – a partnership owned by the Service, a joint venture of Milan’s publicly- 30km/h (19mph), with the full route covered City of Copenhagen (50%), the Danish owned transport operator ATM and in 58 minutes. Featuring minimal street- Government (41.7 %) and the City of Ansaldo STS that currently operates the running, planned headways are five minutes (8.3%). capital’s metro network. on weekdays and ten minutes at other times. Metroselskabet appointed a joint venture Predicted ridership is 13-14m passengers The project is supported by 11 of Arup and Rambøll to design the line; per day for the DKK6.2bn (EUR833m) project. municipalities and is seen as vital in catering Cowi is acting architectural consultant The other planned Danish LRT project for future growth of the city region, offering and is providing traffic and construction was a proposed scheme for the northern city links to the existing radial S-bane network planning services for the project. of . Initial investigations for a link (at Lyngby, Buddinge, Herlev, Glostrup, Preparatory works for the dual-track line between the city centre, the University and Vallensbæk and Ishøj), two hospitals and are expected to start in 2018 with contracts the future University Hospital eventually the Technical University of Denmark in for construction and rolling stock expected settled on a option. Kongens Lyngby. The line is expected to later in the year. support the creation of up to 36 500 new On what is the biggest light rail project in jobs in areas around the new stops by 2035, Denmark, procurement has been divided FIND OUT MORE as part of planned development investment into eight packages, five covering civil works, of DKK32bn (EUR4.3bn). and three covering equipment, operation and Odense Letbane: www.odenseletbane.dk Hovedstadens Letbane, the public maintenance. Danish construction firms MJ Hovedstadens Letbane: www.dinletbane.dk company overseeing the project, announced Erikkson, and CG Jensen have

96 / march 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Advertorial SYSTRA AND THE RETURN OF TRAMS TO AARHUS

fter the closure of its last line 47 years ago, SYSTRA has helped the tramway return to Aarhus. The inauguration of the first 7km (4.3-mile) phase tookA place on 21 December 2017. A close seven-year partnership The Letbane network in Aarhus is built upon a tramline and a tram-train line, which operate separately as lines 1 and 2. As subcontractor to our local partner COWI, SYSTRA signed a contract in October 2010 to deliver studies and construction supervision for both lines. The project began with preliminary studies and the writing of technical specifications for subsystems – power supply, track, signalling, telecommunications studies and maintenance installation, amongst others. From September 2014 until December 2017, SYSTRA teams worked alongside the client, Aarhus Letbane (a state- and city-owned company responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the LRT Lav Ulv / CC BY 2.0 network), performing the detailed design review, construction supervision, and testing and commissioning of the transport system. The next phase of the project will be inaugurated during 2018; for line 2 this will involve an additional 5km (3.1 miles) of new track in the urban section and 19 stations. , which is an electrified conventional railway adapted for tram-train traffic, with 50 stations in total, will also open. Romain Taillandier, Project Manager, explains: “This wonderful project is a real achievement for SYSTRA. It has lasted seven years and reinforced our position and reputation as a leading engineering firm for the development of rail networks in Denmark. ABOVE LEFT and right: SYSTRA has worked “SYSTRA was heavily involved in the on the Aarhus LRT project for seven years: from the systems integration, integral to all tramway initial specification stage, through to design reviews projects and one of the many challenges we and project management. The company is bringing encountered along the way. Two types of its international expertise to a range of other projects rolling stock use the same infrastructure, in Scandinavia. Courtesy of SYSTRA which is split into two sections: a new one and an existing one.” SYSTRA AND TRAMS

Scandinavia's first tram-train SYSTRA has a long track record in tram and of the 21st Century tram-train planning and engineering, having Aarhus is the second largest city in delivered over 500km (310 miles) of light rail. Denmark, encompassing approximately The Group has led projects in a large variety of 330 000 inhabitants. Travel demand has city contexts, including Odense, Bordeaux, doubled over the past ten years as a Tours, Besançon, Dubai, Casablanca, the Paris number of housing developments have suburbs, Algiers, Brest and Nice. been created, as well as an extension to SYSTRA has the capability to produce designs from preliminary to construction levels, the university hospital. to supervise construction and manage system The new LRT system will make daily integration to the commissioning phase. Our teams transport more fluid, with around nine work for end users, asset owners and contractors. million passengers per year expected, over 24 000 each day. Even though the Nordic countries are fond of tramways (Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki in particular), the new system in Aarhus is the first new network of the 21st Century.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MARCH 2018 / 97 Tram traction power

Steeper gradients place a more intensive demand on a tramway’s electrical supply. Some of the most severe gradients in the UK are found on the system. Neil Pulling

tramway current demand D avid Gibson gives an overview of the power requirements of a modern tram, and offers suggestions on how that demand can be reduced through onboard energy storage.

significant cost for any on a level surface will take 11 seconds. To tramway operator is the one “Current is proportional calculate the tractive effort required to attain introduced by the vehicles this, we multiply the acceleration rate by the themselves. This is not only to the power demand and vehicle’s mass in tonnes. In our example, important in the annual this gives 78kN, to which we add the rolling costsA of supplying electricity for traction forms two parts: that resistance to give 81kN – far greater than the power and auxiliaries, but also in the initial 3kN required at a constant speed. infrastructure construction as well as its required to accelerate or To give the mechanical power, we multiply ongoing maintenance. In this article I will decelerate, and that to this by the speed; so at standstill this is zero, present the factors that determine the current and ramps up to 1.13MW at 50km/h. The demand of a modern tram vehicle, consider keep the tram running energy is the average power multiplied by some of the losses that need to be overcome, time, which gives 6.23MJ. The rolling energy and some ways of achieving these. at a constant speed.” loss during this period is 231kJ, so 6MJ is left as kinetic energy, which is recovered during Defining the demand of 60t, we need a tractive effort of 300kg (or braking, either as re-useable energy or heat. In order to design an efficient overhead and approximately 3kN). To achieve 81kN, the high current in the power distribution system, the first thing we To determine the power demand, we must motors gives rise to what is known as ‘copper need to establish is the current demand. multiply tractive effort by speed in metres loss’, and this can total around 100kW. Added The current is proportional to the power per second. So at 50km/h (14m/s), we have a to this will be inverter losses, which can add demand, and forms two parts: that required mechanical power demand of 42kW. To this another 20kW. This loss is there for the entire to accelerate or decelerate, and that to keep we need to add electrical losses, which in acceleration period, and gives an energy the tram running at a constant speed. this case should be less than 10%, so we get loss in the acceleration period of 1.32MJ, With the rate of acceleration normally a traction power demand of approximately or a total electrical energy input of 7.55MJ. required, the former is by far the highest, 46kW, which at 750V is 61 amps (61A). This The electrical power required also ramps up except in locations with steep gradients. seems like a very low amount, but then we from 100KW to 1.25MW; the latter gives a Rail vehicles running at moderate speeds have to account for reaching this maximum current of 1643A at 750V. have very low rolling resistance, much less operational speed in the first place. So at the start of the braking period we than that of road vehicles and in the order of Modern trams have rapid acceleration – have 6MJ of kinetic energy; from this we 5kg per Tonne weight. So, for a laden weight 1.3 m/s2 is often used – so to reach 50km/h must subtract the losses: 231KJ for rolling

98 / MARCH 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org resistance and 1.32MJ for copper and inverter Reducing to 30kW the loss of 100kW in loss, giving us a remainder of 4.45MJ. This is the previous example, reduces input energy an average power of 405kW over the to 7.93MJ and increases recovered energy to deceleration of 11 seconds, with a peak of 5.22MJ, giving a recovery rate of 66% if all 810kW available to be returned to the line. the energy can be accepted – all the more This represents 1080A at 750V. reason to have onboard storage. Considering an average distance of 500m Supercapacitors are the best way of achieving between tramstops, we have acceleration and this; they have a small loss themselves, along braking times of 11 seconds (which will each with their control circuits, but an overall cover 77m), giving a remaining distance of recovery of over 60% should be possible. 346m at a constant 14m/s, taking 25 seconds. If we just store the regenerated energy, we The power during this period is 46kW, giving will reduce the peak power demand to about an energy of 1.15MJ. The total input energy 260kW, giving a line current of only 347A – is therefore 8.7MJ, so the ideal recovery a lot less than 1643A – and an rms line current would be 51%. To attain this, the overhead of 156A. Incorporating extra energy storage line must be receptive and itself be loss free, would further smooth out the current to a which of course it is not. near constant value of 110A. We also have to deal with very high peak currents, here up to 1643A. A 150mm2 wire Creating six-fold savings will have a typical resistance of 0.06 ohms What we have considered here is only a for a 500m stretch. At 1643A, this has a vehicle’s traction energy requirement. loss of 162kW, with a drop of 99V. During We must also consider auxiliaries such as regeneration, with a peak current of 1080A, heating, ventilation and cooling. By using the loss is 70kW. During constant speed modern LED lighting, 1kW should be running, the loss is only 225W (5.6kJ). sufficient to cover lighting and a fully-laden These figures of course are for a distance Onboard energy storage can greatly smooth out the tram should not require much heating in of 500m from source, but of course the power requirements and offers improved operational normal conditions. A full tram will produce substations and feeders will also have losses. flexibility.R echarging at tramstops can also be about 20kW of body heat, so we are therefore They are also peaks, but the average loss will combined with photovoltaic panels that harness left with cooling. be about 69.5KW, 764kJ for acceleration; renewable energy. Neil Pulling We might have to remove around 40kW, and 35kW, 385kJ for braking. This increases but this should require less than 20kW with the total input energy to 9.46MJ, and reduces “The automotive an efficient HVAC system. We should assume returned energy to 4.07MJ. The recovery is around 30kW to cover all vehicle auxiliaries, now only 43%, and this assumes the line sector is doing much which is 40A; giving a total of 150A. This is a is fully receptive. The rms (heating effect) lot better than the rms value in the original value of the line current is 860A. of the development on case of 900A including auxiliaries, therefore It can be seen that there would be a great the OLE and distribution system could in advantage if we could keep the high peaks out permanent magnet theory be reduced in capacity six-fold. of the overhead. If we had onboard energy The resulting current is smoother, allowing storage that could store the regenerated motors and energy storage a much more favourable maximum demand 4.45MJ – and use it to assist in providing the tariff to be attainable. We would attain 7.55 MJ required for acceleration – we would – it is high time that our second-generation performance with greatly reduce the acceleration peak current. first-generation power demand. industry caught up.” The automotive sector is doing much of Reducing losses this development on permanent magnet It would also help if we could reduce the torque. This causes the rotor to rotate in motors and energy storage – it is high time losses in the motors in this period. A the direction of the magnetic field, but can that our industry caught up. figure of 100kW is used here for induction never catch up as then there would be no net Of course, reducing vehicle weight is (asynchronous) motors that are mainly used field cutting the rotor conductors. The rotor another way of significantly reducing at present. These are mechanically simple then runs with a ‘slip’ from synchronous demand, as well as the associated wear and and robust machines, but are electrically speed, this being proportional to rotor loss. tear on infrastructure elements. Steerable complex, being a cross between a motor To operate efficiently, the slip should be as wheel-motors and composite materials are and a transformer. low as possible and hence the use of variable ways forward in this respect – but that is a All electric motors work on the reaction frequency inverters to match the supply subject for another article… between a magnetic field and current frequency to rotor speed. in a conductor, which produces a force The motor has three principle losses, proportional to the product of both. In magnetising and load currents in stator and an induction motor, the magnetic field is rotor resistance. A permanent magnet motor ABOUT THE AUTHOR produced by current in the stator, known only has one of these losses, stator load. Until as magnetising current. This is out of phase about 25 years ago, permanent magnets that David Gibson is an electrical engineer with with the voltage, and itself represents no could provide sufficient flux to compare with many years’ experience in designing control systems for electrical machines. He has had power, but it does heat the windings, which electromagnets as used in the traditional dc a lifetime’s interest in electric traction, both produces a loss. The rotor consists of short- motor were not economically available, but full-size and miniature, with the latter involving circuited windings and takes the form of they now use neodymium-boron technology. looking at ways of managing to build low-floor uninsulated copper or aluminium bars in Not only do they provide the required flux, trams at 1/30th scale. slots, with short-circuiting rings at both ends. but they are also small and light. This interest led to the design of a miniature In the case of aluminium, they are cast in We are now able to make motors that are wheel-motor, but this was soon transformed into situ into the laminated steel core. The rotor highly efficient but also lighter. They can be the design and maunfacture of full-size ones runs inside the stator (except in the case operated either as synchronous or brushless and the creation of Stored Energy Technology of some hub-motors where the situation dc machines and are also capable of being (SET) in Derby (UK). Under SET, wheel-motors were fitted to is reversed), with an airgap to allow for incorporated into a wheel, removing the ‘Brush’ car 636, which had over mechanical clearance; this is a compromise need for gears and cardan shafts. The losses 2000km (1240 miles) of successful running. between electro-magnetic and mechanical can be about a third of those of an induction This development work is still ongoing, with conditions. The alternating rotating field motor, and as this is in both accelerating projects to demonstrate the advantages of created by the three-phase stator induces and braking modes, it allows a much better steering, both for light and heavy rail. currents in the rotor, and produces a recovery of regenerated energy.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MARCH 2018 / 99 Onboard energy storage

