Russia: Rebuilding a Proud Heritage

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AUGUST 2020 No. 992 russia: rebuilding a proud heritage

Modernisation, renewal and an industrial rebirth Austin approves 2040 rail masterplan Guangzhou opens its second tramway Will pandemic push LRT costs up 20%?

France Morocco £4.60 Celebrating 35 Two cities building pioneering years upon tram success Certiﬁ cate: PA05/04429

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THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE Budapest

The Hungarian capital has great variety in its public transport modes. systems Neil Pulling considers the re-organisation www.lrta.org and projects that factfile Budapest www.tautonline.com have brought No. Budapest, greater cohesion HUNGARY to the network. 2020 N O. 992 Hungary AUGUST 154 Subscribe now! RUSSIA: REBUILDING A PROUD HERITAGE Now in its 83rd year, Tramways & Urban Transit is

udapest is amongst the Easily long enough to Now with special capital city status, world’s biggest tramways, catch its own reflection, With growth following Budapest is surrounded by the Pest covering around 160km CAF Urbos 3 2111 curves industrialisation, more bridges megye (county) administration. (100 miles). It is over four towards Hengermalom were added over the Danube, Its population declined to 1.77m times the combined length út / Szerémi út stop following the 1849 Széchenyi Chain ofB Hungary’s other three systems on a T1 section which residents by 2019, partly explained Bridge. Island-linked Margaret Bridge opened in 2015. by relocation to outer communities. (Debrecen, Miskolc and Szeged). The provided the first such connection capital’s bi-directional standard-gauge Although English is widespread the world’s leading monthly publication dedicated solely to in 1879. Still a prominent system in publications and signage, tramway is within an abnormally feature, it is now one of Budapest’s recognising some Hungarian varied multi-mode network. More five Danube tram crossings. than in many cities popular with words may help when travelling. Trams were an established Villamos tourists, trams are well-located for (tram) came with the feature by the time Hungary again horse tramways’ transition to both reaching and viewing the most became an independent monarchy electrical power. Recurring words popular sites. Driven by a change in in 1918. The country was in the around the system include hid organisation, the last decade has seen Soviet-dominated Eastern Bloc (bridge), útca/út (street), the system becoming easier to use for tér (open from 1945 until 1989, and became space/square), all users, replacing the former seeming vasútállomás (railway a European Union member in station). Compass point names of presumption of local experience. 2004. These political alignments pályaudvar Modernisation, renewal and an industrial rebirth Budapest stemmed from a civic (main/terminus station) influenced the tramway’s structure relate to the area of Hungary amalgamation in 1873, a few years and its appearance. Some long light and urban rail developments. originally served, not their relative Austin approves 2040 rail masterplan after the formation of Austria-Hungary. reaches to housing districts created position in the city. Many locations Once a national capital in its own for Budapest’s post-World War Two commemorate notable people: right, Buda on the Duna (Danube’s) expansion and the still-plentiful Guangzhou opens its second tramway the family name precedes given hilly western bank now has about one- Czech Tatra trams are reminders of names, as at the central hub with third of the city’s area; Pest, which Communist centralised planning. three metro lines and a tram Will pandemic push LRT costs up 20%? includes the city centre, spreads across Features such as reconstructed All pictures by terminus, Deák Ferenc tér. the comparatively flat landscape alignments, low-floor trams and £4.60 immediately east of the Danube. Howard Pulling, unless An ‘M’ in a tram stop title better overall service access owe otherwise stated. indicates a metro interchange. France Morocco much to EU-derived funding. Celebrating 35 Two cities building upon tram success www.tautonline.com pioneering years . www.lrta.org august 2020 / 313

313-317 TAUT2008_SF Budapest.indd 1

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Please complete this form and send it with your payment to: LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK 2020 AUGUST CONTENTS 306 The official journal of the Light Rail 299 Transit Association AUGUST 2020 Vol. 83 No. 992 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL Editor – Simon Johnston [email protected] Associate Editor – Tony Streeter [email protected] Worldwide Editor – Michael Taplin [email protected] News Editor – John Symons [email protected] Senior Contributor – Neil Pulling Worldwide Contributors Richard Felski, Ed Havens, Andrew Moglestue, Paul Nicholson, Herbert Pence, Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Alain Senut, Vic Simons, Witold Urbanowicz, Bill Vigrass, Francis Wagner, 313 Thomas Wagner, Philip Webb, Rick Wilson Production – Lanna Blyth News 292 systems factfile: budapest 313 Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 Austin approves LRT expansion; Huangpu Neil Pulling explores one of the world’s [email protected] tramway opens; Search begins for Ontario great tram cities, looking at recent projects DESIGN – Debbie Nolan line partners; NY MTA faces ‘worst financial that have brought greater network cohesion. Advertising crisis in its history’; Karlsruhe completes COMMERCIAL Manager – Geoff Butler major city tram works; Coronavirus could WORLDWIDE REVIEW 319 Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 increase new scheme costs by ‘over 20%’. Approval given for tramway extensions in [email protected] Bremen, Essen and Frankfurt-am-Main; Publisher – Matt Johnston MOROCCO’s growing lrt cities 296 Surat invites metro construction; Rome Tramways & Urban Transit The future projects planned to grow the confirms finance for metre-gauge Pantano 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, successful networks in Rabat and Casablanca. line replacement; Krasnodar welcomes its Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK first new Ust-Katav bogie trams; Seoul seeks Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring russia: a cautious revival 299 partners for West LRT project; BART opens on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each Luc Koenot begins his detailed two-part long-awaited Silicon Valley extension. month preceding the cover date. article with a review of the manufacturing sector and the current situation in Moscow. MAILBOX 323 Why local decision-making is key to success. PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION THE FRENCH TRAM PHENOMENON 306 Warners (Midlands), Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK Michael Taplin concludes his survey of CLASSICS TRAMS: stuttgart 324 the modern light rail revolution in France, Mike Russell reports from the celebrations LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) covering systems from Rouen to Nancy. held to mark 60 years of a city tramway icon. Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up members of the Light Rail Transit Association. LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY Where do we go now? It’s time to make our voices heard Brian Lomas [email protected] [email protected] It is great to see the public transport sector starting to get back into its stride after a period of enforced hibernation for so many. Big holes have been blown Subscriptions, MEMBERSHIP and back issues in budgets, but local and national authorities, on the whole, have helped to plug LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 them. The dangers of coronavirus are still present, and we can never ignore [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info that fact, but at the same time we must turn our attention to the future. As we emerge, bleary-eyed, into our ‘new normal’ there will likely be more questions for CORPORATE Subscriptions VISIT www.mainspring.co.uk than answers. The pandemic has forced a great deal of soul searching. It has exposed weaknesses and reinforced strengths: healthcare, work, education, shopping, leisure; LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE there isn’t one area of of life that hasn’t experienced profound change. Yet as we all 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 4TU, UK. stand now, looking at the horizon, we have a real chance for change. Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 in England and Wales. Society’s previous challenges haven’t gone away. Climate change is still there. Many cities still lack decent mobility options. There are still massive inequalities in LRTA Chairman – Paul Rowen [email protected] social mobility, and unnecessary restrictions on access to education, employment and quality healthcare for too many. Are we brave enough now to tackle these things © LRTA 2020 head-on, or are we all just too bruised that we yearn for an easier life? Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution Numerous recent surveys have shown that many of us don’t want to go back to the is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the way things were. But as the sands shift beneath us, how do you plan for the future? opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of The only sensible way is to stop, pause and reflect. While the long-term ramifications the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. for transport are unknown, there still seems to be an overwhelming desire to travel; No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in it may take time, but that basic human desire for social interaction remains. any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including Will the passengers come back? If so, when? And in what numbers? In the meantime, photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from fewer passengers means less revenue, and reduced employment equals less tax to pay for the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the new projects. Some estimate that the cost of infrastructure works may go up dramatically. magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. With this in mind, if ever we needed a better appraisal process for investments, it is surely now as old models for benefit-cost ratios may be useless in our new world. COVER: A fully-restored Ust-Katav KTM1+KTP1 set We all need to be prepared for the tough decisions to come, many of which we won’t from 1956 alongside a modern PK-TS Vityaz-M low-floor be prepared for. I’d really like to hear your views on the future. Simon Johnston, Editor car in Moscow on 25 January 2020. Luc Koenot

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2020 / 291 News Austin approves major LRT expansion Four urban rail lines approved in USD9.8bn plan to achieve 50% modal share by 2040

ustin City Council and the CapMetro board approved the final version of the major AProject Connect expansion plan on 10 June; this will now be put before voters in the November referendum that will propose an 11-cent tax rate (a 25% increase) dedicated to transit. Project Connect is designed to ease congestion and reduce carbon emissions, targeting a 50% modal share for transit. Austin’s population (979 000) is expected to double by 2040 and the plan has been developed after consultation with 60 000 MetroRail Stadler Flirt 102 enters downtown Austin in October 2018. J Cutrer / CC BY 2.0 members of the community. The approved plans include diesel-electric LRVs, operating north, interchanging with the A commuter rail Green line is four new rail lines, 15 high-quality an hourly service with extras at Red line at Crestview. It will also planned to link central Austin electric bus services, 24 new peak periods and later running serve the University of Texas with north-eastern suburbs to park-and-ride sites and a move on Fridays and Saturdays. campus. The Gold line will run Manor, and perhaps later to towards a zero-emission transit Under Project Connect, three 15.2km (9.4 miles) from Highland Elgin. At present this is a freight fleet. A 15-block north–south city new light rail lines would be built, College campus in the north railway and by implication will subway will separate transit from all using the new subway; outside (interchange with the Red line) use the same technology as the street traffic. the central area road-based through the city centre and on to Red line (probably sharing tracks Austin opened its USD105m reservations would be built. South Congress Transit Center. to the Convention Center, to be light rail Red line (route 550) The Orange line will run It has not been announced renamed Downtown Station). in March 2010 from the 33.6km (20.9 miles) on a how the LRVs will be powered, With a USD9.8bn pricetag, Convention Center with street north–south alignment from although graphics in the federal funding would be tracks in the city, and running TechRidge P+R to Slaughter proposals show no overhead required to support around on disused freight rail lines Lane. The 24km (15-mile) Blue power lines. It is not proposed USD4bn of the cost. A joint for 51km (32 miles) north to line will link the airport in the to extend the Red line at this oversight board, Austin Transit Leander. Current rolling stock south-eastern suburbs and North time, but more double-track will Partnership, will co-ordinate the provision is ten Stadler GTW Alamar Transit Center in the permit a more frequent service. project and the funding streams.

German joint UK light rail usage falls below 2016-17 procurement A 4.2% fall in English light rail miles falling 0.6% to 7.9m and (-3.3%). Journeys on the Tyne and tram patronage in the year to revenue falling 1.3% to GBP82.6m and Wear Metro also fell to clears legal hurdle April 2020 – to levels below those (EUR91.6m). Its latest extension, 33.1m (-9.2%), with 3.3m vehicle of 2016-17 – was one of the key the 5.5km (3.4-mile) Trafford Park miles (-4.7%) and revenues of The joint order for 24 findings from the latest statistics line opened on 22 March. GBP49.9m (EUR55.3m, -5.5%). Škoda ForCity Smart Artic published by the UK Department The busiest system remained In contrast, West Midlands trams for the German cities for Transport on 25 June. the Docklands Light Railway, Metro ran an additional 8.2% of Brandenburg, Cottbus and In an early sign of the effects with 116.8m journeys, a 4.1% fall in vehicle mileage (1.2m) and Frankfurt/Oder is to go ahead, of COVID-19, the 2019-20 figures on the previous year. Tramlink achieved 3.5% more revenue (at after the Brandenburg Higher for the eight systems include (Croydon) saw its figure fall 5.3% GBP11.3m/EUR12.5m), despite Regional Court over-ruled a legal “eight days of lockdown, and to 27.2m, meaning an overall fall journeys falling 2.8% to 8m. challenge from a rival bidder. the seven days prior work-from- in LRT journeys in the UK capital Nottingham Express Transit also The tender was originally home message in March 2020.” of 4.3%. Passenger revenue for registered an increase in revenue: launched in 2018, with the first A total of 263.4m journeys London fell 3.7% to GBP191.6m reaching GBP21.3m (EUR23.6m, vehicles due to be delivered in were made in 2019-20, with (EUR212.5m), with vehicle miles up 1.5%), against a 0.5% fall in 2020; the June decision allows the every system other than Greater down 0.3% to 5.7m. journeys (to 18.7m) and a 0.6% order for 28m three-section trams Manchester’s Metrolink recording The overall drop outside fall in vehicle miles to 1.9m. to proceed, but the first deliveries a drop. Overall vehicle miles fell London was marginally lower Blackpool recorded 4.8m are now expected in late 2022. by 0.9% to 22.3m (35.9m / km), at 4%, but with wide regional journeys (-7.6%), 0.7m vehicle Brandenburg will get four cars, while revenue was down 3% to variations. Journeys on Sheffield miles (+2.1%) and GBP6.7m Cottbus seven and Frankfurt/ GBP377.2m (EUR418.3m) Supertram fell 11.9% to 10.5m, (EUR7.4m) in revenues (-6.1%). Oder 13. There is an option for Metrolink saw 44.3m journeys, with falls in vehicle miles (4.9% The survey has been running 13 more for Cottbus and eight for a rise of 1.3%, despite vehicle down) and passenger revenue in its current form since 2010. Brandenburg.

292 / AUGUST 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Partners sought Huangpu Tram opens The first 7.9km (4.9-mile) phase taking the route to 14.4km (8.9 of the catenary-free Huangpu miles) and with 20 stations. Once for Ontario line tramway in the eastern part of open, passengers will be able to the Chinese city of Guangzhou transfer to Guangzhou Metro First RFQs launched for PPP contracts to design, opened for commercial service lines 21, 7, and 6 at Changping, build and maintain Toronto’s 15.5km metro line on 1 July. The 11-stop west-east Shuixi and Xiangxue stations line connects Guangzhou respectively. End-to-end Experimental School with journeys will take 30 minutes. he Government of The Ontario line will extend Xinfeng Lu, with services running Work on a second line (T2) Ontario has launched from Exhibition/Ontario Place every nine minutes; a one-way began in December 2019, the first two Public- to the Ontario Science Centre, ticket costs CNY2 (EUR0.25). although a hiatus due to the Private Partnership with 15 new stations, including Ground-breaking for the line Spring Festival and COVID-19 RequestsT for Qualifications (RFQ) connections to the GO Transit took place in October 2017, with saw construction halted for a for the design, construction and network, existing TTC subway works proceeding under a PPP period, restarting on maintenance of the 15.5km stations and tramlines, and the concession designed to attract 17 February. Built under a (9.6-mile) Ontario line metro. Eglinton Crosstown LRT. private finance and accelerate similar PPP model, T2 is The scheme is being built under The full project is estimated the construction schedule. Test planned to open in 2022 with three separate PPP contracts; at CAD10.9bn (EUR7.15bn) and running began in late March. an estimated construction cost some segments of the line, where is expected to be completed by CRRC has supplied a fleet of of CNY5bn (EUR630m). the alignment joins GO Transit 2027. The line is expected to 37m four-section trams, each with The Huangpu line is rail corridors, will be procured carry 389 000 passengers/day, capacity for 280 passengers, 50 Guangzhou’s second modern separately. Construction on these with a 90-second peak service. seated. The 2.65m-wide cars use tramway; the Haizhu Island sections is expected to start before Although technology has still a hybrid supercapacitor/battery Circular New Tram that runs building commences on the to be decided, the Ontario line traction power system, recharged along the northern shore of three major work packages. will clearly be an automated via pantograph at stops. Haizhu Island between Canton The first RFQs include metro, and the government says An extension to Xiangxue Tower and Wanshengwei rolling stock, operations and it could use a cheaper, alternate metro station (line 6) is scheduled (7.7km/4.8 miles with 11 stops) maintenance and a design-build- solution to the existing subway to open by the end of the year, opened in December 2014. finance contract for the southern that may point to the Bombardier portion of the line. The RFQ for Skytrain. The depot is intended the northern civil package will be to accommodate 120 vehicles. released once a bidder is chosen The line is intended to relieve SPT still awaiting coronavirus support for the southern package of works. pressure on subway line 1 (Yonge Strathclyde Partnership for GBP20m (EUR22.2m) for the Shortlisted companies will be – University) by offering reduced Transport (SPT) has warned current financial year. invited to respond to a Request travel times on key connections. of the potential for deep “Meantime, we’ve watched for Proposals by Infrastructure It is stated that 154 000 residents spending cuts if it does not two rounds of government Ontario and Metrolinx in will be within ten minutes walk receive assistance from the support announcements for autumn 2020. of stations. Scottish Government to help it private bus companies; we’ve address the financial gap arising seen government stepping in as a result of the COVID-19 to take on heavy rail losses; pandemic. and we’ve even seen the UK The transport authority Government supporting London has continued to operate Underground and light rail Glasgow Subway services and across England. Unfortunately maintain strategically necessary we’ve seen not a penny in bus services since UK-wide COVID-19 support to help either lockdowns began in March, our bus or Subway efforts.” despite receiving no support to A report to the Partnership replace lost fare income and after states that within the first making repeated representations 12 weeks of lockdown, SPT to Transport Scotland. highlighted a potential deficit of SPT Chair Martin Bartos between GBP5.6m (EUR6.2m) said: “Depending on how much and GBP9m (EUR10m) to longer lockdown and distancing Transport Scotland. In addition to restrictions need to remain falling Subway income, SPT has in place, SPT has identified a seen a reduction in income from potential deficit of between bus station departure charges, A map of Toronto’s planned Ontario line and its future connections GBP12.5m (EUR13.9m) and advertising and ancillary fees.

Botoșani tramway NEWS IN PICTURES Nantes returns to Alstom for new fleet closure date confirmed On 19 June Alstom was named preferred bidder for the supply of The last day of tramway operation 61 new trams to the French city of Nantes. Due for confirmation in the Romanian city of Botoșani is on 17 July, the order marks a return to the French manufacturer, to be 31 July, with buses taking over supplier of the system’s original TFS trams in 1985. Subsequent from the following day. The two-line vehicles have been delivered by Bombardier and CAF. 8km (five-mile) system opened in The contract for 48m seven-section Citadis 405 trams is September 1991, the last of the new worth EUR234m, including disposal of the TFS vehicles. tramways built under the Ceauseșcu Accommodating up to 300 passengers, the new trams will be regime, and at the end was worked styled to a design created by RCP Design Global, with passenger by Tatra T4D+B4D trams from

RCP Design Global Design RCP service to begin in 2023. Dresden and Magdeburg (Germany).

