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THE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

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APRIL 2020 No. 988

the World market in 2o2o

Alstom bids for Bombardier’s rail arm operators combat COVID-19 SUBSCRIBE HERE Tram crossings Den Haag Delivering a safe Light rail variety in £4.60 public environment the 2020 Entries open now!

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www.lightrailawards.com CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association APRIL 2020 Vol. 83 No. 988 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL Editor – Simon Johnston [email protected] 136 Associate Editor – Tony Streeter [email protected] Worldwide Editor – Michael Taplin 156 [email protected] News Editor – John Symons [email protected] Senior Contributor – Neil Pulling Worldwide Contributors Richard Felski, Ed Havens, Andrew Moglestue, Paul Nicholson, Herbert Pence, Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Alain Senut, Vic Simons, Witold Urbanowicz, Bill Vigrass, Francis Wagner, Thomas Wagner, Philip Webb, Rick Wilson Production – Lanna Blyth 145 Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 [email protected] News 124 systems factfile: den haag 145 DESIGN – Debbie Nolan launches Bombardier takeover; Variety abounds in the ‘Royal City by Advertising Cities take action to combat coronavirus; the Sea’, home to the Netherlands’ COMMERCIAL Manager – Geoff Butler Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 Atlanta approves 2050 transport initiative; second-biggest system, finds Neil Pulling. [email protected] Consultation launched for Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro; Visakhapatnam revises WORLDWIDE REVIEW 150 Publisher – Matt Johnston mobility strategy to include . Ground-breaking for the Parramatta light Tramways & Urban Transit rail line; Further vehicle issues plague 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, THE UK’S CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE 130 Ottawa’s Confederation line; Tatra-Jug Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK Colin Robey explains the role of the UK’s trams in service in Iskandariyah; Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring ‘one-stop-shop’ for tramway promoters. inaugurates line D tramway extension; on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each Kolkata opens east-west metro; Consultation month preceding the cover date. tram and lrv orders 2o2o 131 begins for 145km metro; Mike Taplin provides his annual round- goes fare-free; and insight into the coming trends. Singapore orders 62 metro sets for MTR. PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION Warners (Midlands), Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK creating safer crossings 136 MAILBOX 155 LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) TAUT explores current best practice and Why SMART is not the glowing advert for Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up guidance for tramway crossing design. LRT it could be; the benefits of overhead members of the Light Rail Transit Association. lines as a city navigational aid. a test-bed for the future 140 LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY Brian Lomas ’s tramway has become a success CLASSIC trams: PART 2 156 [email protected] [email protected] story in many respects – not least in its Mike Russell concludes his survey of unusual twin-depot layout. Blackpool’s remarkable heritage operations. Subscriptions, MEMBERSHIP and back issues LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 Consolidation and coronavirus: No time to panic... [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info for CORPORATE Subscriptions VISIT One word is on everyone’s lips this month: coronavirus. Wherever in the world www.mainspring.co.uk you’re reading these words, it is almost certain that the outbreak of COVID-19 is the top news story. If ever there was a sign of how globalised we are, this is it. LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 4TU, UK. Beyond the immediate health crisis, what does it mean for the world Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 economy, and in particular for transport? Reports suggest that ridership in parts in and Wales. of China, where the outbreak started, is down by 80%. In Iran, it is 70%. Many trams are LRTA Chairman – Paul Rowen running through the central areas of Milan empty. Does that mean we should panic? No. [email protected] There’s an irony in that the more we encourage people to leave their cars behind © LRTA 2020 and travel on trams, and buses, the more they are potentially exposed to such Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also airborne nasties. But if we are to see the benefits of a ‘green’ future – in particular in later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution decarbonisation and reducing congestion – then mass transit is clearly the way forward. is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the In reality, nothing else is sustainable long-term. (It is similarly ironic to see the massive opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of improvements in air quality achieved through isolation and taking cars off the road!) the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. What is needed in such situations is careful planning (which rarely goes to waste No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including anyway), leading to rational precautions, clearly communicated. From the passengers’ photocopying, recording or by any information storage and side it means following the plan and not ignoring the problem – but not panicking either. retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from Coronavirus aside, light rail is booming. Our annual review of the manufacturers’ the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the order books (starting on page 131) shows what we have come to expect: business is good. magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. Some builders have done well, some less so – but the overall picture remains positive. That landscape will likely change soon as Alstom makes its move for Bombardier COVER (From top left): HeiterBlick; VGF; HEAGMobilo; Transportation. Subject to the important anti-trust and union hurdles, by next year’s Mobility; Bombardier Transportation; CAF; survey the makers of the Citadis and Flexity will have become one... Simon Johnston, Editor Metro do Porto; Modertrans; SWB/Škoda.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org april 2020 / 123 News Alstom confirms Bombardier bid The creation of a European ‘rail champion’ is put back on the table with a EUR6bn offer in February

lstom’s takeover of Bombardier Transportation could be completed in the Afirst half of 2021, following an offer of EUR6bn announced on 17 February. The acquisition is intended to provide a firm base from which to remain competitive with China’s CRRC, which has annual revenues of around EUR21bn, compared with EUR15.3bn for the combined European firm. Under the proposal, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) will sell its 30.5% stake in Bombardier Transportation for around EUR2bn, allowing it to buy back Alstom shares. Adding a further EUR500m, the CDPQ would take its stake in the French company to 18%, giving it two seats on the board. It would become Alstom’s biggest shareholder, ahead of Bouygues which has long held a 30% stake that would drop to 10%. An EGM is to be held by the end of Nantes is one of few cities with October to approve the deal. “The acquisition of Bombardier both Alstom and Bombardier trams. Bombardier has separately The TFS-1 came from Alstom (then completed its exit from Transportation is a one-time Alsthom) for the system’s opening in 1985; Bombardier (then ) commercial aviation by selling Incentros arrived from 1997. The city’s its interest in Airbus Canada opportunity for Alstom” latest deliveries are from CAF. N. Pulling (the A220 jet development programme) to Airbus SE and was vetoed by the European snowmobiles, and expanded into (UK), and . Its centre of the Government of Québec Commission over perceived the rail market with the purchase competence for trams and light for USD591m (EUR521m). monopolies in the high-speed of Montréal Locomotive Works rail is Bautzen in , where It has been reported that 90% of rail and signalling sectors. in 1975. While the company’s there has been considerable Bombardier’s CAD9bn (EUR6bn) This time both Bombardier corporate headquarters recent investment. debt is related to costs in aviation and Alstom have signalled remains in Canada, the buyout Alstom has an order backlog programmes; the company’s their commitment to make would effectively be an all- of EUR40bn and EUR8.1bn annual interest payments have concessions to allay any European combination as its of annual sales. Bombardier more than doubled since 2015, anti-trust concerns. Transportation arm is based in Transportation has a EUR32bn even as the company has shrunk French Finance Minister , resulting from the 2001 order book and EUR7.4bn of sales with asset sales. Bruno Le Maire met frequently takeover of Daimler’s former (although the latter represents Bombardier will retain its with EU Competition ADtranz business. a 7% decline). Montréal will profitable corporate jet division, Commissioner Margrethe If the deal goes ahead, Alstom become the headquarters of and has announced expansion Vestager last year as he tried to has said it expects to deliver Alstom in the Americas. of its service and support save the Siemens-Alstom merger, annual savings of EUR400m in Mr Poupart-Lafarge added: networks in Singapore, openly calling the decision to years four and five; this could “The acquisition of Bombardier and Miami. This division has block the deal an “economic involve factory closures and Transportation is a one-time an order backlog of CAD19bn error” that damaged Europe’s redundancies. In Canada the opportunity for Alstom, which (EUR12.5bn), although some industrial interests. However French company is building has significantly strengthened analysts have highlighted the Mr La Maire described February its own LRV assembly plant for its operational and financial risks of relying on a sole product talks with Ms Vestager as “very Metrolinx in Brampton, while profile over the past four years... line in a volatile market – a good”, emphasising that the Bombardier has a factory in We are committed to recovering risk that none of Bombardier’s takeover would strengthen nearby Kingston (originally the Bombardier Transportation’s competitors has taken to date. “the European rail industry.” UTDC plant). The latter also has full operational and profitability The sale of the Transportation Alstom Chairman and Chief a facility in that is potential based on Alstom best division will face scrutiny Executive Henri Poupart-Lafarge short of work after completing practices and technologies”. from competition watchdogs, said on French television that the tram order. The takeover will add since the combined enterprise “Bombardier is much smaller, In Europe Alstom has several monorail and peoplemover will have a near 50% share of and there isn’t the same issue factories in , and also owns systems to Alstom’s portfolio, the European with signals” that haunted the the former Linke-Hofmann-Busch and give the company’s services and urban transport markets, Siemens deal. plant at Salzgitter in Germany, business access to the largest including trams, light rail The deal is also supported by and the former Konstal factory installed fleet in the world. vehicles and metro trains. the Prime Minister of Québec. in Katowice, . Bombardier Alstom built 2885 trams in Last year a similar tie-up Bombardier was founded has several German plants and 1987-2019, while Bombardier between Siemens and Alstom in Montréal in 1942 to make others in Wien (), Derby built 3516.