Futuristic by design; WMG is involved in a project to deliver a lower-cost, catenary-free 'very light rail' shuttle for the UK city of WMG/University of

BETTER manufacture of relevant chemistries has also been a barrier to effective implementation within relevant transport sectors. CONNECTED Nevertheless, batteries have remained attractive, due to their potential for low- or zero-emission operation and the minimal Dr Nick Mallinson, of WMG at the University of Warwick, infrastructure demands they can enable. explains how evolving battery technologies are improving In recent years, greater research effort has been concentrated in addressing cost, the case for catenary-free power for urban transit systems. engineering, safety and manufacturing issues associated with battery technologies, K urban transit schemes a continuous energy supply, delivered via and they are gaining an ever-greater presence are typically served by catenaries or infrastructure linked in automotive applications. However, well-established technologies to the grid. Such infrastructure brings with these have different energy requirements and in many respects, the it high costs and other construction issues, to those of the urban public transit sector. current vehicles – buses, trams, and results in additions to the landscape that Operational requirements are generally far Ulight rail, metro – have remarkably similar can pose both aesthetic and potential safety more demanding for buses/trams than for energy and power requirements. However, considerations. Moreover, the need for a cars, with a typical operation time per day these energy needs are met in a variety continuous supply often limits operation of approximately 16 hours, as opposed to a of ways, from predominantly diesel and to those routes or lines where infrastructure daily operational window of around one increasingly hybrid-diesel propulsion for currently exists. Extending services to hour for automotive applications. buses, to full electric operation supported by non-electrified infrastructure typically Expectations of longevity are also more catenary and third rail infrastructure in the requires an exacting business case; exacting. A typical automotive battery case of trams and metro services. where extensions cannot be justified on warranty is approximately ten years, while Stakeholders with responsibility for a commercial basis, electrified transport buses and trams are expected to remain in urban services – typically services often cannot be offered at all. service for far longer and to endure far more regional and civic local authorities – are To overcome these issues, energy supplies aggressive duty cycles over their lifetime. under increasing pressure to resolve issues for urban transit will need to achieve two Furthermore, achieving self-propulsion related to these existing energy storage and key features: 1) zero emissions operation, and requires that onboard batteries supply all management technologies. Diesel engines, 2) self-propulsion, using onboard propulsion the energy needed to move the vehicle, in particular, produce oxides of nitrogen systems with a minimal infrastructure throughout its routine duty cycle. (NOx) as well as harmful micro-particulates. support requirement. A potential solution is For public transit, this means they need Despite efforts to manage emissions through the onboard battery, which, with advances to offer both high power and high energy, transport regulation policy, engine design in research and development, is becoming and be durable and capable of rapid charging optimisation, engine after-treatment and an increasingly viable means of achieving – they must also be safe, cost effective, and hybrid electric technologies, public health both these goals. easy to procure. issues remain. For example, it is estimated This is an exacting set of requirements by that approximately 9500 Londoners die from Exacting requirements any standard. However, a promising battery poor air quality every year, largely caused by Historically, the considerable technical technology is lithium titanate, which meets internal combustion engine (ICE) emissions.1 challenge of engineering batteries suitable many of the needs for urban public transport. Electric vehicles such as trams or metros for propulsion applications – as well as their Lithium titanate cells are a specific form can deliver emission-free operation at the prohibitive cost – made their widespread of lithium ion (Li-ion) technology, which point of use, but are typically powered by use unfeasible. Safety and ease of uses lithium compound chemistries to

100 / MARCH 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org www.mainspring.co.uk

achieve a rechargeable battery solution. large components (such as wire coils) are Li-ion batteries are common in home required to counteract the energy losses and electronics and offer high energy density, maintain the required transfer of energy small memory effect and low self-discharge; during the charging cycle. they also have improved lifetime and offer For future urban transit applications, high power capability. vehicle charging solutions may also The lithium titanate chemistry specifically require interconnection improvements at affords excellent lifetime characteristics, with grid level to support growing numbers of minimal degradation after many thousands fast charging capabilities in cities. These of charge and discharge cycles, high power will be needed to operate larger numbers delivery and high power absorption. of vehicles. For example, a single Tesla The chemistry is also well-known for its automotive supercharger can deliver 120kW safety characteristics, with a particularly when charging – this is approximately 226 high resistance to thermal events (fire and times the average power requirement of a explosion). While a potential disadvantage is ABOVE: The rapid pace of development of battery UK household, and far exceeds current fuse that it is currently expensive relative to other technology is allowing onboard energy storage to ranges for domestic applications (a typical become smaller, lighter, more efficient, and more Li-ion technologies, the cost of all battery UK household mains fuse currently ranges cost-effective. TAUT chemistries is reducing year-on-year as from 60-100A, or 14.4-24kW). An increase OEMs increasingly employ the technology BELOW: As well as freedom from fixed in grid-level requirements to support fast and bring ever-greater purchasing power to electrification infrastructure, the Coventry VLR charging would place a power demand on the the supply chain. project also promises track design innovation to grid several orders of magnitude above present WMG is involved in a flagship project reduce cost. WMG loadings – potentially requiring a significant to deliver a fully-electric light rail shuttle re-engineering of supply infrastructure. for the UK city of Coventry, which will make All the above factors must be considered use of lithium titanate battery technology. when planning electrified transport for This will offer a lightweight, energy-efficient an urban setting. However, the range and and low-cost alternative to traditional trams, variety of relevant infrastructure to support with a substantial element of the cost-saving battery-led operation gives local authorities, coming from reduced infrastructure, engineers and the supply chain plenty of achieved via onboard energy storage. opportunity to develop efficient, bespoke and Another important advantage of lithium comparatively low-cost solutions for specific titanate battery propulsion – as with most operations and routes. forms of full electric motive power – is that it achieves zero emissions at the point of Better connected, lower cost operation. However, it should be noted that The potential to include environmentally low or zero emissions at the point of use do friendly and commercially attractive not necessarily result in lower emissions “In the future, vehicle electrification technologies within the public overall as electric vehicles still contribute charging solutions may transport sector has never been greater. CO2 at the grid level. However, as the As research and development into battery power generation sector moves towards require interconnection chemistries and technologies advances, technologies that are inherent low emitters and the cost of essential components and of CO2 (in 2016, 39% of all electricity improvements at grid supporting infrastructure falls, low-cost generated in the UK was produced from transport schemes are becoming increasingly nuclear and renewable technologies level to support growing viable. This in turn offers an exciting future combined) this is likely to improve the for civic infrastructure, as cities, suburbs and overall emissions picture. numbers of fast charging rural areas become better connected using cleaner and more efficient technologies. Boosting the grid capabilities in cities.” At present, electric urban transit services often require substantial supporting the use of a lower-capacity battery pack, REFERENCES infrastructure. Tramways primarily require supplemented with brief charging at multiple continuous overhead catenaries, and roughly stops during operation. If the duty cycle is 1 “Sadiq Khan Unveils Action Plan to Battle London’s Toxic Air,” Authority one-third of the cost of a new scheme is more demanding with fewer stops, then a [Online], 5th July 2016. typically accounted for by electrification larger onboard battery solution can be used, infrastructure. The use of batteries can with longer and more intensive charging at enable charging infrastructure to be located termini. In each case, the transfer of energy at key stops on a vehicle’s route, rather than is managed across both the vehicle and the ABOUT THE AUTHOR throughout the entire duty cycle, reducing infrastructure, with a greater emphasis either the cost and engineering burden while way as required. Dr Nick Mallinson, a Chartered Electrical maintaining zero emissions at the point A variety of methods exist for connecting Engineer and Member of the Chartered of operation. to a charging supply. Typically this would Institute of Marketing, joined WMG in 2005 as Research Manager for the Warwick Innovative However, the need to recharge onboard take the form of either automated direct Manufacturing Research Centre (WIMRC), energy storage devices means some contact or wireless induction charging. having previously been Vice-President for infrastructure requirements remain. Direct contact charging, perhaps via Sales & Marketing at Dynex Semiconductor. In particular, a key need is the availability pantograph or a third rail, offers greater In January 2012 he was appointed of sufficiently high-power fast-charging energy efficiency through a more direct Programme Manager for the newly-established stations throughout the operational cycle. transfer of energy. However, the need to align WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Yet within the urban transit sector it is contactors can create challenges for rapid Catapult. This centre is focused on collaborative possible to engineer this dependency to some charging during operation. research in the area of low carbon mobility, in extent, in order to achieve the optimum Inductive charging is typically more particular the light-weighting of vehicles and improved energy storage and management result on a bespoke basis for each scheme. practicable as it does not require exact solutions for electric and hybrid vehicles. Clearly, route and duty cycle characteristics alignment of contactors or manual ‘plugging Dr Mallinson will be presenting further have a bearing on how best to meet this need in’ and can be completed while the vehicle WMG innovations at this year's UK Light Rail for charging infrastructure. If the intended is in motion. However, it is less efficient as Conference in Manchester on 17-18 July – duty cycle features many stops, then it transfers energy across an air gap and can www.mainspring.co.uk/events charging requirements can be met through also involve greater infrastructure cost as

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MARCH 2018 / 101 Manx Electric Railway 125 years of the MER Open crossbench car 16, built in 1898, at Bulgham Bay. Andrew Scarffe

As the Manx Electric Railway approaches its 125th anniversary, gave notice of its intention to cease trading. In a truly historic and far-sighted decision, Andrew Scarffe looks back over its long – and sometimes unlikely voted to nationalise both the MER – history and forward to an exciting week of special events. and Snaefell Mountain Railway in 1957. Subsequent Government ownership was not without issues, the undoubted t first glance it may seem like a Ramsey, the northern terminus, was nadir being the closure of the to bold statement, but there really reached in 1899. During the following year Ramsey section in 1975. Intended at the is nowhere else in the British the tramway company, by now seriously time to be permanent, fortunately the line Isles, or indeed worldwide, overspent, was placed into liquidation and was reopened in 1977 following vigorous quite like the Isle of Man. was purchased in 1902 by the newly-formed campaigning. Today ownership of the MER ASituated in the middle of the Irish Sea Manx Electric Railway Company. and SMR is vested with the Transport Services only 19km (12 miles) from Scotland, its Tourism was now booming as workers from Division of the Department of Infrastructure. nearest neighbour, the Island is a transport the industrial areas of England’s north-west In January 2016, Douglas Borough Council enthusiast’s paradise with electric trams, were given paid holidays for the first time and announced the shock closure of the Douglas horse trams, steam trains, a mountain travelled to the Island en masse – a journey on Horse Tramway, but ownership has since railway, miniature railways and museums. an open crossbench tram must have been an passed to the Department – securing the At its heart is a true gem: the Manx Electric exhilarating experience. Each summer, the future of the world’s longest continuously- Railway. Visitors can travel on Victorian MER, as it became known, carried over half operating horse tramway. tramcars, little changed since the 1890s. a million visitors, but it also provided a vital Throughout the 1990s a series of very Trams amble along, up and down hills and year-round transport facility for local residents successful special events celebrated the around sharp curves, through wooded glens living in the more remote rural areas en route. centenaries of the Manx Electric Railway and and along rugged cliff tops with spectacular the Snaefell Mountain Railway followed by views across the unrivalled coastal scenery. 125 years of lows and highs the 125th anniversary of the Isle of Man Steam It was in early 1893 that true visionaries Despite its immense popularity, the Railway. Unfortunately, during the following began the construction of the tramway tramway was never financially prosperous. decade the Manx heritage railways appeared northwards along the eastern coast from Much of the company’s capital was raised to temporarily lose their sense of purpose. Douglas, the Island’s capital. Electric traction with debenture stock and the requirement to was in its infancy at the time, so it was a bold pay interest annually to shareholders eroded Investment and renewal decision to build an electric tramway on an profits to such an extent that there was little At the end of the 2010 season there were island still relatively difficult to travel to and available to fund investment or purchase only five tram and trailer sets available for where a public electricity supply was many new rolling stock. As a result, and not by service on the MER, although a major track years in the future. deliberate intention, the original rolling renewal scheme had just been completed. The first section to Groudle opened in stock survived. The appointment of a new management September of that year, with an extension The two world wars, recession, fire regime prompted a reversal of the MER’s to Laxey in 1894. The following year, the and flood also took their toll. By the early fortunes and a considerable investment in Snaefell Mountain Railway was built in just 1950s, a post-World War Two tourist boom the infrastructure. Thirteen trams and 14 seven months from Laxey to the summit of collapsed and in 1956 the tramway company, trailers are now available for service with Snaefell, the Island’s only mountain. with no resources for essential track renewal, others planned to be returned to service