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2020 / 293 News

Coronavirus could increase New York faces the ‘worst scheme costs financial crisis in its history’ by over 20% Five-year ‘Fast Forward’ plan placed on hold as the MTA asks for a further Capital costs for tramway projects could rise by over 20% USD3.9bn in federal emergency funds post-coronavirus due to social distancing and supply chain n addition to the suspension It forecasts a further USD7bn disruption, a report for the of a number of major deficit in 2021. UK’s West Midlands Combined capital projects announced Yet Janno Lieber, President Authority has warned. in March, New York’s of MTA Construction & A new Medium-Term Financial MetropolitanI Transportation Development, warned that Plan is to be developed over the Authority (MTA) has also shelved cutting too far to save money summer, with Transport for its USD51.5bn five-year Capital now will damage the MTA in West Midlands “required to look Programme due to a USD10.3bn the years to come. “Service gets closely at its capital programmes deficit in its finances related to unreliable, things break down, and ensure that investments the coronavirus pandemic. and our customers feel the are prioritised against those The MTA collected USD61.3m consequences,” he said. schemes which provide the most in fares in May – 87% down The latest capital suspension significant benefits to the region.” year-on-year – the second does not include USD2bn in The report, Recovering the month in a row where the deficit projects expedited to take Transport Network - Towards a exceeded more than USD400m. advantage of the slowdown, but New Normal, says that challenges Fare and toll revenue covers pauses all other work, including moving out of lockdown include around half of the agency’s signal and accessibility upgrades that social distancing may annual expenses, with the across the network. continue to mean revenue is only agency’s Chair Patrick J. Foye Despite the dire situation, 25% of previous levels, allied calling this “the most acute Mr Foye pledged there would be to additional costs related to financial crisis in MTA history.” no immediate fare increase. enhanced cleaning regimes. The declaration came as the Ridership is slowly returning, On 24 June MTA Chair Patrick J. Foye Preparatory work on the agency requested an additional with the Subway carrying an described the agency’s dire financial Brierley Hill Metro extension is USD3.9bn in federal funds to estimated 1.15m passengers on circumstances as “a four- alarm fire… still taking place and moved to help it weather the crisis without 30 June, around 80% less than If we don’t get the funding, everything the Tipton area from 22 June. having to make further cuts. the same period in 2019. has to be on the table.” MTA

France’s capital region PK-TS to test metre-gauge tram Russian manufacturer PK “We decided to introduce a Transportnye Systemy (PK-TS) product that could address the demands state funds has released further details of the issue of rolling stock upgrades in new narrow-gauge tram design it Russian cities like Kaliningrad, first unveiled in 2019. Pyatigorsk and Yevpatoria (in to preserve services The Corsair (type 71-921) will Crimea), where the tram tracks President of Île-de-France that adopted by the American, be available in 2.3-2.4m widths are one-metre wide,” said PK-TS Mobilités (IDFM) Valérie Pécresse German, Dutch, Danish and and features a 100% low-floor President Felix Vinokur, adding has claimed that without full British governments...”, adding design, lightweight aluminium that the Corsair is also aimed at state compensation for the that it would be a last resort construction, new rubber and coil the European market. shortfall in revenues linked to to slow or cancel future IDFM spring suspension to reduce wear, Testing is to begin later in 2020. the coronavirus, the authority capital projects or increase fares. air-conditioning, digital passenger that co-ordinates transportation “I will not make Île-de-France information and multimedia The first part of Luc Koenot’s in Paris and French capital region residents pay the addition of the systems, USB charging points and detailed survey of Russia’s would be unable to pay for the COVID, ” Mme Pécresse said. passenger Wi-Fi. tramways begins on page 299. operation of train, tram, metro All Paris Métro stations, some and RER services from 8 July. of which remained closed even With deficits of EUR2.6bn – after the resumption of public more than double the authority’s transport in the city, reopened forecasts from April – the to passengers on 22 June. EUR425m in promised state aid has been described by Mme On 4 June Germany’s Pécresse as a “drop in the ocean Federal Government made of the loss of IDFM revenue”. EUR2.5bn available for local EUR1.6bn of the losses are transit systems hit by the ascribed to passenger revenue, effects of the pandemic. with a further EUR1bn shortfall While the Verband Deutscher related to the versement mobilité Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV) payroll tax as a result of partial operator’s association welcomed unemployment and a decline in the emergency funding, it has economic activity. calculated that operators could Mme Pécresse said: “I am not lose up to EUR5bn in 2020, asking for alms, I am just asking calling on the Länder to make up The new metre-gauge Corsair from PK Transportnye Systemy will feature an for the same support plan as the difference. all-new bogie design, first shown in 2019. PK Transportnye Systemy

294 / AUGUST 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org US operators form new innovation alliance Karlsruhe ‘Combined Six of the largest private sector US transit operators have come together to form the North America Transit Alliance (NATA) to promote Solution’ ready in 2021 innovation, reliability and public awareness of the transit sector. Ten-year tram subway plan nears fruition; testing to begin later this year NATA is made up of First Transit, Keolis, MV Transit, National Express, RATP Dev and Transdev, he German city of which together employ more than Karlsruhe, well-known 154 000 people, 35% of the total for its innovation in the North American transit workforce. field of tram-trains (the Calgary Council approves KarlsruheT Model), is on the final Green line LRT stretch of a project that began in On 17 June Calgary City Council 2010, required due to the success approved the 20km (12.5-mile) of the public transport network CAD4.9bn (EUR3.2bn) Green line since the first dual-voltage to run from the Elbow River at 16th Stadtbahn linked DB and city Avenue North to Shepard in the tram tracks in September 1992. south-east. This includes surface As more Stadtbahn services running on Centre St North, a bridge over the Bow River and a were added to the main east–west city centre subway from 2nd Ave city centre tramway along the SW to 4th Ave SE. The project is due 2.1km (1.3-mile) Kaiserstrasse, to break ground in 2021 and the pedestrian and tram precinct be completed in 2026. became crowded, presenting CRRC to supply Istanbul more hazards for walkers and metro line 11 cyclists, while public transport CRRC Zhuzhou has been awarded capacity had reached its limit. Kaiserstrasse is a busy retail area in central Karlsruhe, but also features an a TRY1.5bn (EUR194m) contract for Like many German cities, intensive tramway service. Attila Németh / CC BY 2.0 176 metro cars for Istanbul’s future Karlsruhe considered building 37.5km (23.3-mile) metro line 11, tram subways in the 1960s, but There is to be 3.6km (2.2 2, Wollfartsweier – Marktplatz linking Gayrettepe Interchange with unlike others did not proceed miles) of tram subway, under U – Hbf – Knielingen; 3, Rintheim line M2 and the airport. Opening is with such plans. Kaiserstrasse’s 2.4km (1.5 miles) of Kaiserstrasse – Hbf – Daxlanden/Rappenwört; projected for August 2021. conversion into a tram/pedestrian between Mühlburger Tor and 4, Waldstadt – Kriegsstrasse – Szeged tram-train zone began in 1972. Subway Durlacher Tor with a branch Karlstor – Oberreut; 5, Durlach exercises Citylink option proposals were considered again from Marktplatz under Karl- – Karlstor – Kriegsstrasse – State-owned passenger operator in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, but Friedrichstrasse and Ettlinger Rheinhafen; S1/11, Bad Herrenalb/ MÁV-START has exercised came to nothing, with a 1996 Strasse to Kongresszentrum. A Ittersbach – Hbf – Marktplatz an option with Stadler for an referendum indicating a 67% new surface tramline is being U – Hochstetten; S2, Stutensee additional four diesel-electric preference against a subway. By built in Kriegsstrasse from – Marktplatz U – Rheinstetten; Citylink tram-trains. 2001 the future of the city centre Karlstor to Ostendstrasse on top S31/32, Odenheim/Menzingen A base contract for eight 37.2m-long, 2.65m-wide units was precinct as a shopping destination of a new 1.4km (0.9-mile) car – Durlach – Hbf; S4, Öhringen signed in 2017 to operate Hungary’s was in some minds threatened by tunnel that will permit access to Cappel – Heilbronn – Durlach first tram-train system between the 34 trams/hour/direction, and shopping centre parking. – Marktplatz U – Hbf; S5/51, Szeged and Hódmezővásárhely. these thoughts coalesced in the Tunnelling is complete and Pforzheim – Durlach – Marktplatz Each has capacity for 220 ‘City 2015 – Future opportunities for tram stations at Europaplatz, U – Wörth/Germersheim; S52, passengers, 92 seated. downtown Karlsruhe’ consultation. Marktplatz, Kronenplatz, Ettlinger Marktplatz U – Hbf – Wörth – The first units are to enter Another referendum in 2002 Tor and Kongresszentrum are Germersheim; S6, Pforzheim – Bad service in autumn 2021, with the showed 55.5% in favour of a tram currently being fitted out. Wildbad; S7, Achern – Rastatt – additional vehicles due by 2022. subway and planning began in The first tram trials are to begin Hbf – Marktplatz U – Tullastrasse; Hyundai Rotem confirms 2003. The project was approved later this year, with the EUR1.5bn S8, Bondorf – Rastatt – Hbf – hydrogen rail plans by the city in December 2008. project (nearly three times the Marktplatz U – Tullastrasse. Hyundai Rotem has announced Following a tender process, original estimate) expected to be From 2026 the S31/32 will run details of its plans to enter the the construction contract was complete by the end of 2021. via Kriegstrasse and Karlstor, thus hydrogen infrastructure sector awarded to the Alpine Holding The new network planned remaining in the Karlsruhe Model and supply hydrogen-powered rail vehicles, including fuel cell LRVs. consortium in February 2010, for the late 2021 tram subway (operating only on DB tracks The Korean manufacturer has with ground-breaking taking opening was unveiled in March: would have meant putting the entered into a sub-license agreement place at Europaplatz. 1, Durlach – Marktplatz U – Heide; service out to competitive tender). with parent Hyundai Motor Group for hydrogen production technology as it targets a growing market (valued at USD500m in 2018). The technology can extract a NEWS IN PICTURES 40th Anniversary Metrocar livery unveiled claimed 640kg of hydrogen per Tyne & Wear (UK) transport authority Nexus has unveiled a special day from natural gas, with the aim paintscheme for Metrocar 4001 to mark the 40th anniversary of of reducing the costs for on-site the Metro. The design features new versions of each livery carried production by 15% compared with since the system opened in August 1980 and was devised by existing systems. The firm has Nexus staff and applied at the South Gosforth depot. also confirmed that the hydrogen- A changing exhibition will be carried onboard throughout the electric LRV it has been developing year, celebrating Metro’s heritage and its place in the community. in partnership with Hyundai Metro Operations Director, Chris Carson, said: “We were Motor since 2019 is on track for its determined to have this heritage train in service because some first trials in 2021. The low-floor of the other events that we had planned to mark the 40th year of platform will be fitted with fuel Metro have had to be postponed due to the pandemic.” cells, hydrogen tanks and Nexus roof-mounted cooling systems.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2020 / 295 Morocco MOROCCO: EXPANDING COMPLEX LRT NETWORKS Morocco has inaugurated two The first of an additional 22 Alstom Citadis trams for the growing network modern light rail networks in in Rabat-Salé arrived in June 2019. The fleet already comprises the last decade – and both are 44 similar vehicles, delivered for the rapidly-expanding. 2011 opening. Alstom

ince 2007, two modern light rail networks in the North African nation of Morocco have proved to be great success stories. These complex networks have grown and faceS exciting future expansion plans. The tramway in Rabat-Salé was the first to welcome passengers, with an opening on 18 May 2011 by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The two-line system features dedicated rights-of-way that serve the administrative capital of Morocco. The second new system, in Casablanca, has similar characteristics and serves the urban core of the country’s economic centre. This city’s first tramline was inaugurated on 13 December 2012, with a second line joining the system on 23 January 2019 – both were also opened in the presence of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. MOROCCO’S LRT IN NUMBERS Rabat-Salé – and soon Temara Current Planned extensions Current ridership Current fleet The tramway connecting the neighbouring network (2023-2025) (ppd) cities of Rabat and Salé, on Morocco’s northern Mediterranean coast, was Casablanca 47.5km 26km 220 000 62 MU envisioned to meet the needs of a Rabat-Salé 28.5km(*) 30km 135 000 (*) 30 MU + 6 SU (**) region undergoing rapid change. Upon completion of its next phase it will also * including the 9km to be inaugurated in 2020. reach Temara, connecting up three large ** SU = Single unit (32m), MU = multiple unit (65 m) urban communities, which have a combined population in excess of two million. “At its 2012 launch, centre of Temara, Rabat-Salé airport and the Construction on the first two lines began Technopolis district. These extensions will in 2007. The first now stretches for 11.7km Casablanca's T1 tramline also enable a reorganisation of the network (7.3 miles) and is known as the ‘metropolitan to enhance capacity and create several new main line’. It runs from Hay Karima in Salé set a new record for the interchanges. on a south-western alignment to the Agdal district of Rabat, via the city centre and along longest tramline opened Casablanca Al Alaouiyine Avenue. It thus links the major Casablanca’s tramway currently consists of hubs of Mohammed V Avenue in Salé, the in a single operation – two lines for a total of 47.5km (29.5 miles) Ministries district, railway stations (Rabat- with 70 stops; it carries more than 220 000 Ville and Salé stations), faculties and libraries 23.5km and 38 stops.” passengers each day within a city of more between Bab Rouah and Ibn Zohr, the Agdal than 4.2 million inhabitants (making it district and the Bab Al Irfane university and spacing of 600m. Service frequency is one Morocco’s largest). Souissi hospital campuses. tram every eight minutes (four minutes on the At its launch in 2012, the first route set a The second 7.8km (4.8-mile) line serves the shared section). Around 120 000 passengers new record for the longest tramline opened in densely-populated districts of Ocean, Yacoub are transported each day, managed by STRS a single operation, running for 31km Al Mansour in Rabat, and heads inland to (Société du Tramway de Rabat Salé). (19.3 miles) and with 48 stops. The second Bettana in Salé. The two lines share a 2.9km In 2020, 7km (4.4 miles) of new track will line opened in January 2019, 22.5km (14 (1.8-mile) common section between Bab open at both ends of line 2, between the miles) with an additional 33 stops, also Mrissa and Place Joulane stops at the crossing current Hassan II terminus and the Moulay motivating the reconfiguration of line T1. of the Bouregreg, the river that separates the Abdallah Hospital in Salé in the north and Following a 2014 study by Casa Transports two cities. Today, this section is experiencing between the current Moulay Youssef terminus SA to update the city’s rapid transit network, high demand and is close to saturation point. and the Yaacoub El Mansour district in Rabat plans were drawn up for two new north-south One of the challenges of the new tramlines in the south. These extensions will add 12 tramlines to build on the success of the and the reorganisation of the future network new stops. initial system. will therefore be to find solutions to relieve Further expansion is currently under Line T3 (approximately 14km/8.7 miles) congestion and increase traffic flows on this study, for commissioning between 2023 will connect the districts of Ben M’sick, common section. and 2025, to serve the east and south of the Sidi Othmane and Sbata to Casa-Port station There are currently 31 stops (17 on line 1, city with 30km (18.6 miles) of new lines. via Mohammed VI Boulevard; T4 (also around ten on line 2 and four shared), with an average This will provide services to the urban 14km/8.7 miles) will run from the Moulay

296 / AUGUST 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org SALÉ RABAT-SALÉ Salé Tabriquet

Hay Es Salam Salé Ville Rabat-Salé Medina Airport

Bettana Rabat Agdal HSL Hay oulay Ismail Rabat Ville Yacoub Ellansour

ABOVE: The Rabat Agdal high-speed railway station will Agdal link Yaacoub El Mansour soon receive a dedicated tramway link. Egis RABAT Hay Kariat BELOW: The new bowstring bridge in Rabat is used by the Madinet Al Irfane tramway, cycle and pedestrian lanes. Egis Hay al Fath

Hay Riyad T1

T1 extension

T1 option

T2 extension

Temara HSR line

Rachid Industrial Zone via the city centre conventional Kénitra – Rabat – Casablanca to the Hassan II Mosque. This expansion “The tramway will, on its railway line and has more than halved the is designed to engender a new approach to Tangiers – Casablanca journey time to just mobility in Casablanca, with nearly 315 000 completion, connect over two hours. passengers expected to use these two new The realisation of this important national lines each day when both are open in 2023. Rabat, Salé and Temara, project included the creation of new stations In parallel to the construction of tramlines in Rabat (Rabat Agdal) and Casablanca (Casa T3 and T4, preliminary designs have been and a population in excess Voyageurs) and while the tramway reaches launched for the construction of two new of two million.” the new Casablanca HSR station within the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines – a first for city, this is not yet the case in Rabat. Casablanca. Designated T5 and T6, each will As HSR lines in Morocco are developing in run for 12km (7.5 miles). The operational Given the length of the coupled units, the step with the country’s tram networks, future launch for the BRT lines is scheduled for 2021. stops of both networks feature long platforms: extensions of the system in Rabat will provide 65m in Rabat-Salé and 67m in Casablanca; for a service between Rabat Agdal HSR station, Network similarities the extra length in Casablanca is due to the the city centre and the rest of the network. Both metropolitan regions have benefited fact that they also incorporate turnstile access Another key infrastructure addition is the from substantial urban redevelopment controls at each end. construction of a new bowstring bridge to due to the installation of their tramways. Fare evasion in both cities is low thanks take the tramline over the Ain Houalla dual Façade-to-façade reconstruction of avenues to the permanent presence of one ticket carriageway highway. Built as part of the is almost systematic, with the use of high inspector in each single unit – i.e. two current line 2 expansion project, this elegant quality materials, the planting of trees inspectors per tram – and platforms are either new 60m metal installation accommodates (in particular palm trees) and upgrades to permanently monitored by staff, as in Casa- not only a double-track tramline, but also ensure full urban accessibility. blanca, or feature a ticket office, as in Rabat. incorporates a cycle track and a footpath Pedestrian zones have furthermore been which together pass through an unspoilt created to reduce private car access in the city Developments in Rabat-Salé environment. centres: along Mohamed V Boulevard and In September 2019, STRS introduced a new Hassan II Boulevard in Casablanca, and on high-capacity bus line called the ‘trambus’. Developments in Casablanca Baghdad and Er Riyadh streets in Rabat. This is scheduled with a frequency matching Following the launch of Casablanca’s T1, The vehicles used by the two systems are of tramline T1 at the Madinat Al Irfane terminus the Ghandi crossroads in the west of the city similar design (2.65m-wide Alstom Citadis 302 and features new buses and a combined quickly reached saturation point, so in 2019 variants) and are mainly operated as coupled ‘tram+bus’ ticket which enables passengers work began on a four-lane road underpass units (of 65m length) to offer capacity for up to reach the city of Temara from the tram beneath the tramway, with completion to 600 passengers per train. terminus. It is thus the forerunner of the planned 14 months later. Tram operations Casablanca currently operates 62 double future tramway route to Temara. were interrupted between 20 July and units (single-ended, semi-permanently A further significant connection will be to 5 August 2019, when teams worked around coupled) and plans to order a further 50; the new 200km (125-mile) high-speed rail the clock for 15 days to build a new trackbed Rabat-Salé has a fleet of 33 semi-permanently (HSR) line between Tangier and Kénitra that support slab. As the tramway resumed, the coupled units and has plans to acquire 40 opened on 26 November 2018. The first phase underpass was excavated beneath the new more. Both fleets were assembled at Alstom’s of a planned 1500km (930-mile) network, support slab and underneath the light rail line facility in La Rochelle, France. this is complemented by upgrades to the that continued to operate.

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T1 CASABLANCA T2 T3 T4 BRT lines Existing line connections Sidi Bernoussi

Future line connections Gare Casa Port

Depot

Sidi Moumen

Bd Ouled Ziane Aïn Diab

Bd Oqba

Bd Driss El Harti

Bd El Qods

Errahma Lissafsa

LEFT: The new Ghandi road underpass in Casablanca. Courtesy of Casa Transport RIGHT: The complex El Allam / El Harti tramway junction. AleaOlea / A1 / Egis

During the project phase, it was proposed twice – at Abdelmoumen in the west and Hassan II junctions. The last two are Grande to build a common depot and maintenance Ibn Tachfine in the east – and this requires Ceinture, where line T4 passes over line T2, facility for both the tram and BRT systems. scheduling, crossroad synchronisation and and Mohamed Zefzaf, where lines T4 and T1 The new Hantate site will accommodate 52 efficient passenger information to prevent run parallel. trams and 28 buses, with a shared paintshop, excess waiting times. With the introduction warehouse and delivery area, and a control of T3 and T4, no fewer than seven new Grateful acknowledgement is due to centre for the entire Casablanca connections will be added, including five Christophe Thatcher and Fanny Rubigny of public transport network. It will be the third interchanges at the Mohammed Diouri, Egis for their assistance in the compilation of tram depot in the metropolitan region. Victoire, El Fida, El Allam El Harti and this article. Another major project has resulted from preliminary studies in November 2017 that judged it necessary to increase the interchange capabilities at the T3/T4 junction Egis: A key player in Morocco's tramways at the El Allam and El Harti crossroads. Due to Egis is a key partner in the development of tramway networks and transportation systems in Morocco. substantial requirements for tram movement The company is lead contractor in the Egis CID consortium, responsible for the engineering, procurement both during service provision and outside and construction management of Rabat’s first two tramlines. Its services covered the entire project: operational hours, in particular to reach the infrastructure, buildings, urban and landscape redevelopment, fixtures and onboard equipment, rolling depots, it was decided to exploit the crossing stock, workshop depot and co-ordination of utility relocation. Egis was also responsible for the general and turnout capacities to maximum effect by co-ordination of the operation and the overall management of the initial project and was recently awarded building a nine-line junction. the contract that covers the future development of the Rabat-Salé-Temara network. This configuration calls for ten split-off Additionally, as lead contractor in the Egis Novec Atelier-A1 consortium, Egis was appointed to manage the switches and eight diamond crossings. In view construction and commissioning programme for Casablanca’s T3 and T4 tramlines and its new maintenance of the number of switches used in a restricted facility for 57 trams. Its activities here cover the assignments related to preliminary and detailed design, construction contract awards, supervision and testing. footprint and in the urban environment, this In November 2017 the consortium was selected to conduct a study which led to the definition of, design is quite exceptional in its complexity. among other items, the provisional capital investment cost, the requirements for land acquisition and the The two new lines bring extra opportunities provisional construction schedule for the two future BRT lines (T5 and T6). to create a true network. T1 and T2 cross

298 / AUGUST 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Russian revival

Russia: Mosgortrans has now received 360 Vityaz-M (71-931M), cars from PK Transportnye Systemy. By the end of 2023, the entire fleet will be 100% A (cautious) low-floor. Car 31296 is on Pogonniy Proyezd (line 46) on 8 February 2020. tram revival? part 1 Luc Koenot begins a two-part study of Russian tramways, starting with a review of the current situation in Moscow and progress made by the domestic rolling stock manufacturers.