124 / APRIL 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Visakhapatnam Federal budget proposes mobility strategy includes trams higher transport funding Following the cancellation of tenders for its metro plans in US increases allocation for public transport programmes for 2021 December 2019, Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation n Monday 10 (AMRC) has invited bids for February, US President the preparation of a detailed Trump and his project design for an 80km Administration (50-mile) ten-route light metro Osubmitted its Fiscal Year for Visakhapatnam. 2021 Budget request, which The largest city in Andhra provides USD13.2bn for public Pradesh is also one of the fastest- transportation, a USD303m growing metropolises in India, increase from the FY2020 recognised as a key economic enacted level. It also proposes ‘boomtown’. The government’s USD1.8bn for passenger rail grant decision to reassess its planning programmes, a proposed cut of relates to a change in scope of the USD712m. city’s future planning, as well The Administration also as only receiving a single bid to outlined a ten-year, USD810bn build the 46km (29-mile) metro. surface transportation The new plans include a reauthorisation; USD75bn above second phase with four routes current levels, stating that it totalling 60.2km (37.4 miles) wants to work with Congress that is now proposed as a surface to identify a combination of tramway: NAD Junction – budget proposals to pay for the Pendurthi (10.2km/6.3 miles), USD261bn gap between Highway Steel Plant – Anakapalli Trust Fund revenues and Boston’s new CAF LRV fleet will be seen on the latest Green line extension, (18.2km/11.3 miles), Old Post which it is hoped will now receive further government funding under the latest proposed spending levels. Office – Rushikonda (15.4km/ federal budget proposals. MBTA The proposal includes 9.6 miles) and Rushikonda – USD155.4bn for public transit ‘mega-projects’, including transit the funds are part of Federal Bheemili (16.4km/10.2 miles). over the ten-year period and rail capital investments, and Transit Administration Capital (FY2021 – FY 2030), with the USD20bn for a ‘Transit State of Investment Grants, which Approval given for Administration stating it will Good Repair Sprint’ programme reward transport authorities Linz tram-train order submit a comprehensive surface to reduce the large and growing for delivering projects under The Government of Austria’s transportation reauthorisation state-of-good-repair transit budget and ahead of schedule Oberösterreich region has given proposal in the coming months. backlog. by allowing them to retain permission for the placement of With regards to passenger The proposed capital some or all of the savings and an initial order for 20 tram-trains rail, the proposal includes investment grants for Full re-use them. with an option for 50 more. The new , to be USD16.6bn for rail infrastructure Funding Agreements include The Tex Rail project was ordered on a joint basis with the over the ten-year period. The Los Angeles Westside Subway completed a year ahead of German VDV alliance, will be 37m Administration proposes that (USD200m), San Diego Mid- schedule and USD80.6m under long with capability for 750V dc federal operating support for Coast Transit Project (USD100m), budget. USD38.9m is being and 15kV ac operation. The first Amtrak’s long-distance routes Boston Green line extension retained to build a 3.3km cars should appear on the Stern & would be provided through a (USD100m), Maryland Purple (two-mile) extension between Hafferl Lambach – Vorchdorf- new account and subsequently line (USD120m), Fort Worth Texas & Pacific station and a Eggenberg line in 2025, followed phased out entirely. Separately, Tex Rail (USD25m), Seattle proposed medical campus in by the Linzer Lokalbahn in 2026. the Administration proposes an Federal Way Extension central Fort Worth. NYCT appoints additional USD190bn for other (USD100m) and Seattle Lynwood Houston Metro’s completion of interim president infrastructure improvements. Link Extension (USD100m), the North Corridor light rail line The Metropolitan Transportation The proposed investments giving a total of USD745m. 18 months early and USD83.8m Authority has appointed Sarah include USD60bn for a new All of these projects have under budget will allow it to keep Feinberg as interim President of ‘Building Infrastructure Great’ received federal funding in their USD18.5m for the construction Transit, following the resignation of Andy Byford in grants initiative to support earlier stages. In some cases of the Northline Transit Center. January. Ms Feinberg took over the position on 9 March. South Wales depot works Vitoria-Gasteiz tramway opens Construction has started on Taff’s 1.4km university extension Well depot, which will house the The 1.4km (0.9-mile) tramway extension from Angulema 36 Stadler Citylink LRVs to be to the university in the Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz delivered for opened at noon on 15 February. The EUR14.3m cost (UK) services from 2022. The of the three-stop extension (Florida, Hegoalde and GBP100m (EUR114m) facility, Unibertsitatea) has been financed through an agreement roughly 10km (six miles) north of between the Basque Government (65%), the Provincial Cardiff, will include the system’s Council of Alava and the City of Vitoria-Gasteiz (35%). operations and control centre. CAF has delivered seven 44m seven-section Initially, the new vehicles will bi-directional Urbos trams (601-7), each with a capacity replace heavy rail services on the of 400 passengers – a 33% increase over the original Cardiff to Treherbert, Merthyr and five-section cars. Aberdare lines, with plans being Work on a 2.5km (1.6-mile) five-stop branch from formulated for on-street operation NEWS IN PICTURES EuskoTren Florida tramstop to Salburua is to begin shortly. in Cardiff.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org APRIL 2020 / 125 News Cities in action to combat coronavirus Operators take strict precautions to limit further infection as COVID-19 spreads to over 100 countries

ransport operators began to restrict the virus’ spread. implementing a range Operator DPP confirmed plans of measures to minimise to disinfect all public transport the spread of the novel vehicles with ozone daily. coronavirusT COVID-19 as reported In New York, the Metropolitan cases spread to cities around Transportation Authority – which the world during February and oversees the subway, buses March. Although infections in and two commuter railroads China, where the outbreak began – introduced a ‘deep clean’ in December 2019, slowed, cases programme of frequently-touched of infection had been reported in surfaces such as turnstiles, over 100 countries by March. handrails and ticket machines Reported in our last issue, many each day, with similar treatments of the lines of the to all its vehicles every 72 hours. remain closed – the first cases Tramway, light rail, metro and were reported in this megacity of bus operators around the world over 11 million in Hubei province have also boosted the number – with the system’s website offline of cleaning interventions on as TAUT went to press this time. workers disinfect a subway train on 26 February. The Iranian vehicles and at stops and stations capital has been particularly badly affected by the novel coronavirus, with metro Following travel restrictions in ridership reportedly down by 70% during February. Fars News Agency / CC BY 4.0 as a precautionary measure. Chinese cities, ridership on rail and subway systems across the Following encouraging signs Iran’s capital, Tehran, one A side-effect of the strict travel country was reportedly down that the outbreak was under of the cities that has been hit restrictions in China is a massive by over 75% during February, control, workers returned to particularly hard, has taken to reduction in nitrogen dioxide although some of this has been construction sites on the western disinfecting buses and subway (NO2) in the nation’s megacities, ascribed to the celebrations section of Beijing Metro line 11, cars at least four times a day. according to data from NASA and related to the Lunar New Year. on 28 February. Work on the The city’s subway reported a 70% the European Space Agency from Beijing, like other cities, was 4.2km (2.6-mile) four-station line decline in passengers in February. late February. using heat scanners at subway began in 2019 and is scheduled In Milan, one of Europe’s NO2 is a specific component of gates to ensure that intending to be complete by the end of hotspots for reported cases, trams smog, and gives the air over a city passengers were healthy as 2021. The new route will serve the continued to operate, although a yellow hue. NASA air quality they entered the system. Other headquarters of the Beijing Winter many reportedly ran empty as specialists pointed out that the megacities such as Shanghai, Olympics organising committee residents were advised not to decline was first observed near Shenzen, Ninjang, Guangzhou, and stadiums in the west of the travel unless necessary and to Wuhan, but that the effect rapidly and Qingdao introduced identity city. Line 11 is just one of 16 major self-isolate on the first signs of spread throughout the country checks on public transport, asking rail projects under construction symptoms. In Padova, hundreds as restrictions were imposed. passengers to scan QR codes as Beijing invests CNY66.2bn of hand sanitiser dispensers The US agency pointed out when boarding trains and upon (EUR8.4bn) expanding its have been installed on the city’s that this is the first phenomenon transfers. After confirming the transport infrastructure. buses and trams in an initiative of this type – sudden, related to passenger’s mobile phone number In , the Metro to counter the virus while still a specific event and nationwide (these are tied to individual IDs is undertaking random checks of encouraging public transport use. – although it added that there in China), authorities can contact passengers’ temperatures to check From the start of March, drivers has been a downward trend anyone they suspect may have for the coronavirus, while other and staff on Prague’s metro and in emissions due to tighter come into close contact with an cities are using ultraviolet light to tramway opened doors at all environmental regulations being individual thought to be infected. ‘cleanse’ buses and taxis. stops under a temporary policy enforced in China in recent years.

Australia funds next-generation LRV battery research

The development of fast-charge Scientific & Industrial Research currently at our fingertips will lithium-ion battery technologies Organisation (CSIRO), the lead to myriad other fast-charge to power catenary-free trams is University of Queensland, applications, many of them not the subject of a AUD5m Soluna and Lithium ’s yet thought of.” (EUR2.9m) grant from the VSPC subsidiary. CSIRO has many years’ Australian Government, VSPC will receive AUD1.6m experience and intellectual announced on 11 February. (EUR940 000) to help fund property related to fast-charge Minister for Industry, Science its work on innovative nano- batteries for light rail, electric & Technology Karen Andrews engineered batteries. Executive bus and ferry applications, and said: “Value-adding to the Director Mike Vaisey commented: its researchers will work with Newcastle’s new LRT system uses critical minerals which we have “Light rail is experiencing a project partners at its site in CAF Urbos trams equipped for catenary- in abundance in this country resurgence worldwide as cities Victoria to design, manufacture free operation. T. J. Keegan / CC BY-SA 2.0 has obvious economic benefits, modernise, and fast-charge and test the battery prototypes. but is also essential as we look to batteries are critical to avoiding UQ’s Faculty of Engineering, In 2019, the Government scale-up the battery technologies the poles and wires of the past.” Architecture & IT is to provide committed AUD25m (EUR14.7m) which can help us transition to Lithium Australia Managing materials analysis, with Soluna under its Future Battery Industries new fuel sources.” Director Adrian Griffin added: advising on manufacturing and Co-operative Research Centre to The co-operative project brings “There’s more to it than trams... commercialisation on any new support battery deployment and together the Commonwealth Successful application of what is products developed. recycling initiatives.