102 / MARCH 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Car 3, one of three built for the tramway's opening in 1893, shown with a trailer Cars 1 and 2, both built in 1893 and seen outside Derby Castle depot, celebrate on a test run in August 1893. Isle of Man Railways archive their 125th birthdays this year. Andrew Scarffe shortly, the operating fleet now being in its of the line. Car 1 is listed in the Guinness Special services with trams hauling two best condition for many years. Book of Records as the oldest electric tramcar trailers and combinations of goods vans Permanent way investment continues with in the world in continuous operating service will be operated. There will also be recent track relaying work incorporating on its original line. opportunities to ‘take the handles’ and drive concrete sleepers. The improved condition of A Family Day at Laxey will will be joined one of the vintage trams along scenic line the trackwork has already been reflected in the by Douglas Horse tram number 1 which will sections. Guided walks and talks will be greatly reduced maintenance requirements of be on display in Laxey Station throughout held throughout the week. the trams’ wooden bodywork. the day. The timetable from 1975 will The true star of the show will be newly- Three-quarters of the overhead electrical also operate for one day, starting with the restored open Car 14, however, dating from wiring between Douglas and Laxey, and a 07.00 tram from Derby Castle to Ramsey. 1898 and withdrawn in 1978. Car 14 is considerable proportion between Laxey and Winter Trailer 57 will be fitted with exterior known as a ‘ratchet car’, due to its reliance Ramsey, has been renewed with grooved illuminations to match illuminated car 9 and on traditional handbrakes and its absence of wire and fittings. New substations have also will operate special evening services. air brakes. Its restoration began three years been constructed at Laxey and . ago and volunteers have spent thousands of The refurbishment of Ballure Viaduct, built in “The true star of the 2018 hours restoring the tram to its original livery 1899, won the 2015 Light Rail Award ‘Project of varnished woodwork, with maroon lining of the Year’ for schemes under EUR50m. season will be 1898 open and a cream roof. The railway’s own workforce In tandem with this increased has concentrated on the refurbishment of all engineering effort has been a vigorous Car 14, withdrawn in 1978, mechanical and electrical equipment; it is the approach to the marketing of the heritage first time that volunteers and employees have railways, aimed at both local residents and which has recently worked side-by-side on a restoration project. visitors. A considerable market has been Car 14 will be officially launched back into developed with visiting coach parties, railway undergone a service for the anniversary week, culminating touring companies and cruise ships. This in an evening parallel run from Ramsey to effort has been rewarded with a continued three-year rebuild.” Laxey with sister Car 16. steady growth in the number of passengers The event will conclude with a horse carried, 2017 witnessing the best figures for On anniversary day, following the tram cavalcade and evening service on the many years. unveiling of a commemorative plaque at Douglas Horse Tramway, following which Groudle, all available rolling stock will the long-awaited reconstruction of Douglas 2018 anniversary celebrations form a cavalcade through Laxey to Promenade is to commence. During the During September 2018, the Manx Electric operate a special anniversary timetable. work, the horse tramway is to be completely Railway will be celebrating its 125th A re-enactment of an MER mail journey, relaid and repositioned on the southernmost anniversary with a week-long series of where conductors collect special First Day section between the Gaiety Theatre and Sea special events. Cars 1 and 2, built by G F Covers from the lineside post boxes will Terminal as a single line only. Milnes of for the opening of be operated and a photography evening Perhaps one day it will be possible to ride the tramway, will feature prominently on will be held at Derby Castle depot. a Manx Electric Railway tram along Douglas a number of parallel runs, including an Goods wagons and mail vans will be promenade, just as envisaged by the line's evening parallel run along the entire length in operation throughout the week. promoters, 125 years ago in 1893...

Car 7 with the expanse of Ramsey Bay in the distance, including the FIND OUT MORE Queens Pier which once had a three- foot gauge tramway along its length. The Manx Electric Railway 125th anniversary The pier is has been closed for some events will take place from 1-8 September, the years but a volunteer-led restoration actual anniversary falling on 7 September. is now underway. Andrew Scarffe Find out more about this year’s celebrations at: Web: www.rail.im or www.manxelectricrailway.co.uk manx electric railway Facebook: /IoMTransport Telephone: +44 (0)1624 697400

For a detailed history of the MER and its fleet, see TAUT 905 (May 2013). A SpeciAl Review fRom

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MARCH 2018 / 103 Midland Metro

Neil Pulling explores the massive changes that are underway in UNITED systems KINGDOM the Midlands, light rail being a key motivator factfile in realising the potential for one the No. Midland UK’s biggest population concentrations. Midland 125 Metro, UK Metro

hen travelling on around 130km (80 miles) of route, The Westside back ‘in-house’. In 1995 the Altram the UK’s Midland a system closed by 1953. Interurban extension will be consortium won the Midland Metro Metro, that name services linked several towns, but from this point on contract on a design, build, maintain Stephenson Street. is not prominent. Wolverhampton’s relatively small and operate basis. As West Midlands Mirror surfaces to It does not perhaps short-lived tramway (that trialled right and left denote Travel, joined accuratelyW represent a system opened the Lorain contact stud power the Grand Central Altram, initially as equal partners with in 1999 that has street running, open system) closed in 1928. complex around the infrastructure company Laing access pedestrian crossings and that In June 2016, Midland Metro Birmingham New and tram builder Ansaldo Transporti. uses trams rather than metro cars. came under the ownership and Street station. By 2006 it took full ownership. Specifically in the West Midlands, administration of the West Midlands Midland Metro opened on 30 May it is normally run as a single service Combined Authority (WMCA). 1999 over 20km (12.5 miles) of route, line, comprised almost entirely of Constituent councils in this area mainly using a disused section of double-track alignment. with around 2.8 million residents the former London to Midland Metro extends north-west are Birmingham, Coventry, , Birkenhead line that closed in March from Birmingham, often termed , , and 1972. The Metro’s original non-rail- England's ‘second city’, 180km Wolverhampton. Transport for West based section of about 2km (1.2 miles) (112 miles) by rail from London. Midlands (TfWM) is the executive is west of Priestfield where the line To reach its current northern terminus body of WMCA which subsumed the joins the as far as The Royal. in Wolverhampton, a borough gaining West Midlands Passenger Transport Dedicated space within carriageways city status in 2000, the Metro crosses Executive (WMPTE) created in 1969. takes the Metro further into the ; this long-standing This was represented as Centro and Wolverhampton over the 40m span unofficial name encompasses Network West Midlands, bodies of the Wishbone Bridge, which was many communities where coal, that oversaw Midland Metro’s built for the project. Originally with manufacturing and in particular development and operations and twin tracks at the , metal processing made it a centre of began its renewal and expansion. St. George’s terminus is a short walk the British industrial revolution. National Express, a key part of the from the main shopping area. Trams once operated widely across Metro for many years, will end its The Metro offered more stops, the area spanned by Midland Metro, association with the system in October Words and pictures enhanced frequency and improved not least in Birmingham which had 2018 when TfWM brings operations by Neil Pulling. access compared to the railway

104 / march 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org

THE FLEET

The 21 five-section, low-floor CAFUrbos 3 bi-directional trams were built in Zaragoza, Spain, and their numbering (17-37) followed on from the T69s. The first was formally presented at Wednesbury depot in October 2013, with the last received in July 2015. Fully air-conditioned, they are 33m long, 2.65m wide and have a capacity for 208 passengers, including 52 seats and a wheelchair space in each of the two open-floor sections. Tram 18 returned to Spain as the first conversion for future wire-free sections. Housing the batteries slightly changes the trams’ roof profile at both ends; others in the fleet should be similarly modified in the UK and the four on order will be delivered with batteries fitted. Introduced in another form for Network West Midlands on T69 09 during 2007, a white, silver and magenta livery is on all the CAF trams. Most of the former fleet carried names and (as at January 2018), two CAF trams have been named, continuing the theme of honouring figures with West Midlands associations. Except for tram 16, the last T69 in passenger service, which remained at Wednesbury depot, disposal of that fleet from ABOVE: With staggered platforms to fit in the narrow cutting, Central is next to the off-site storage was due by on online auction in January 2018. bus interchange. The original railway station was just beyond the bridge in the background.

“ The Metro crosses the Black Country; trams once operated widely across the area.”

ABOVE: In service for a month, CAF Urbos 3 28 nears St Pauls on 20 May 2015. Then still used by Midland Metro, Snow Hill station lies beyond a London Midland Class 172 DMU.

LEFT: The first tram with Network West Midlands colours in 2007, T69 09 is with 11 in a Birmingham Corporation commemorative livery at Wednesbury Parkway on 16 April 2014.

RIGHT: Opened as Snow Hill on the Birmingham city extension, this became St. Chads in January 2017. Most references, including the journey planner, include an apostrophe (St Chad’s).

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org march 2018 / 105 Midland Metro

LEFT: has separate stations along the route, but the new Metro and heavy rail platforms. Built for GWR service mostly lacked the visibility broad gauge, Hockley No. 2 tunnel is behind of a street tramway and passenger tram 18, since modified for battery operation. numbers were consistently below the Below left: A Class 150 DMU arrives at optimistic forecasts that had helped Hawthorns from the Kidderminster line with to support the project. Birmingham a Stratford-upon-Avon service. Tram 14 in the in particular illustrated this problem, original Midland Metro livery heads north on where the line terminated within 18 February 2009. Snow Hill station – a short distance from the heart of the city. This had AnBelow October: 2014 delivery, Urbos 31 been rebuilt for railway access, in 1987 is at Wednesbury depot on 27 July 2016. from the south and by 1995 for trains on the Worcester line running via Kidderminster. Gloomy for pedestrian access, track to this unwelcoming setting was also hidden by deep cuttings and tunnels. The initial fleet comprised 16 24.4m Ansaldo T69 60% low-floor trams manufactured in , Italy. Poor reliability and long repairs following accident damage hampered service improvement. For centre-to- centre travel, the Metro competed with frequent trains between Birmingham New Street, the city’s main station, and Wolverhampton. Two key changes addressed some of the system’s initial shortcomings, also foreshadowing other measures to

network facts

O pened: May 1999 Lin es: 1 (26 stops) Wolverhampton City Centre Extension D epots: 1 A pprox. weekday hours: 05.15-23.30 Wolverhampton St. George’s M ain frequency: 6-8 minutes The Royal G auge: 1435mm Priestfield P ower: 750 V dc, overhead supply F leet: 21 Bilston The Crescent Central O perator: National Express Midland Metro – http://nxbus.co.uk/the-metro R egional network: Loxdale Bradley Network West Midlands Lane Wednesbury www.networkwestmidlands.com Parkway Wednesbury Great E xpansion delivery: Midland Metro Western Street Alliance http://metroalliance.co.uk DEPOT C ivic information: www.wmca.org.uk T ourist information: www.visitheartofengland.com and Wednesbury to http://visitbirmingham.com Brierley Hill Extension Black Lake

Dudley Street Guns Village

Dartmouth Street Lodge Road

West Bromwich Central Trinity Way

Kenrick Park Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Extension Winson Green ABOVE LEFT: Wolverhampton Handsworth Outer Circle St. George’s in 2015 with one track Booth Street removed; that side is now roadway for bus Soho Jewellery use. An earlier extension plan foresaw Benson Road Quarter track heading onto the street on the right.