he tramway is hot news again in contained around a third of the world’s This trend is clearly reflected in the status Russia – or at least, politicians tramway systems; 73 of which were in Russia. and outlook of Russia’s tramways. The 61 cities and industry appear to have a Since then 23 of these systems have closed, 12 with the mode can be classified into six groups. renewed interest in this transport in Russia. Today, with the revival of the tram In the two federal cities, Moscow and mode that had fallen into a kind in western cities, the former east behind the Saint-Petersburg, the future looks bright. ofT coma since 1991. Until 50 years ago, new old Iron Curtain represents just 22% of the While the population and economy is networks were built, as the tram was a vital world’s tramway systems and this ratio will booming, there is a clear move to modernise element of the transport of workers and decrease further. Sadly, not all of the country’s and project a new bold image. Secondly, we employees to industry and offices. current 61 tramways can look to a bright future. see a few booming mid-size to large cities Moscow’s powerful central transport Russia is a huge nation, covering with a population of one million-plus, ministry arranged everything from which approximately 17.1 million km2 (6.6m square such as Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, a city could get a tramway, to the renewal of miles) although this territory is unequally Nizhniy Novgorod, Chelyabinsk, Samara the fleets, including financing. Since 1991, populated. Its 146 million inhabitants live and Omsk. Where industry is doing well and local authorities have been responsible for mostly in the western regions, with more than the authorities understand the need for good their own public transport provision, yet 10% in the country’s two largest cities. During public transport, these tramway systems are often lacked the money to pay for it, or even the Soviet era, industrial activities were spread in excellent shape and in this group of cities the interest. Additionally, Russian industry across the country, giving life to even the you can see well-operated networks with passed through a turbulent and corrupt most remote areas. However, over the last two well-maintained vehicles and infrastructure period at the end of the 20th Century. decades factories in these forgotten towns and high service frequencies. As an The tram has largely survived these years of closed due to the obsolescence of technology example, in Barnaul, Izhevsk, Magnitogorsk, uncertainty, although ten cities (from a total and difficult access. Naberezhnye Chelny, Nizhnekamsk, of 73) have seen their networks disappear in Such developments led young people from Ust-UIlimsk and Zlatoust, as long as industry the first two decades of this century. the more remote regions in the north, centre continues to flourish, the tramways will and east to seek their future in the larger remain healthy. Russian landscape cities, with a clear preference for Moscow and At the other end of the spectrum, there are In the mid-1980s, with 116 systems all Saint-Petersburg. While the populations of many cities in severe decline with economies getting their rolling stock via the Moscow these two cities still increases year after year, that are either dying or near-to-death and one state planning authority, the Soviet Union the overall population is in decline. or a few tramlines –generally the remainder

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of larger networks –struggle to survive. or Kaliningrad, a city that enjoys a specific cases, the mayor) says they have to stop, Workers do their best to keep the tramways status as an enclave between Poland and workers keep the trams running. running with minimal resources, there is the Baltics. No-one can predict how long such little money (or interest) to invest. Examples are And the others? These can be classified in tramway systems will survive. They could Achinsk, Krasnoturinsk, Ossiniki, a group of cities where lives are нормальный close very quickly, as has already happened Prokopievsk, Volchansk, Vladivostok – [normalnya] –a typical Russian expression in cities such as Komsomolsk-na-Amure, and these systems are on life support. that has no precise translation but carries the Voronezh or Rjasan. A few atypical cities seem to manage their feeling of not expecting things to become operations well because of specific situations easier or better, because tomorrow will likely Upgrading cities and the gratitude of the local authorities. be as bad as yesterday. Just accept it and The revitalisation of Moscow into a modern Here we can highlight Cheryomushki, carry on, don’t worry and don’t hurry. and welcoming city has been an important where a short tramline connects a huge Trams continue in such cities because it has priority for Sergey Sobyanin, mayor of the electrical power plant to a nearby village; always been so, and while no-one (in most capital since 2010. He has followed policies of eliminating the supremacy of cars, pollution, and corrupt and unlicensed shops that take over the footways, tackling unsightly mess on the streets. This ambition covers the entire urban area and its 12 million inhabitants and is not limited to a few of the ‘hip’ districts. Slow, little trams that drag themselves from one stop in the middle of rows of badly- parked cars to another in the middle of the street no longer fit this strategy. In a scenario that many western tram undertakings can only dream of, the Russian capital acts according to promises by taking all the necessary decisions, carrying out works and making financial resources available to Mosgortrans, the tramway operator. Summarised briefly here, a five-part plan is underway. Firstly, clean up the city. The result is remarkable: footpaths are now free of stalls (small shops, restaurants or bars, generally illegally built on the footpaths that until recently formed a large parallel black economy) and parked cars, modern ABOVE: In many cities, trams used to be the main mode of transport for workers in huge factories. In recent stops offer comfort and accurate real-time years, most of these industrial tramlines have been closed or reduced to minimal service due to increasing information to intending tram passengers, private car, bus and minibus usage. Today, line 5 in Nizhnekamsk only offers a single service at each shift parking is no longer allowed in the city’s change, operated with a single KTM5 – car 105 is seen on 6 February 2020. narrower tram streets and through traffic is

Moscow’s Sobolevskiy proezd is a fine example of how the city has given priority to trams. Tram infrastructure and the streetscape have been renovated recently, with car traffic and parking prohibited. KTM-19 30785 on line 27 and 30351 (a modernised Tatra T3SU, now model MTTA) on line 23 wear the new blue livery – 26 January 2020.

300 / august 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org prohibited in these streets. Cameras identify those wrongly entering a tram street and private companies are on the scene quickly to tow inconsiderately parked cars. Subsequently, the old tariff system was discontinued. Dwell times at stops were extended as trams used to wait at each stop for minutes because passengers were only allowed to board via the front door and queues quickly built up at the turnstiles to validate everyone’s ticket. All doors are now used for both boarding and alighting, a range of smartcard tickets is available and trams have terminals for contactless payments. The third part of the plan will be discussed in detail shortly: the complete renewal of all tramcars. After the delivery of 70 100% low-floorFoxtrot cars built by Polish supplier Since 2009, Ust-Katav has focused on delivering the classic four-axle 71-623; this type has a short low-floor Pesa in 2014-2016, the firstVityaz-M trams section between the two bogies and, like all other four-axle Ust-Katav cars, can run in coupled units, even entered service in March 2017. These back-to-back. This is useful in cases of temporary disruption on a given line. Here, 237+252 is reversing on the modern, articulated 100% low-floor trams, temporary Park Pobedy terminus of line 2 in the Ulitsa Tenishevoy in Smolensk – 9 February 2020. made in Russia, come from a brand new manufacturer, PK Transportnye Systemy Ust-Katav Carriage-Building Plant (UKVZ), established in 2013. This company has strong (abbreviated to PK-TS). At the beginning of named after S. M. Kirov, maintained its ties with TMH, which also provides necessary July 2020, 360 had already been delivered production; this factory has been building factory space. and all older vehicles (currently about 320) trams since 1901, and from 1937 was the The secret of the newcomer, which has are to be replaced by the end of 2023. undisputed leader in the Russian market become the undisputed Russian market leader Public transport has also gained a greater with thousands of famous models such as in just a few short years, lies in innovative visibility due to the introduction in 2015 of the two-axle type ‘H’, KTM-1 and KTM-2, concepts that were already under development and the classic high-floor four-axleKTM-5 but that were never previously realised. “The revitalisation of (14 991 of these were built), KTM-8 and The company is very proud of its own KTM-19. Production of the latter, with its now concepts for 100% low-floor trams based on Moscow into a modern and obsolete technology, continued undisturbed a patented bogie, available as four-, six- or until 2012. The company’s first ‘modern’ eight-axle variants, single- or double-ended, welcoming city has been tram design, the prototype 71-630, only came and for use on either 1524mm or 1435mm into being in 2006: the double-articulated, gauge systems. an important priority for low-floor and double-ended design was a true revolution for UKVZ. Mosgortrans Sergey Sobyanin.” subsequently tested this tram on the A STATE ROLLING STOCK north-western network and quickly STANDARD a new house style for metro, tram and bus, concluded that it was unsuitable. which should put an end to the numerous Following this disgrace, Ust-Katav went The system of identifying railway equipment colourschemes and variants of the past. Most back to familiar terrain and in 2009 the type on a standardised basis was developed during of the older vehicles have been given this new 71-623 appeared, a classic four-axle vehicle, the Soviet era by the State Standardisation livery, a combination of blue and white. but with a low-floor section between the Committee, codified by law on 1 July 1976; this The two latest models, the four-axle 71-623 bogies. This model is still the only four-axle system is part of the Soviet industry standards, built by the Ust-Katav plant and the six-axle car in the catalogue today and is also available known as GOST. Foxtrot from Pesa, however, retain their with doors on both sides, which can be used to The Ministry of Transportation in Moscow is maintaining the standard, limited today orange and grey paint schemes respectively. form a double-ended set. In parallel, a double- to Russia. Each model receives a type Finally, the city is also dedicating articulated variant was developed based on identification based upon two parts. The first significant efforts into improving its this already outdated technology, inspired by two digits indicate the type of vehicle: 71 for infrastructure; the ambition is to renew the the idea of two four-axle vehicles connected trams, 81 for metros. Following a hyphen, the entire tram network in the next five years. by a central section. The 71-631 type exists first of three digits indicates the factory of It is not yet clear whether the tram will in both single- and double-ended versions. production, followed by two further digits gain traffic light priority and there is a fear Sixty-one trams have been built to date, most for the model number inside this factory. that this will remain the weak point in this of them for Saint-Petersburg. Additional characters may be added to specify subtypes or refurbishments. success story: all lines cross a main street A small spark of innovation came in 2015 For example: the Lvyonok low-floor car is given somewhere, and waiting times of two to three with the arrival of the prototype of a new the catalogue number 71-911EM : ‘71’ denotes minutes to cross intersections are common. model, the 71-633. After more than a year that it is a tram, ‘9’ indicates the factory code of test running in Samara and test drives in (in this case PK-TS). All current PK-TS four-axle Renewing industry interest Saint-Petersburg, the first three production cars are part of the same generation with the For the Russian tramway manufacturing units are now being delivered to Chelyabinsk design number ‘11’. The company added the industry, the fall of the Soviet Union meant and Barnaul. The tramway division of the suffix ‘EM’ to differentiate theLvyonok from the the end of a comfortable life with an assured factory in Ust-Katav has been part of the City Star as the newer cars have a slightly more and ever-replenished order book from Moscow. Khrunichev State Research and Production modern specification. In a few cases, the factory digit was omitted, Fortunately, the powerful main line railways Space Centre since 2011, a powerful company such as for the 71-88G doubled-ended four-axle prevented rail-related mechanical engineering that built the Russian modules of MIR and cars operated in Cheryomushki and Saint- from falling into complete collapse or into the ISS space stations, amongst others. Petersburg. As the standard dates from Soviet the hands of corrupt newcomers, unlike other Since 3 February 2020 the factory is part of times, one additional manufacturer follows this components of the economy. the even bigger Roscosmos organisation. system: the Riga Carriage Building Plant (RVR) Transmashholding (TMH) was set-up Whether trams will be built here for much was allocated number ‘2’. Post-Soviet players in the early post-Soviet times and today is longer is therefore open to question. outside Russia’s geographical boundaries are not the largest company, owning all the It will come as no surprise that some smart included. Belkommunmash, the Minsk-based firm which started producing trams in 2000 major production units involved in rail. engineers with tram expertise saw which is not following the standard, despite its many However, TMH was not immediately way the wind was blowing and left to set deliveries to Russian networks. interested in trams. up their own new organisation – PK-TS was

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The trams have all the elements found in modern western counterparts, including air conditioning, GPS navigation, CCTV cameras, and have a strong focus on comfort with comfortable seats, digital information screens, passenger Wi-Fi and USB charging sockets etc. They can also run for up to 1.5km (0.9 miles) independent of the overhead wire thanks to onboard batteries; 455 trams have now rolled out of the factory for use in eight different cities, and hundreds more fill the future order books. The future of the Russian tram industry is therefore more assured than ever.

Moscow’s fleet renewal After Moscow’s modernisation ambitions were confirmed, Alstom was the first to respond and sent a prototype Citadis 302 from its site in Aytré (France) for demonstration in February 2012. Based on the trial runs, the French conglomerate developed a more affordable version adapted to local needs, the Citadis Although PK-TS delivered its first batch of City Star (model 71-911) low-floor cars to its home city of Tver, this 301 CIS (or 71-801), under the TramRus joint tram system has since closed for a major renovation programme. Prototype 001 is on line 5 in the prospect venture founded in collaboration with TMH. Chaykovskogo, approaching the main railway station, on 26 January 2016. Of the five trams built in Barcelona, the

PK Transportnye Systemy: Russia’s new market leader

PK-TS operates from the Tverskoy Vagonostroitelniy Zavod facility in Tver (180km/110 miles north-west of Moscow), formerly part of TransmashHolding (TMH), with which close co-operation agreements have been signed. As the factory in Tver had a long history of rail carriage building, it already had a lot of expertise and machines in-house for the construction of the car bodies. In 2015, the first prototypes of the CityStar and Vityaz rolled out of the ABOVE: To create a 100% low-floor car, PK-TS factory. Since 2018, PK-TS has rented a puts the passenger saloon seating on raised second TMH site, the Nevsky Electric platforms over the bogies. Lvyonok 001 (model Transport Plant in Saint-Petersburg, 71-911EM) in Ulan-Ude on 30 January 2020. mainly focused on final assembly. rolling stock. This factory has now ABOVE: PK-TS also In January 2020, PK-TS purchased also produced its first trams for produces the double-ended, Trolza’s trolleybus factory; the central the undertaking in its home city, eight-axle 71-934. At 34.7m location in Engels (on the Volga across under the model designation 71-301. long, it offers the highest Saratov) is more favourable for the Tram 7510 has been in service since capacity of any PK-TS tram; assembly of trams for the central and July 2016, with 7511-7513 following so far only one prototype eastern areas and allows for increased i n 2 017. has been built, as seen on 20 production capacity. These are classic single-ended April 2019. Alexander Shanin TMH does not just have PK-TS four-axle vehicles with doors on both under its wing. OEVRZ (Oktyabrsky sides, which usually run coupled as RIGHT: Cars 7512+7513 are Electric Railway Car Repair Plant) a double-ended set. However, these two of four 71-301 trams built in Saint-Petersburg has long been are the only trams so far produced by OEVRZ in Saint-Petersburg known for the renovation of by this factory and it is unlikely that – Prospket Obukhovskoy tramway, metro and suburban more will follow shortly. Oborny, 28 January 2020.

Standing area Number produced Model No. Name Driver’s cabs Sections Bogies Length (m) Seats Cities used Prototype in Moscow (at 4p/m2) (as of April 2020) 71-911 City Star 1 1 2 16.5 33 102 13 Tver (8), Kazan (5) 06/14-06/15 71-911E City Star 1 1 2 16.5 33 102 30 Rostov-na-Donu - 71-911EM Lvyonok 1 1 2 16.7 36 95 23 Ulan-Ude (15), Perm (8) 12/18-10/19 71-922 Varyag 1 3 2 21.42 38 112 1 Prototype 04/16-05/16 71-923 Bogatyr 1 2 2 19.0 34 112 3 Saint-Petersburg - 71-923M Bogatyr-M 1 2 2 19.41 45 109 1 Prototype, now in Moscow 06/19 Krasnodar (1), 71-931 Vityaz 1 3 3 27.0 53 163 11 11/14-03/16 Saint-Petersburg (10) Moscow (360), 71-931M Vityaz-M 1 3 3 27.5 60 160 392 03/17 Saint-Petersburg (32) 71-934 Lev 2 3 4 34.7 70 218 1 Perm 08/18-10/19 475 Note: All models are built to 1524mm-gauge and 2.5m width

302 / august 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org prototype arrived in Moscow in November 2013. Still in Moscow, this tram is now out of service, but the remaining four are in operation in Saint-Petersburg. For Alstom, the Russian story ended abruptly, on the one hand because the technologies employed were already outdated and the meagre and clumsily-designed interior did not stand a chance, on the other hand because the reciprocal embargoes with the West greatly weakened the Rouble and the import of trams from the EU became impractical. At that time, TMH also saw more opportunities in a collaboration with PK-TS. Polish company Pesa entered a partnership with Uraltransmash for the supply of the Foxtrot, based on its popular Twist platform. The first three units of this model, designated 71-414, arrived in March 2014 although technical and financial disagreements spoiled relations with the Bydgoszcz plant after delivery of the sixteenth vehicle. During the period 2014-2016, 70 Foxtrots were delivered in total, all of which operate on the north- By the end of 2023, the oldest of Moscow's trams will be the 70 Pesa Fokstrot cars (71-414), delivered in 2014-16. western part of the network with a base in These will also be the only non-Russian cars in regular service. Car 3542, on line 27K, is on Timiryazevskaya Krasnopresnenskoye depot. ulitsa on 26 January 2020.

PK Transportnye Systemy: Russia’s new market leader

Model No. Location Company Notes 71-1xx Saint-Petersburg Peterburg Tramway-Mechanical Plant LM- and LVS- types; production ceased in 2012. OEVRZ, Oktyabrsky Electric Railway Part of Transmashholding. Focused on renovation of trams, metro and suburban trains. Its own 71-3xx Saint-Petersburg Car Repair Plant tram production is limited to a few four-axle cars with a low-floor section between the bogies. Currently has three tram products in its catalogue: 100% low-floor four- and six-axle, as well as a 71-4xx Yekaterinburg Uraltransmash four-axle narrow-gauge car. Also acts as the import company for the Pesa Fokstrot. The market leader from 1937 until 2012. Today, after more than a year at a standstill, it produces Ust-Katav Carriage-Building Plant 71-6xx Ust-Katav limited numbers of four-axle 71-623 with low-floor sections and the articulated six-axle71-631. (named after S. M. Kirov) Also a slow introduction of a new 100% low-floor articulated model, the71-633. Part of Transmashholding and part of the joint venture importer with Alstom. 71-8xx Saint-Petersburg TramRus Only five trams produced, with activity since having ceased. In partnership with Transmashholding, a new company started in 2013 and the 71-9xx Tver PK Transportnye Systemy current market-leader. Note: This list only includes the factories that produce new trams. Numerous factories and workshops across the country renovate tramway vehicles, mostly cars from cities in their respective regions. Trams that are renovated usually keep their original model number, with or without an addition.

The table above shows the six but has ceased after 167 cars (types while the double-articulated 71-418 Czech-based Škoda Transportation Russian tram manufacturers active in 71-407, 71-407-01 and 71-412, the latter, runs in the company’s home city of also has ambitions to enter the recent decades . The first was known however, being limited to one car in Yekaterinburg but has not yet been Russian market and has signed a for its LM and LVS series trams and 2018 of a new design and technology) approved for service. Uraltransmash joint venture with Russian was mainly the home supplier of and four single-articulated trams also delivered a narrow-gauge variant investment company Sinara Group Saint-Petersburg, as well as (types 71-409 and 71-409-01). of the 71-412 to Yevpatoria in Crimea in December 2019. Its first goal, delivering to a handful of other Its new models, aimed at replicating at the end of 2019. This model, 71-411, under the Sinara-Škoda brand, is cities. The company did not survive the PK-TS strategy, all feature a 100% is the second post-war tram design on to conquer Saint-Petersburg and the transition to the new market low-floor. The first prototypes were 1000mm bogies built in Russia, after Volgograd with its ForCity family of structures and the last tram rolled completed in 2019 and are currently the 71-615 from Ust-Katav produced low-floor vehicles that have already out of the factory in 2012. OEVRZ, undertaking trial runs. The four-axle between 1995 and 1997 for the city been proven in cities all the way Ust-Katav, TramRus, and PK-TS are 71-415 is in service in Chelyabinsk, Pyatigorsk in the south of the country. across Europe. discussed elsewhere in this article. Uraltransmash was founded in 1817 to produce all kinds of military and civil machinery, (rail) vehicles and accessories. The company has been building trams in Yekaterinburg since 1997, with just under 400 delivered to date. Lower unit prices attract some cities, but the corresponding quality usually translates into a shorter life. The factory began by producing copies of the Tatra T6B5, later following the innovations of Ust-Katav. Now that PK-TS demonstrates success with the Lvyonok and Vityaz, Uraltransmash is adapting its production; the construction of Uraltransmash built 73 examples of 71-407-01 units in The first Uraltransmash 100% low-floor articulated car four-axle vehicles with a low-floor 2014 -19, with low-floor centre sections. Kazan 1104 leaves the (model 71-418), is running in Yekaterinburg – as seen on between the bogies started in 2009, loop at the main railway station on line 5 on 3 February 2020. Ulitsa Vikulova on 19 March 2020. Ivan Revenkov

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“Russian pride, the expertise of the new factory and excellent quality of its delivered products left Moscow with an obvious choice.”