126 / APRIL 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Atlanta approves transformational USD173bn transport investment plan Ambitious 30-year scheme agreed at regional level, although funding sources still to be identified

ednesday of repair’ works to maintain 26 February saw and upgrade the region’s the approval existing highway, rail and bus by the Atlanta systems. Around USD11bn is WRegional Commission (ARC) of committed to public transport a programme of investment that enhancements, including would allocate USD172.6bn in eastward and westward Federal, State, and city funding expansion of the city’s streetcar, to improve mobility and safety up to six new LRT corridors, as between now and 2050. well as BRT and high-quality Part of the Atlanta Region’s Plan, bus services, dubbed Arterial the long-term blueprint details . Further notable over 450 projects to develop projects include significant ‘world-class infrastructure, investment in cycleways and fostering healthy, livable programmes to encourage communities, and developing a car-sharing and home-working competitive economy’. initiatives as well as major If every project is completed highway projects. – an unlikely scenario, given The plan assumes a state the huge financial and delivery contribution of almost commitments required — the USD50bn through automobile ARC still estimates that the taxes, lodging fees and other average commute in metro revenue sources over the next Atlanta will rise from 31 minutes 30 years. It also requires currently to 33 minutes in USD45.5bn of federal 2050. The 20-county region is government finance, with forecast to add 2.9m people to various levels of local its population by 2050, bringing government picking up the rest. the total to 8.6m. The majority of the updated For more on the light rail elements The Atlanta Streetcar would see expansion of its current 4.3km (2.7-mile) starter plan covers USD102bn for ‘state of the plan, see TAUT 980. system under the new plans, with work beginning in 2025. V. Simons EBRD funds Sarajevo network modernisation Two loan agreements between and service enhancements in the operator GRAS to purchase up to Sarajevo is the third city in the European Bank for capital, Sarajevo. 25 new electric . Bosnia and Herzegovina to Reconstruction & Development EUR20m will go towards The two loans are part of the become a member of the EBRD (EBRD) and the Ministry of rehabilitating the city’s 19.5km EBRD’s Green Cities programme Green Cities initiative, after Finance and Treasury of Bosnia (12.1-mile) six-line tramway, and are designed to reduce Banja Luka and Zenica. and Herzegovina were signed on including reconstruction operating costs and emissions Sarajevo has one of Europe’s 5 February to finance tramway and new vehicles; a second from the city’s public transport oldest tramways, with horse- and modernisation EUR15m loan will allow city by up to 30%. drawn service beginning in 1885.

NEWS IN PICTURES

Odense receives first Variobahn The firstVariobahn low-floor tram from Stadler Pankow was delivered to the new Munkebjergvej depot in Odense (Denmark) on 20 February. A DKR336m (EUR45m) order for 16 five-section 29.2m trams (passenger capacity 193, 60 seated) was placed with Stadler in May 2017. Bodyshells and running gear will be delivered complete, while interior fitting-out will be undertaken by Odense Letbane. The city’s 14.5km (nine-mile), 26-stop line is expected to open in autumn 2021, linking Tarup and Hjallese via the city centre and railway station. Operations and maintenance are handled by under a 15-year DKR1.2bn (EUR160m) contract awarded in 2018; Keolis already operates the city’s buses as well as the new LRT

Odense Letbane Odense system in Aarhus.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org APRIL 2020 / 127 News Cambridge consultation launched Plans for autonomous rubber-tyred metro in UK university city go before the public

ublic consultation into the planned autonomous metro network for the UKP city of Cambridge and its surrounding region was launched in late February. The Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro (CAM) proposal consists of a tunnelled city section – including interchange hubs in the city centre, at the railway station and under the historic city itself – and four regional routes connecting the new subway with St Neots, Alconbury, Mildenhall and Haverhill. Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, James Palmer, The draft network map is illustrative said: “The CAM network will of the future CAM routes; stations may be added as detailed planning fill a historic transport gap – for the automated metro evolves. connecting rural communities with the centre of Cambridge, with employment hubs on the Although no figures are investment of around GBP4bn committed to developing an city fringe, with the region’s included, previous statements (EUR4.6bn), funded through Outline Business Case. growth hotspots, and with the by the Combined Authority both public and private sources The full consultation city’s railway stations linking to have indicated a full network of (see also TAUT 977). GBP100 000 documents can be found at London and beyond.” over 140km (87 miles) and an (EUR114 000) has already been www.cam.consultationonline.co.uk London Santa Teresa Tramway developments chooses LRT In 2020, the tramway serving re-opened in late 2015. However, the Santa Teresa area of Rio de following test runs and a route for Sutton Janeiro () is operating ceremonial inaugural journey on (TfL) has Monday to Friday 08.00-17.40, 27 January 2016, regular service selected a route from Colliers Saturdays 10.00-17.40, and was delayed for some time. Wood as its preferred option to Sundays 11.00-16.40. Service on When it did begin, later in connect the UK capital’s tram the historic line was re-extended 2016, it was very limited and network in the southern part to the longtime terminus of Dois intermittent. The main reason for of the city to Sutton, and has Irmãos, and a length of 6km (four this is that the branch is single- confirmed the choice of light rail miles), in January 2019 – triple track street-running (along one over . the length served before 2018. side, not the centre) and it only It follows a public consultation Largo do Guimarães was the connects with the outbound/ exercse on three possible routes outer terminus for more than southbound track of the main that took place in 2018-19. two years, from December 2015, line in Rua Joaquim Murtinho, Sutton – South Wimbledon with the route length being not the inbound track; there actually received the most public 2km (1.2 miles). But as work is no crossover in the vicinity. support, but TfL believes that progressed slowly on restoration Consequently, outbound trams the option offers of additional sections, a short must run against the traffic the greatest transport benefits, as extension to Praça Odylo along Rua Muratori itself, while well as being the most effective Costa Neto opened in February inbound trams (those returning for supporting regeneration and 2018, served by five journeys T’Trans replica 17 on its way to Dois from Muratori to Carioca station) Irmâos a few days after the restoration new homes, and being easier to per day, followed by a further of service. M. Peel / CC-BY-SA 4.0 must also run against the traffic construct. The third route option extension to Largo do França on along a 155m section of Rua (which could only have been 22 October 2018. during which all rides were free, Murtinho between the new/ tram rather than the option of Of the 14 replica crossbench ended in December 2016. Since restored junction and the south BRT) ran from Wimbledon via trams ordered in 2013 from then, the round-trip fare has end of the Carioca viaduct. South. T’Trans, only eight have been been BRL20 (around EUR3.80), In late 2018 and early 2019, Funding is not yet in place delivered to date (16-23), and the but certain residents – mainly the Rua Muratori branch was to deliver the last entered service by August students and those over 65 – being served by just two journeys scheme, which is expected 2019. However, the scheduled are permitted to ride for free. per day, departing Carioca at to cost more than GBP400m service is currently using Another development not 08.00 and 15.00, on weekdays. (EUR462m). TfL is working with only four cars. The advertised previously reported is that It is unclear whether this service the London Boroughs of Merton is 25 minutes in the near the south end of the line’s is continuing in 2020. and Sutton to explore options, morning and 20 minutes in famous viaduct, a 400m single- including central government the afternoon. The period of track branch along Rua Francisco Thanks are due to Steve Morgan contributions. ‘testing’ with trams in service, Muratóri that closed in 1966 for this update.

128 / APRIL 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org A new ULR link to Brierley Hill? New plans revealed for a reintroduction of service for the UK line that closed to passengers in 1962

eopening of the UK’s PMOL Chairman Geoff Lusher Stourbridge – Brierley Hill said: “The success of our Ultra railway line to passengers Light Rail operation at Stourbridge using lightweight proves that we can run a highly hasR been proposed by Stourbridge reliable, environmentally- Shuttle operators Pre Metro friendly, cost-effective service. Operations (PMOL). “The Stourbridge Shuttle has A service would be provided reduced emissions, doubled from Stourbridge Junction to patronage and halved operating Canal Street in Brierley Hill, costs over the ten years that which would connect with the we’ve operated it, and our current forthcoming West Midlands reliability figures are 99.8%. We Metro extension from believe this model of operation Wednesbury to Brierley Hill via can be a success in other parts of Dudley. Proposed stops include the country, as traffic congestion Vicarage Road, Brettell Lane, and air pollution concerns Station Road (for Brierley Hill), continue to rise up the agenda. The Waterfront and Canal Street. “We are particularly interested Resumption of passenger in the work of our friends at operation on the line is also BCRRE on the HydroFLEX included in West Midlands Mayor hydrogen-powered train project Andy Street’s network expansion and the environmental benefits proposals (see TAUT 987). this would bring. Currently used only occasionally “The proposal to reopen the for freight traffic, the line last Stourbridge to Brierley Hill rail carried passengers in July 1962. route to passengers will offer The new plan follows a recent new travel opportunities, linking survey of the line undertaken into high-quality Metro and rail by PMOL, Rail Operations services. It will make commuting Group, Network Rail and the into Birmingham much easier Birmingham Centre for Railway and bring simple connections to Research and Education (BCRRE). the forthcoming HS2 line.”

Pre Metro Operations is a small, customer-focused train operating company, providing a proven public passenger transport service on the Network Rail line between Stourbridge Town and Junction stations. A light rail service on heavy rail infrastructure, it is effective, economic and environmentally-friendly.

The Stourbridge operation embraces: • Operations on 7 days a week with a 10-minute frequency • 6 million passenger journeys made; up 60% in 10 years • A small dedicated local workforce employed directly by the company • 530,000 miles operated with our own in-house maintenance capability • Operating costs cut to 50% of conventional rail operations • Scheduled trips operated routinely at a level of 99.8% • Numerous awards and accolades from industry and rail and tram trade associations

Our business model is transferable and can be replicated elsewhere in railway or tram mode. It is suitable for the reintroduction of rail-based passenger services on abandoned rail lines, heritage railways or where only freight services currently operate. As a service development we wish to operate from Stourbridge to Brierley Hill to demonstrate how railway lines currently dedicated to freight traffi c can be brought back into passenger use.