St. Chads Birmingham LEFT: Works for the Westside St. Paul’s Eastside Bull Extension extension at Paradise Circus Corporation Street Street in early January 2018. Birmingham Town Hall is in the background. Birmingham Westside Grand Extension Central

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make light rail a more comprehensive section of the overall 1.4km (0.8-mile) ABOVE: service and local information. mode in the West Midlands. In 2012 extension to complete the current Wolverhampton- There are four Metro park-and-ride CAF was selected to supply 33m, fully system opened on 30 May 2016. bound CAF 25 sites with 550 free spaces. Tickets low-floorUrbos 3 trams. Adding air The new southern Metro terminus crosses the Ridgacre are sold by onboard conductors, and canal branch at conditioning, about a third more carries the name Grand Central, the several cross-mode passes are also Black Lake. The New capacity and better access over the title of the shopping complex around Swan Lane crossing available. Acceptance of stored-value T69, the new trams were handling New Street station. With this street and final T69 in Swift cards extended to the Metro in all services by August 2015. section established, in the year to May service, 16, are in the January 2016, offering discounts over A street extension into Birmingham 2017 there were 7.89m journeys. The background. the normal , and contactless saw services transferred from Snow Metro had recorded 4.7m in 2013-14. card payment is accepted. Hill station in October 2015. Trams An effect of most of the present The significance of contactless turned back towards Wolverhampton system being on a former main line payments was immediate; within a from St Paul’s prior to new street-level is that the immediate surroundings month of its introduction, 7% of fares track becoming available to Bull of cuttings and vegetation hide how were handled in this way. End-to-end Street that December. The new stop intensively settled the area is; a mix travel is timetabled at 40 minutes. closest to the station took the Snow of established and new housing and Expansion plans and permissions Hill name until renamed as commercial premises. Several stops have existed for a long time. St. Chads in early 2017. Despite it are linked by trackside footpath/ With delegation of powers and gaining lift and stair access a year later, cycleways. Mostly with facing side resources previously held by the Bull Street still offers better transfers platforms, the stops use the same UK Government, momentum for between trams and trains. The final colours as the trams, plus improved expanding the system increased.

LEFT: Grand Central in July 2016, two months after it became Birmingham’s Metro terminus.

Birmingham RIGHT: The Eastside Extension realigned Metro between the 1 Snow Hill development and the station (to left) in June 2016.

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Heading towards Wishbone Bridge, 31 passes over the future Wolverhampton extension’s new junction, installed during the 2017 Bilston Road track renewal.

essential facts L ocal travel: Birmingham and The Midland Metro Alliance was Above left: Dudley and Brierley Hill, will greatly Wolverhampton each have ‘City formed in July 2016. This is a A Midland Metro improve Black Country mobility. Hop’ GBP1 (EUR1.10) fares between consortium of local authorities and Urbos 3 with a Here, even short road journeys can designated Metro stops, otherwise fares international companies chosen for special service take a long time. With up to 17 vary according to journey. Off-peak Day provided for design, construction and project stops, it will combine former railway Saver tickets for Midland Metro plus delegates attending National Express West Midlands buses management of the system’s the 2016 UK Light alignment and new street sections. are available at GBP5.20 (EUR5.85); expansion. The Alliance is responsible Rail Conference. The Birmingham Eastside extension Group Daytripper tickets for up to five for a near-tripling of the system leaving the present line at Bull Street people cost GBP10 (EUR11.25). For the over the next decade, including the Below left: is planned to open in advance of the large Network West Midlands area, introduction of catenary-free sections The first two named HS2 high-speed railway, due by 2026. including trains, Metro and buses, – a UK first – in Birmingham city CAF trams at Lodge Trams will serve the Curzon Street the n-Network One Day Card costs centre facilitated by retrofitting the Road, one of several terminus, sited near Moor Street GBP8.70 (EUR9.80). Check websites for CAF trams with lithium-ion traction closely spaced West station, with a sub-surface stop and validity and sales points. Bromwich stops. batteries. Trials began in late 2017. The works needed further easterly reach to Solihull What is there to see? In early 2018 the most apparent to convert this planned for linking the Birmingham To be crossed by the tramway on project due to works being near former main line Interchange station to include HS2’s Broad Street, Birmingham’s canal landmark locations is the 2km site are evident. northern lines. The tram route takes heartland has been refashioned as a (1.3-mile) Westside extension. in and the leisure area around Gas Street Basin This will add five stops beyond Below right: National Exhibition Centre. and Old Turn Junction. Extravagant Grand Central to Hagley Road, a main Rebuilt between Midland Metro’s operational centre external architecture can be found at route in south-west Birmingham. June and December and depot adjoins Wednesbury Great the Library of Birmingham and, next to 2017, the Metro’s Operation to Centenary Square may Western Street. Track access is from the 1930s-styled original road Moor Street station, Selfridges Bull come in 2019, with completion to section is between the west, extending from Wednesbury Ring. Close to the historic Curzon Edgbaston targeted for 2021. Priestfield and Parkway, a layout which accounts for Street station (to be incorporated in In Wolverhampton, the railway The Royal: the the stop being the start or finish the HS2 development) is Thinktank, and bus interchange will be served A41, Bilston Road, point for some services at each end of Birmingham's science-based museum. by a line branching off between the Wolverhampton on the day. Capacity was increased for There are bus connections from Wishbone Bridge and St. George’s. 4 January 2018. the new fleet, but a new facility will Metro stops for the Black Country With a single-track, that terminus be required for expansion. Living Museum (www.bclm.co.uk) which has a tram operation, and Dudley will retain some services when the Zoo and Castle. new line opens. A new 11km (6.9-mile) For more detail on the Midland Metro line from near Wednesbury depot, to expansion plans see TAUT 955 and 957.

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www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MARCH 2018 / 109 Worldwide Review

ALGERIA tramway system started in January OURAGLA. Testing is underway and should be completed in early on the city’s new tramway, with 2019. It will involve a link between passenger operations scheduled the Centro do Brasil commuter to begin in mid-March. L. Mlay rail station and Rio Branco. The tramway was carrying AUSTRALIA 60 000 passengers/day by the end ADELAIDE. The intersection of 2017. Although below forecasts, of King William St and North passenger surveys showed a 92% reopened on 15 January satisfaction with the service. O Globo after a two-week closure to permit SÃO PAULO. T he 20 -year installation of a three-quarter concession for the operation of Grand Union track layout. metro line 5 (Lilac) and monorail CANBERRA. Deliveries of 33m line 17 (Gold) has been awarded to CAF Urbos 3 trams are to reach the Viamobilidae consortium. one a week from the end of March, Alstom has been awarded a with tests on the 12km (7.5-mile) EUR11m contract to modernise line beginning in April. Passenger the signalling and control system operation is scheduled for the on metro line 9. IRJ end of 2018. Canberra Times MELBOURNE. In the first month CANADA Tramway construction was well underway in the French city of Avignon in of its new contract, OTTAWA. On 24 January the December. This is the future St-Chamand terminus. Y. Allain achieved 80.7% punctuality Rideau Transport Group advised compared with the requirement the City Council that it would PLZEN. Two more Vario LF bogie with the first passengers being of 82%, and thus faces a not be able to hand over the trams (367/8), were delivered carried in November 2019. The AUD500 000 fine from Public completed light rail line on 24 May, towards the end of 2017, carrying 4.3km (2.7-mile) line will link Gare Transport Victoria. new.com.au as contracted. A new date has not the new yellow and grey livery. BS de Châteaucreux and La Terrasse yet been made public. D. Drum PRAHA (). The last six via Soleil, le Zénith, le Technopôle TORONTO. The pilot project to Škoda 15T trams delivered to and Geoffroy-Guichard stadium . The new restrict parking and ban left turns Zizkov depot in 2017 were 9416- at a cost of EUR75m. 42info.fr are being on King Street has reduced tram 21; 9422-50 will arrive in 2018. delivered as 327-335 and 371-381 running times by 14% and boosted Following the dispatch of eight GERMANY (for use on the Stubaitalbahn). patronage by 25%. Meanwhile, T3 trams to Mariupol () BERLIN. Following last month’s The Stubaitalbahn reopened on exceptionally cold January weather in December, the last cars of this news of the invitation of tenders 17 November after completion of saw all ALRVs withdrawn, with bus type on the sale list are 7256/73; for the construction of the 3.35km the new Mutterer bridge. EB substitution on tramlines. 7174 and 7269 are being held in (2.1-mile) tramway link from WIEN (Vienna). Bombardier TTC has announced that reserve for heritage line 23. Alexanderplatz to Potsdamer Flexity 301 began test runs from the 505 and 506 trams will be KOS Krnov has delivered 8285, Platz via Spandauer Strasse, Simmering depot on 18 January. replaced by buses until 2019, a T3 rebuilt with a low-floor centre Mühlendamm, Spittelmarkt Work has started on the 900m while buses on 503 and 511 will section using parts from 8220. BS and Leipziger Strasse, planning extension of line D to Absberggasse. be replaced by trams (not evenings permission is also sought for Recent route changes reduced the and weekends). D. Drum ESTONIA new tramlines from Hbf to U-bhf peak run-out to 392 tramsets, a WATERLOO – KITCHENER. TALLINN. Ex-Gera KT4D 354 Turmstrasse and for the Ostkreuz level last recorded in 1903. Testing along the full length of and 361 are to become 181/2 in line from Boxhagener Strasse to Three stops on line 62 have had the new light rail line started on the Tallinn fleet. BS Karlshorster Strasse. their platforms lengthened in 11 January, using car 503, unloaded Double-ended Bombardier readiness for the diversion of WLB on 3 January. The railway flat car FRANCE GT8 Flexity Berlin up to 9080 service away from Eichenstrasse that brought 503 took the system’s BORDEAUX. B o r d e a u x were delivered by 31 December. and Siebertstrasse from 1 March. first car, 501, back to Bombardier at Metropole has exercised an option Modernised KT4D 6012/50/ The end of December saw the Kingston for remedial work. for ten 44m Alstom Citadis in a 5/7/64/71/2/3/89 and 6108 were withdrawal of E1 4814 and c4 EUR29.8m contract – they will sold to Oradea, . trailer 1366. EB CHINA follow the 15 trams being built and DL68 U-Bahn set 2246/7 CHENGDU. Contracts worth will be fitted with the APS surface has joined D57 2000/1 and EUR64m have been awarded current supply system. Once the 2020/1 on line U55. New IK17 ANTWERPEN. The last Flexity to to Alstom through its joint new order is delivered, Bordeaux sets entered service on line U5 arrive in 2017 was 7355, leaving venture partner Shanghai Alstom will operate 125 Alstom trams. from 10 December. There is 7356-62 to be delivered this year. Transport Electrical Equipment. LYON. The Fourviere bus substitution on this line From 8 January tramline 4 They cover traction equipment is out of action 2 January-31 May between Alexanderplatz and was back to operate Hoboken for 200 metro cars and CBTC train for renovation. The first track has Strausbergerplatz from 8 January – Groenplaats only, with line 9 control for the 22km (13.7-mile) been laid for tramline T6. E. Stuart to 8 April. On the S-Bahn, the extended from Ekselaar to Silsburg line 9, which will be the city’s first MARSEILLE. Tenders have been new Südringkurve at Ostkreuz in replacement. There is also a automated metro when it opens invited for 38 four-car automated was brought into use from new shuttle between Sint at the end of 2020. RGI metro trains, with the option December. BS Pietersvliet and Berchem station. HANGZHOU. The 11.1km (seven- of a further 22, plus CBTC train BIELEFELD. A further 24 This arrangement will last for 14 mile) extension of metro line 4 control and a new control centre. Vamos metre-gauge trams have months while infrastructure work from Jinjiang to Puyan opened RGI been ordered from HeiterBlick/ takes place in Guldenvliesstraat. on 9 January. A further 23.9km NANCY. Nancy is buying six TVR Kiepe for EUR90m. They will join Route 24 will, from the same date, (15 miles) is still under rubber-tyred guided buses from the other 16 to replace the last of operate Silsburg – Rooseveltplaats, construction. urbanrail.net the now-closed Caen system, the Stadtbahn-M cars in 2020-21. replacing bus service 31. T-2000 probably as a source of spare BS parts rather than to be rebuilt as BONN. The first funding has BRAZIL OSTR AVA. The city has increased guided trolleybuses. Filobus been released for the extension of RIO DE JANEIRO. Work to build the order for new trams from ST-ÉTIENNE. Work on the city’s line 63 from Tannenbusch Mitte line 3 of the Porto Maravilha Stadler from 30 to 40. infotram third tramline will start in April, to Buschdorf. BS