Stadler also entered the picture briefly, sending a prototype of the Minsk-built Metelitsa in February 2015, also known by the model number B85300M. This low-floor tram stayed for barely four months before returning to Minsk. Russian pride, the expertise of the new factory and excellent quality of its delivered products left Moscow with an obvious choice. PK-TS is therefore the new supplier to the capital, and not only for the delivery of new trams as the company is responsible for maintenance. In March 2017, the first double- articulated six-axle Vityaz-M (type 71-931M ) entered service; the name refers to the strong warlords of history who defended Russia. Renewal of the fleet is undertaken by depot, which is logical in view of the maintenance requirements being taken over by PK-TS. In November 2019, a further contract was concluded between the city, ABOVE: Any non-low-floor cars will be donated to PK-TS was prepared for this with the Mosgortrans, TMH and PK-TS for the cities elsewhere in the Russian Federation by 2024. 71-923 type; also known as Bogatyr in construction of a tramway innovation, The modernised Tatras will be the last to leave the reference to mediaeval Viking knights. maintenance and repair centre on the site of capital: 30326 on line 16 passes 30121+30123 on line 1 Since October 2017 three have been in the Chertanovskaya ulitsa on 29 January 2020. Krasnopresnenskoye depot. At the same time, operating on line 100 in Saint-Petersburg. PK-TS is also working at Bauman depot on BELOW: All Ust-Katav and Saint-Petersburg-built A Moscow variant, the Bogatyr-M, has a trials of driverless trams on line 17. cars will leave the capital first; car 3030 (of type prototype which has been running on test Moscow has five tram depots for its daily 71-134A) on line 27 runs along Sobolevskiy proezd on from Bauman depot since June 2019. operations. Between March 2017 and March 29 January 2020. The manufacturer also has a 100% 2019, first Bauman then Oktyabrskoye low-floor single-section car, theLvyonok , received 125 Vityaz-M cars each. Now it is which is also in service in different cities and Rusakov’s turn, with 90 delivered in early could be an option for lines with low traffic. April 2020. In addition, the depot has 60 Which model will ultimately be chosen for low-floor four-axle vehicles of type71-623-03 Apakov has yet to be confirmed. that date from 2012-13. These are expected Regardless of the model chosen, Apakov to be replaced by the end of this year. The must first be adapted and renovated to inflow of the new trams has allowed71-619 accommodate a new fleet. These works are to cars (built in 2007-2009) to move to Apakov start during the summer, requiring some of and Krasnopresnenskoye, resulting in the the depot’s daily operations to be temporarily displacement of older Tatra cars from Apakov be transferred to TRZ (tramway repair plant), a to Krasnopresnenskoye. depot until 1974 but now in use as a workshop. The fourth depot, Apakov, has around 120 BELOW: A variant of the four-axle PK-TS Bogatyr Finally, Krasnopresnenskoye depot has the renovated Tatra T3 and 60 71-619 cars. (model 71-923) could be chosen to replace part of the greatest variety of vehicles. Here we find Its approach is necessarily different as the fleet operating from Moscow’s Apakov depot. Three 70 Pesa trams, about 50 renovated Tatra T3 length and profile of theVityaz-M does not fit cars of this type run in Saint-Petersburg on line 100; cars, 20 71-619 vehicles from Ust-Katav, five well in this depot that dates from 1909. car 0203 in the ulitsa Rustaveli on 27 January 2020. 71-134A (LM-99AE) from Saint-Petersburg and two 71-405-08 from Uraltransmash. Bringing us up to date, on 16 May Mosgortrans announced the launch of a tender for 204 new 100% low floor trams – 130 single-section and 74 three-section cars – including full maintenance for 30 years. This decision is due imminently. Within the overall context of the current Russian tram manufacturing industry described earlier, the available models, and the obligation for three decades of maintenance, one might reasonably conclude that PK-TS has a high likelihood of winning this contract. As soon as deliveries start, the Tatras will be grouped temporarily either in Apakov or Krasnopresnenskoye, depending on which gets the new vehicles first. The official goal is to have all tram depots operating 100% low-floor cars by the end of 2023, with a contracted service provider responsible for maintenance.

Grateful acknowledgement to Mike Russell for his assistance. Continued next month.

304 / august 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org in your next issue of Luc Koenot Knoerr André RUSSIA’S TRAM coventry’s very SYSTEMS FACTFILE: REVIVAL (part 2) light rail vision ULM In the second instalment of his survey Utilising local expertise to address For over 50 years a system with just one of Russia’s tramway landscape, local issues, this West Midlands city has a tramline, Ulm opened a second route in Luc Koenot explores the latest radical vision for the future of transport. December 2018. Neil Pulling considers developments in Saint-Petersburg and TAUT looks in detail at the aims and how trams have been restored to favour the movement of trams between cities. objectives behind the Urban VLR concept. in this southern German city. SEPTEMBER PLUS... 2020 issue + The latest news and analysis, rolling stock orders, system developments, transport policy announcements and industry On sale comment from around the world 21 August The very image of light rail modernity, Citadis 056 in its futuristic chrome livery approaching Pont Wilson in the French city of Tours on 15 April 2015. N. Pulling

THE FRENCH TRAMWAY part 2

PHENOMENON Lille In the second of his two-part series, Mike Taplin looks at Valenciennes Le Havre the amazing period from from 1990 to the present day. Rouen Reims Caen Brest n the 1960s, France had just three and medieval layout, such a solution Le Mans surviving tram networks, with most was not practical for the city centre so Mulhouse Orléans earlier systems having been replaced planners called for a significant tram Besançon Tours by buses or trolleybuses in the previous subway (1.8km/1.1 miles), the only one in Angers Dijon three decades. It wasn’t until the France at the time, aside from Strasbourg. turbulentI 1970s, with oil crises and a resultant The project was approved in January FRANCE desire to reclaim urban streets, that many cities 1990 (1989 had been election year). Lyon began to re-evaluate their transport options. Costed at FRF320m, the two-line Last month we looked at the beginnings 15.4km (9.6-mile) system ran from Georges Saint-Étienne of this movement towards the recreation of Bracque in Grand Quevilly and Technopole Bordeaux city tram networks, and the early pioneers in in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray to a common Avignon Nantes, Grenoble, Paris and Strasbourg that section from Avenue de Caen across the Marseille Nice have since flourished and set the standard. Seine bridge and underground before Montpellier Aubagne This time we look at the explosion of cities emerging again at a surface terminus Toulouse that joined them from the 1990s onwards. at Boulingrin. Inauguration was on 16 December 1994, Rouen with 28 Alstom TFS trams providing service, A historic city astride the river Seine in marketed as Métrobus. At first, service on the Montpellier Normandy, Rouen has a population of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray line ran only to Lying on the Mediterranean coast, around 111 500, with 655 000 in the wider Sotteville due to difficulties with the local Montpellier has a population of 281 600 agglomération. Public transport is provided by council, with a full opening on 1 September (607 900 in the agglomération) and is regarded Transports en commun de l’agglomération 1997. Unlike other French tramways, the as one of the country’s most liveable cities. Rouennaise (TCAR, a Veolia subsidiary), system has not expanded, but with passenger Socialist mayor Georges Frêche held power marketed under the name Astuce. The city’s traffic increasing from 42 000/day in 1995 to for 27 years (1977-2004), overseeing growth first-generation tramway closed in 1953. 70 000/day in 2012, the TFS-2 lacked the from the 25th to the eighth largest city in Politically left-aligned, when the future required capacity and these were replaced by 27 France. Montpellier had a first-generation of public transport was debated in the 43m Alstom Citadis 402 in 2012-13. The tramway that closed on 31 January 1949. 1980s, socialists supported by communists original trams were sold to the Turkish city Mr Frêche became a strong advocate for a rejected a VAL mini-metro in favour of a of Gaziantep where, albeit modernised, they tramway once he had dropped the idea of the surface tramway. For reasons of topography are still in service in 2020. Matra ARAMIS personal rapid transit system

306 / august 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org French tramways

in the 1980s; in 1995 a public vote was held – 77% said ‘yes’ to a tramway. Official approval was given for a 15.7km (9.6-mile) line from Stade de Mosson in the west to Odysseum (a shopping and entertainment district east of the centre) costing EUR348.8m. The sinuous line through the city served Corum, Place de la Comédie, Gare St-Roch and Antigone and opened on 30 June 2000, using the first examples of Alstom’s ubiquitous Citadis, and surprisingly for a street-based urban tramway, 2.65m wide. The blue livery decorated with swallow motifs (the swallows come to the nearby marshes during their annual migrations) attracted much attention. The patronage projection of 75 000 passengers/day was soon exceeded, and subsequently reached 130 000, requiring two further trams. These were delivered in 2002 with additional centre sections to reach 41m. The first 28 were re-equipped similarly in 2002-03. Line 2 was already in the planning phase, at ABOVE: Rouen Citadis 840 19.8km (12.3 miles) the longest in France and emerges from the city subway running east-west between Jacou and Saint- at Théâtre des Arts on Jean-de-Védas. Built at a cost of EUR450m, 13 March 2013. N. Pulling this opened on 16 December 2006 with both ends crossing the city boundary into adjacent LEFT: The complicated communes. By agreement with railway track layout outside Gare authority RFF, the south-west section used St-Roch in Montpellier the trackbed of the abandoned Montpellier – under construction in 2010. Paulhan railway, with signalled single-track The completed line 1 is in the background. J. Gribble sections, permitting 70km/h (43mph) operation. A fleet of 27 new 32m Alstom Citadis 302 were delivered in so-called ‘Flower Power’ livery on an orange base, though three are in neutral livery for use on any line. The EUR350m line 3 was designed to give Montpellians a glimpse of the sea from their trams and extended over 23km (14.3 miles) from Juvignac via Mosson (interchange with the newly-extended line 1), Gare St-Roch and Place Carnot before sharing tracks with line 1 Orléans tramline was conceded. Line B was approved, and then heading south-east to Pérols (Etang An historic city on the river Loire, around running 11.4km (seven miles) from La Chapelle de l’Or) near the coast. There were more 110km (68.4 miles) south of Paris with a St-Mesmin in the west to St-Jean-de-Braye in single-track sections and a branch off the population of 114 600 (agglomération 433 350), the east, crossing line A by a flat crossing at De south-east section to Lattes Centre. It opened famous for its connections with Jeanne d’Arc. Gaulle in the city centre. Alstom’s APS surface on 7 April 2012 using 19 43m Alstom Citadis Orléans original tramway closed in 1938. contract system was chosen for the section 402 cars carrying a livery with a black base In 1990 a study into TCSP (Public from Madeleine and Eugene Vignat, protecting representing an underwater theme. Transport on Dedicated Right-of-Way) was the important views of the architecture such On the same day, the 9.2km (5.7-mile) line 4 conducted, with the thought that the city as the cathedral and of town hall. was inaugurated, a circular service around was too small to justify a tramway. However Twenty-one additional Alstom Citadis 302 the central area sharing tracks with the other when the results were put out to consultation, arrived; in addition to being fitted for APS, lines; 12 43m Alstom Citadis are painted in the public voted in favour of a tramway. they were 2.4m wide, so each batch of trams a Roi Soleil livery (referencing the reign of The 18km (11.2-mile) line A linked Fleury les is restricted to its own line and depot. This King Louis XIV between 1643 and 1715, also Aubrais in the north and Hôpital de La Source EUR395m project was inaugurated on 29 June known as the ‘Sun King’) with a gold base in the south, serving both railway stations, 2012. Looking to the future, some thought and symbols of engravings. the city centre and crossing the Loire on the has been given to a tram-train project using All four lines serve Gare St-Roch, so there existing bridge (pont George V). the SNCF line to Châteuneuf-sur-Loire. are just short of 100 trams/hour passing Works began on 12 October 1998, the over the flat crossing, or its turning tracks cost was EUR301m and long-standing LRTA Lyon (fortunately no motor vehicles). The rule member Christian Buisson acted as project France’s third city (second if the population here is ‘give way to the right and proceed at manager. Commercial service began from of the agglomération is taken into account), 10km/h’, and with good training this works. 27 November 2000 after three days of free Lyon grew up at the confluence of the There are plans for a line 5, first presented travel, using 22 Alstom Citadis 301 with an Rhône and Saône rivers and has 513 275 in 2009, and envisaged to cover 20.5km unusual width of 2.32m, the maximum for residents (agglomération 2.23m). Its large (12.7 miles) from Lavérune in the south-west the clearances on the bridge. first-generation tramway finally closed on to Clapiers in the north (later Prades-le-Lez). Not everyone thought the tramway was a 30 January 1956, with many lines converted A public inquiry took place in spring 2013, success however and mayor Jean-Pierre Sueur to trolleybus operation; interurban tramways but with Georges Frêche no longer in office, lost the subsequent municipal elections. lasted until 30 June 1957. progress has slipped and his replacement, His successor, Serge Grouard, received an A métro network was built in 1978-91 Philippe Saurel, has since announced a already commissioned report into a second, and when it came to plans for an east-west shorter and cheaper route for a 2025 opening. east-west, line but put this on the shelf while continuation, a surface option was evaluated The city also has longer-term aspirations rubber-tyred solutions were considered. that became a factor in the 1989 elections. to extend line 1 to the out-of-town TGV By now line A was carrying 45 000 passengers/ Once Raymond Barre was elected mayor, high-speed railway station. day and in July 2005 the principle of a second an exhibition was organised with 65% of

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org august 2020 / 307 French tramways the 11 000 visitors in favour of a tramway. The tramway was judged a success in the Bordeaux This was then written into the PDU (Plan de city and work soon began on line T4 from Jet Famous for wine production, Bordeaux is a déplacements urbains – Urban Local Transport d’Eau-Mendes France to Hôpital Feyzin in port city on the estuary of the river Garonne Plan), followed by the adoption of a two-line Vénissieux. This required a further 16 trams, with a population of 257 800 at the centre 20km (12.4-mile) tram vision in March 1997. opened on 20 April 2009 and was extended of an agglomération of 783 000. Its centre is a Line T1 linked Gare de Perrache with to La Doua on 29 August 2013. Meanwhile, UNESCO World Heritage site, a fact that was IUT-Feyssine via Gare Part-Dieu, and T2 from T5 was already under construction, opening to prove important in the tramway story. Perrache to Porte des Alpes via Jean-Macé. between Grange-Blanche and Eurexpo on The city was for many years the personal Passenger service began on 2 January 2001, 17 November 2012. Another 12 43m Citadis fiefdom of Jacques Chaban-Delmas, elected after an inauguration on 18 December, using 402 were ordered, soon increased by another mayor in 1947, who oversaw the closure of 39 Alstom Citadis 302 constructed with a seven to add capacity to T4. Lines T1-T5 were the first-generation tramway in December unique front-end design. essentially radial routes, but the 6.7km 1958. In the 1980s he was (like many others) Extensions were already being planned, (4.2-mile) line T6 was to be an orbital seduced by the idea of a VAL mini-metro, but with T2 from Porte des Alpes to St-Priest tramway from Debourg to Hôpital Est Pinel. this was judged too expensive. He was replaced opening on 27 October 2003; T1 extended to This opened on 22 November 2019 and is in 1995 by Allain Juppé (later Prime Minister Montrochet on 15 September 2005, and to worked by 32m Citadis freed from line T4 by of France between 1995 and 1997), who had Debourg on 19 February 2014. A further eight the delivery of 15 more Citadis 402 there. campaigned to bring a tramway to the city trams were delivered for this expansion. By then the network had reached 73km and a three-line 43km (26.7-mile) system Plans for line T3 were approved, 14.6km (45.4 miles) and was used by 350 000 was written into the PDU. The declaration (nine miles) from Part Dieu along the passengers/day. Work is currently in progress of public utility for the first 24.5km (15.2 right-of-way of the former Chemin de Fer de to extend T6 to La Doua, creating a link miles) came in 2000, costed at EUR690m. l’Est de Lyon to Meyzieu – this ‘interurban’ with T3, while T2 is due to be extended to This looked expensive, but included the APS opened on 4 December 2006 using ten more Montrochet and T3 to Cordeliers. There are surface current collection system on 12km trams. T3 was also the basis of a 30-year plans for ten new lines which, if realised, will (7.5 miles) of city centre tracks in order to concession for an express light rail link to make this the largest network in France. respect the historic streetscape. Bordeaux Aéroport St-Exupéry, 8km (five miles) beyond SNCF has introduced tram-trains on its was the first city to adopt the novel system, Meyzieu. This opened on 9 August 2010 55km (34-mile) Ouest Lyonnais line from developed by Innorail, a subsidiary of Spie using six Stadler Tango LRVs to provide a Lyon St-Paul; service started on 24 September Entertrans, and later sold to Alstom. 15-minute service, interworking with T3 on 2012 using 24 42m Alstom Citadis Dualis Line A from Mériadeck to Lormont and the common section. powered by 1500V dc electrification. Cenon opened on 21 December 2003. There were plenty of teething problems, with over RIGHT: Two forms of EUR500 000 spent on bus replacement, and light rail in one city: a city tramway service (left) at one stage Mr Juppé threatened to ditch the on Lyon T3 alongside an system in favour of overhead wires. Alstom Rhônexpress tram-train persisted and reliability eventually increased. service to the airport at Line C from Quinconces to Gare St-Jean Gare Part-Dieu – Villette. opened on 24 April 2004 and line C from N. Pulling Quinconces to St-Nicolas on 15 May 2004. Ten extensions followed by October 2008. BELOW: The sun goes Alstom delivered 12 32m Citadis 302 (for down on Bordeaux’s Pont line C) and 62 43m Citadis 402. de pierre, dating from the early 19th Century. Trams Phase 2, costed at EUR560m, boosted traffic have used the bridge from to 230 000 passengers/day, and was followed 2003, and since 2016 it has by Phase 3, which added 35km (21.7 miles) in been closed to all forms of phases between 2014 and 20, including a motorised road traffic. line D from Quinconces to Eysine Cantinolle. N. Pulling On 17 December 2016 a 7km (4.3-mile) extension of line C to Blanquefort was opened as the Tram-train du Médoc alongside part of the Bordeaux – Pointe de Grave railway – a project that cost EUR108m. Forty-one more Citadis 402 arrived in 2013-16, followed by ten more in 2018; a further five were ordered in 2018 to bring the fleet to 130. The network now totals 88km/54.7 miles (43km/26.7 miles with APS) and is operated by Keolis. A branch of line A to Aéroport de Bordeux-Mérignac is planned. Mulhouse A city of 285 000 in the far east, close to the German and Swiss borders, Mulhouse’s first-generation trams disappeared in 1956. In the 1990s the Syndicat Intercommunal des Transports de l’Aggloméraion Mulhousienne began studies on increasing the attractiveness of public transport and came up with plans for a three-line tramway covering 16.2km (10.1 miles). After a 2001 public inquiry, declaration of public utility came in October 2002 for the EUR249.1m scheme that opened on 20 May 2006, using 27 2.65m-wide 32m Alstom Citadis 302 trams. Line 1 links Gare Centrale with Châtaignier, line 2 Nouveau Bassin and Coteaux, and line 3 Gare Central and Lutterbach (opened 12 December 2010).