Please join our campaign for the new service and fi ll in the questionnaire available at: http://oakhamwarp.dinksurveys.com/ Transport-Survey

Pre Metro Operations Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 1384441325 Email: @aol.com Web: www.premetro.co.uk

Pre Metro Ops.indd 1 09/03/2020 11:24 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org APRIL 2020 / 129 Comment Making tramway delivery quicker and more cost-efficient Colin Robey describes the current and future work of the UKTram Centre of Excellence – the ‘one-stop-shop’ for future tramway scheme promoters.

ince its formation in response to the 2012 UK Government The Centre has also worked closely with the Rail Safety Standards consultation Green Light for Light Rail, UKTram’s Centre Board (RSSB) and the (DfT) to find a of Excellence has delivered expert advice to potential suitable trial site for an Ultra-Light Rail (ULR) scheme, while also scheme sponsors on the best way to develop their business collaborating with Network Rail and RSSB in producing sponsor case. Initially responsible for receiving and approving the guidance for the development of tram-train schemes. As part of this businessS case for new projects prior to bidding for Department of it continues to work with Network Rail in delivering the learning Transport funding, since then the body has evolved in line with the outcomes from the South Yorkshire Tram-Train project; the DfT also sector it supports to reflect changes in the way that tramway schemes requested a peer review of the South Yorkshire scheme, making a in the UK are planned and financed. number of recommendations regarding any future projects. A greater focus is now placed on local government through the introduction of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), however with Expanding the expertise base the current flurry of promised central Government funding both In 2018, preparation for the introduction of the Light Rail Safety for regional development and meeting environmental targets, the Standards Board (LRSSB) saw the ownership and maintenance of position is again somewhat muddied. As a result, the industry needs all guidance and standards transferred to the new body. As part of a to be in a strong position to take advantage of any funding that wider review, changes were introduced to the role of the Centre of does become available, working to ensure that schemes with strong Excellence – a move that sees it become more proactive in light of business cases move forward, while at the same time attempting to the changes to the planning and funding of tramway schemes. remove some of the negative costs charged to tramway schemes. To help achieve this, the Centre’s membership has been greatly From the outset, UKTram was identified as the lead organisation expanded to cover all aspects of tramway planning, building and in dealing with the Department for Transport (DfT) in matters operations. This includes further expertise on highway issues, relating to light rail, such as the ownership guidance and standards, transport and maintenance of all guidance and planning, safety verification and Transport standards documentation – including “The Centre of Excellence is and Works Act production. those previously produced by the Office Alongside this, we are currently working of Road and Rail (ORR). Memorandum of supporting the initial work of with Network Rail to form the basis of a Understanding documents were agreed Cross-Industry Light Rail Working Group. between the two organisations, but it a group looking at a light rail This is a major step forward and will give soon became clear that to achieve all the the industry a sharper focus, particularly in requirements set out in the Green Light scheme for Hereford, as well light of the potential tram-train schemes for Light Rail paper that UKTram had to as groups in Cambridge and under consideration. undergo a complete transformation. There are a number of issues that Bath with their project the Centre will be working on in the Background and reconstitution immediate term, with the following main Set up in 2005 as a vehicle to help drive the development.” themes under the consideration of three expansion of light rail in the UK, and to individual working groups: help obtain funding for the three major potential schemes • A common approval process for new vehicle acceptance bidding for government funding at that time (Leeds, • A concise but complete route map for potential scheme sponsors South Hampshire and extensions to the London tram network), • Development of a ‘bow tie’ style database to store lessons learned the membership of UKTram at that time comprised: and produce recommended ways forward as an output. • The Passenger Transport Executive Group (PTEG) – At the same time, the group will continue to support new representing the scheme sponsor groups schemes, prioritising each based on its business case. With the • The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) – group’s new cross-industry representation we can better consider whose ‘Fixed Track’ group represented the system operators the merits of potential suitable modes, be they tram, tram-train, • The Light Rapid Transit Forum (LRTF) – representing a broad Very/Ultra Light Rail or any other guided transport system. church of the industry, including consultants, tram builders, The Centre has recently committed to supporting the initial work legal experts and numerous support/action groups of a group looking at a light rail scheme for Hereford, as well as • Transport for London (TfL) – initially managing and administering supporting Cambridge and Bath with their project development. the work of UKTram through then-Chairman Phil Hewitt. If election pledges are delivered, the UK tramway industry can A year on from the Green Paper’s publication, UKTram evolved look forward to a busy time. The work of the Centre of Excellence from its original form into an individual member organisation will prove invaluable in making the delivery of tramway systems to better meet its new responsibilities. It subsequently set up its smoother, easing traffic management and contributing to pollution own, initially small, management team in Birmingham under new reduction – not just in the major conurbations that have traditionally Chairman, Geoff Inskip. A number of member working groups were been seen as potential tramway centres but, as in continental Europe, formed to get the required processes up and running, and to report any urban situation that can sustain them. back through the newly-formed executive to the Board of Directors. Colin Robey is Chair of the UKTram Centre of Excellence, drawing on The Centre of Excellence was one of these new groups. expertise from across the sector to centralise knowledge and best practice in Since then members of the Centre of Excellence have met with planning, financing, building and operating tramway and light rail systems. a number of potential scheme sponsors in Cardiff and the Valleys, Colin has over 50 years' experience in the rail and tramway sectors, spending Cambridge, Isle of Wight and Bath Spa along with other schemes over 20 years working on the development of Midland Metro. He was the in Devon, Somerset and Surrey. recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2013 Light Rail Awards.

130 / april 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Rolling stock market

tram orders 2020 Mike Taplin presents his annual review and analysis of the global tramway and light rail market.

above: The launch of the mock-up of the Škoda ForCity Smart for Germany’s RNV (Mannheim/ /Ludwigshafen). Delivered in three lengths, the six-section version will be Europe’s longest and heaviest tram to date. Škoda LEFT: will soon receive an updated version of Stadler’s successful platform, in this instance a three- design with short suspended sections between them. HEAGmobilo

nalysis of the order books of 2085 plus 752 options compares with 1840 options for , and 14 with options tram and LRV manufacturers plus 398 from 12 months ago, indicating the for Darmstadt) and 114 CAF Urbos for shows that as of February 2020 future is holding up well. Jerusalem. The latter marks the Spanish firm’s a total of 3956 cars are due for In good capitalist theory, a healthy market largest-ever LRV order. delivery in the next five years encourages new entrants, while the established Another trend is a move away from A– a very slight increase on the figure of 3951 builders have to up their game to retain their standardisation, as represented by the Alstom a year ago. However the number of cars on share. This is the case in the tramway and LRV Citadis, and Siemens option in these contracts has increased from sector, although it must be remembered that from the traditional ‘Big Three’. 1710 to 1915, a 10.7% increase. The market many of the names are also large players in These system-build trams still make up a good can therefore be said to be pretty steady. the railway manufacturing sector. percentage of the lists, but as the ‘customer is Firm orders reflect secured finance, while The significant orders placed in the last king’, the requirement for tweaks to produce options give the possibility of increasing the 12 months favour new entrants (for instance a city-dedicated design is increasing order under a framework contract without the two Turkish builders, Bozankaya and (something more fundamental than the having to undertake the time-consuming Durmazlar) or what one could class as ‘Tier 2’ different Citadis front ends). The / and expensive rigours of re-tendering. manufacturers increasing their share in the Main Citadis and Flexity are quite Our second table (page 134) lists cities that sector (CAF, Škoda and Stadler). Large orders different in their arrangement of and are planning to order new trams. In some from the past year include 100 Durmazlar- body sections from the so-called standard cases these are already at the stage of tender built trams for the Romanian capital, Bucureşti product. The Škoda Transtech design for evaluation, while in others they represent (Bucharest), 30 Bombardier Flexity vehicles for RNV (Mannheim-Ludwigshafen) is also very declared intentions that may still be a number Dresden, 26 Škoda ForCity Smart cars for Bonn, different from that being delivered in Finland. of years away from a firm order. The total of 27 Stadler Tramlink for (plus 11 with Stadler has also had to change its Tramlink

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org APRIL 2020 / 131 Rolling stock market