110 / MARCH 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org BREMEN. Thirty-five of the 77 trams for delivery in 2020, with Siemens Avenio trams on order will an option for seven more. BS be equipped to EBO regulations to GÖRLITZ. It has been decided to permit operation on railway tracks end the operating contract with when the planned extensions of Veolia and take the undertaking lines 1 and 8 take place. BS back into a new city company CHEMNITZ. T he opening (GVB) from 1 January 2019. BS ceremony for the 1.5km (0.9-mile) GOTHA. The weekend of 24-25 tram extension from Stadlerplatz March will see 90 years of tramway to Technische Universität took operation on the Ostbahnhof place on 8 December with a parade line marked by a variety of featuring Citylink 435, Variobahn specials using heritage trams. DS 902, Citylink 441, Tatra 401 and HANNOVER. More 6000-series LOWA 801. Lines 3, C13 and C15 Stadtbahn cars sold to Budapest are were extended from Hbf over the 6106/25/59-61/85/8. This leaves new EUR31m line. BS 113 of this type in Hannover; DÜSSELDORF. The first HF6 71 series 3000 cars had been high-floor Stadtbahn car was delivered by 31 December. BS The Czech capital, Praha (Prague), is experiencing a shortage of tram drivers, so this new batch of trainees seen in front of the training fleet of Tatra T3 trams on KARLSRUHE. By the end of 2017 unveiled at Bombardier’s Bautzen 22 January will be most welcome. DPMHP. facility on 19 December and delivery of new Stadtbahn cars had should have been delivered by the reached vehicles 376 (NET2012) A further extension from temporary horse tram stables on time TAUT went to press. and 958 (ET2010). Early Stadtbahn Campus Jungfernsee to Krampnitz land formerly occupied by the Opening of the 1.8km (1.2-mile) cars 501/5/10/4/6/55/74/6/90 and (new housing in former barracks) Aquadrome & Summerland at line 701 extension from S-Bhf Rath 831 have been sold for scrap. BS is planned. BS Derby Castle. Arrangements have to ISS-Dome (Am Hülserhof) on 7 KÖLN (Cologne). KVB and STUTTGART. The contract has been made to retain use of the January was marked by a parade the city plan to offer free public been let for the extension of line Summer Hill stables for the 2018 of historic trams, including transport on 3 June, to encourage U6 from Fasanenhof to Flughafen/ season (29 March-4 November). 583+797 (1920/5), 267+316 (1937), car drivers to use trams and buses. Messe, with the three-year project The new timetable includes 14+332 (1944/49) , works car 5111 The 14th and 15th Stadtbahn-B starting later this year. Seven evening services on most Saturdays (1925), Grossraumwagen 114+1629 cars to be refurbished are 2409/5 extra tracks are being laid at in July and August but Monday (1954/55), 2501 (1956), 2432 (ex-2109/15). A new 825m-long Möhringen workshops to provide and/or Tuesday services will only (1961), 3218 (1975), and 2003 depot for 64 Stadtbahn cars is to stabling for 28 Stadtbahn sets. be provided in the high summer (2000). With the removal of the be built at Weidenpesch. DS The undertaking is to mark 150 period. Further investment in turning circle at Rath, a new LEIPZIG. With the fastest years of tramway operation in restoring rolling stock includes siding has been built to reverse population growth rate of any 2018 with a series of events in May- ‘toastracks’ 42 and 45. double-ended trams on line U71. German city – a further 150 000 July. Full details can be found at The Department of The first NF6 tram to be residents are expected by 2035, www.ssb-ag.de/150jahre. BS Infrastructure has submitted a refurbished in Leipzig, 2102, with 4500 new cars registered in further planning application for returned to the Rheinbahn the city each year – the mayor is INDIA the redevelopment of Douglas in November. BS proposing a new east–west S-Bahn AHMEDABAD. Siemens has Promenade. Twin tracks are to be ERFURT. Fourteen 40m low- tunnel, or possibly a tram subway. been awarded a EUR76m contract retained in the centre of the road floor trams are to be purchased for The existing tram and bus to supply 750V dc third-rail from the terminal at Strathallan to the BUGA 2021 exhibition, and network carries around 145m electrification for phase 1 of a point just north of the Broadway to start replacing the 16 MGT6 passengers each year, with the the metro, due to open in 2023. junction. They will then cross to trams. BS number of passenger kilometres Hyundai Rotem is supplying 96 the seaward side of the highway /MÜLHEIM (Ruhrbahn). increasing by almost 20% metro cars. RGI and switch to a single track, The undertaking is planning to since 2014. IRJ, Leipziger Zeitung NOIDA. Test operation on the new terminating alongside Bottleneck order 51 new cars to replace its NAUMBURG. The State of 29.7km (18.5-mile) metro started car park. Subject to approval, work existing fleet of standard-gauge Sachsen-Anhalt has given a grant on 2 January, using the first of on the southern section is likely to Stadtbahn-B and ex-DLR cars in of EUR800 000 to help finance 19 CRRC-built four-car trains. commence in September. There is 2023-25. There will also be 26 more the 80m tramway extension in No date for passenger service has unlikely to be any affect on horse low-floor trams for the metre-gauge front of Hbf to open this year. BS yet been announced. RGI tram operation in 2018. network, with delivery in 2022-24. PLAUEN. Entry into service of Six 1400-series Stadtbahn-M the new low-floor trams from IRELAND ITALY trams from Essen and eight from Bombardier was completed by DUBLIN. The National Transport MILAN. Metro line 5 is to be Mülheim are on their way to Iasi 309 on 16 December. The whole Authority has published extended north by 12km (7.5 in Romania. DS Sunday service is now operated preliminary details for public miles) from to Monza. FRANKFURT/Oder. From 10 with this type of tram. transport use in 2017. Luas recorded However the project is unlikely to December the tramway comprises: KT4D 225 and 239 have been a 10.26% rise to 37.6m journeys, be completed before 2031. TR 1, Stadion – Neuberesinchen; 2, stripped and scrapped. BS with an extension to Broombridge SOPRABOLZANO. T h e Europa-Universität – Messegelände; POTSDAM. With the opening adding to the numbers in the last Rittnerbahn has acquired the 3, Europa-Universität – of the new tramline to Campus three weeks of the year. fourth BDe4/4 from the Swiss Kopernikusstrasse; 4, Lebuser Jungfernsee on 10 December, the GALWAY. Proposals for a tram St Gallen – Trogen line (22). The Vorstadt – Kopernikusstrasse; 5, tramway network is as follows: 91, network have been revived. Italian authorities have banned Neuberesinchen – Messegelände Bhf Pirschheide – Bhf Rehbrücke; Previous plans were not taken all passenger service with the (Monday-Friday peaks only). 92, Kirschallee – Hbf (–Marie- further on the basis that the city’s historic wooden-bodied trams. EA Bids for 13 low-floor trams were Juchacz-Str); 93, Gleinicker population is too low, but with received from Solaris and Škoda, Brücke – Bhf Rehbrücke; 94, population growth, congestion IVORY COAST but the tenders were allowed to Fontanestrasse – Schloss and delays in the provision of a ABIDJAN. During a state visit on expire without an order being Charlottenhof (– Bhf Pirscheide); bypass on environmental grounds, 30 November, French President placed due to disagreements 96, Campus Jungfernsee – campaigners are now asking for Emmanuel Macron laid the within the city council. Marie-Juchacz-Str; 98, Schloss a further study. stone for a 37.9km This means that the fleet will not Charlottenhof – Bhf Rehbrücke; 99, (23.5-mile) north–south metro be all low-floor until 2022. BS Fontanestrasse – Platz der Einheit ISLE OF MAN that should be carrying passengers FREIBURG/Breisgau. Tenders (– Hbf). The lengthened Combino DOUGLAS. Planning permission in 2020. Most of the surface line have been invited for five new XL are used on line 96. has been granted for five-year will take over the alignment of

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of the same type from the series of the trams and running repairs 203-227, apparently taking the to the other vehicles. fleet numbers as replaced cars. BS Valencia has been SIBIU. The first test run at Rasinari awarded a EUR120.4m contract with ex-Stern & Hafferl Swiss- for 15 four-car EMUs for the built 26 111 was on 11 January. FGC standard-gauge commuter Passenger service is expected rail line. Delivery will take place in April. C. Misinger in 2019. R. Felski, RGI

RUSSIA MAGNITOGORSK. The first STOCKHOLM. The first of 96 two 71-623 trams from Ust- four-section C30 T-bana trains left Katav were delivered in January. Bombardier’s Hennigsdorf factory It is understood the city plans to on 9 November to go for testing at acquire 15 in total. transphoto.ru Minden, followed by a visit to the MOSKVA. On 23 December, line Wien climate chamber. EB 20 was revised to operate Kursky Vokzal – Krasnokasarmennaya SWITZERLAND A short extension took New Orleans’ Canal St line to a new terminus at Canal Ploschad every nine minutes. BASEL. Delivery of short Flexity Blvd in January. NOLA Delivery of 71-931 Vityaz trams trams had reached 6012 by the end the former metre-gauge railway similar trams from Mülheim/ from Tver had reached 31121 by of 2017, with five more awaited. BS to Ouagadougou. The French Ruihr are 871/4/6. BS the end of 2017, with deliveries in BERN. Tenders are being prepared Government has committed ŁÓDZ. The first of 12 PesaSwing 2018 going to Oktyabrskoe depot for the purchase of 21 new 43m EUR1.4bn towards the project, low-floor trams was delivered on – 31121, which entered service on trams, to replace 81-9 and 731-42. which will feature Alstom trains the night of 21-22 January. 21 January, carries yet another 2018 will see tram traffic across the and Keolis as operator. BS KATOWICE. The requirement livery: white with black window Kirchenfeldbrücke (Zytglogge – for ten bogie trams with low-floor surrounds and a light blue skirt. Helvetiaplatz) suspended from LATVIA centre sections will be fulfilled Twenty replaced KTM-19 have 23 July to 9 November to permit LIEPAJA. Last year’s tram tender by Modertrans, after an appeal been sent to Ulyanovsk. Khovrino renovation work on the steel did not attract any bidders, so the by H. Cegielski was rejected by on line 2 opened on structure. The eastern end of lines undertaking is trying again with a the courts. infotram 31 December. transphoto.ru 6, 7 and 8 will be replaced by buses. call for six or seven low-floor cars KRAKÓW. MPK has signed a Of the 32 Stadler Flirt EMUs for delivery in 2020-21. contract with the Solaris-Stadler SINGAPORE ordered by BLS, 28 will be used The new trams for the 14.8km joint venture for 35 33.4m 75% MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY. The on Bern’s S-Bahn from 2021. (9.2-mile) metre-gauge network low-floor trams worth PLN440m international metro to Johor Bahru BS, RGI will enable the retirement of (EUR106.2m); there is an option in Malaysia should be carrying BREMGARTEN – DIETIKON some of the system’s ageing Tatra for 15 more and deliveries will passengers in 2024 according to (BDWM). Tenders were due to KT4 cars (some of which were start in 2020. The EU is to provide a bilateral agreement signed on close on 28 February for eight acquired from the German cities a grant of PLN125m (EUR30.1m) 16 January, running from dual-voltage 70% low-floor, 45m of Cottbus, Gera and Erfurt); first towards the procurement. Woodlands North station in LRVs compatible with the new deliveries are required within The 33.4m Tramino Kraków Singapore. A joint venture of SMRT Limmattalbahn line to Zürich. two years of contract signing. will be 2.4m wide with capacity and Prasarana will design, finance, Delivery is required in 2021-22 The order is part of a EUR15.3m for 227 passengers, 80 seated. build and operate the service with an option for eight more cars. modernisation plan that includes At 1.4m, the doors will be wider under a 30-year concession. RGI BDWM is in the process of a track and overhead line work than on the city’s existing trams merger with WSB (Aarau). EA along Lielã iela in the city centre; for faster boarding and a passenger GENEVE. The last of the new the programme has attracted a counting system will allow the KOSICE. Pragoimex has Stadler Tango trams, 1832, was EUR13m EU grant. operator to adjust service levels completed delivery of Vario delivered in January. EA across the network based on LF2Plus 834-46; remaining LIESTAL – WALDENBURG ridership on individual routes. Tatra T3 336/81/3 will be retained (WB). In a joint tender with DEN HAAG. The re-opening An improved bogie design will as a three-car museum set. BDWM, ten metre-gauge LRVs of Stationsplein for trams was be introduced to reduce wheel Other T3 trams are instruction for 1500V dc operation are delayed to late January or early wear and vibration and the first car 100 (ex-261), 359 and works to be acquired. EA February after the foundations of two cars will be equipped with cars 101 and 112 (ex-298/29). BS RHÄTISCHE BAHNEN (RhB). new traction masts on the tram traction batteries to allow up to The line between Saglians and viaduct were found to be defective, 3km (1.9 miles) travel off-wire. SOUTH KOREA Scuol will be closed from March and the masts replaced. OR Others will have the option of INCHEON. A 5.8km (3.6-mile) 2018-September 2019 to permit ROTTERDAM. The rebuilding retrofitment. extension took the AREX rail link refurbishment of tunnels. EA of the Hoek van Holland rail line Krakowiak tram 425 has been to Incheon International Airport for metro operation has become given a tartan livery to promote Terminal 2 from 18 January. RGI TURKEY something of a scandal, with the Scottish tourism, and was launched GENERAL. Prime Minister possibility that it will not now by the British ambassador on SPAIN Binali Yıldırım announced on re-open until the end of 2018. The 23 January. Infotram BARCELONA. Service on the 25 January that a nationwide project is well over budget. OR Tranvia Blau heritage tramway transport smartcard is to be was suspended indefinitely from 1 launched in June. SINTRA. The winter timetable February for a major infrastructure All registered citizens will be CZESTOCHOWA. A PLN89m from 30 October to 20 March overhaul, with the final day of entitled to apply for the Türkiye (EUR21.5m) contract has been features two round trips on the operation being 28 January. Kart, valid on urban public signed with Pesa for ten 32.2m heritage tramway, at 10.20 and Both the rails and catenary of transport in all major cities 100% low-floor Twist trams for 14.00 from Sintra. BS the 1.28km (0.8-mile) line, dating which currently have their own delivery by the end of 2019. from the 1980s, will be replaced smartcards; a mobile app version infotram ROMANIA and to remedy current traffic will also be available. ELBLAG. All the ex-Mainz ORADEA. Ten KT4D have conflicts from centre running ISTANBUL. Opened recently is trams have been withdrawn. arrived from Berlin, and 20 more the new line will be aligned with a 750m horizontal cableway with Ex-Augsburg Stadtbahn-M eight- are expected to follow. They are the kerb. The EUR11m programme two cars from the Swiss company axle cars are 803/10/12, while replacing unmodernised trams includes a full overhaul of one Bartholet, linking Seyrantepe