308 / august 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org LEFT: Mulhouse Avanto tram- train 16 at République as a city tramway service approaches from behind in June 2011. N. Pulling

RIGHT: With a population of just over 40 000, Valenciennes is the smallest French town with a tramway; a T1 service on Avenue Georges Clemenceau shortly after the July 2007 opening. N. Pulling

BELOW: One of the few French cities not to use Alstom rolling stock, a pair of Bombardier Flexity Outlook low-floor trams at Les Caillols in Marseille in 2010. N. Pulling

Plans for a EUR84.4m tram-train scheme were also developed which saw 12 Siemens Avanto running under 750V dc tramway overhead as far as Lutterbach (4.2km/2.6 miles) and then on 25kV ac SNCF tracks for a further 6km (3.7 miles) to Thann. This welcomed its first passengers on 12 October 2010 and it was intended to be extended further to Kruth, although this project was never realised. Apart from a 1.5km (0.9-mile) extension of line 1 in 2009, proposed extensions to the urban lines were also dropped leaving operator SOLÉA with surplus trams; five were lines had all been replaced by trolleybuses or The election of mayor Jacques Peyrat in sold to Melbourne (Australia), where they ran buses by 24 January 1960. 2001 was decisive in achieving progress, in Mulhouse’s yellow livery for a few years The line was modernised in 1969 with and the U-shaped line 1 was approved in before being repainted. Approximately 13 double-ended PCC cars and the arrival of March 2003, with a pricetag of EUR480m for million passengers/year are carried. the metro in 1984 saw further upgrades and 8.7km (5.4 miles). Public service began on three more PCCs to permit the operation 24 November 2007, and within a year 70 000 Valenciennes of coupled sets on the line from Noailles to passengers/day were being carried and some This small town in northern France (42 000 St-Pierre. Proposals for a new tramway were of the 28 Alstom Citadis had to be extended population) anchors an agglomération of written into the PDU in 2000, with three to become Citadis 402. Originally APS was 200 000, with a rich industrial history. lines totalling 15.9km (9.9 miles): T1, Noailles to be used to protect the city’s historic Like the areas of Belgium just over the border, – St Pierre – Les Caillols; T2, Bougainville – streetscapes, but a cheaper solution of nickel its first-generation tramway was aVicinal -like Castellane; T3, Quatre Septembre – Blancarde. metal hydride traction batteries was chosen network that survived until 1966. A declaration of public utility came on to provide power across Place Masséna and Repairs to war damage created wide 29 June 2004 and almost exactly three Place Garibaldi. A 500m extension to the line boulevards that encouraged traffic and the years later passengers rode between was added in July 2013. collapse of coal mining required substantial Les Caillols, Blancarde, Canebiere and Nice’s second tramline was to be an regeneration, with the modernised railway Euroméditerranée, with St-Pierre depot 11.3km (seven-mile) east-west line linking factories at Petite-Forêt and Crespin rebuilt to accommodate a modern fleet. the airport with the city centre. It was supplemented by new industries from Trams turned back at the entrance to the originally planned to use city centre streets, Michelin and Toyota. Noailles tunnel while work lasting until but new mayor Chrstian Estrosi took a In 1989, Jean-Louis Borloo was elected September 2008 went on to rebuild it for bold decision to lay tracks on the iconic to lead the city council and agglomération the new trams. A 1.2km (0.7-mile) extension Promenade des Anglais; this attracted much with the objective of creating a new easily- for line T3 from Canebiere to Castellane criticism and the plans were later amended accessible city centre. Tramway studies were opened on 30 May 2015. to include a 3.6km (2.2-mile) subway from thus carried out in 1994. Marseille was one of the few French Rue de France to Quai Napoléon 1er. This The first line, from Denain to Famars via tramways that did not buy its rolling stock increased the cost to EUR770m. Work on the the city centre received its declaration of from Alstom, instead choosing Bombardier surface section started in mid-2013 and on public utility (DUP) in July 2001, and work for an order for 26 2.45m-wide Flexity Outlook the subway in September 2014. began in July 2003. The first 9.5km (5.9 miles) cars, built to a special design to reflect the Alstom was again given the tram contract, from Dutemple to Université opened on city’s maritime heritage. As traffic grew, the but in order to operate without overhead 3 July 2006 and cost EUR242.7m. This was 32m trams were given additional sections to power supply the 19 Citadis 405 were supplied followed on 31 August 2007 by the 8.8km become 43m cars, and six new vehicles to the with new Ixège bogies equipped with SRS (5.5 miles) from Dutemple to Denain, using same length arrived in 2012. (System de Recharge Statique), another part of the alignment of former mine railways Proposals for the extension of line T3, ground-based static charging system. and at a cost of EUR69m. both north and south, are being evaluated. The surface section from Cadam to Line T2 opened on 24 February 2014, Magnan opened on 2 July 2018, reaching the 15.2km (9.4 miles) from Université to Vieux Nice airport on 15 December; the first section of Condé. This is largely single-track with Lying between the mountains and the subway followed on 28 June 2019 and the passing loops and brought the network to Mediterranean, Nice (population 340 000) is line was completed on 14 December 2019. 33.8km (21 miles). A fleet of 30 2.4m-wide one of the most glamorous of French cities; The city’s third tramline was built Alstom Citadis 302 is required. four million tourists visit every year. The last concurrently and extends north from first-generation tram returned to the depot Cadam providing a link from the airport to Marseille on 10 January 1953. Saint-Isidore, opening on 13 November 2019. France’s great southern port city features one Post-war rebuilding saw extensive and Sharing line T2 tracks for through service of the three French tramways that survived, uncontrolled development, leading to serious into the city, this will be extended north to albeit just one line (68) benefiting from a traffic congestion; attempts to address the Lingostiere, offering interchange with the subway giving access to La Canebiere, one of situation using buses were unsuccessful and Chemain de Fer de Provence. Six more trams the main shopping streets. Marseille’s other thoughts turned to a tramway in 1987. were delivered by Alstom.

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Le Mans A former Roman city on the river Sarthe, Le Mans has a population of 143 000, and is best known for the 24-hour sports car endurance race. Its first-generation tramway closed on 12 November 1947. Encouraged by progress in nearby cities such as Nantes, Rouen and Orléans, politicians wrote a new tramway into the city mobility plan at the end of the 1990s. Work stated in 2005 on a 15.4km (9.6-mile) north-south line linking Université and Antares MM Arena, via the hospital, city centre and Gare SNCF. There was a branch east from St-Martin to Espal Arche de la Nature. ABOVE: Le Mans’ steep pedestrianised Rue Gambetta shortly after the tramway’s opening in late 2007.F. V. Dam The EUR302m project opened in stages between 17 November and 22 December 2007. A second branch to Bellevue, Hauts de Coulanes, permitted a through service from Bellevue to Espal to be introduced from 30 August 2014, bringing the network to 19km (11.8 miles). Originally 23 Alstom Citadis 302 were delivered, but the fleet reached 34 cars in 2014.

Toulouse A city of 472 000 in southern Occitanie near the Spanish border, Toulouse lies 150km ABOVE: Nice’s original fleet uses onboard battery ABOVE: Another heavily-stylised fleet that reflects (93 miles) from the Mediterranean, and is systems to obviate the need for overhead lines in the the city’s heritage, Reims’ 112 shows off its ‘flute’ design today the centre of the European aerospace city’s historic centre. N. Pulling after leaving Langlet tramstop in April 2019. N. Pulling industry. Its original tramway closed in 1957. In 1990-2000 the city built two automated Investment has now switched back to TGV railway station Bezannes-Champagne metro lines using VAL technology. However, metro, with a third line due to open in 2025 in the southern suburbs. The budget was studies showed that to serve the north-east that will convert T2 into a high-frequency now EUR345m, with 2km (1.2 miles) of APS suburbs a surface solution was more suitable service between the airport and Jean Maga surface current collection provided in the and on 27 June 2005 the tramway project was metro station. city centre. adopted, with a budget of EUR250m. Passenger service started on 18 April 2011 Construction began in summer 2007, but Reims using 18 Alstom Citadis 302 with a front-end the November 2010 opening was postponed The Champagne city of Reims in eastern design said to reflect a champagne flute. due to a strike. Passenger service started on France has a population of 184 000 and a rich A junction at Place Myron Herrick features 11 December. Designed as a metro feeder, after history. Its first-generation tramway closed provision for a third line, but this is yet to be the 2008 elections the city’s mayor decided it in October 1939, despite replacement buses authorised. should be extended across the river into the being soon unable to run due to lack of fuel city centre, although the public inquiry cut (service did not resume until 1946). Angers back his aspirations and a 14.3km (8.9-mile) A modern tramway project was first A city of 153 000 (394 700 in the line was built terminating at Palais de Justice. adopted in November 1990, but the mayor agglomération) in western France, Angers’ In 2012 a 2.4km (1.5-mile) branch was faced opposition from local business last first-generation tram ran in May 1949. agreed to link Blagnac airport with Matabiau owners. The scheme was relaunched in 2000 Encouraged by the success of the tramway in metro station; this opened on 11 April 2015. following the election of a new mayor and his nearby Nantes, a project to build its own line By 2016 47 000 passengers/day were being project involved two lines totalling 11.2km was started in 2004, receiving its declaration carried on 24 Citadis 302 trams. (seven miles), including a link to the new of public utility in 2007. A 12.3km (7.6-mile) north-south line was identified, linking park-and-ride sites at Avrillé and the southern suburb of La Roseraie with the city centre. A total of 1.5km (0.9 miles) of APS was specified for the city centre, which includes a section of single track through the busiest shopping street to permit deliveries to continue. The EUR289m tramway opened on 25 June 2011, using 17 Alstom Citadis 302. Soon it was carrying up to 35 000 passengers/day. In 2017 the DUP was issued for a second line, running from Belle Beille in the west to Monplaisir in the east (9.9km/6.2 miles); this EUR245m project is due to open in 2022. Brest In the far west of Brittany, Brest has a population of 143 000 (agglomération 300 300). Its tramway was destroyed in the battle to liberate the city in 1944, and replaced by trolleybuses in 1948-1951. Brest also looked with envy at Nantes: Brest and Dijon shared procurement for key elements of their tramway systems, reportedly saving around a 1990 referendum saw 80% approval for a 25% on the per-vehicle cost. N. Pulling new tramway although it was only in 2001

310 / august 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org that elections were decisive in developing a Aubagne 14.3km (8.9-mile) east-west line, with two A satellite town on the outskirts of Marseille branches at the eastern end and a EUR290m (a 17km/10.6-mile tramway link closed in budget. The DUP came in January 2010 1958), Aubagne has a population of 46 200, and the tramway opened on 23 June 2012. with all public transport in Aubagne being Alstom delivered 20 Citadis 302 (part of a free of charge since 2009. joint order with Dijon that reportedly saved Planning also began in 2009 for a 14km 25% on procurement costs) and soon 35 000 (8.7-mile) east-west tramline, approved passengers/day were being carried, attracted by with a 70% majority in a 2012 referendum. the commercial speed of 20km/h (12.5mph). The DUP came in February 2013, enabling The line is notable for some sections with work to start on the EUR166.5m project 6% gradients as it climbs out of the centre. later that year. Alstom received a firm order As well as being the launch customer for the A project for a second line (5.4km/3.4 miles) for eight 22m Citadis Compact 302, with an Citadis Compact ‘affordable’ tram for smaller cities, was launched in February 2019. Ten more option for 5-10 more. the fleet in Aubagne features a bright colour scheme trams will be needed when it opens in 2025. The April 2014 municipal elections devised by local artist Hervé Di Rosa in collaboration saw tramway opponents gain a majority, with local children. Alstom Dijon but it was too late to cancel the first 2.8km A city of 151 600 (agglomération 250 500) (1.7 miles) of line (Gare – Le Charrel) or the Caen in eastern France, Dijon is renowned for its vehicle order. Passenger service (also free) Close to the Normandy coast, Caen has a gastronomy and is an important railway started on 1 September 2014, although all population of 108 400 (agglomération junction with the TGV high-speed trains further work was cancelled. The tramway 420 000) and abandoned its original reaching Paris in 1 hour 40 mins. First- does not operate on Sundays or holidays. tramway in January 1937. Planning for a generation trams ran until December 1961. Despite this there are regional plans to build new system started in 1988, and in 1991 the A new tramway system was adopted in a tramway link to Marseille, and provide a rubber-tyred, guided TVR (with overhead 2008, and the DUP was issued in December tram-train service on a disused railway line. electrification and pantographs) promoted 2009 with a budget of EUR399m for two lines by Brugeoise-Nivelles (later Bombardier) serving a common section through the city Besançon attracted the attention of politicians. centre. Passenger service started on This small city in eastern France, close to the They made the decision to go ahead with 1 September 2012, with the network Jura mountains and Swiss border, is home to a 15.7km (9.8-mile) two-line system in 1997 completed on 8 December. 120 100 residents (agglomération 251 300). (budgeted at EUR214m) on the basis of a Alstom delivered 32 Citadis 302 as part of a Its first-generation tramway closed in 1952. 30-year contract with Bombardier to common order with Brest; these are stored and Since 1972 the city and its surrounding maintain the system and its 24 vehicles. maintained at the depot at Perrigny, a rebuild communities pursued a policy of improving Passenger service started in November of the former SNCF railway workshops. and promoting public transport, achieving 2002, but by 2010 the system suffered 134 journeys/resident/year by 1990. significant unreliability and a report said Le Havre Tramway planning began in December it would be difficult to maintain theTVR Another great French port city, Le Havre is 2005, settling on a 14.5km (nine-mile) line in beyond 2020. Bombardier was no longer situated on the Seine estuary by the Channel December 2008. This links Hauts du Chazal promoting it as an urban transport solution. coast in Normandy and has a population of and Chalezeule, with a short branch to Gare On 11 December 2012 the decision was 170 000 (agglomération 250 000). Its original Viotte; there is 2.3km (1.4 miles) of single- made to replace the TVR with a conventional tramway closed in 1951 and a EUR395m track. A public inquiry lead to the DUP in tramway, and a budget of EUR260m was project for tramway revival was adopted in June 2011, and a budget was set at EUR240m. adopted to achieve this; 26 Alstom 2007, 13km (eight miles) on a west-north Tenders were invited for 19 23m trams and Citadis 305 with X05 bogies were ordered. alignment (running through the city centre) the contract was won by CAF with its Urbos 3 TVR operation ceased on 31 December 2017 with two branches north of the 500m Tunnel design. Passenger service started on and the replacement tramway carried its Jenner (that links the lower and upper towns). 30 August 2014. and this city’s tramway first passengers on 27 July 2019. There is a The DUP came in October 2009, passenger is held by many as a model of what can be short branch on new alignment to Presqu’Île, service started on 12 December 2012 and by achieved with a more modest budget. bringing the system to 16.2km (10.1 miles). summer 2013 45 000 passengers/day were being carried by 22 32m Alstom Citadis 302 trams that wear a simple, yet attractive, white and silver livery. RCP: masters of sensory design Since the 1990s, Régine Charvet-Pello and her agency RCP Design Tours Global, have been an innovator in the field of public transport. This tourist centre in the Loire Valley has a Focusing on the uses, perception, feelings and emotions of the population of 135 000 (agglomération 484 000); travel experience, RCP uses these skills to improve transport its last first-generation tramline was replaced design, enhancing people’s lives through the delivery of safe, by trolleybuses in September 1949. comfortable and attractive travel options. The 2003 PDU set out the principle of a RCP practices “the ideal design” or sensory design principles. north-south tramline, 12.3km (7.6 miles) and A few months ago, the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual including crossing the historic Pont Wilson Meeting in Davos highlighted a high failure rate for innovative and overly technical products that are out of step with people’s across the Loire. Approval came in 2010 for a real lives. The WEF has therefore committed to orient the design slightly extended 14.8km (9.2-mile) line with of new products towards the actual needs and expectations of a budget of EUR369m and APS was selected individuals, particularly public transport. Sensory design and its to equip the city centre section from Place methodological tools have a major role to play in achieving these aims. Choiseul to Gare de Tours including the Loire In every urban mobility project that RCP is studying – in particular bridge. Alstom received an order for 21 43m the tramways in Lyon, Le Mans, Angers and Tours – the agency Citadis 402 that were given a futuristic design develops a holistic concept where sensory design offers a mode of Courtesy of SYTRAL by RCP Design Global with a mirror-finish transport that goes beyond the primary aim of mobility to give the city livery that led to several design awards. and its citizens a new expressive and attractive public space. Work started in January 2011 and the first This approach has been particularly successful in Tours which, since the tramway entered service in 2013, has become an international benchmark for urban transport. passengers were carried on 31 August 2013. By working on the perception, sensations and emotions of the city and its movement, By the end of 2016, the line had proved a RCP explores new ways of urban thinking to assist industrial designers, and the huge success, carrying 70 000 passengers/day. decision-making of elected officials, as well as improving the lives of passengers – Design work is being carried out for a second all based upon our senses. Find out more at www.rcp.fr line for completion in 2023-25.

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Avignon A historic city on the banks of the Rhône, Avignon has a population of 90 200 (agglomération 160 000), including 12 000 living within the preserved city walls. First-generation trams ran until 1932. The first discussions surrounding a modern tramway started in 2010 and a two-line 14.4km (8.9-mile) EUR250m project was put out to consultation in May 2012; a public inquiry in spring 2013 led to approval and a fleet of 14 22m Alstom Citadis Compact 205 were ordered. Spring 2014 elections saw a change in the balance of political life, with the mayor declaring opposition to the plans, against a Besançon’s tramway is often held up as a model for pared-back tramway construction; a pair of three-section president of the agglomération who supported CAF Urbos trams are seen at Gare Viotte terminus in March 2016. N. Pulling it. After negotiation, work proceeded on a shorter 5.2km (3.2-mile) line between Gare Centrale and St-Chamand costed at NANCY: A NEW TRAMWAY CONVERT EUR134m. A second phase was left in the plan for 2023. Passenger service began on Historic capital of Lorraine, Nancy is a city of 105 000 (agglomération 435 000) in north-eastern France, 19 October 2019. on the left bank of the rive Meurthe. Its first-generation tramway closed in 1958. In 2000 the city followed Caen in choosing the rubber-tyred TVR technology, along a 11.1km (6.9-mile) Lille east-west line. Problems with the operation and maintenance of the system have been more significant than in Caen, and it has been decided to close the line at the end of 2021 in order to build a 15km (9.3-mile) Close to the Belgian border in north-eastern conventional tramway estimated to cost EUR400m. It is hoped to start passenger service in 2024-28. France, Lille has a population of 232 700, The DUP was issued in February 2020 and 40m trams will be required. Tenders for the planned fleet although the Métropole Européene de Lille – have been published, with offers on the table from both Alstom and CAF. which includes nearby towns such as Roubaix and Tourcoing – counts more than 1.2 million. The city’s first-generation city trams lasted A EUR2bn transport masterplan to 2035 Conclusion until 1966, but a second system linking the includes the potential for a further four Twenty-four new tramways in 34 years is city with Roubaix and Tourcoing on mostly- tramlines and an extension to the metro. a remarkable achievement, made possible reserved track in the wide boulevards became by the devolved nature of French local one of the three French systems that survived Saint-Étienne government (including the ability to raise into the modern era. Known locally as Le Some 55km (34 miles) south-west of Lyon, funding) combined with the right policies Mongy, the Électrique Lille Roubaix Tourcoing in the foothills of the Massif Central, the and significant funding from the centre. (ELRT) was built in 1909 and operated by industrial city of Saint-Étienne is built along Politically a tramway can be at the whim fast bogie trams. Local lines were built but a north-south valley and has a population of a change of administration, though it replaced with buses in the 1950s; the trunk of 172 600. It has operated trams since 1881, is notable that only Amiens gave up its routes survived, re-equipped with new stock but from 1954 just a single line from Bellevue ambitions in this direction in favour of in 1949-50. In 1981 the ELRT was merged to Terrasse. This was modernised in 1958-59 high-capacity buses. The period has seen with the Lille urban bus system, and updated with the arrival of 30 PCC trams based on the about 1100km (683.5 miles) of new tramway its rolling stock with second-hand Düwag Brussels design, but built in Strasbourg. These worked by 1376 new trams either already trams from the Vestische system in Germany. enabled the line to survive into the modern delivered or on order – all but 183 of these In the 1990s a decision was taken to era and were boosted in 1968 by the arrival of produced by French factories owned by modernise the 17.5km (10.9-mile) Mongy five articulated cars to enhance capacity. Alstom, a significant boost for the economy. (by this time Lille was spending most of its An extension from Bellevue to Solaure Almost all cities of an appropriate size transport budget on a VAL automated opened in February 1983; at its northern end now have a tramway, including some with mini-metro). Some junctions were bypassed by the line reached Hôpital Nord in December a population of less than 100 000, though short subways, the Lille terminus was put into 1991. A tender for 15 new 29m low-floor there are still schemes at the planning stage subway to serve the new Lille-Europe trams was won by Vevey-Alstom, and (e.g. Annecy), and existing systems are railway station, and 24 low-floor trams arrived supplemented in 1998 by 15 more. A branch being extended. from Breda in 1994. Using articulation steering was built to serve Châteaucreux station and independently rotating wheelsets, the in 2005, and in 2019 this was used as the VLC was based upon a prototype for Rome basis for an extension through eastern and Have your say... that never progressed to full production; northern suburbs to rejoin the main line. Which French systems the fleet has been renovated for a further ten Sixteen 33m CAF Urbos 3 100% low-floor most inspire you? years’ service and given the new silver, black trams were delivered in 2017, although due to [email protected] and red livery of current operator Ilevia. limited clearances they are just 2.15m wide.

LEFT: France’s newest tramway, opening in October 2019, Avignon employs a fleet of ‘Compact’ 24m Citadis trams. B. Patton

RIGHT: Lille re-equipped its tramway in 1994 with the innovative low-floor VLC vehicles from Italian firm Breda. Tram 19 is seen here in its new livery, following modernisation in April 2019. Y. Allain

312 / august 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Budapest

The Hungarian capital has great variety in its public transport modes. systems Neil Pulling considers the re-organisation and projects that Budapest factfile have brought greater cohesion HUNGARY No. Budapest, to the network. 154 Hungary

udapest is amongst the Easily long enough to Now with special capital city status, With growth following world’s biggest tramways, catch its own reflection, Budapest is surrounded by the Pest industrialisation, more bridges covering around 160km CAF Urbos 3 2111 curves megye (county) administration. were added over the Danube, (100 miles). It is over four towards Hengermalom Its population declined to 1.77m following the 1849 Széchenyi Chain út / Szerémi út stop times the combined length residents by 2019, partly explained Bridge. Island-linked Margaret Bridge on a T1 section which ofB Hungary’s other three systems by relocation to outer communities. provided the first such connection opened in 2015. (Debrecen, Miskolc and Szeged). The Although English is widespread in 1879. Still a prominent system capital’s bi-directional standard-gauge in publications and signage, feature, it is now one of Budapest’s tramway is within an abnormally recognising some Hungarian five Danube tram crossings. varied multi-mode network. More words may help when travelling. Trams were an established than in many cities popular with Villamos (tram) came with the feature by the time Hungary again tourists, trams are well-located for horse tramways’ transition to became an independent monarchy both reaching and viewing the most electrical power. Recurring words in 1918. The country was in the popular sites. Driven by a change in around the system include hid Soviet-dominated Eastern Bloc organisation, the last decade has seen (bridge), útca/út (street), tér (open from 1945 until 1989, and became the system becoming easier to use for space/square), vasútállomás (railway a European Union member in all users, replacing the former seeming station). Compass point names of 2004. These political alignments presumption of local experience. pályaudvar (main/terminus station) influenced the tramway’s structure Budapest stemmed from a civic relate to the area of Hungary and its appearance. Some long amalgamation in 1873, a few years originally served, not their relative reaches to housing districts created after the formation of Austria-Hungary. position in the city. Many locations for Budapest’s post-World War Two Once a national capital in its own commemorate notable people: expansion and the still-plentiful right, Buda on the Duna (Danube’s) the family name precedes given Czech Tatra trams are reminders of hilly western bank now has about one- names, as at the central hub with Communist centralised planning. third of the city’s area; Pest, which three metro lines and a tram Features such as reconstructed includes the city centre, spreads across All pictures by terminus, Deák Ferenc tér. alignments, low-floor trams and the comparatively flat landscape Howard Pulling, unless An ‘M’ in a tram stop title better overall service access owe immediately east of the Danube. otherwise stated. indicates a metro interchange. much to EU-derived funding.