The Bombardier Flexity Freedom for the Canadian city of Edmonton’s CAF is to supply 114 new Urbos trams for Jerusalem’s future Green line, in addition to will introduce low-floor operation. Bombardier refurbishing the existing 46 in use on the Red line. CAF design to secure the order from Darmstadt, 778 + 411) and much of this is represented stock equipped for rack lines (taking over the creating what the Swiss manufacturer terms a by something of an order backlog. While the business of SLM Winterthur). It has expanded ‘next-generation’ design. company’s European factories are busy with significantly by acquiring another Swiss It will be interesting to see if mergers and big orders from , Göteborg, Vienna factory, at Altenrhein, from Schindler; then acquisitions affect this trend further. We will and Zürich, it has over-capacity in Canada, Berlin-Pankow from ADtranz, and Vossloh in all be watching the news that Alstom has made where delivery of low-floor trams to the Albuixech near Valencia in . The Swiss an offer to buy Bombardier’s Transportation Toronto Transit Commission has finally company has also recently opened a new division closely to see how this may affect been completed. Nothing else seems to be facility in St. Margrethen, less than 10km the model ranges of both firms and their coming down the line in the immediate (six miles) away from its site in Altenrhein. respective manufacturing sites. future. This is not good news for the In private ownership since 1962, the group Thunder Bay factory, where redundancies was floated on the Zürich stock exchange The movers and shakers have already been declared. in April 2019 as part of a move to double its One can see that Alstom is keen to acquire Siemens in Europe relies on its Avenio design railway sales to CHF4bn (EUR3.7bn) per year. Bombardier’s transit business, since its own and chalked up another order, from Nürnberg, It inherited Citylink tram-train production order book has fallen significantly from 629 in 2019 to keep its Wien (Vienna) factory busy. from Vossloh (36 on order for South Wales) + 194 last year to 470 + 99 as we went to press. Nürnberg tends to follow near-neighbour and also produces Tango high-floor or partly With all the new French systems completed München (), which converted high-floor trams andTramlink low-floor cars. (for the time being at least), orders from new Avenio options into firm orders in 2019, so It has won the order (42 + 4) to replace the cities and extensions in the home market are Siemens’ figures are up to 428 + 426 this year, entire Tyne & Wear Metro fleet in the UK, not quite so significant as in the past, while compared with 395 + 364 last. It appears and also broken into Germany with orders the joint venture with CITAL in Algeria is the company has gone cold on the idea of from Augsburg (11 + 16) and Darmstadt affected by strains in the local economy. building a new factory in Turkey, preferring (14 + 30). The 43m 100% low-floor 12-axle The firstCitadis Spirits in , to create a non-EU plant at Kragujevac in Darmstadt cars from Stadler-Pankow represent for Ottawa, have not covered themselves in that will take over tram bodyshell an updating of the Tramlink design, with glory and one could argue that assembling production, and eventually assembly. three long body sections each supported on them in the undertaking’s depot was not CAF has seen its figures increase for two bogies linked by two short suspended such a good idea. A repeat order came before another year, to 620 + 316 (last year 551 + sections. Deeper windows give a better the issues became evident and it is hoped 292), thanks to the Jerusalem order and view; high ceilings and CO2 refrigerant air- the deliveries for Toronto’s Metrolinx and another from London’s Docklands Light conditioning are new features. Stadler will also Mississauga will not be similarly afflicted. The Railway for its next-generation light metro be responsible for starting the replacement of Chinese licensing effort from the French firm design. An order from the Portuguese capital, the 1928 Peter Witt trams in Milano. seems only to have taken effect in Shanghai. Lisboa, for 15 Urbos cars heralds something of Meanwhile the company is diversifying by a renaissance for the trams in the waterfront The disruptors getting into electric buses, with its ‘tram- city. Also about to appear in prototype form Romanian tramways are acquiring new alike’ low-floorAptis design delivered to is the first of a likely 146 trams for the three trams at last, and local manufacturer Astra Strasbourg. Other French cities such as La De Lijn systems in (Antwerpen, Gent has benefited. The Arad-based firm has also Rochelle, and Toulon have followed suit. and the coastal tramway out of Oostende). formed a partnership with the Chinese giant Although still in the lead in terms of Stadler started life in a small Swiss factory CRRC, though this seems to be aimed more overall numbers, Bombardier’s figures are in Bussnang, building niche orders for most at giving it a better chance with orders from down on last year (717 + 365 compared with of the country’s light railways, including European operators rather than vice-versa. Its tram-building capacity is limited however, letting Turkish company Bozankaya through the door in a couple of cities. Bozankaya has been constructing buses and trolleybuses in Ankara for 30 years, but won its first tram order in the Turkish city of Kayseri in 2014. The company has a German supply chain for key rail components. The other Turkish builder, Durmazlar, was finally successful in winning the order from Bucureşti for 100 Panorama trams (following a long and drawn out tender process – see TAUT 987), similar to the examples it is currently delivering to Olsztyn in Poland. In one of the most interesting recent contract awards, CRRC has made its long- expected breakthrough into the European HeiterBlick’s new design for Würzburg is a 70% low-floor variant of its Vamos class vehicle. HeiterBlick market with an order for its Tanghsan factory from Porto, , for 18 LRVs.

132 / APRIL 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Trams/LRVs on order (+ options) as at March 2020 3956 + 1915

Manufacturer Orders + type Delivery Manufacturer Orders + type Delivery options options Alstom 470 + 99 HeiterBlick 102 + 9 20 Citadis 2022 Bielefeld 24 Vamos 2020-21 Dortmund 24 2020-21 Annaba 72 Citadis 2020-21 with CITAL Hannover 36 Typ 3000 2020 Athina 25 Citadis 2020-21 Würzburg 18 + 9 GT-F 2022-24 Avignon 4 Citadis Compact 2023 Batna 30 Citadis 2020-21 with CITAL Hitachi Rail Italia 30 + 40 Bordeaux 4 Citadis 2021 Torino (Turin) 30 + 40 2020-23 Dubai 14 Citadis 2020 Frankfurt/Main 45 + 8 Citadis 2020-22 123 + 90 Lyon 4 Citadis 2020 Warszawa (Warsaw) 123 + 90 Low-floor 2021-23 Mississauga 44 Citadis Spirit 2022-23 Nice 9 + 4 Citadis 2021 Kinkisharyo 50 + 97 Ottawa 38 Citadis Spirit 2021-22 Los Angeles 50 + 97 P3010 2019-20 Paris 46 Citadis 2021-22 SNCF 32 + 84 Citadis Dualis 2020-22 Modertrans 64 + 4 Strasbourg 17 Citadis 2021-22 Elbląg 4 Moderus Beta 2020 Toronto (Metrolinx) 61 Citadis Spirit 2020-21 Katowice 30 + 2 Moderus Beta 2020 Toulouse 5 + 3 Citadis 2022 Łódź 30 Moderus Gamma 2021-22 Astra 68 + 40 Szeczcin Option 2 Moderus Beta (self-assembly) Arad 28 + 20 Imperio 2021-22 Cluj-Napoca 22 Imperio 2020-21 Niigata Transys 17 Gala i 8 + 10 Imperio 2019-20 Utsonomia 17 Fukuram 2020 10 + 10 Imperio 2020-21 Pesa 69 + 25 Bombardier 717 + 365 Częstochowa 10 + 5 Twist 2020-21 Option 48 Flexity Gdańsk Option 15 Jazz Duo Berlin 21 Flexity Berlin 2020-21 Iași 16 Swing 2021 Brussels/Bruxelles 90 + 85 Flexity 2020-22 Katowice 30 + 5 Twist 2020-21 Dresden 30 Flexity Dresden 2021-22 Sofia 13 Swing 2019-20 47 + 5 Flexity 2020-23 Düsseldorf 59 Flexity Swift 2020-23 PK Transportnye Systemy 22 Edmonton 26 Flexity Freedom 2019-20 Daugavpils 8 Lionet 2019-20 Frankfurt/Main 22 Flexity Swift 2020-21 Kazan 5 CityStar 2020 Göteborg 40 + 60 Flexity 2019-21 with Kiepe Naberezhnye Chelny 5 2020 Option 4 Flexity Classic Nizhnekamsk 4 2020 Innsbruck 6 Flexity 2020 20 + 13 Flexity Swift 2020-21 Pragoimex 83 Köln (Cologne) 20 Flexity Swift 2020-21 Brno 41 EVO2 (self-assembly) 2020-21 Option 7 Flexity Outlook Samarkand 42 Vario LF 2020-21 27 Flexity Swift 2020-21 with Kiepe Ruhrbahn 26 + 6 Flexity 2020-21 Siemens 428 + 426 Toronto (Metrolinx) 76 Flexity Freedom 2019-21 77 Avenio 2020-22 Calgary 15 S200 2021 Waterloo–Kitchener Option 14 Flexity Freedom (ION) Houston 14 S70 2021-22 Wien (Vienna) 119 + 37 Flexity 2019-26 København (Copenhagen) 27 Avenio 2022-23 Wien–Baden 18 + 16 Flexity 2020-21 München (Munich) 73 + 51 Avenio 2021-25 Zürich 70 + 70 Flexity 2019-23 Nürnberg (Nuremburg) 12 + 75 Avenio 2021-22 Orange County 8 S70 2020 Bozankaya 32 + 24 Phoenix 11 + 67 S70 2019-20 Timișoara 16 + 24 2020-21 Iași Portland 26 + 60 S700 2021-22 16 2020-21 San Francisco 135 + 45 S200SF 2019-22 Brookville 19 + 27 Seattle 30 + 122 S70 2020-23 Milwaukee Option 19 Liberty Option 6 Avenio Phoenix 6 Liberty 2020 Portland 3 + 2 Liberty 2021 Škoda 225 + 93 Tacoma 5 + 5 Liberty 2020 Bonn 26 + 12 ForCity Smart 2022-23 Tempe 5 + 1 Liberty 2020-21 7 35T ForCity Classic 2020 Helsinki 30 + 20 Artic ForCity Smart 2020-21 CAF 620 + 316 Mannheim (RNV) 80 + 34 Artic ForCity Smart 2020-23 63 + 60 Urbos 100 2019-22 Ostrava 40 ForCity Smart 2020-22 Böblingen 9 Urbos TT (tram-train) 2022 Plzeň 22 ForCity Smart 2020-21 (Schönbuchbahn) Schöneiche 1 Artic ForCity Smart 2020 Option 51 Urbos 100 Tampere 19 + 27 Artic ForCity Smart 2020-21 Cagliari Option 6 Urbos 200 Cosenza 4 + 7 Urbos 100 2020-21 Stadler 413 + 180 De Lijn 48 + 98 Urbos 100 2020-23 Aargau (Limmattalbahn) 8 + 8 Tramlink 2021 Freiburg/Brsg 5 Urbos 100 2020 Alacant 6 Citylink (electro-diesel) 2020 Jerusalem 114 Urbos 100 2021-25 Augsburg 11 + 16 Tramlink 2022-23 Liège 20 Urbos 100 2021-22 Barranquilla 22 Metelitsa 2020-21 Lisboa 15 Urbos 100 2021-22 Bern 27 + 23 Tramlink 2023-25 London Docklands 43 + 34 Automated LRV 2023-25 Bergen 6 Variotram 2021-22 Lund 7 Urbos 100 2020 6 Tango 2021 Luxembourg Bochum 12 Urbos 100 2020-23 Option 8 Variobahn 120 Tram-train 2020-22 with Mitsubishi Darmstadt 14 + 30 Tramlink II 2022-24 Maryland (Purple line) 26 Urbos 300 2020-21 14 + 10 Tramlink 2020-21 Oslo 87 + 60 Urbos 100 2020-21 Genève 9 Tango 2021 Paramatta (NSW) 13 Urbos 100 2022-23 Kraków 110 Lajkoinik 2020-21 12 Urbos 100 2020 20 + 24 Tramino XL 2020-23 Utrecht 22 Urbos 100 2019-21 Lugano (FLP) 9 + 3 Tramlink 2020-21 Crotram 6 + 8 Milano 30 + 50 Tramlink 2021-23 Liepāja 6 + 8 TMK 2300 2020 Odense 16 Variobahn 2020-21 South Wales 36 Citylink 2021-22 CRRC 172 + 30 3 Rack trams 2021 Nur-sultan (Astana) 19 LRV 2020-21 Szeged 8 + 4 Citylink 2020 Foshan 5 27T (fuel cell variant) 2020 Tyne & Wear 42 + 4 High-floor LRV 2022-24 Istanbul 40 High-floor LRV 2020-21 Valencia 6 Citylink 2020 Porto 18 Low-floor 2021 Waldenburg 10 Tramlink 2021-22 Tel Aviv 90 + 30 LRV 2019-21 CRSC 17 Tatra-Jug +30 Tianshui 17 Pioneer 2020 Iskandariyah (Alexandria) Option 30 Durmazlar 154 + 12 Ust-Katav 55 București (Bucharest) 100 Panorama 2021-23 Krasnodar 31 71-623 2019-20 Istanbul 30 2019-20 (APS equipped) Magnitogorsk 15 71-631 2019-20 Olsztyn 12 + 12 Panorama 2020 Novokuznetsk 9 71-623/Phoenix 2020 Reși a 12 Panorama 2020-21 *Figures correct as of 6 March 2020