112 / mARCH 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org metro station with the Vadistanbul to improve capacity and network the same day restricted services to EL PASO, TX. The overhead on shopping centre. BS resilience, and provide later The Forest and Hucknall/Phoenix the new tramline was energised services and better connections. Park before 11.00. for the first time on 9 January; the UKRAINE Changes include extending the Concessionaire Tramlink first two Brookvile PCC rebuilds KYIV. The first ex-Praha T6 Airport service from Deansgate- Nottingham recorded GBP48.5m were expected to be delivered (8639) entered service as 005 on Castlefield to Victoria via the (EUR55.5m) losses for 2017; the in February. E. B. Havens 28 December, replacing a tram Second City Crossing, while the consortium has indicated that as FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. with the same number. Delivered MediaCity UK service is extended a PFI scheme, the project carried The Brightline diesel commuter in 2017 were Elektron 804-6 and from to Eithad Campus high debt in the concession’s early rail service to West Palm Beach Pesa 71-414 761-85. BS instead of the Altrincham years associated with construction opened for passenger service on ODESA. Tatra T3R.P 4010 was service that will now terminate and infrastructure costs for the 13 January. Service will be destroyed by fire on 12 January. at Piccadilly. A newly-revised system’s two new lines and the extended to Miami this spring. In transphoto.ru network map has been issued purchase of a new tram fleet. the other direction, the service is with services distinguished by Accounts noted a net reduction in due to reach Orlando airport. IRJ coloured lines. its debt by GBP4.8bn (EUR5.5bn). KANSAS CITY, MO. T he BATH. A preliminary study Additional platforms for Passenger numbers grew from FTA has agreed to back the into the potential for a light rail departing trams will come into 11.5m to 15.34m between 2016 proposal to build a 5.6km system has concluded that four use at Altrincham and Victoria, and 2017, with the opening (3.5-mile) tramway extension key corridors are worthy of further and Sunday services will of the Toton Lane and Clifton to the University of Missouri. detailed analysis. Undertaken by finish around midnight (as on South lines. HDR Engineering is carrying out consultants Atkins for Bath and Mondays-Fridays), rather than WEST MIDLANDS. Works a design study. North East Somerset Council, the an hour earlier as at present. in Pinfold Street to deliver the On 18 January the city council study suggests that routes to Odd The strengthening to double 1.3km (0.8-mile) Centenary voted to invalidate a 2017 Down, Newbridge, Lansdown unit trams on the Altrincham to Square extension will require the petition initiative that prevented and along the from the Bury service (introduced before de-commissioning of the head- tramway expansion without a Lambridge area would have the Christmas) will continue. shunt used by terminating trams city election. E. B. Havens best potential, although the As part of the proposals to at Grand Central/New Street LOS ANGELES, CA. For 71 days latter would have significant provide turn-back facilities at station. Trams will then terminate from 26 January work is in progress transport challenges. Crumpsall for the forthcoming and reverse in the platform at to connect the new Crenshaw . Bristol Mayor Trafford Park service, the the Grand Central stop. LRT alignment with the existing Marvin Rees believes the city pedestrian overbridge has been The Transport and Works Green line tracks. As a result bus will have a GBP4bn (EUR4.6bn) removed. A new pedestrian Order (TWO) for the scheme is shuttles replace Green line service underground rail network within crossing opened on 3 January. currently under consideration; it between Hawthorne/Lennox and ten years. He envisages a three- Tracklaying began at Parkway is expected this will be dealt with Redondo Beach. A. Fishel line network connecting the Circle on the 5.5km (3.4-mile) under written representation NEW ORLEANS, LA. The new city centre to , Trafford Park line on 1 February. procedures rather than as a Public Cemeteries tram terminus and Emersons Green and Aztec West. The new line will have six stops Inquiry. Midlands Metro Alliance interchange for the Canal St He says that private finance and is due to open in 2020. expects all outstanding objections line was brought into use on 7 could cover the bulk of the cost. LONDON (DOCKLANDS). to be resolved before confirmation January. E. B. Havens . Cardiff Council has Custom House station reopened of the TWO in late 2018. PHILADELPHIA, PA (SEPTA). secured support from its City on 8 January following an Transport for West Midlands The planned order for new trams Deal partners to help deliver a new 11-month closure for work to has accepted that one of the fleet to replace the Kawasaki cars on Central Transport Interchange. allow interchange with Elizabeth of Midland Metro T69 trams city routes by 2024 took a step The Cardiff Capital Region has line () services. should be preserved at a suitable forward in January when details agreed in principle to give GBP40m Completion of facilities, including museum or heritage location. of platform rebuilds to permit (EUR45.8m) towards securing a mezzanine deck above the No expressions of interest from a level access low-floor boarding match funding, which will be museum had been received by the were revealed, including closing used to deliver a Core Employment platforms, new canopies and two end of last year. many stops that are close to others; Zone. It is planned that the new additional staircases, is to take it is proposed to order a new fleet interchange will link into the place by the spring. USA of 120 24.4m cars. The Inquirer Metro proposals, The Elizabeth line is to open BOSTON, MA. The first Type SALT LAKE CITY, UT. The which include possible tram-train in phases from December. 9 LRV was delivered from CAF ex-San Jose UTDC-built LRVs linkages to employment areas. Interchanges with the DLR will to Riverside workshops in 1041-69 purchased 12 years . F u r t h e r be at Stratford, Canary Wharf, early January. ago were all withdrawn by consideration is being given to the Custom House and Woolwich (for CHARLOTTE, NC. The Blue the end of 2017 and offered proposed GBP144m (EUR165m) Woolwich Arsenal DLR station). line extension to the University for sale at USD8000 each. Glasgow Airport tram-train link in LONDON (UNDERGROUND). of North Carolina is to open for It is understood only scrap bids the light of concerns raised in an has passenger service on 16 March. were received. E. B. Havens audit report for Transport Scotland installed two new, low vibration A dummy service was in operation ST LOUIS, MO. Plans have been (TAUT 961, January). track junctions to connect the from 21 January. E. B. Havens unveiled for a 27.3km (17-mile) So far GBP2m (EUR2.3m) new Northern Line Extension CINCINNATI, OH. Extreme north–south LRT line from Pine has been spent on project tunnels to the existing Northern cold weather and reliability Lawn to Bella Vista, passing development, but the report line at Kennington. Wandsworth issues in mid-January put all five through the city centre on 9/10 highlighted the impact on other Council has approved the design CAF-built trams out of service Streets. The USD1.5bn project rail services if an extra four trains for the new station at Battersea for several days. CAF had a team would be built in 2023-27, an hour run from Glasgow Central Power Station. The 3km (1.9-mile) working in the city to remedy the subject to public consultation, to Paisley Gilmour Street as part extension is due to open in 2020. issues, but the city is reportedly and funding. Unlike the existing of a tram-train link. Transport NOTTINGHAM. A serious fire at withholding USD4m in payments east-west LRT, the new line would Scotland is currently looking the station in the early morning of following a series of mechanical be street-based. E. B. Havens to improve capacity at Central 12 January disrupted rail and tram issues with the new vehicles. SAN BERNADINO, CA. The Station and the airport project services. Trams were allowed to run Service resumed on 22 January. County Transportation Authority is likely to be given priority and through the station from 13.45, A car struck an out of service has ordered three Stadler Flirt incorporated into those works. but only allowed to stop from tram on 19 January, derailing DMUs for its GREATER MANCHESTER. the following day with limited the CAF vehicle and resulting in service, which will feed Metrorail routings and timetables pedestrian access from Station injuries for the two staff onboard. service to Los Angeles. There is an were to be revised from 28 January Street. A separate (police) incident E. B. Havens, WCPO Cincinnati option for three more. RGI

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org march 2018 / 113 Worldwide Review

SANTA ANA, CA. Work is start average per car of 5500 miles SKJOLDENAESHOLM (DK). Acknowledgements are due this year on the 6.6km (4.1-mile), (8850km) due to increased visitor The Danish Tramway Museum will to 42info.fr, Birmingham Post, USD300m tramline linking the numbers and extra events during mark its 40th anniversary with a Blickpunkt Strassenbahn (BS), Santa Ana Transportation Center the year. A three-car service has festival on 26 May. BS Canberra Times, Drehscheibe and Avenue in had to be maintained whereas in (DS), Edinburgh Evening News, Garden Grove, with completion previous years a two-car service CONTRIBUTORS Eisenbahn (EB), Eisenbahn in 2020-21. Eight trams will be was normal on quieter days. A Worldwide items for inclusion Amateur (EA), Filobus, infotram, needed. E. B. Havens four-car service runs on the busiest should be sent to Michael Taplin International Railway Journal (IRJ), SEATTLE, WA. Planning for the days, mainly in school holidays. Flat 8, Roxan Villa, 33 Landguard Irish Independent, Leipziger Zeitung, LRT extension to Tacoma is to be DRESDEN (DE). 2018 opening Manor Rd, Shanklin PO37 7HZ. Manchester Evening News, new.com. undertaken by HDR Consulting. days for the tramway museum Fax: +44 (0)1938 862810 or au, Nottingham Evening Post, Op de The project is not expected to open in the former Trachenberg depot e-mail: [email protected] Rails (OR), Eric Pounder, Railway until 2030. E. B. Havens are 7-8 April, 9-10 June, 18-19 UK and Ireland items are Gazette International (RGI), The TAMPA, FL. The Tampa Bay August and 10-11 November, welcomed by Home Editor, John Inquirer, Today’s Railways (TR), Transportation Management Area 10.00-17.00. Symons, 17 Whitmore Avenue, Tram 2000 (T-2000), transphoto.ru, Leadership Group, meeting on KENNEBUNKPORT, ME (US). Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 WCPO Concinnati, urbanrail.net, 19 January, decided to recommend On 8 December the Seashore 0LW, UK. E-mail [email protected] and Wolverhampton Express & Star. bus rapid transit rather than Trolley Museum, in partnership light rail for the Tampa – with Maine boatbuilder RedFern, St Petersburg corridor. E. B. Havens delivered a battery-powered replica of Parlor Tram The City VIETNAM of Manchester. A private DA NANG. The operator of the organisation sponsored Seoul metro is to support the construction of the car for development of a metro as part of operation at a waterfront estate a new public transport plan . IRJ in south Florida, where it will be christened The Peacock MUSEUM NEWS Lounge. The original, from BEAMISH (UK). The total fleet Manchester, NH, is in the mileage for 2017 amounted to museum collection. J. Schantz 27 550 miles (roughly 44 300km) LEIPZIG (DE). The first open with an average per car of day of the year at the transport 6500 miles (10 460km). This is museum in Wittenberger Strasse higher than the normal annual will be on 20 May. BS