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RIGHT: Northbound CAF Urbos 3 2228 on interlaced track used for the limited space taken by the line 19 extension beneath the Margaret Bridge. The Hungarian Parliament Building is to the left, across the Danube on the Pest side.

Below: Three T5C5K2 units with a line 14 service approaching Lehel utca / Dózsa György út stop on 26 July 2019.

Bottom: The tram underpass of the western Széchenyi Chain Bridge approach was amongst the renewals on the Buda side. Castle Hill is in the background.

LEFT: The junction near Magdolna utca typifies ballasted dedicated rights of way in Budapest’s outer districts.

THE FLEET

Budapest-built Ganz KCSV-7 (1300-series) and CSMG articulated stock (1300/1400-series) from the 1960s-70s are the oldest normal service trams: BKV identified 68 in service in 2019. With a capacity for about 200 passengers, they have three sections and are 26.9m long and 2.3m wide. Specified for Budapest, with production vehicles received 1980-84, the ČKD Tatra 4000-4300 series have been modified to T5C5K2 classification: most of the 332 delivered remained active in 2019. These 14.7m single cars, with a 100-passenger capacity, are commonly used in trains. Since 2001, Düwag/LHB TW6000/6100 built 1975-1977 joined the fleet as BKV’s1500 and 1600 series. Most of the 117 (BKV 2019) came direct from Hannover’s Üstra, some by way of Den Haag’s HTM. Folding steps for compatibility with Hannover’s dual height system allows for tramway use. They feature three sections, 27m long and with capacity for 176 passengers, 46 seated. Introducing low-floor trams to Budapest during 2006, the six-section Siemens Combino Supra NF12B (2001-40) built in Vienna have capacity for 350, 64 seated. They were retrofitted with air-conditioning shortly after entering service. CAF Urbos articulated stock is in 34m (2200-series, capacity 200) and 55.9m (2100-series, capacity 345) variants, respectively with five and nine modules. These air-conditioned, fully low-floor trams entered service from 2015, with 12 long and 35 short versions. Options taken up from the 2014 contract have seen more entering service into 2020. Some were assembled at the then-nationalised (later bought by Transmashholding) Dunakeszi railway works just north of Budapest.

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An early expression of such support was the early 21st Century network facts transformation of services along an inner eastern arc of broad streets, Opened: 1866 (electrified from 1877) collectively termed Nagykörút/Grand Lines: 26 (plus shorter forms) Boulevard. Subject to recent closures Depots/works: 10 for renewal, the route is mainly in Pest, extending just into Buda using A pprox. weekday hours: 04.30-23.45 Margaret Bridge and, to the south, (wide variations) Pet fi Bridge. At 54m long – the world’s L ine frequency: 10 minutes longest trams when commissioned in (wide variations) 2006-07 – 40 Siemens Combino Supra Gauge: 1435mm NF12B became the main stock for lines Power: 600V dc, overhead supply 4 and 6, overall offering a metro-like frequency. With works during Operator: Budapesti Közlekedési Zrt – www.bkv.hu 2019 closing access to the southern ABOVE: Combino Supra 2015 on the Grand Boulevard at Nyugati T ransport authority: Budapesti branches which represent the lines (Western) station. One of three main railway termini and now a Közlekedési Központot – bkk.hu 4 and 6 distinction, they ran as candidate for centralising Budapest’s heavy rail, Nyugati was on the combined 4/6. Line 6 is the only first section electrified in 1877. C ivic and tourist information: tram operation on the city’s extensive www.budapestinfo.hu night public transport network. With an acknowledged cue in respect of Transport for London’s role in the UK’s capital, Budapest’s General Assembly founded Budapesti Közlekedési Központot (BKK) in 2011. The new body’s intent to restore public transport appeal brought a real-term fares reduction, preferential rates for regular users, more sales points and better revenue protection. Generally it has preferred relatively small changes to enable better use of existing ABOVE: Hungária depot (near Hidegkuti áN ndor Stadion tramstop) A lengthy and expensive project led to the coverage. Improving connections in was modified to accommodate the 40 54m Combino Supra vehicles March 2014 opening of the 7.4km (4.6 mile) Buda included upgrading the riverside that joined the fleet during 2006-07. Neil Pulling automatic metro line 4: Fővám tér in July 2019. route used by lines 19 and 41, plus a new link opened in 2016 beneath the Budapest-built in 1972 and Margaret Bridge. A similar measure in withdrawn in 2016, Ganz central Pest during 2020 is installing CSMG-2 1413 reflects the sunset a delta junction near the Haller utca/ at Liberty (Szabadság) Bridge Soroksári út stop by the Danube. on 25 June 2014. Neil Pulling The orbital route of line 1 has been rebuilt for use by high-capacity stock, a 55.9m version of the CAF Urbos 3 which reasserted Budapest as running the longest passenger trams. Line 1’s July 2019 growth to 18.2km (11.4 miles) made it the system’s longest, scheduled for 51 minutes between termini. This added a southern Danube crossing, with the 1995 Rákóczi bridge gaining tram tracks (as per its original design) for access to Kelenföld station. The new tram terminus here is separate from the retained facility for lines 19 and 49. Also a bus station and a metro line 4 terminus, Kelenföld has been elevated from being a run-down outer suburban station to become a major transport hub and development zone. A shorter version of the same CAF stock has brought better passenger access around the network, although the stepped-access Ganz CSMG2 originating in the 1960s, Tatra T5C5K2 from 1980 and ex-Hannover Stadtbahn stock, remain in significant numbers. Although planning and direction passed to BKK, most operations have remained with city-owned Budapesti Közlekedési Zrt: its BKV abbreviation is a hangover from a former identity. BKV originated in 1968 when management of trams, metro, buses and ferries was unified. Wholly on the Pest side in a

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org august 2020 / 315 Budapest

left: Metro compact spread mainly east from the growth reduced tram centre, Budapest’s trolleybus system coverage, as at Deák has about one-third the tramway’s Ferenc tér in the city length. Although unlikely to have its centre which became coverage extended, since 2015 there a terminus. Lines 47 and 49 are still have been renewals with low-floor operated by Ganz Solaris/Škoda Trollino vehicles. Local trams. Neil Pulling use of the ferries in the BKK network is bolstered by tourist demand. Below left: Begun in 1887 to connect outer Amongst the city’s communities with the city, the HÉV oldest service trams, 1970-built ‘local concern’ railways passed from Ganz KCSV7 1339 on BKV to the national railway concern Kossuth Lajos tér MÁV in November 2016. The five HÉV near the Parliament lines, originally private ventures, all Building. stop short of the city centre and remain physically separate from other heavy Below: CAF Urbos 3 2104 at the rail lines. Interchanges between HÉV line 1 Kelenföld and the tramway, metro and buses have terminus, pictured been improved, but having to change a few days after the modes to complete a journey remains July 2019 opening. a disincentive to network use. Tenders were issued in 2020 to build upon the potential of HÉV routes. It is part of a long-term aim to create a north-south rapid service across the city, identified as the metro line 5 project. The same line numbers occur across the network’s different modes, each of which has its own logo. The trams (including the 3.7km/2.3-mile line 60 ‘Cogwheel Railway’ into the Buda hills), buses and trolleybus services are however numbered within a common series, albeit interspersed. There are wide variations of tram “Tram projects are now perceived locally as better value and frequencies by individual line, especially where tracks host more a more rapid way to bring coverage to new catchment areas.” than one line. Lines 1 and 2 have notably intensive peak services, with BELOW: Düwag/LHB 1562 leaving Mexikói út. Built in 1976, this ex-Hannover car (6078) has served the Hungarian the lines 4/6 route at times having a capital since 2002. A 1973 extension added a sub-surface station here as the eastern terminus of historic metro line 1. near-continuous vehicle stream.

316 / AUGUST 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Budapest’s first metro line (now ABOVE: A Buda designated M1) is a tram-like operation space named after built by cut-and-cover and opened in Moscow for almost 1896; this makes it the world’s second 60 years up to 2011, Széll Kálmán tér oldest underground electrified railway. has an interchange Compounding the effect of trolleybus with a triangle and motor bus replacement, the of tram tracks tramway lost coverage with the 1970s around access to introduction of the Soviet-derived M2 the underground and M3, both lines being modernised M2 metro. and re-equipped. Seen in summer The automatic 7.3km (4.6 mile) 2019, two years ten-station M4 opened in 2014 after renovation. following a protracted delivery – planning began in the 1970s. Its high cost seems to have made M4 extensions RIGHT: ‘Short’ unlikely, with tram projects now Urbos 3 2233 on perceived locally as better value and the new line 19 a more rapid way to bring coverage to formation at Szent new catchment areas. Lukács Gyógyfurdő.

For maps of this comprehensive network, see bkk.hu/terkepek/ essential facts Local travel: Tickets and information can be found from BKK centres across the city, at Budapest Airport’s terminals 2A and 2B (09.00-21.00), as well as ticket machines, metro stations, some tram stops and outlets marked on BKK website maps. Single tickets (as of June 2020) cost from HUF350 (approx. EUR1). For most public transport in the city area, Budapest travelcards are available in 24-hour, 72-hour and seven-day versions: HUF1650/4150/4950 (EUR4.80/12/14.30). Revenue protection is mainly undertaken by travelling teams.

What is there to see? Budapest has amongst Europe’s best and most varied concentrations of tourism attractions. Castle Hill and Fisherman’s Bastion offer stunning panoramas of the city’s setting: a separately-priced BKV funicular to the Castle District is not covered by travelcards. There is also an urban transport museum next to Szentendre HÉV line 5 terminus and between May and October there are heritage city tram and bus routes (see bkk.hu website). The base of the 11.7km (7.3-mile) Children’s Railway (https://gyermekvasut.hu) is near Hűvosvolgy tram terminus. Impressive Nagy Vásárcsarnok (central market) buildings and wares (Fővám tér M tramstop) – a less showy and The line 60 ‘Cogwheel Railway’ is projected cheaper counterpart is near Lehel tér M. The Memento Park (www.mementopark.hu) offers an open-air museum of for extension to Széll Kálmán tér for better statues and other Communist-era ephemera. Exhausted visitors can recover in the thermal spring baths: notable integration with other modes and from here examples are at Hotel Gellért (Szent Gellért tér - Műegyetem M stop) and in Széchenyi Fürdő Előtti Park (metro M1). at Széchenyi-hegy terminus in the Buda Hills.

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318 / AUGUST 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Worldwide Review

AUSTRALIA A EUR95m plan for a new BENDIGO. On 1 May railway tramway Sint-Denijs-Westrem infrastructure provider VicTrack, – St-Pieters – Dampoort – Muide in partnership with Regional has been approved by the regional Development Victoria and the government, with construction city council, issued Expressions of likely to start in 2022 for Interest for the heritage tramway completion in 2025. expansion project (upgrades to The first of the new CAF trams workshops, depot and amenities, was expected to arrive from Spain and the supply and commissioning before the end of June. T-2000 of rolling stock equipment). HAN-SUR-LESSE. The diesel P. Nicholson tramway link to Grottes de Han SYDNEY. The frequency of resumed operation on 21 May, tramlines L2 and L3 was improved but from a new terminus in rue from 9 June, with a four-minute des Marronniers, 50m from peak headway on the common the depot. The caves remained section between Circular Quay closed, so the tramway was just and Moore Park. Adjustments to carrying walkers. T-2000 traffic signal phasing permitted a OOSTENDE. CAF Urbos 6112, On 23 June the first CAF Urbos low-floor tram for De Lijn’s Belgian coastal further reduction in running time. the first of 48 31.4m 100% tramway was delivered to Oostende. M. Vete There is still no date for the low-floor trams for the De Lijn Gates. Work could start in 2022, although car-sharing, demand- integration of bus services. coastal tramway was delivered although the project keeps responsive and school transport On 11 June the NSW Auditor on 22 June. It came by ferry from getting pushed back. projects now qualify. Tribuca.net General issued a report that put Santander to Zeebrugge and Five CLRVs (4040/53/69/104/ LE FAYET. EUR65m is to be the final cost of the line at onward by road. M. Vete 40/87) have been sold to spent modernising the 1909 AUD3.147bn (EUR1.937bn), private buyers for CAD3400 Tramway du Mont Blanc rack almost double the figure CANADA (EUR2234) each. D. Drum line to Nid d’Aigle, including announced when the project EDMONTON. Work has started three new trains from Stadler for began in 2012. A. Ponton, A. Prescott on the 1.5km (0.9-mile) light CHINA delivery in 2022. EA rail extension from NAIT to CHANGSHA. On 28 June two LYON. SYTRAL has awarded AUSTRIA Blatchford, which could open in new metro lines were inaugurated: Conduent the contract to install FELDKIRCH – BUCHS. EUR87m 2024; a further 9.4km (5.8 miles) the 36.4km (22.6-mile) line 3 a new digital ticketing system is to be invested to create an beyond Blatchford is planned. links Shantang and Guangsheng; across its public transport network S-Bahn service linking Feldkirch in The city is seeking consultants to the 22.5km (14-mile) line 5 runs that carries 1.9m passengers/day. Austria with Buchs in Switzerland assist in the design, procurement, from Shulduhe to Maozhutang. The system will enable the use of via Nendeln in Liechtenstein, construction and commissioning urbanrail.net NFC-enabled devices, QR codes with contributions from the three of stage II of the Valley line HONG KONG. The government and contactless payment cards. countries. Track doubling on the tramway, 14km (8.7 miles) from has authorised MTR to proceed MONTPELLIER. The collection 4.6km (2.9 miles) from Nendeln the city centre to Lewis Farms with the 2.4km (1.5-mile) of cash fares on trams and buses to Tisis will permit an hourly Transit Centre. IRJ Tuen Mun South extension of resumed from 22 June. lineoz.net service (30 minutes at peaks). IRJ HAMILTON. Despite last year’s the West Rail Line. Work will ORLÉANS. The announcement WIEN (Vienna). The first new cancellation of the 14km (8.7-mile) start in 2023. IRJ of an order for 29 Irizar ietram Type X U-Bahn cars (3501+3701) light rail project by the provincial TAIYUAN. The 23.6km vehicles does not herald the were delivered for testing at government (citing high costs), (14.7-mile) north-south metro arrival of new trams. These are Rail Tec Arsenal on 20 May. EB a taskforce established by the line 2 will open later this year; zero-emission electric buses, part province in January has made CRRC Dalian has delivered the first of the city’s strategy to switch to BELGIUM 15 recommendations, including of 24 six-car automated trains that a fully-electric system by 2025. ANTWERPEN. Normal timetables further analysis of a ‘higher order can each hold 2520 passengers. RGI The 12m buses have a range of resumed from 15 May. Contactless transit project’ (LRT or bus rapid 220km (140 miles). lineoz.net payment terminals for casual transit), with work to start in CZECH REPUBLIC PARIS. A EUR799m contract has travellers were introduced from March 2022. Mass Transit PLZEŇ. Tenders are being been awarded to a consortium of 25 May, costing EUR2.50 for up INDUSTRY. The jobs of 300 of prepared for the supply of 24 Vinci and Spie Batignolles to build to 60 minutes of travel. They were the 470 employees at Bombardier’s 38-42m trams, with 12 single- 11.8km (7.3 miles) of the Grand also introduced in Gent and on Thunder Bay plant have been and 12 double-ended variants; Paris metro line 18 from Versailles the coastal tramway. secured by an order from west 64 seats and room for 240 Chantiers to Aeroport d’Orly via PCC 7112 has been stripped of coast US operators for 28 double- standing are required. Massy Palaiseau; opening of the parts prior to scrapping. T-2000 deck commuter rail coaches Lines 1 and 2 are closed from first section is scheduled for 2026. BRUSSEL/BRUXELLES. (with an option for 33 more). 1 July to 15 September to permit A EUR100m contract has been Region de Bruxelles-Capitale One customer is Sound Transit reconstruction of Solní and awarded for the construction of has given authority for the start in Seattle; the other customer has Skvrnanská. infotram.pl, J. Woods St-Denis Pleyel RER/Métro station, of metro work running north not been announced. IRJ which will be the main station from Bruxelles-Nord, the first part OTTAWA. The O-Train light rail EGYPT for the 2024 Olympic Games. IRJ of the extension to Bordet, due line closed on 21 June to address EL QAHIRA (Cairo). Hyundai TOULOUSE. Bids to supply to open in 2030. Contactless problems with track, overhead Rotem has delivered the first of equipment for the third automated payment cards were accepted from and train control software. 32 eight-car metro trains for use metro came from Alstom, Hitachi 1 July. T-2000 On 10 July the CEO of Rideau on the 17.7km (11-mile) western STS, Siemens Mobility and GENT. A recasting of the Transit Group left the company. extension of line 3. IRJ CAF/Thales. lineoz.net tramway network is planned for J. Hayward December 2021 to give four lines: TORONTO. Bombardier Flexity FRANCE GEORGIA Flanders-Expo – St-Pieters – 4403 re-entered traffic in early INDUSTRY. The versement TBILISI. The European Bank for Korenmarkt – Muide; Evergem June, after 375 days out of service. transport payroll tax to support Reconstruction and Development – Korenmarkt – Melle Leeuw; Plans have been published for public transport was renamed has made a EUR75m loan to assist Zwijnaarde – St-Pieters – Moscou; the 509 tramline extension west versement mobilité from 1 July, but the purchase of ten four-car metro UZ – Rabot – Muide. from Exhibition loop to Dufferin without fundamental change, cars and depot modernisation. RGI