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org APRIL 2020 / 133 Rolling stock market

Ironically they will probably be built under a licensing agreement between Siemens and CRRC signed a few years ago when European companies were hoping this method would give them access to the burgeoning Chinese market. One licensed product is the tram for Foshan, based on the Škoda 27T platform but using a hydrogen fuel cell to provide motive power. CRRC builds most trams for the new Chinese systems, but advance notice of orders is not generally available. In the US, Brookville has seen no change in its order book, but is presumably hoping to benefit by Seattle’s decision to cancel an order for CAF trams for the planned waterfront link between its two existing tramlines. Further south, the Siemens plant in Sacramento is building new LRVs for Seattle’s Sound Transit system and will benefit from another South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem. CRRC has won its first European order – EUR49.6m order from its long-term customer TriMet A total of 123 trams in various configurations to supply 18 new trams to Porto. Metro do Porto of Portland, while also continuing to work will be delivered by the end of 2022, with through the substantial order from San options for a further 90 by the end of 2023 Orders pending 2085 + 752 Francisco’s Municipal Railway. that will make 80% of the fleet in the Polish Almaty 36 Antalya 47 The small German builder HeiterBlick, a capital 100% low-floor. Asunción 12 company that has its origins in the privatised Elsewhere in central Europe, the Pragoimex 100 Leipzig central tramway workshops, is partnership is delivering kits to the Czech city Bergamo 11 breaking new ground. Its current production of Brno for assembly in its own workshops, Bolzano 20 is high-floorStadtbahn cars for Bielefeld, while Samarkand in Uzbekistan seems Bogotá 23 Dortmund and Hannover, but it has won an pleased enough with the Vario units it Bonn 22 order for 18 (plus nine options) five-section inherited from Tashkent to order some new 10 36m low-floor trams for the German city of ones. Other Czech systems have placed their Brescia 10 Brno 40 Würzburg. A city of steep gradients (up to orders with domestic producer Škoda, now Bucureşti 40 + 100 9.1%) and tight curves (17.5m radius), the offering the Transtech-designed articulated Calgary 30 Bavarian city requires a special design and low-floorArtic worldwide. This provided the Canberra 4 is willing to pay EUR4.45m/car. All axles base for further orders elsewhere, particularly Casablanca 100 powered means 8 x 95kW motors and a RNV (Mannheim/Heidelberg/Ludwigshafen), Cottbus 20 weight of 49.4t. Its stop platforms are 200mm which will have three different lengths Craiova 17 above rail level, so the door height on the new of tram, including six-section 58.7m 103t Diyarbakır 33 cars will be 250mm, requiring sloping floors examples that will take the crown as Europe’s Duisburg 18 + 2 Düsseldorf 91 + 42 within the tram to clear the bogies. longest and heaviest tram (an award the cities Frankfurt/Oder 13 + 2 Italy’s only tram builder, Hitachi Rail Italia are familiar with dating back to the 12-axle Geneve 46 (HRI), has seen orders for the Sirio low-floor trams for the Rhein–Haardt-Bahn Gera 6 design it inherited from AnsaldoBreda dry up in 1967). Škoda also won a significant order Görlitz 8 with the last deliveries to Firenze (Florence). from Bonn in 2019, for 26 (+12 optional) 20 The Chinese licensing agreement, which eight-axle 30.6m three-section double-ended Granada 2 saw this model equip Beijing’s first modern trams that will replace all of the city’s 24 Graz 15 Grenoble 20 tramway, does not look likely to produce trams delivered by in 1994; it is also Grudziądz 4 any more orders. Beijing’s second tramway setting up a spares warehouse in North Rhine- Hannover 75 + 200 will feature a Chinese low-floor design. Westphalia to support the EUR100m order. – 18 However, Torino (Turin) has ordered a new Not everywhere is buying new, however. Jena 9 + 10 design of five-section tram – that may still A significant refurbishment programme Karlsruhe + others 244 + 152 be called Sirio – for delivery from 2020 (30 for high-floor cars in Bonn has just been Köln (Cologne) 64 + 36 firm deliveries plus 40 options). Some further extended, while cities such as Schwerin are Krasnodar 56 small orders from Italian cities are possible. giving mid-life overhauls to low-floor trams. Kyiv 47 Lahore 50 Polish tramways continue to expand and Second-hand sales have sunk to a low level as Lausanne 12 modernise, replacing many of the second-hand central European systems dip into EU funds Linz 20+50 cars acquired from German systems when to acquire new cars. However Moskva, the Lviv 10 times were tighter. Competition is intense, only Russian system to buy 300 new trams, 31 and the established builder, Pesa of Bydgoszcz, is sending its withdrawn high-floor KTM-19 Manila 72 went through a shaky period financially that vehicles to a variety of smaller systems in Moskva 50 has meant its lead in the domestic market more remote areas of the country. Most 3 is now under challenge from rivals who Orders to look out for over the next 12 Nancy 26 Nantes 46 + 15 are growing in strength and confidence. months include the common tram-train Philadelphia 120 Its main rival is Modertrans, based on the series for Germany and Austria (perhaps over Ploiești 20 former Poznan central works, but production 450 cars) and the replacement of original 14 + 5 capacity of its Moderus models is limited. Stadtbahn cars in the Rhein-Ruhr area, Plzeň 34 Niche orders, such as for non-articulated Hannover and Stuttgart. The withdrawal Riga 12 low-floor trams, provide the business. of the first-generation low-floor trams is Ruhrbahn 46 + 5 This means the large order from Kraków for now on the agenda in cities such as Genève, Sassi 3 + 6 110 trams has gone to Stadler Polska of Siedlce, Grenoble, Nantes and Paris, while Berlin Stuttgart 23 + 97 Surabaya 25 the factory originally built to construct FLIRT seeks to replace its last high-floor Tatras. Tallinn 8 + 20 railway multiple units. Stadler acquired the With this sort of activity on existing Toronto 60 tram-building activity of Solaris, hived off systems, and the number of brand new Toruń 5 after the bus builder passed to CAF. tramways increasing every year, there Tunis–La Marsa 18 The other big order everyone was chasing will be no shortage of contracts to be won Uppsala 20 + 10 was from Warsaw; this eventually went to in 2020-21. Wiesbaden 26

134 / APRIL 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Reduce Costs

The design and implementation of urban and light rail networks in busy towns and cities presents signi cant engineering challenges. At the same time, the pressure to minimise disruption and cost has never been greater.