MEETINGS & EVENTS Compiled by the LRTA. For a full list of the year’s meetings see www.lrta.org

F eBRUARY 2018 Mrcha 2018

Saturday 17. Taunton 14.00. Robert Saturday 3. West Midlands 14.00. Manders: France: What they have got Roger Monk: Walthamstow and right (and what they haven’t!). (TLRS) wherever Pt 2. (LRTA/TLRS/LRTA) Monday 19. 20.00. John Tuesday 6. Southampton 19.30. Ryan: More on . (TLRS) John Laker: cine film. (LRTA/SEG) Monday 19. Sheffield 19.30. Mike Friday 9. Glasgow 19.30. Gordon Waring: Videos across the Ruhr. Casely: Tramway heraldry. (STTS) Monday 19. Wickham 19.30. Martin Monday 12. Thames Valley 19.30. Jenkins: Liverpool trams, 60th Mike Skeggs: Slides. (TLRS) closure anniversary. (TLRS) Wednesday 14. Brighton 19.40. Tuesday 20. Leeds 19.00. Malcolm Andrew Henbest: Trams and Hindes: European tramways. Trolleybuses – UK and Abroad. (TLRS) Tuesday 20. London 1900. Saturday 17. Blackpool Rigby Road Jason Cross: Capturing the present, depot and Tram tour: Pre-booking is and recreating the past. essential as space is limited. (TLRS) Thursday 22. Manchester 19.00. Saturday 17. Norfolk 14.00. Phil Carver: Geoff Lomas: Kodachrome slides. E-trams: Trams and models on the Friday 23. Leicester 20.00. internet. Venue: 26 Geoffrey Road, David Witt: Bremen and Hamburg Norwich NR1 3BG (TLRS Norfolk) + Columbia and Ecuador. (TMS) Saturday 17. Taunton 14.00. Mark Friday 23. Edinburgh 19.30. Tim Blackstone: Rails in Majorca. (TLRS) Kendell: Tram-trains, a clarification. Monday 19. Liverpool 20.00. Sharon Saturday 24. Beeston 14.00. AGM Brown, Curator of Land Transport plus photo competition, Bob Hall: and Industry: Frank Hornby, the Yankee Pseudo-Tramways. (TLRS) British inventor of Meccano and Saturday 24. Garstang 14.00. Visit to Hornby Trains. (TLRS Mersyside) the Model Tramway Symposium at Monday 19. Sheffield 19.30. Andy the Lyric Hotel, Blackpool. (TLRS) Barclay: Europe via Peter Fox’s slides. Saturday 24/Sunday 25. Blackpool Monday 19. Wickham 19.30. AGM 10.00-17.00. Symposium: Layouts, & model comp, photos and/or DVDs. demonstrations and sales. (TLRS) (TLRS Solent)

114 / mARCH 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Letters

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

Sandilands accident investigation: What has taken so long?

At 170-plus pages, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch detailed investigations in half the time it has taken to release (RAIB) report into the November 2016 accident at Sandilands the Sandilands report. Junction (Croydon, UK) is indeed comprehensive, but it doesn’t It seems that these reports have been slowed in recent years give us any definitive answers and includes many examples due to a number of reasons, the primary one being the split of the words ‘possibly’, and ‘likely’. Far more significantly, between the investigative and regulatory branches of the however, one has to ask why it has taken so long to produce. UK’s railway. Whilst I fully understand the reasoning behind Given the tragic loss of life, and the seriousness of the injuries this division (after all, it would be improper for the same involved, it is important that the friends and families of those organisation to effectively scrutinise its own decisions), it also involved were assured of a thorough and comprehensive review appears to have had the unwanted effect of creating delays in of the causes – and also the recommendations to prevent future reaching prompt conclusions and duplication of effort. incidents of this type – but to take 13 months is unacceptable. The interim reports produced by the RAIB have been useful In days gone past, the Railway Inspectorate produced reports in giving guidance to operators and infrastructure owners, into rail disasters in two to three months, and overseas safety but the final report adds little to what we already know. and regulatory bodies even in more modern times can conduct Name and address supplied

High-floor does have its advantages... confused. Cambridge is considered to be a of any published reports, which presumably Manchester (UK) should be praised for tramway but is a (private?) road. should include one from the Health & Safety introducing disabled access to its trams Regulation or self-policed risk management Executive, as the busway is ‘premises’ rather when such provision was unfashionable. is unclear – whether this is dealt with by than a public road. As most of the stops on the original routes Section 39 (where the whole process is Transferring these ‘shunt’ crashes to the were at former railway stations, the high- internalised by the roads authority) or the trams context, one hazard is removed. All floor approach was the sensible solution. If Health and Safety at Work Act linking to UK tramways have a single operator, and a the Eccles route had opened using low-floor Section 3 duties to non-employees, and control centre that can contact drivers and technology then the route would have had to RIDDOR reporting of incidents. warn of any risk of collision that becomes be a separate shuttle, otherwise kerb loading For Cambridge there are two operators, and apparent if a controller either sees it directly stops duplicating the platforms would have Dunstable three, and they need to have a or is alerted from their monitoring of the full been needed in the city centre (assuming central controller to regulate movements system. Yet we still have the ‘bumps’, as we room could be found). in the absence of a physically present rely on the driver to start braking in good High-floor trams have several advantages, signalling system. time to stop a prescribed distance from the aside from the ability to use railway station From what I have collected through tram in front. A need perhaps to consider platforms. The proven articulated system with press reports there have been at least eight the equivalent of an outer home signal with both sections resting on a common bogie is significant crashes on guided busways, six of a ‘virtual trip-cock’ for the track brake at much simpler, lighter on the track and has which mirror Croydon. Five of these could tramstops and junctions where there is the lower maintenance costs than the modern have delivered key calls for more effective potential to deliver two trams on the same four-wheel trucks under alternate body location and visibility of speed limit and piece of track. sections. The interior layout is also far superior other warning signs, driver vigilance, the However, aware of both Dunstable and with the flat floor free of wheelbox intrusions. back-up of location triggered speed capping, a hypothesis extrapolated from the two The real disadvantage is having unsightly and (relevant to an elephant in the room Trumpington derailments – where we high platforms in a couple of central question) the provision of the equivalent have the potential of a bus driver failing to locations, especially that at St Peters Square. of the London Underground trip cock. stop for the traffic signal, with no overlap Will Halifax, by e-mail This could be set to apply emergency brakes distance past the stop line to avoid fouling if a tram or bus passes a stop ‘signal’ – for an oncoming bus – I am concerned that there What backup for driver vigilance? example where a bus or tram is occupying the seems to be no consideration for a trip cock or I must disagree with Nicholas Owen on track in front (usually at a tram or bus stop). ATO equivalent on tram track or busways. the suggestion that the investigation and The really worrying detail has featured in I wonder what back-stop options might management of tram incidents should be two reported incidents, the first involving be available to eliminate reliance solely on managed more like that of buses (TAUT 961). three buses on the Lothian busway. One driver and controller vigilance. Readers may recall my earlier letter on was occupying the bus stop, a second driver Dave Holladay, by e-mail the crashes on guided (and non-guided) pulled up, but at less than the prescribed busways, potentially an even bigger black spacing, and that bus was then hit by the The world is already cashless hole, especially since 2006 when the switch third which failed to stop in time, shunting I’m 52 and I’m afraid I have to strongly from ROTS to ROGS delivered the relaxations the second bus into the first, and injuring disagree with the recent letter about the that perhaps seeded a cultural slide for trams. three people. cashless society (TAUT 962). It’s already here! This dropped the oversight of busways Then in June 2016 a bus broke down on I recently visited Iceland for the weekend into a limbo between public roads (and the the – Dunstable Busway, and was and didn’t need to use cash once – not even unpublished, poorly resourced, and often shunted from the rear by a vehicle travelling, to visit the gents. Everything was taken care poorly delivered Section 39 investigation) at least until shortly before impact, at 50mph of on my debit card, with no messing about, and private roads (in theory regulated by the (80km/h). The former was propelled 20-30m ending up with a pocketful of useless coins, Health & Safety Commission, and RIDDOR forwards, presumably through the driver and all perfectly safe. reporting process). releasing the parking brake to reduce the Plus my phone told me exactly how much I The guided busways, created under effects of the impact; 32 people were injured, was spending. Marvellous! Transport and Works Acts, are equally 15 of them taken to hospital. I’m not aware Colin Brazier, Petersfield (UK)

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MARCH 2018 / 115 Classic Trams

PART Melbourne’s TWO Tram Museums In the second part of his tour of the Melbourne Tram Museum based in the former Hawthorn depot, Mike Russell concentrates on the iconic W classes of tramcar. 1