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features 12 roller-shuttered doors, POLAND a parapet and mouldings, GDAŃSK. Service on the rebuilt replicating much of the original. tramline to Stogi Plaza began Tram services remain suspended on 30 June (lines 8 and 9). but are expected to run between It includes a new park-and-ride Derby Castle and Broadway site at Lawendowe Wzgórze. next year. Correcting our June report about the special livery carried by Pesa ITALY tram 1070, the green-and-white NAPOLI. A framework agreement livery marks the 75th anniversary has been signed with CAF for up of local football club Lechia to ten six-car metro trains for the Gdansk, and not the 75th birthday 1500V dc line, which is being of Lech Walesa. infotram.pl extended to Aversa. An initial firm GORZÓW WLKP. Tramway order covers four trains, similar operation on line 1 (Wieprzyce to the 19 ordered last year. RGI – Silwana) resumed on 2 July. ROMA. The state is providing Operation has been suspended The first Siemens Avenio for the German city of Bremen seen on trials at Am Stern EUR213m for the creation of a since September 2017 to permit on 23 June. Martin K new line G light rail line linking complete infrastructure and Termini (via Giolitti) and Tor fleet renewal with 14 Pesa Twist GERMANY KIEL. It is reported that 48 of Vergata University via Giardinetti. low-floor cars. infotram.pl BERLIN. The Senate has the 59 city councillors are now This will replace the remainder of KATOWICE. Tramwaje Slaskie authorised BVG to start design committed to a plan for the return the metre-gauge Pantano line with has awarded an 11-month contract work for the 4.1km (2.6-mile) of trams to the city. DS a new standard-gauge line, which that will see the 2.3km (1.4-mile) extension of tramline M2 to MAGDEBURG. Ex-Berlin KT4D will be owned and operated by the tracks of line 5 in Zabrze relaid, Blankenburg S-Bhf. The estimated trams are 1286-93 (ex-BVG city. Work will start in 2022. including the Biskupice turning cost is EUR60m, with construction 6104/25/9/31-4/46). All were circle. The PLN14.5m (EUR3.25m) planned to begin in 2022-23. DS repainted into Magdeburg livery JAPAN cost is supported by the European BRAUNSCHWEIG. Teleste and before entering service (the first TOKYO. On 5 June Toranomon Union. Another PLN88.6m local subsidiary iqu Systems have was 1289 on 30 April). Tenders are Hills station on the Hibiya metro (EUR19.9m) contract will see a been awarded a contract to supply being prepared for 35 new trams. BS line opened to passengers, offering new extension built at Sosnowiec 243 LED passenger information KÖLN (Cologne). Plans to interchange with the Ginza line. Zagorz for line 15. Work is expected systems for the city’s tramstops. lengthen platforms at stops on Mitsubishi has been awarded to take three years. J. Carpenter Each stop will also be fitted line 1 so that 90m tram sets can a contract to supply 12 five-car POZNAŃ. Modertrans submitted with text-to-speech buttons for be used during the 2024 UEFA rubber-tyred trainsets for the the only offer for the modernisation visually impaired passengers. RGI European Championship have Nippori – Tonerei line in 2022, to of ex-Brno Tatra RT6N low-floor BREMEN. The city Senate has been abandoned for financial replace 2007-08 stock. urbanrail.net trams 399-400, bidding PLN6.15m allocated EUR87m in finance reasons. As a result fans will be (EUR1.38m). infotram.pl for the extension of tramline riding on NF12+NF6 sets. BS NETHERLANDS SZCZECIN. Tenders have been 1 from Roland-Center to AMSTERDAM. GVB has awarded invited for the components Mittelshuchting. The 3.6km INDIA CAF a further contract for nine required to build two more (2.2-mile) line will feature a DELHI. Bombardier has been trams, bringing the firm total to double-ended low-floor trams mixture of on-street running plus awarded a contract for 30 six-car 72 (remaining options 51). OR in the undertaking’s workshops. around 1km (0.6 miles) of the EMUs for the new commuter rail UTRECHT. The fleet of 27 There will be an option for two disused Bremen-Thedinghauser line between Delhi, Ghaziabad high-floor 1983 SIG LRVs ran more. The last tender of this type Railway line from Kirchhuchting and Meerut. RGI for the last time on 3 July, as the was won by Modertrans. infotram.pl to Leeste and Weyhe. The project SURAT. Tenders have been invited Nieuwegein line was closed to WROCŁAW. A tender for includes six new stops. Service is for a contract to design a two-line permit platforms to be lowered. 25 new trams (options for a expected to begin in 2024. DS 40.3km (25-mile) metro, partly in The exact date for reintroduction further 21) attracted two bids, ESSEN. Approval has been given subway and partly elevated. RGI of service using CAF low-floor from Modertrans and Pesa. It is for plans for a new 5km (3.1-mile) trams was uncertain due to the understood that Modertrans is light rail line from Bergmühle to ISLE OF MAN effect of the coronavirus pandemic the preferred bidder with a price Stadtmitte depot, which will run DOUGLAS. The horse tramway on deliveries from Spain, but of PLN204.6m (EUR45.9m) for via the city centre and the city’s will extend over the full length 21 September is the target date. its Gamma 2 model. infotram.pl main railway Station. Eight stops of Douglas Promenade, but not One SIG tram will be retained for have been approved, with another before 2022. This is according to heritage purposes. OR PORTUGAL two being reviewed. Construction a new programme to accelerate COIMBRA. Plans for tram-train of the expected EUR89m line highway works, taking advantage NEW ZEALAND operation on the Lousã railway is to begin in 2023, for completion of lower traffic volumes during AUCKLAND. Plans for a have been replaced by a EUR31.7m in 2025. RGI the COVID-19 crisis. That work two-line light rail system have contract for conversion to FRANKFURT-AM-MAIN. Formal is to finish next year. Tramway been dropped after disagreement electric bus operation. P. R. Costa agreement has been given for the work will be carried out over in the NZ cabinet. At September’s 1.6km (one-mile) extension of the following winter, either elections, the Labour incumbent QATAR line U2 from Gonzenheim to Bad finished as grass track or in asphalt. is expected to campaign on the DOHA. The first two of 35 three-car Homburg, with 350m in subway. Separately, a Tynwald introduction of a segregated light Kinki Sharyo trains were delivered The EUR56m project will be built environment and infrastructure metro system. Newsroom.co.nz on 12 June. They are intended to in 2023-28, with Bad Homburg policy review committee has asked boost capacity in readiness for the contributing 20% of the cost. the Department of Infrastructure NORTH KOREA 2022 football World Cup. IRJ The three remaining U2 to provide assurances over the as WONSAN. It is reported that a new Stadtbahn cars 303-5 have been yet unknown cost of extending tramway is under construction to PHILIPPINES renumbered 133-5. DS the tramway, and the potential link with the Kalma Beach Resort MANILA. Japan’s Sumitomo Corp. KASSEL. The summer saw threat to the project through a on North Korea’s east coast. has acquired a 19.2% interest in infrastructure work in the possible need for further capital Bogie trams will be supplied Light Rail Transit System line 1, city centre from 4 July to funding and planning approval. by the Kim Chong-t’ae the 20km (12.5-mile) north–south 16 August, resulting in diversion The new depot at Strathallan Electric Locomotive Works line that opened in 1984. of tram routes. DS has been completed. The façade in Pyongyang. RGI Sumitomo previously supplied

320 / AUGUST 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org (EUR162.6m). The total order is Autonomous Metro (CAM). The now 56. IRJ planned busway route is expected LAUSANNE. On 19 June a to form the first part of the CAM variation to the infrastructure project, a major element of the concession for the Lausanne – Combined Authority’s local Renens light rail line was granted transport plan. The GCP comprises to permit extension to Villars- Cambridge City Council, South Ste-Croix (3.1km/1.9 miles). Cambridgeshire District Council, Completion is planned for 2024. Cambridgeshire County Council MARTIGNY – CHAMONIX and the University of Cambridge. (TMR). TMR and SNCF have The CAM Partnership Board issued a joint tender for seven is to unify the various strands of motor cars for adhesion and its project into one streamlined rack use to replace the 1996-97 plan in order to move all strands stock (BDeh4/8 21-22 and Z forward at the same time. 801/2-805/6). EA The Board is considering ZÜRICH. The Polybahn funicular forming a separate company to is closed from May 2020 to manage the entire project. The Stuttgart Tramway Museum and regular heritage line 23 reopened on 7 June. In this view we can see one of the many coronavirus notices along the route September 2021 to permit a EDINBURGH. From 1 June the advising passengers of the restrictions to be observed. Sven Schäfer. CHF3m (EUR2.8m) modernisation basic tram service increased to project. EA every 15 minutes from 05.00 some of the rolling stock used in SPAIN to midnight. Fare collection is the city and is currently BARCELONA. The stalled project THAILAND now entirely off-tram with modernising MRT-3 as well as to refurbish the 1901 Tibidabo BANGKOK. Bombardier has validation before entry. delivering trains for the North- heritage tramway Tranvia Blau delivered the first of three two-car The statutory hearing into South Commuter Railway. RGI appears to have acquired a new Innovia 300 peoplemover trains the delayed and over-budget momentum. A recent tender for the 2.7km (1.7-mile) Gold Line construction phase of the RUSSIA to restart the works (service (Silom – Krung Thon Buri). IRJ existing tramway is formally at KALININGRAD. The only low- was suspended two years ago, its final stage, but no end date floor tram in the fleet, a PesaSwing with only preliminary works UKRAINE has been promised. It was delivered in 2012, has returned to undertaken since) was costed at KHARKIV. A contract for eight announced six years ago and has service after several months out of EUR802 847, but the city five-car metro trains for line now cost nearly GBP11m. use while sections of infrastructure subsequently said it needed the 3 has been awarded to CRRC GREATER MANCHESTER. were brought up to standard for money for its COVID-19 response. Tangshan; delivery will be in Transport for Greater Manchester’s this type of tram. infotram.pl However, on 4 June the council 2022 and the deal is worth latest projections are for net losses KRASNODAR. The first two approved collaboration with EUR45m, partly financed by the of GBP40-50m (EUR44-55m)for of 35 new Ust-Katav 71-623-04 TMB to get the work done. A 2023 European Bank for Reconstruction the remainder of the financial bogie trams were delivered in re-opening is possible. Metropoli and Development. RGI year, in addition to around GBP4m mid-June. Two of the batch BILBAO. Ibarbengoa station (EUR4.4m) of unfunded losses in will be specially-equipped for on metro line 1 opened on UNITED KINGDOM the period mid-March to 8 June. driver training. transphoto.ru 15 June, eight years after being BLACKPOOL. The next phase Metrolink has lost around MOSKVA. A tender has been built. The station became of the Talbot Gateway scheme GBP6m/month (EUR6.6m/month) issued for the supply of 1360 new mired in controversy over began in early June with in fare revenue since lockdown metro cars by 2023; they will be an associated 295-space demolition of the former Wilko began; the government has covered used on lines 5, 6 and 11. IRJ park-and-ride structure. RGI store. This will allow completion about 73% (GBP11.6m/EUR12.8m) OMSK. Six 71-619 bogie trams VALENCIA. FGV has awarded of the Blackpool North station of the losses in a first tranche and transferred from Moskva were a EUR6.5m contract to electrify tramway interchange plus 95% (GBP13.3m/EUR14.7m) delivered in June. transphoto.ru the 5.3km (3.3-mile) section of construction of a pedestrian of expected costs in a second future line 10 from Alacant to underpass, hotel and further retail tranche to 3 August. However, SINGAPORE Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, units. Robertson Construction unless further funding is agreed MASS RAPID TRANSIT. due to open in autumn 2021. RGI Group has been appointed as Metrolink will again be at a The Land Transport Authority main contractor. The extension is ‘cliff edge’ in August, Greater has awarded a SGD639.5m SWEDEN expected to be complete by May Manchester’s Mayor Andy (EUR408.87m) contract for an STOCKHOLM. SL has ordered 2021, subject to no further delays Burnham warned. Integrated Train Testing Centre. ten A35 Urbos AXL three-section due to COVID-19. Services increased to a It will be built on the site of the low-floor trams from CAF under The annual Blackpool ten-minute frequency from former Raffles Country Club the framework that has now seen Illuminations is being extended 22 June and Metrolink has and involve 11km (6.8 miles) of 52 trams ordered since 2010. They by two months to 3 January 2021. introduced discounts to support tracks for endurance testing and will be used on the Kistagren The ‘switch-on’ ceremony on flexible working. A new ‘Clipper’ integration of rolling stock and branch of the orbital Tvärbanan, 4 September has been moved to ticket gives ten rides for the price other systems. The centre should due to be extended to Kista and the Blackpool Tower Ballroom of nine. open at the end of 2022 and Helenlund by 2023. as a free ‘virtual’ event streamed Metrolink’s free onboard will first be used to commission Metro line 18 to Farsta Strand in association with MTV. Wi-Fi could be dropped to save trains for Circle Line 6. RGI was closed for several days from The tramway is due to re-open money. It is estimated that the the end of June after hot weather on 19 July; it closed to passengers move could save GBP300 000 SOUTH KOREA resulting in track buckling caused on 29 March. (EUR331 578)/year. SEOUL. The city is seeking a derailment at Skärmarbrink. CAMBRIDGE. The A new entrance to the developers to take on the 16.2km The first C30 metro train was Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Deansgate-Castlefield tramstop (ten-mile) West line LRT project handed over to SL by Bombardier Combined Authority is considering from Great Bridgewater Street is that will link Eunpyeong and on 26 June. D-E. Göransson legal proceedings against the to be created, featuring a glass lift Gwanak, including interchange Greater Cambridge Partnership and new staircase. The GBP1m with several metro lines. SWITZERLAND after the latter endorsed the (EUR1.1m) scheme is being funded The order with Hyundai Rotem CHUR – DISENTIS (RhB). Cambourne – Cambridge busway by private developers as part of for eight-car trainsets for line A An option with Stadler for 20 in defiance of Combined Authority the preparatory works for a new commuter rail service has been more Capricorn EMUs has been Mayor James Palmer, who a 40-storey residential tower and increased from 15 to 20. RGI exercised, valued at CHF172.9m favours the Cambridgeshire a 14-storey office block next to

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2020 / 321 Worldwide Review

Type 7 3703/11/9 have been limited basis, without most large scrapped, while Type 8 3847 has income-earning events. been stripped for parts after an Donations can be made through accident. All Type 7 and 8 are cars the website or direct to the to be replaced by 165 Type 10, Museum at National Tramway currently out to tender, with Appeal, Crich Tramway Village, delivery planned for 2024-29. Crich, Matlock, DE4 5DP, UK Latest date for the opening of (with cheques payable to Tramway the Somerville extension is Museum Society). December 2021. BSRA FORT COLLINS, CO (US). DENVER, CO. The N commuter A new service car is 1922 Birney line from Denver Union Station to 25 (ex-Virginia Railway & Thornton and Eastlake (124th St) Power Company), which joins will open on 21 September. It will car 21. Loveland Reporter-Herald be operated by RTD rather than HOORN – MEDEMBLIK (NL). Denver Transit Partners, which Steam tram operation resumed operates lines A, B and G. J. Hayward from 6 June with operations on The extension of Den Haag line 19 to Delft Technical University features this new MEMPHIS, TN. MATA is spending Saturdays and Sundays. OR bascule bridge along the tramline. M. Schiefelbusch USD550 000 to purchase the three INNSBRUCK (AT). The TMB Manchester Central Convention (EUR77.4m) depot at Gosforth. GOMACO replica trams from museum at Berg Isel reopened from Complex. The facility is part of the GBP362m Charlotte. J. Hayward 30 May, Saturdays 09.00-17.00. NOTTINGHAM. Tramway (EUR400m) fleet replacement NORFOLK, VA. LRT service Preserved trams operate at 10.20, track replacement is taking place programme led by Nexus; Stadler resumed on 14 June. Travel was 12.20 and 14.20, initially using 20 June-19 July between the Royal will maintain the fleet for 35 years. free until 1 July. J. Hayward 1960 Lohner bogie car 61. E. Plefka Centre and Old Market Square Metro services resumed through PHILADELPHIA, PA (SEPTA). MALMKÖPING (SE). The stops. Services were to be split Sunderland at the end of May after Tramline 10 was replaced by buses Swedish Tramway Museum opened to operate from Royal Centre Network Rail temporarily repaired from 15 June to 5 September to on 6 June, with precautions to limit towards Hucknall, and Nottingham some of the overhead line damage permit track renewal. J. Hayward the transmission. D-E. Göransson Station towards Toton Lane and in the area. However, from 1 June SAN FRANCISCO, CA (BART). SCHEPDAAL (BE). The Vicinal Clifton South, with a shuttle bus services ran at a reduced frequency The ribbon-cutting ceremony to museum reopened from 21 May, connecting Royal Centre and of a train every 24 minutes, mark the opening of the 16km Thursdays and Sundays 13.00- the station. alternate trains from the Airport (ten-mile) Warm Springs to 17.00 until 31 October. T-2000 SOUTH WALES. The Welsh turning at Pelaw. Evening and Berryessa (north San Jose) SEATON (UK). Tram 14 has Government and councils in Sunday services operated from extension was held on 12 June, undergone a repaint. Work to south-east Wales are to review travel the Airport to South Hylton every with revenue service from open two new halts during 2020 demand and transport investment 30 minutes. This was due to the 13 June. A further extension to has had to be re-scheduled with the in light of COVID-19. The Cardiff damage to overhead wires caused Santa Clara via San Jose city Riverside Halt site receiving new Capital Region City Deal has been by a freight train on 22 May. hall is due to be ready in 2028. IRJ decking and likely to open when recommended to partner the A full timetable was SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Muni). services resume. Seaton Wetlands Government to inform a shared introduced from 29 June Muni Metro light rail was due to Halt is unlikely to open this position on transport investment. following the network resume on 1 August with a revised year. Social distancing measures SOUTH YORKSHIRE. Services experiencing its busiest day operating pattern, including will include revised boarding improved from 14 June with since lockdown began. Passenger two-car trains on line N (Ocean arrangements at Colyton station. Yellow and Blue routes running numbers surged on 15 June, as Beach – Caltrain) and a combined THUIN (BE). The ASvi museum every 15 minutes during the day non-essential shops reopened M and T service from Geneva to reopened from 1 June and heritage and the tram-train twice per hour. and more children went back to Sunnydale. Lines J, K and L will tramway operation started from The Purple route is currently not school. A total of 18 486 journeys no longer use the subway (there 4 July. T-2000 operating due to track works. were made; although still only will be frequent S shuttles with Tram services have now increased around 20% of normal levels two-car trains between West CONTRIBUTORS to around 80% of pre-COVID-19 this is the highest number since Portal and Embarcadero), while J Worldwide news items for levels, but with reduced capacity 20 March. Nexus says it can safely will terminate at Duboce/Church. inclusion should be sent to Michael due to social distancing measures. accommodate 26 000 passengers L and K will be combined to form Taplin at Flat 8, Roxan Villa, Track replacement work moved over the course of a full day with a Zoo – Balboa Park line via West 33 Landguard Manor Rd, Shanklin, to the area between White Hart social distancing in place, well Portal. Lines E, F and cable cars Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. Lane and Norton Avenue from below the roughly 100 000 journeys remain suspended. P. Ehrlich Fax: +44 (0)1983 862810 or e-mail: 6 June and was due to be completed per day before the pandemic hit. SEATTLE, WA. A joint venture of [email protected] on 24 July, affecting the Blue and WEST MIDLANDS. In a bid Mott MacDonald and SNC-Lavalin UK and Ireland items are Purple routes. The Blue route to offer extra flexibility for has been awarded the management welcomed by the Home News operated between Malin Bridge customers through the next phase contract for the 12.6km Editor, John Symons, 17 and Gleadless Townend only, of the coronavirus pandemic, the (7.8-mile) Federal Way Link light Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, with a revised timetable. Tramstops operator has launched a range of rail extension project, which Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 0LW, UK. between Gleadless Townend and ticket options available exclusively should be completed in 2024. RGI E-mail [email protected] Halfway were not served; neither on the My Metro App. It has also Acknowledgements are due to was Herdings Park. Passengers on launched an online ‘heat map’ MUSEUM NEWS Blickpunkt Strassenbahn (BS), BSRA, the closed sections were directed to help customers maintain safe BRUSSEL/BRUXELLES (BE). Drehscheibe (DS), Eisenbahn Amateur towards existing bus services. social distancing when travelling Woluwe museum reopened from (EA), Eisenbahn (EB), infotram.pl, Further track replacement by tram at busy or quiet times. 21 May, with measures to enforce International Railway Journal (IRJ), will affect Gleadless Townend/ social distancing, including lineoz.net, Loveland Reporter-Herald, Ridgeway Road and Manor Top/ USA only one visitor at a time aboard Manchester Evening News, Mass Spring Lane curve (25 July– BOSTON, MA. Peak service on the each vehicle. T-2000 Transit, Metropoli, Newsroom.co.nz, 1 September) and Crystal Peaks/ Green light rail line on 28 January CRICH (UK). An appeal has Nottingham Evening Post, Op de Rails Elcroft Gardens (2 September– required 146 cars (plus 5 PCCs on been launched to help keep the (OR), Railway Gazette International 25 September). Mattapan – Ashmont). Available museum in existence as it faces (RGI), David Richards, Tram-2000 TYNE AND WEAR. Stadler has are 100 Type 7 (KinkiSharyo), 85 “potentially crippling” losses (T-2000), Tribuca.net, transphoto.ru, appointed VolkerFitzpatrick to Type 8 (Breda) and 11 Type 9 (CAF). this year due to the coronavirus. urbanrail.net and Wolverhampton build the Metro’s new GBP70m Six PCCs are on the active list. It expects re-opening to be on a Express & Star.