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

Rosehill Rail TAUT Full Page APR2020.indd 1 04/03/2020 10:15 Safety TRAMWAY CROSSINGS

TAUT talks to industry experts to explore the key design Blackpool’s tramway uses Rosehill Rail's Baseplated system for both the crossing and under-run protection; considerations for one of the most important tramway interfaces. the solid rubber panels can be cut to fit around fishplates, check rails and turnouts. Rosehill Rail rossing an active tramway or light system’s asset register. For such surveys it is rail system offers many potential “It is important to evaluate essential to regularly assess traffic flows and hazards, and each must be types of user, taking into account any C carefully considered by the designer, ground conditions. If the specifics that may relate to each location constructor, operator and maintainer. that may have changed. For example, While collisions between road vehicles and crossing is to sit on crossings near a sports stadium may feature trams and LRVs are of course undesirable, low traffic levels during the week, but become they are unlikely to result in serious injury ballasted track, is the very busy at weekends. for either party as there are certain levels of Detailed logs of both actual incidents and protection that exist in the coming together ballast stable and does it near-misses will also reveal potential hazard of metal-on-metal. It is a different matter for have adequate drainage?” hot spots and room for improvements – these those who – for the purposes of this article – should be actioned promptly. At locations we will define as non-motorised users (NMUs): with a high number of incidents, it may be • Pedestrians Jordan Smith from STRAIL UK echoes these advisable to install video cameras linked to • Those with impaired mobility (including sentiments – clarity from an early stage is crucial: the tramway’s control centre to identify both wheelchair users or parents with prams “If someone says ‘we’ve got a footpath’, the likely causes and any unusual user behaviours. and pushchairs) first thing we ask is ‘is it actually a footpath, or • Cyclists, skateboarders or those on roller does any other form of traffic use the crossing?’ On-street or off-street? skates/rollerblades If there is a chance that a horse could go over In street environments with high pedestrian • Equestrians it, for example, then we would recommend a densities, clearly-defined paths over the tram • Users of motorised wheelchairs or heavier-duty infill panel for safety. track are necessary, with dropped kerbs and powered scooters “It is also important to evaluate the ground guard rails provided where appropriate. conditions. If the crossing is to sit on ballasted With the prevalence of hand-held devices First principles track, is the ballast stable and does is it have that encourage NMUs to look down for much Where it is determined that a crossing is adequate drainage? If the crossing lies in a dip of the time, it is worth considering additional necessary, a number of variables deserve or valley, decent drainage must be supplied so measures such as coloured floor surfaces, careful consideration. As Dan Snell of water doesn’t get to the crossing or wash away while tactile finishes also delineate the edge of crossing manufacturer Rosehill Rail explains: the trackbed. The edges of our panels are slightly the hazard zone to alert visually-impaired or “The first questions we ask are about the rounded, and naturally there is a very slight distracted users. It is recommended that such location, expected traffic types and at what camber. They also feature pyramid-shaped crossings should be co-ordinated with those of speeds, the frequency of use, and the speed of ‘lozenges’ so water doesn’t dwell on the surface any shared or adjacent carriageways to ensure the rolling stock going over it. We try and get and you get maximum grip in all conditions.” the smooth flow of surrounding traffic. in at the early design stage if possible as Even after installation, frequent assessments Where the route is fully-segregated, this always gives a better chance of specifying should be made of all crossings and detailed the preferred arrangement is to separate the most suitable solution.” records kept which are then entered into a the crossing points for adjacent roads

136 / APRIL 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org An example of anti-trespass panels on the Nottingham Express Transit system, Installing rubber infill crossing panels on Bucharest’s tramway; a typical crossing a clear deterrent to those looking to stray onto the tracks. Rosehill Rail – with good ground preparation – can be installed in under an hour. Rosehill Rail and the tramway. Here, as well as in more Typical approach speeds of NMUs: with a leading thermoplastic paint specialist, rural surroundings, deterrents should be which is approved by Network Rail. The paint provided to discourage trespass outside of Type of user Approach speed can be applied quickly and easily as part of the designated crossing area. Fencing or Mobility impaired pedestrian 3-4km/h (0.8-1.1m/s) the overall crossing installation process.” guard rails to highway design principles Able-bodied pedestrian 4-6 km/h (1.1-1.7m/s) As crossings are used at all times of day, should be provided where necessary, to suitable lighting must be based upon an Mobility scooter user 6-16km/h (1.7-4.4m/s) guide pedestrians to face oncoming trams assessment of the circumstances of each before they cross the track, or to direct their Skateboard/scooter user 10-15km/h (2.8-4.2m/s) location. Where a mains electricity supply attention to pedestrian crossing lights. Child cyclist 12-18km/h (3.3-5m/s) is not readily available, solutions such as A number of ‘anti-trespass’ solutions exist Adult commuter cyclist 20-25km/h (5.6–6.9m/s) pedeSOLAR incorporate LED units moulded that can also be easily installed. As Mr Snell Racing cyclist (or electric 30-35 km/h (8.3-9.7m/s) flush into the crossing panels. LEDs are explains: “We are the only manufacturer of bicycle user) robust, long-life, maintenance-free and anti-trespass panels designed specifically for Source: Non-Motorised Tramway Crossing Guidance, can be powered by separate solar panels. As tramways. Our new conical system is suitable Light Rail Safety Standards Board – 09/19 STRAIL’s Mr Smith explains: “This is a popular for all types of tramway rail and is made from option where it is cost-prohibitive to install the same recycled material as our crossings.” Rather than marking the notional decision additional lighting, or where there is another In every situation, consideration should point for users, it is recommended to clearly impediment that leads to reduced visibility. be given to visibility of NMUs by tram drivers mark the hazard zone between the outside of This solution comes at a premium, but it is and by return visibility of approaching trams the two swept envelopes for double-track or easily offset where the costs or complexities of by those using the crossing. The requirement the one swept envelope for single-track. installing additional lighting are apparent.” for specific signalling measures will depend Good practice is to colour the hazard zone Where sight lines are obstructed by on factors such as sight lines and traffic surface and extend this colouring for at least buildings, foliage or curves, there may also frequency. For example, if the sight lines along half a metre beyond the swept envelope. be a requirement for audible warnings. the track are good and the volume of traffic Crossings themselves can be coloured with These should be enough to penetrate the is low, it may be possible to dispense with a durable paint finish, applied to concrete consciousness of, say, a headphone-wearer or pedestrian signals when other circumstances or paved surfaces as well as rubber crossing those with reduced hearing capability, and would dictate signalling for the road crossing. panels. As Mr Snell explains: “We’ve overcome background noise without causing developed a primer and paint in conjunction a nuisance to nearby residences or businesses. Visibility is the key Approach speed affects the time for users to react and respond to the presence of both the crossing and trams. Poor sighting distances will almost certainly require faster NMUs to reduce their approach speed more, and these crossings should therefore be designed with enhanced signage and demarcation accordingly. As the majority of tramway crossings are on shared routes, a higher design speed for faster traffic should always be the default position unless a site-based assessment concludes that sufficient controls are in place to reduce the approach speed to that of a pedestrian. The design of non-highway sections remote from tramstops should likewise start with the assumption that chicane barriers and/or bollards will be fitted unless a risk assessment demonstrates otherwise. As should now be clear, one of the most effective protections is clear signage and markings that delineate the swept path of the rail vehicle in relation to the crossing. Each country will have its own standards and guidance, but any such signage should be implemented in such a manner that it is The Clappers Lane heavy rail crossing in East Sussex (UK) has no artificial light sources. A solution such as clearly visible from each side of the crossing. these PedeSOLAR LED panels provide clear demarcation of the safe crossing area at night. STRAIL UK

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org APRIL 2020 / 137 Safety

CASE STUDY:

Edinburgh Trams has recently completed a comprehensive upgrade programme for its tramway crossings. Its suite of safety measures includes: • Chicane or bollard arrangements to force users to slow their approach speed and consider what is ahead when using the crossing • Blue ‘Tramway Crossing’ signage at both eye- and ground-level for those users who may be distracted by hand-held devices • Tactile surfaces and yellow markings around the hazard zones to indicate that the crossing is a different environment to the normal pathway • Kick rails on the approach to delineate the crossing and discourage the use of adjacent desire lines that circumvent the safety measures • Anti-trespass measures beside the crossing as appropriate • Warning signage to show tram drivers exactly where the emergency brake should be applied if a ‘locked out’ NMU has not acknowledged their presence. This gives sufficient distance/time for the tram to slow sufficiently to avoid serious injury to the NMU, or gives the user the time to react and move out of the vehicle's path accordingly • Under-run protection where required to ensure that, despite all the above measures, if an NMU does come into contact with a tram, they are

less likely to suffer serious injury. Trams Edinburgh

Materials and under-run protection Mr Snell tells TAUT that no special tools are rubber element, made from the same recycled It is important to ensure that all crossings required for his company’s panels and that material as the infill panel, that compresses offer low slip potential and a flat surface, experienced contractors can install a 10.8m under the weight of a rail wheel. Resisting with adequate drainage to minimise the crossing in around 45 minutes if the necessary compression up to a weight of around 160kg, effects of water, snow and ice. A well-installed ground preparation works have been done the compressible wearing element returns system should provide many years of reliable in advance. Rosehill Rail offers a free training to its original position once the vehicle has service with minimal maintenance. service to show contractors how to fit its systems. passed. Popular in Europe, this solution is Most crossings are either set in concrete The key difference between tramway and more often used on heavy rail crossings and, or, for more modern installations, use rubber LRT crossings and those used on heavy rail it is claimed, has reduced incidents of wheel panels that are easy to both fit and remove systems is in the curve radii, he suggests, traps to zero where installed. for track maintenance. Made from recycled although it is always preferable to choose a In the worst case scenario, where an NMU car, bus or HGV tyres, these hard-wearing crossing location that is on a straight and level does come into contact with a moving tram or panels come in various stiffnesses depending section of track. While many crossing panel LRV, under-run protection should be provided on the traffic flow and offer a more systems are designed with the ability to be on either side of any crossing on ballasted environmentally-friendly, high-grip solution. cut to fit on-site if necessary, the direction of track to give a flush surface. The length of The advantage of either cold-cured or travel over the track should, wherever possible, such protection depends on the likely tram heat-pressed rubber panels is their durability be perpendicular to the rails as the flange gap speed at the given location, but should never and versatility; the material has negligible becomes more of a hazard when traversed at an usually exceed 10-15m (20-30m in total). expansion or contraction properties and has acute angle. Likewise, gradient changes can add As Mr Smith concludes: “One UK tramway been tested down to -30°C and up to 60°C. extra hazards and should be minimised. we supply has renewed over 20 crossings in Mr Smith adds: “We market all our Although street-running tramways primarily their entirety, adding ‘four foot’ infill panels systems as ‘fit and forget’, as operators and use a grooved rail profile – where eliminating for around ten metres each side of the infrastructure managers as a rule like to the flangeway is problematic – for off-street crossing. It’s unlikely you will get dragged get 15 years life from a crossing decking. sections, products are available that offer a flush under a modern tram as there’s a skirt at the We warranty our heavy-duty systems for five surface across the rail while maintaining the front, but it’s better to be pushed along the years, but have panels out there that have easy passage of trams and LRVs. For example, surface of a rubber panel than onto ballast been in place for over 25 years...” the veloSTRAIL solution uses a honeycomb and sleepers.”