ormation of the Melbourne & by Holden Body Builders of Woodville, South it was painted in the MMTB’s pre-1930 Metropolitan Tramways Board Australia, and was subsequently rebuilt as a chocolate and cream, which it had never and its absorption of the former W2. Following fire damage in 1960, it was not carried, and was used on tourist services. municipal tramways trusts led to a fully rebuilt but the body was largely stripped Car 1041 holds a special place in the change in the public transport scene. down and the frame displayed in ‘exploded’ Melbourne story. It was the last built at Preston FHaving acquired 21 different types of electric form – with cabs from another tram – in the works (in 1973) and proved anything but an tramcar, the board resolved to replace obsolete Hawthorn driver training school, to teach the engineering success, but its mere existence, rolling stock with standard fully-enclosed basics of tramcar operation and the art of fault following years of sustained political bogie cars. These were modelled on the six diagnosis. After the school closed in the 1990s, antipathy towards the trams, was something L-Class cars delivered in 1921, but simplified, ‘325’ remained at Hawthorn, demonstrating of a miracle and helped pave the way for and the new type started to be built in 1923. the scope of technical training. the tramway’s rejuvenation. The design was The design of drop-centre bogie car was Two further W-Class examples feature. based on Peter Witt principles, influenced by largely peculiar to Australasia. Car 774 is a W5 built by Preston works in 1936, contemporary Goteborg trams, with seated Running to some 12 variations over the one of 120 dating from 1935-39 for conversion conductor’s posts. To contain costs its trucks next three decades, the W classes became an of the Elizabeth Street lines from cable to were recycled from PCC car 980, withdrawn iconic symbol of the city. Examples of the electric traction. This was the last design in 1972, though a new ACEC foot-operated later variations remain in traffic today on the of drop-centre bogie car built with three controller was fitted. An innovation was the City Circle (35); it is therefore appropriate centre doorways and canvas blinds, and 774 pressure-pad-operated interlocking to the that the Melbourne Tram Museum (MTM) was selected as the last remaining in almost steps, effectively releasing the conductor from contains exhibits illustrating development of original condition, most others having later ‘right away’ duties and indirectly leading to this archetypal Melbourne tramcar. been rebuilt with sliding doors as class SW5. the eventual move to one-man-operation. The original W-Class design is represented W7 car 1040 is the last car of the W family, As a result of 1041’s appearance, authority by 380 of 1925. This featured three equal- which ran some 33 years. It was one of 40 was given to build 100 cars of the Z-Class – width doorways in the drop-centre section, built at Preston works for conversion of the first batch of completely new trams in and canvas roller blinds for weather protection the Bourke Street routes from motor bus to almost 20 years. Car 1041 was withdrawn in with pairs of centre-facing wooden seats. tramcar operation. To counter rising political June 1984 and stripped of some useful parts Practical experience showed that this ill-feeling towards the trams, they were fitted but is now on static display at Hawthorn as arrangement slowed passengers, and all cars with sound-proofing, resilient wheels and the car that made the future possible. were rebuilt in 1928-33 to a revised layout double helical gears, and passenger comfort The most recent addition is Z1 81, dating with rearranged seating, the centre doorway was improved by fully upholstered seating. from 1977 as part of the initial batch of narrowed and the other two widened, being Car 1040 was set aside for preservation after Z-Class cars. Deficiencies in the suspension reclassifiedW2 . This example was rebuilt in withdrawal from passenger service in 1992. and braking systems of initial deliveries Preston works in 1988 to the original layout. resulted in design modifications during the Next comes W1 car 431 from 1927, one of Special cars and the Z-Class construction programme, 81 being the first 30 cars intended to improve the loading of We now come to three special cars, each built to incorporate them and thus reclassifiedZ1 . the W-Class by having a fully open drop- at Preston works. The oldest is Y-Class 469, In 2006 it enjoyed fame when, in connection centre section and longitudinal swing-over a unique 1927 car based on Peter Witt with the Arts Festival associated with the seats. This open centre section became principles but with clear Melbourne styling. Commonwealth Games, it was decorated by unpopular with passengers in wet weather It was built without internal bulkheads and Pakistani artists with inscriptions in English despite canvas blinds, and in 1936-37 most its ability to be operated as a one-man car and Urdu. Car 81 joined the MTM in 2015 were rebuilt to W2 design. Car 431 was evoked hostility from the trade union, which and is the sole representative of the Z-Class reconverted to W1 layout in Preston works in lost no opportunity to ensure that the board cars, of which many Z3 examples can still be May 1988, using swing-over seats recovered did not adopt this operational practice. found in regular service in the city. from the South Melbourne depot canteen. 613 is of broadly similar construction, The Melbourne Tramway Museum is built as one of four. Design modifications open to the public 11.00-17.00 on the The classic W2 over 469 included angled windscreens to second and fourth Saturdays of each month The W2 remains to many the classic tramcar reduce night-time glare and bigger wheels, (except December – second Saturday only). of this city. Including those rebuilt from W later replaced by standard. Y and Y1 cars were Admission is by gold coin donation. There is and W1 designs, the class totalled 406 vehicles withdrawn from regular service in 1965 and a well-stocked gift shop selling Australasian and car 510 is an authentic example. It is one placed in the driver training fleet at Hawthorn tramway books and a range of souvenirs. of 30 constructed by James Moore & Sons depot, although they could from time to time It also has a growing catalogued archive and of South Melbourne (the firm that had built still be seen covering for vehicle shortages. houses the large Peter Duckett collection. the ground-breaking L-Class) rather than the The third oddity is X2 676, the only For a journey back in time, visitors should MMTB workshops. The design is the classic four-wheel car built new by MMTB’s Preston take tram route 70 (Docklands – Wattle Park) drop-centre bogie combination car with three workshops that remains on the system. or 75 (City – Vermont South) and alight at centre doorways and like other early W-Class This emerged in 1930 and was Melbourne’s stop 29 (Riversdale Junction). The museum cars is mounted on the MMTB’s own type interpretation of a car, with design entrance can be reached via a short walk M&MTB 1 bogies. This was also restored to similarities to the MMTB tramcar family. along Wallen Road. original appearance at Preston Works in 1988. It spent much of its life on Footscray local The remains of a second W2 (325) is services until their closure in 1962, when it With grateful acknowledgements to Warren included in the MTM. It originated in 1925 joined the Hawthorn training fleet. In 1978 Doubleday and Mal Rowe.

116 / march 2018 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org 1. Representing the original design of Melbourne’s iconic class of drop-centre bogie cars developed after formation of the M&MTB is 380, built in 1925 as a W-Class car. The original layout proved unsuitable and they were later rebuilt to W2 specification. This example was seen working a heritage service at St Kilda railway station on 17 February 1991.

2. The W2 became the standard form of Melbourne’s new fleet in the late 1920s and 1930s. Car 510 was one of a number built by local constructors James Moore & Sons to relieve pressure on the M&MTB’s own Preston workshops. It is seen at St Kilda whilst operating a special heritage service on 17 February 1991.

3. The ‘exploded’ form of the driver training school car, rebuilt from the frame and running gear of fire-damaged W2 car 325 with cabs recovered from another. This car was 2 transferred to the driver training school at Hawthorn in the early 1960s.

4. The first design modification to the original W-Class cars featured a fully open centre section, as illustrated here by reclassifiedW1 car 431 of 1927. This design was greeted with disfavour by passengers in inclement weather. Preston works rebuilt 431 to W1 class layout in 1988.

5. Exemplifying the large batch of W5 cars built in Preston 3 4 works in the late 1930s to facilitate conversion of the cable tram routes serving Elizabeth Street is car 774, one of the last to remain in service in almost original condition.

6. Experimental car 1041 was built in the face of political anti-tram sentiment but ultimately proved to be the car that heralded the tramway’s bright future. Although no longer operational, 1041 is exhibited at Hawthorn.

7. Crowds of visitors throng 5 6 the footways of St Kilda on 17 February 1991, whilst unique class X2 four-wheeler 676 provides a local shuttle service to the main line tramways on St Kilda Road.

8. 613 is Hawthorn museum’s representative of the four Y1 bogie cars built in 1930. Their regular service life ended in 1965 but they still made occasional subsequent appearances. Car 613 is seen in St Kilda on 17 February 1991 on a special heritage service. 7 8 All photography by Mike Russell.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org MARCH 2018 / 117 BOOKSHOP Order online from lrta.info/shop – or by post from: LRTA Publications, 31 Ashton Road, RG41 1HL Postage & packing – Any UK address: add 10%; All addresses outside UK: add 20%. For Airmail despatch outside Europe: add 30%.

Le Tramway en France aujourd’hui Filobus in Unione Europea e in Svizzera Rail Passion Hors-série – Novembre 2017 Mobilità sostenibile nella città

This magazine special reviews the current The modern trolleybus and its contribution French tram systems with features on to the sustainability of cities is advocated in recent extensions, future developments, this book, which reviews all the European tram-train, cross-border lines and the networks with a fleet summary, route list network in Bâle. French text. and map for each. Italian text.

> A4 softback; 96 pages, 172 colour pictures; > B5 softback; 312 pages, 200+ colour pictures; 20 maps. 107 country & network maps.

£11.50 plus postage & packing as shown above. £28.50 plus postage & packing as shown above.

Belfast Transport Swiss Narrow Gauge From horse tram to Metro North and East

The story of public transport in Belfast from A useful guide to the light railways in the horse buses of the 1860s to the Metro bus the north-east of the country, including system of 2005. The change from horse buses the tram systems in Basel and Zürich. to electric trams, introduction of motor buses, The photographs show the wide range 30 years of the trolleybuses, the closure of of rolling stock encountered and the the tramways and trolleybus system, to total enchanting Swiss scenery. dependence on diesel buses are all covered. > A4 softback; 36 pages, > B5 softback; 144 pages, 192 colour and black 120 colour pictures and one map. & white pictures. £13.50 plus postage & packing as shown above. £9.50 plus P&P as shown above.

Trolleybus World from A to Z Souvenirs, Souvenirs... Ik weet nog hoe het was... Aux Trams, Citoyens! Allemaal de Tram op, Burgers! The joint authors of this book have put together an incredible array of information on A photographic festival from the camera of 787 trolleybus systems around the globe that Jean Berger, who died in 2016 but left an have existed or continue to operate. A lot of eclectic collection of colour slides of trams tabular data is included, though there are only taken over a 50-year period from 1965. country, as opposed to network, maps. The perfect album for those with a liking for English and Russian text. the Vicinal and city networks in Belgium. Dutch and French text. > A4 hardback; 480 pages, 500+ black & white and colour pictures. > A4 softback; 160 pages, 200+ colour pictures.

£50.00 plus postage & packing as shown above. £27.50 plus postage & packing as shown above.

Obus-Atlas Deutschland Toronto Transit Commission Streetcars

The 125-year history of the trolleybus The largest Canadian city operated in Germany is told through maps of an eclectic collection of tramcars – each of the systems that have operated, some old, some new, some second- together with details of vehicles used hand. This album looks back at and lines served. German text. operations as long ago as the 1950s, showing the variety of > A4 hardback; 400 pages, 240 black equipment in intriguing cityscapes. & white and colour pictures; 83 maps.

£43.50 plus postage & packing as > A4 softback, landscape format; 96 pages, 100+ colour pictures. shown above. £29.50 plus postage & packing as shown above.

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

LRV ROLLING SYSTEMS FACTILE: CLASSIC TRAMS: STOCK REVIEW SYDNEY HADDON MUSEUM Mike Taplin presents his annual analysis In an extended Factfile, Neil Pulling visits Specialising in collecting Melbourne of the global tram and LRV market, this vibrant Australian city to explore its tramcars, Australia’s Haddon museum casting an experienced eye over the first modern light rail line – as well as the has assembled examples of almost the orders and innovations of the past 12 preparations for a bold return of the mode entire range of the famous and historic months – and the key ones due this year. through its growing commercial district. W-Class vehicles. PLUS... APRIL + A ustralian Light Rail Special Focus: Project updates from issue Melbourne, Canberra, Newcastle, Adelaide and Gold Coast + The latest news and analysis, rolling stock orders, system developments, and transport policy and industry comment from on sale around the world 16 March

THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE Midland Metro

Neil Pulling explores systems the massive changes that are underway in UNITED the Midlands, light rail KINGDOM www.lrta.org factfile being a key motivator www.tautonline.com in realising the potential for one the Sub scribe now! No. Midland UK’s biggest population MARCH 2018 N O. 963 Metro, UK 125 concentrations. midland metro AARHUS LEADS DANISH CLIMATE COMMITMENT Now in its 81st year, Tramways & Urban Transit is the world’s

hen travelling on around 130km (80 miles) of route, The Westside the UK’s Midland a system closed by 1953. Interurban back ‘in-house’. In 1995 the Altram Metro, that name extension will be services linked several towns, but from this point on consortium won the Midland Metro is not prominent. Wolverhampton’s relatively small Stephenson Street. contract on a design, build, maintain It does not perhaps short-lived tramway (that trialled Mirror surfaces to and operate basis. As West Midlands accuratelyW represent a system opened the Lorain contact stud power right and left denote Travel, National Express joined in 1999 that has street running, open system) closed in 1928. the Grand Central Altram, initially as equal partners with access pedestrian crossings and that In June 2016, Midland Metro complex around the infrastructure company Laing uses trams rather than metro cars. came under the ownership and Birmingham New and tram builder Ansaldo Transporti. Specifically in the West Midlands, Street station. administration of the West Midlands By 2006 it took full ownership. leading monthly publication dedicated solely to light and it is normally run as a single service Combined Authority (WMCA). Midland Metro opened on 30 May line, comprised almost entirely of Constituent councils in this area 1999 over 20km (12.5 miles) of route, double-track alignment. with around 2.8 million residents mainly using a disused section of Midland Metro extends north-west are Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, the former London Paddington to from Birmingham, often termed Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Birkenhead line that closed in March England's ‘second city’, 180km Wolverhampton. Transport for West 1972. The Metro’s original non-rail- (112 miles) by rail from London. Midlands (TfWM) is the executive based section of about 2km (1.2 miles) To reach its current northern terminus body of WMCA which subsumed the is west of Priestfield where the line in Wolverhampton, a borough gaining West Midlands Passenger Transport joins the A41 road as far as The Royal. city status in 2000, the Metro crosses Energy e ciency: Battery tech and power saving Executive (WMPTE) created in 1969. Dedicated space within carriageways the Black Country; this long-standing This was represented as Centro and takes the Metro further into unofficial name encompasses China – Wuhan opens second tramway Network West Midlands, bodies Wolverhampton over the 40m span many communities where coal, urban rail developments. that oversaw Midland Metro’s of the Wishbone Bridge, which was manufacturing and in particular development and operations and built for the project. Originally with Grand Paris project faces tough audit metal processing made it a centre of began its renewal and expansion. twin tracks at the island platform, the British industrial revolution. National Express, a key part of the St. George’s terminus is a short walk Trams once operated widely across UK to create dedicated LRT safety body Metro for many years, will end its from the main shopping area. the area spanned by Midland Metro, The Metro offered more stops, £4.60 association with the system in October not least in Birmingham which had 03> 2018 when TfWM brings operations Words and pictures enhanced frequency and improved by Neil Pulling. access compared to the railway Midland Metro Manx marks 125 MER prepares its 9 771460 832067 104 / march 2018 www.tautonline.com Regional growth for . www.lrta.org UK ‘under-achiever’ celebratory season

104-108_TAUT1803_SF_Midland Metro.indd 1

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