322 / AUGUST 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Letters

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

Who benefits from LRT should pay their share

Mike Taplin’s article on France’s modern tramways (TAUT 991) revenues using public roads, while contributing to their wear illustrates how clear political vision, and the ability to execute and tear, so they should pay their fair share. Directing that it through the appropriate planning and financial levers, has money to transit helps negate their impact on public services. delivered the ‘French Tramway Phenomenon’. Ballots are held to gauge public opinion that should, in theory, Yet while France is held up as a model by many, this help to safeguard against individual flights of fancy, and in approach is not unique. In the US, elected officials have long recent years such measures have financed many new streetcar used hypothecated taxes to fund projects and generate public and light rail projects. support. Such taxes are generally levied against local sales, but So, to raise funds for public transit projects we need to in a useful development that shows how cities are adapting to ask the simple question: who benefits? Whether the private modern ‘ride-sharing’ models, cities such as Milwaukee and developer, the TNC, the educational facility, or the retail Seattle are now applying sales taxes to the likes of Lyft and Uber. outlet – if they derive benefit from a network investment then The argument goes that as trucking and taxi companies pay it is only right that they should make a contribution to its fees, so should such ride-sharing or ‘TNCs’ (Transportation construction and upkeep. Network Companies). They are private organisations, generate P. Bellwood, via e-mail

The long road to restoring confidence devolved into ten subsidiary companies lower development value. Thus we have the As both the Editor and Morgan Lyons which were preparing for both privatisation, present interchange, which is in general fit for highlighted in TAUT 991, a key question that which came in 1994 and deregulation, which purpose, but also sub-optimal. will take some answering is how to restore was abandoned. In 1990 LRT set up a Bus We certainly never shared Scott’s praise of confidence in public transport when it is being Passenger Infrastructure (BPI) Unit to manage LBC’s Dennis Coombes, who had proved on held up by many as a spreader of the pernicious bus stations, stops and shelters, putting numerous occasions to be virulently anti-bus and indiscriminate disease COVID-19. passenger interests above those of private and indeed was the architect behind the With this in mind I wish to bring readers’ companies which could have acted in a removal of buses from the main shopping attention to a new initiative in Belgium discriminatory manner towards competitors. street, North End, to the lasting detriment of designed to restore that faith. From 1 July, As a senior manager of BPI I had been a convenience for less able shoppers and every Belgian aged 12 or over will be entitled LRTL/LRTA member of over 20 years’ standing night-time ambience or passive security. to a ‘national tour’ pass that provides the and was well-acquainted with tram/bus As for the question of constructing the bearer with ten free journeys on the national interchanges in Western Europe. The best interchange, it never worried us at BPI who was rail network. Designed to boost the country’s design for an interchange was, as Scott states, going to build it, so long as the specifications domestic tourism sector, the pass is valid one where a cross-platform solution allowed met our requirements in respect of materials from August 2020 to January 2021 and can be alighting passengers to pass directly to their and design, as we were expecting, rightly, to redeemed at a rate of two journeys per month. next mode, without needing to cross either pay for future upkeep and maintenance. Bicycle carriage is also to be made from the the roadway or tracks. The interchange was It is possible that earlier discussions were held same date, removing the normal EUR4 charge. designed for through as well as terminating pre-1990 to which we were not party and that I know that operators are desperate to routes, so passengers travelling to a destination these are what were being referred to. recoup as much of their lost revenue as quickly served by more than one route would be able Alan Murray, by e-mail as possible, but if it takes incentives such as to wait at just one stop. In practice of course, a this – with the appropriate consultation of small proportion of people, perhaps changing Making it personal course; SNCB has said it lacked notice of the from one bus to another, would need to cross I enjoyed your ‘special focus’ on 20 years of announcement – to get people back out of over, but good design makes provision for Croydon Tramlink in TAUT 990. Praise is due their cars and onto public transport, then good sightlines and signage. for not focusing on the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the surely it is to everyone’s long-term benefit. At BPI we were not involved in initial design system, but in gathering so many personal P. Janssens, Charleroi of the interchange, or the track location and contributions from those who have contributed alignment. We did however produce sketches to this marvellous and under-recognised Addington Village interchange of a layout which gave good cross-platform tramway, both past and present. It was very pleasing to read Gareth David’s interchange for all the main flows, with two It is, however, a terrible shame that the new book, Croydon Tramlink, as it sets out double-length bus stops adjacent to each system is largely the same as the one that in detail many aspects of the project and platform. When ‘wrapped around’ the tram opened in May 2000. One would imagine that subsequent operations, as well as opportunities alignment and taking account of the lie of the long-awaited route to Sutton is now on for the future. The author has given the book a the land, the layout did not quite fit, in the the back burner given TfL’s well-publicised subtitle, viz. A Definitive History. main due to the need to provide space for bus financial troubles, only exacerbated by the For it to be that however, it needs to be movements and standing space between trips. current coronavirus pandemic. accurate and I should like to place on record a The layout would fit with a little adjustment T. Woden, e-mail correction to the narrative supplied regarding of the interchange footprint. However, this Addington Village Interchange. I am sorry required the interchange to be moved a short Correction to say that the recollection of my friend way south, into a field used then, as now, In an unfortunate error in our last ‘Classic and former colleague at London Regional by grazing horses. We did not meet London Trams’ article (Splendid Saxon Survivors – Transport (LRT) Scott McIntosh may have let Borough of Croydon officials, but were told by TAUT 991), the dates stated at the end of the him down on this occasion. the Tramlink team that the adjustment was article were incorrect. Current special event Scott refers to London Buses, but by time out of the question. The inference was that planning focuses on the 150th tramway of the project, the operational part had been the extra land take would cost more money or anniversary, which falls on 18 May 2022.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org august 2020 / 323 Classic Trams Stuttgart’s 1 dual festival In autumn 2019 Stuttgart held a double celebration, marking the 60th anniversary of the GT4 and acknowledging the equipment of locally-based Maschinenfabrik Esslingen. Mike Russell reports.

tuttgart’s GT4 cars have become an by ME between 1954-57 but to a more modern numbers. From Freiburg im Breisgau came iconic symbol of the south-western design using curved body panels, with 146 109, one of the 1962 series (originally 103) German city. A celebration marking matching trailers from Fuchs of Heidelberg. and now part of that town’s museum fleet. the 60th anniversary of their The appointment of a new SSB director, Displaying the latter-day red and white livery, introduction was held last autumn Prof. Alfred Bockemühl from Dresden, creator it cut a distinctive figure amongst the yellow Sby volunteers of the Stuttgarter Historische of the famous Hechtwagen (pike car), heralded of the Stuttgart fleet. Strassenbahnen (SHB), with support from city a reappraisal of tramcar requirements, and Rather more audacious was the temporary operator, Stuttgarter Strassenbahnen (SSB). Fuchs and ME were commissioned to build transfer of Halberstadt 156, formerly Stuttgart Maschinenfabrik Esslingen (ME) was formed two and three prototypes respectively of a GT6 550. Large numbers of GT4s were sold by in 1846 to produce rolling stock and ancillary articulated design. These appeared in 1954-58, Stuttgart and Freiburg to tramways in eastern equipment for the railway industry. Deliveries and although it is generally accepted that Germany and eastern Europe; Halberstadt, from its Esslingen works began in 1847, it operation was far from satisfactory, valuable the diminutive tramway in Sachsen-Anhalt, quickly becoming a leading industrial concern lessons were learned that were carried through acquired 15. As car 156 had been out of service in the then-Kingdom of Württemberg, to the GT4, which proved successful. for a few years, an SHB team was despatched to building a reputation for quality. It later The GT4 articulated tramcar proved to be return it to an appealing external condition. broadened its activities with rolling stock for the last flowering of the relationship between Halberstädter Verkehrs-GmbH carried horse-drawn, steam and electric tramways – SSB and ME: 350 single-ended GT4 tramcars out an inspection, with the car approved relocating to nearby Mettingen in 1908-11 were ordered in five batches and delivered for passenger operation in summer 2019. – making its last deliveries in 1966. between 1959-65. The design was ideal for this The tram made a triumphant appearance, Its first tramcars for horse-drawn service hilly city: two bogies connected by a subframe operating faultlessly over both days. were delivered in 1868 to the newly-formed housing motors, each powering the inner On the Saturday, events were mainly Stuttgarter Pferde-Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft axles with cardan-shaft drive, and a classic of centred around the museum, with special (SPE), a standard-gauge operator eventually bodywork design. trips along the Panoramastrecke, the surviving subsumed into the SSB. In 1886 the company The GT4 did not find favour with many dual-gauge track that still permits Stuttgart to was joined by metre-gauge operator Neue German operators. ME built only 22 examples, operate heritage metre-gauge cars through the Stuttgarter Strassenbahn Gesellschaft Lipken & all double-ended: three for Reutlingen; city centre subways and up to Ruhbank. The Cie (NSS), with cars built by Herbrand of Köln. 11 for Freiburg im Breisgau; and eight for museum also staged a lecture on ME’s history. Both were amalgamated under municipal Neunkirchen (a steeply-graded system), the Sunday was cavalcade day, when all the auspices as the SSB in 1889, with metre-gauge latter the only standard-gauge examples. GT4 cars were posed along Mercedesstrasse. adopted for the system. The new SSB, however, Freiburg’s final order for eight was built in It also saw an enhanced programme of special mainly sourced its electric rolling stock from 1968 under licence by Waggonfabrik Rastatt. tours along the Panoramastrecke. Most were Herbrand, and it was not until 1924 that the By this time, ME was facing a serious scheduled as GT4s, but such was their local firm secured its business. financial position, largely brought about popularity that several extra journeys had In the meantime, ME built electric cars for by its expensive policy of trying to meet to be interposed, including with 851, one of the Esslingen municipal tramway, as well as the individual requirements of customers, two surviving Gartenschautriebwagen of 1939. steam locomotives for the Filderbahn. This and parts of the company were taken over This is an Uerdingen product, built to the operated a network on the rural plateaux to by Daimler-Benz AG from 1965. Tramcar SSB’s specification for use at that year’s garden the south of Stuttgart along with the rack production ceased in 1966 when the last of festival. One of the 14 cars of this series built by tramway between Marienplatz and Degerloch, the DoT-4 articulated cars, rebuilt from pairs ME, 859 (originally 714), was recovered from where it connected with the SSB. ME also of T2s, was delivered to Stuttgart as its 935 and the HSM Wehmingen site in 2003. This car is supplied all rolling stock for the interurban the last one of Freiburg’s second GT4 batch as undergoing restoration at Gera workshops and Esslingen – Nellingen – Denkendorf (END) its 113, the last entirely new ME-built tramcar. should return to home metals before long. tramway, opened in 1926, providing links Regular Stuttgart GT4 operation ceased With some cars now more than 60 years from low-lying Esslingen to the Filder villages in December 2007, with due ceremony (see old, it is hardly surprising that the era of the high above. Its solid bogie motor cars were still TAUT 844-845, April/May 2008). Both the SSB GT4 in eastern Europe is diminishing but even providing service when it closed in 1978. itself and the SHB have kept several examples. so, a number still remain in service, especially in Romania. They have found great favour in Four decades of dominance GT4 panorama the cities of Arad (44 cars) and Iaşi (62 cars). For over 40 years, ME supplied the majority Originally planned for July 2019, the The oldest currently existing GT4, Stuttgart of rolling stock for Stuttgart’s tramways. event was rescheduled for 26-27 October. 504, now Iaşi 128, is still in operation here. When its first ME-built cars appeared in 1924 The opportunity was taken to parade SHB What finer tribute can there be than that they were of solid, traditional design – qualities cars along the street-running tracks near more than 60 years on, these splendid cars associated with all ME rolling stock up to 1942. the former Bad Cannstatt depot, now continue to provide service for thousands For operational reasons, Stuttgart continued Strassenbahnmuseum Stuttgart, displayed of passengers hundreds of miles from their to specify two-axle motor and trailer cars up to in various formations. There were solo cars, birthplace. 1957, when most other German tramways had coupled cars, GT4 cars coupled to four-wheel bought bogie or initial designs of articulated trailers – all of which added to the interest. With thanks to Sven Schäfer and Jörg Zimmer. cars. After 1945, ME concentrated first on An endearing feature was the presence of For a full illustrated survey of ME tramcars we carrying out war-damage repairs. When two GT4 cars from other systems, for which recommend Fotoalbum der Maschinenfabrik newly-developed cars were called for, a fleet the SHB met the transportation costs and was Esslingen, Strassen- und Seilbahnen, by of 123 two-axle motor cars (type T2) was built rewarded for its enterprise by high visitor Alexander Weber (Podszun, 2019).

324 / AUGUST 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org 1. An aerial view showing the unique design features of the GT4, with the central underframe supporting two motors, each driving the inner axle of the pairs of bogies. Courtesy SSB archive

2. A high point of the autumn 2019 weekend was the cavalcade of GT4 cars in various formations, seen here posed in Mercedesstrasse on Sunday 27 October. In the lead is motor car 471 hauling trailer 1605 (Fuchs, 1956). Rainer Vogler

3. The precursor of Stuttgart’s famous GT4 cars. This view at Degerloch shows one of the three ME-built prototype GT6 cars, 3, passing under the viaduct supporting the rack tramway line to Marienplatz. The six-axle GT6 was deemed unsuccessful in service and none of the five cars lasted beyond 1968. Jörg Zimmer

4. The classic GT4 formation – a pair of coupled cars. Taken 2 during the afternoon of 27 October 2019, 401+471 climbs the Panoramastrecke towards Geroksruhe operating on heritage line 23, giving passengers a taste of the abilities of these cars over the spectacular, hilly terrain in which Stuttgart abounds. Line 23 provides one the finest heritage tram rides anywhere in Europe. Mike Russell

5. Three-car trains of GT4 cars were never operated in normal passenger service, but could from time to time be 3 4 seen on private depot or works journeys; 450 heads such a formation in Daimlerstrasse on 27 October 2019. Mike Russell

6. Illustrating the small number of double-ended GT4 cars built was Freiburg im Breisgau 109, now part of that town’s museum fleet. It is shown passing the impressive Bad Cannstatt 3 Fire Station in Mercedesstrasse on 27 October 2019. Mike Russell

7. Stuttgart GT4 550 makes a welcome return to its home 5 6 metals in its latter-day guise as Halberstadt 156, seen here emerging from the museum premises onto the street track in Daimlerstrasse on 26 October 2019. Mike Russell

8. Strangers in the camp: Halberstadt 156, formerly Stuttgart 550, with Freiburg im Breisgau 109 just visible in front, in company with Stuttgart’s own GT4 629 in the upper hall of the tramway museum in the former Bad Cannstatt depot, at present not normally open to visitors, on 7 8 26 October 2019. Mike Russell

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2020 / 325 NEWS FROM THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT ASSOCIATION Garden towns ‘too It’s not too late to learn car-dependent’ Transport for New Homes has criticised Valenciennes is a fine example of how the modern tramway has played its part UK Government proposals to build new in revitalising a small city. Neil Pulling ‘garden towns and villages’ without providing suitable public transport links. The campaigning group’s analysis found that many of the 50 planned developments lack local facilities, potentially creating 200 000 new car-dependent households. In some cases, residents without access to a car will have to walk or cycle up to seven miles to a town centre or railway station. If built as planned, such developments will create serious issues of congestion and pollution, with concomitant health problems, for decades to come. Failure to consider sustainable mobility within new residental and commercial centres in the UK has resulted in road layouts unsuited to public transport. Where it has been provided, it has lacked the integration required to attract those who have already become used to using a car for most of their journeys. ities in both the UK and France were used bus routes to relieve congestion, Paul Rowen, LRTA Chair, said: “We must studying the reinstatement of tramway increase capacity and improve air quality. not repeat mistakes of the past; towns like C networks in the early 1980s. So why is The UK has fallen some way short of the Milton Keynes were built without public it that in the 35 years since Nantes kickstarted 25 new tramlines promised within a decade transport in mind, to the detriment of a tramway revolution across the Channel, by the then-Government in 2000. Likewise, local residents’ health and well-being.” France now has 28 operational tramways (and the majority of the recommendations from more on the way) while the UK has just seven? the DfT’s Green Light for Light Rail report of Read the full report at Mike Taplin’s explorations of ‘The French September 2011 also remain unrealised. www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk Tramway Phenomenon’ in TAUT show just David Cameron’s Coalition Government how transformative the mode has been to cities introduced Metro Mayors in 2010, and Andy across the nation. His detailed survey covers Street in the West Midlands, alongside others Obituary: Curt M. every town and city with a tramway network across the country, is taking a more proactive and, importantly, he dispels one of the key approach to transport and planning. Yet even Elmberg (1931-2020) myths: that trams only work in big cities. with this positive step, the current pandemic On 4 June 2020, the death occurred Valenciennes, Aubagne and Avignon have has demonstrated that the UK remains in Göteborg, Sweden, of Curt M. populations of less than 100 000, yet they stubbornly centralised, with finance and Elmberg, who spent much of his have all used the tramway to revitalise their policy firmly in the hands of Whitehall. career (1946-90) with the transport communities, increasing social inclusion and We are told that much will change when undertaking Göteborgs Spårvägar. the standard of living for their residents. this crisis is over. We have been told that the As its Director of Planning, Curt was Similar-sized UK towns like Bath, Bristol, Government is currently soliciting ideas for responsible for developing a modest Cambridge, and Warrington could all benefit new infrastructure projects that can “support city tramway into what might be in the same ways as their French counterparts. a green recovery” and “drive up economic called the world’s first light rail system. A 2003 report for PTEG* (now the Urban growth and jobs”. Tramway and light rail He also saw the city through its Transport Group) identified three key reasons systems deliver against these objectives. ‘H-Day’ in September 1967, when the why France has been more successful than the Boris Johnson and his team have derived rule of the road in Sweden changed UK in developing light rail systems: significant political capital from a promised from driving on the left to driving on 1. Political leadership in the form of municipal “levelling up” agenda for the regions. Sadly, so the right. At that time he did not stint mayors who often champion a tramway far this has largely meant an increase in central on the time and hospitality afforded project as part of their election campaign. spending on regional projects. To deliver real to a visiting group from the Light Rail 2. French authorities have the power to raise change – when we most need it – this now Transit Association, which made him capital finance via a payroll tax levied needs to move towards a shift in both financial an honorary Vice-President by return. against all businesses with more than and political power away from Whitehall. Only Curt subsequently became 11 employees (versement transport – now then will UK cities and towns be able to emulate Tramway Director until retirement, versement mobilité). This equates to up to the success of their counterparts in France. and published six research papers. 1.75% of a company’s payroll that can be We offer our condolences to his wife *Comparative Performance Data from French spent on transport projects. Birgitta, children Eva and Tommy, Tramway Systems – July 2003, PTEG 3. Integrated transport and land usage policies grandchildren and great grandchildren. with a greater co-ordination of all transport The funeral was held at Sävedalens All LRTA meetings are cancelled until modes, from walking and cycling to heavy Church on 30 June. MRT further notice – stay updated at www.lrta.org rail. Tramway projects often replace heavily- Bookshop

Order online from www.lrta.info/shop – or by post from: LRTA Publications, 38 Wolseley Road, SALE, M33 7AU (Please provide phone contact details and quote LRTA membership number if appropriate) Please note: The coronavirus pandemic is impacting on many nations’ postal services and this can result in delays to items despatched from the LRTA and other publishers.

Tramways & Stadtbahnen in Hannover Snaefell – A Mountain and a Railway

Describes the pioneering nature of the Excellent new history of the SMR to celebrate extensive network in and around the city its 125th anniversary, from the construction from the 19th Century through the conversion of the line in eight months through to the 21st of most routes to the light rail lines of today. Century. Published by Isle of Man Transport.

> A4 softback; 232 pages, 110 colour and 224 > A4 softback; 158 pages, 150 colour and 82 black & white pictures; 34 maps. black & white pictures; five maps. £35.50 (UK addresses); £42.50 (outside UK); £17.50 (UK addresses); £24.00 (outside UK); £47.50 (Airmail beyond Europe); £29.00 (Airmail beyond Europe); LRTA members: £3.25 discount LRTA members: £1.45 discount

Unser lieber Obus Sheffield: From Tram to Tram-Train Linie A32 in Marienfelde 1935 bis 1965 A look back at the city’s first-generation tram A charming little book, produced by the local system up to 1960, the story of Supertram historical group, with memories of (West) and the much-anticipated tram-train trials, Berlin trolleybus route A32 from Wilmersdorf with the connection to Rotherham Parkgate. through Steglitz to Marienfelde. > A4 softback; 128 pages, 240 colour and > A5 softback; 68 pages, 11 colour and 41 black 11 black & white pictures, six maps. & white pictures; 18 maps. £20.00 (UK addresses); £23.50 (outside UK); £9.90 (UK addresses); £13.00 (outside UK); £14.00 £27.00 (Airmail beyond Europe) (Airmail beyond Europe); LRTA members: £0.85 discount LRTA Members: £1.75 discount

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Il Filobus nella Pubblicità New Jersey’s Trolley Heritage

A fascinating collection of trolleybus Photographic review of the streetcars that manufacturers’ advertising and publicity once operated in Atlantic City, Ocean City material from around the world, and Wildwood, together with the Newark carefully reproduced in monochrome City Subway, the Hudson-Bergen light rail and colour. Preface in Italian, English line and the Camden to Trenton River Line. and German. > 275 x 215mm softback; 128 pages, > B5 softback; 186 pages. 228 colour and black & white pictures, £19.50 – five maps. www.nationaltrolleybusassociation.org £16.00 – www.fonthill.media

Trolejbusy v České a Slovenské Republice Wires above South East London a ve Světě Woolwich to Gravesend by Tram and Trolleybus

A review of trolleybus development Relive the era of electric traction in this corner around the world, with pen pictures of the of the capital and the adjoining industrial area networks in the Czech & Slovak Republics of north-west Kent during the 70 years when and selected cities elsewhere. Czech text. trams and then trolleybuses dominated the public transport scene. > 210 x 255mm hardback; 216 pages, 225 colour and 56 black & white pictures; 29 maps. > A4 hardback; 112 pages, 74 black & white and £20.00 – five colour pictures, seven maps. www.nationaltrolleybusassociation.org £25.00 – www.capitaltransport.com 2020

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