The veloSTRAIL solution creates a flush surface to eliminate the flange groove. STRAIL UK With thanks to Jordan Smith of STRAIL UK, Dan Snell of Rosehill Rail, Colin Kerr of Edinburgh Trams and David Keay for their assistance in the compilation of this article. Waddon Marsh in Croydon has all the elements of best practice for a suburban, segregated tramway crossing: For more guidance, see the latest LRSSB clear sight lines and lighting, appropriate signage, tactile paving, well-tended foliage, barriers and chicanes ‘Non-Motorised Tramway Crossing Guidance’ – to prevent track access beyond the crossing and under-run protection over the ballast on both sides. STRAIL UK Rev: 09/19 – www.lrssb.com/lrssbportal

138 / APRIL 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org EXPERTS IN SAFETY AND VENTILATION

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www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org aPRIL 2020 / 139 Depots ZARAGOZA: A TEST BENCH FOR THE FUTURE Marcos Espanol of Tranvía Zaragoza explains the operations and maintenance regimes of the city’s unusual twin-depot layout.

ince the inauguration of the full that uses live data feeds to anticipate trams length of its first tramline in March at given points on the line to set priorities 2013, Tranvía Zaragoza has become accordingly. This allows for high commercial one of Europe’s great tramway speeds of 19.5km/h (12mph) through an success stories. Now carrying more historic city centre that also features narrow Sthan 100 000 passengers/day – in a city of streets and has 13 light controlled junctions 700 000 residents – it is the tramline with the per kilometre. The operator identifies an 8% highest demand in Spain. energy saving due to trams running under The system is also one of the most this system. innovative public transport developments Zaragoza’s tram fleet of 21 bi-directional in the country in recent years, featuring the 32.3m Urbos 100 five-section vehicles were longest catenary-free section of any tramway supplied by CAF from its manufacturing in Spain, covering two kilometres (1.24 miles) facility in the north-eastern outskirts of the in the city centre. The tramway also makes city. However, it is the intention that the full use of a global dynamic priority system trams will never return to the factory

Urbos 3160 inside the city's second depot, Parque Goya.

140 / april 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Inside the Valdespartera depot, showing in which they were built, with CAF the immaculate environment in which providing all maintenance and preparation Zaragoza’s tram fleet is maintained. services inside two facilities of Tranvía Zaragoza which have been fitted with all the intensive service pattern in Zaragoza it all closed to road traffic. Fiestas del Pilar was the latest technologies. makes sense. declared a ‘Fiesta of International Tourist From the first studies of tram reintroduction Interest’ in 1980 for its cultural and historical Two depots for one line? in the early 2000s, the city council always significance, and is the main celebration for The city’s tramline opened in stages between intended to use the new tramway as the the city. It is thus a key driver of the local April 2011 and March 2013 and runs from primary mode of transport and also to free economy with parades, musical and cultural Parque Goya in the north through the historic up street space for the city’s main annual events held across the city. city centre to Valdespartera in the south-west. celebration: Fiestas del Pilar. At some times during the festival period, Given its 12.8km (eight-mile) length, it During ten days each October, this the best way to offer an effective tram may seem extravagant that operations are extravaganza sees the streets in the city’s service is to separate line 1 into two sections: undertaken from two depots – located at downtown area crowded with hundreds of north – centre and south – centre. Tramway each end of the line – but when you look at thousands of people, with several streets services are also offered 24 hours a day during the festival. This is only possible by A technician inspects a vehicle’s coupler; having a depot at each end of the line, each Tranvía de Zaragoza runs coupled units on with its own dedicated fleet. Away from the weekends and special sevices. celebrations, this configuration gives further All images courtesy of Tranvía de Zaragoza operational flexibility and also makes it easier to reorganise the line in the event of an incident. Additionally, this setup helps to future-proof the system by allowing for fleet expansion to serve future lines.

Operations and maintenance detail The smaller depot, featuring a 2969m2 main building located on a 16 676m2 site with seven tracks, is located at the extreme north of the line at Parque Goya, near Juslibol tramstop. Less hemmed in by surrounding development, this site is normally used for light maintenance and additional stabling space, and has the easiest opportunities for expansion. The main facility is located in the south at Valdespartera, accessed via a short dedicated spur from the main running line. It features 5035m2 of buildings on a 17 661m2 site and centralises most of the maintenance

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org april 2020 / 141 Depots

works in a safe and intermodal infrastructure custom-built for the needs of line 1. This site houses the system’s main operations and control centre, and is also the headquarters of Tranvía Zaragoza. The workshop has five maintenance tracks, with a further six stabling tracks (each track has a catenary supply), and has capacity to accommodate the entire fleet as and when required. Regular maintenance as well as more complex and intensive repair works, which includes a 15m-long paint shop, are carried out at this facility. The depot has been arranged in such a way as to separate each process in different spaces. One of the workshop’s tracks includes 12 lifting columns to allow for bogie maintenance and the adjacent area includes two pits and gantry systems that allow for easy access to both the roof-mounted equipment and underside of the trams, protected with an interlock system to avoid electrocution risks. In practice, in order to access a vehicle’s roof the operator is required to open a door developed by Danobat, meaning it is not with a key, which can only be done once the “The city takes pride in its necessary to disassemble any bearing element. catenary is deactivated. The workshop includes a separate area The wheel reprofiling system evaluates the tramway and believes dedicated to bogies, and a closed cabin is used health of a vehicle’s wheels on the track itself, to fully wash the bogies before any inspection with a system composed of different cameras that the cleaner its trams and maintenance is undertaken. They are that sends data to the cloud. This digital tool then disassembled from the tram and loaded makes it possible to also anticipate wear and are, the less vandalism into a small trolley in order to place them optimise the wheel’s life. The reprofiling inside the cabin; there, they are cleaned using operation is performed by a laser system they will suffer.” both compressed air and water systems. After this they are raised by a system of three bridge cranes onto a metal table for maintenance. The city takes pride in its tramway and the undertaking believes that the cleaner its trams are, the less vandalism they will suffer. To achieve this, the trams are washed thoroughly every two days in an automatic washing facility that achieves an 80% water recovery and recycling rate, the loss largely being due to evaporation associated with the city’s hot climate. The next process involves transfer to an adjacent shed that features the sandbox and a pit for underfloor maintenance, before the trams are ready to leave the depot.

Prepared for all weathers The depot has an advanced heating and air conditioning system to accommodate the harsh weather conditions in Zaragoza, some of the most extreme in Spain. During the winter months temperatures can drop below 0°C, while in the summer they often surpass 40°C – it is said that the city has ‘nine months of winter and three months of hell’! Zaragoza is also a very windy city. Located in the middle of the Ebro Valley, which connects low-pressure areas of the Cantabrian Sea with high-pressure areas of the Mediterranean, in the past winds caused continuous failures in the automatic system that opens the depot’s entrance gates. To remedy this issue, Tranvía Zaragoza’s engineers developed an innovative flap system that is activated before the gates are opened to reduce the wind pushing them and causing damage.

Sustainability at its core With the opening of its first tramline, Zaragoza inaugurated a sustainable means of transport that offered both residents and visitors to the city an efficient alternative to

142 / april 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org European Light Rail Congress

private car travel. This challenge has been ABOVE: The met and today there is 15% less traffic in the tramwash at whole city, and up to 30% in the city centre. Valdespartera. Sustainability is an integral company Each tram is washed every consideration that is evident inside the two days, with workshop. All lighting in common areas and 80% of the water corridors is activated by movement, and the used during the temperature is established to be comfortable, process recycled while at the same time minimising energy for future use. 10-11 June consumption. The cars used by the system’s Ibercaja Patio de la Infanta maintenance crew are electric and inside LEFT: The the depot compound there are three parking stabling area at Valdespartera; spaces with electric chargers. each track has a Zaragoza, Spain catenary supply. Shift2Rail: Planning for the future 2020 Tranvía Zaragoza has joined Shift2Rail, a FAR LEFT: The European Light Rail Congress gathers leading opinion-formers European project to deliver – through CAF Urbos and decision-makers from across Europe for two days of debate around railway research and innovation – the 3120 receives the role of technology in the development of sustainable urban travel. capabilities to bring about the most an underfloor inspection. sustainable, cost-efficient, high-performing, For 2020, we are delighted to be holding the event in the beautiful city of time-driven, digital and competitive Zaragoza in partnership with Tranvía Zaragoza, Mobility City and the customer-centred transport mode. Fundación Ibercaja. The European Commission is working towards the creation of a Single European Railway Area (SERA), and has promoted This two-day event includes insightful presentations, over eight hours of a modal shift from road to rail in order to dedicated networking and exhibition time and a tour of the state-of-the-art achieve a more competitive and resource- Valdespartera maintenance facility described on these pages. efficient transport system. However, rail’s share in the European To submit an abstract or to participate, contact Geoff Butler freight and passenger transport sector is on +44 (0)1733 367610 or [email protected] still not high enough. EU research and innovation therefore helps rail to play a new, broader role in global transport markets, by both addressing pressing short-term challenges that drain rail @ [email protected] business operations, and also by helping the sector to gain a stronger market position. In this sense, Tranvía Zaragoza collaborates www.mainspring.co.uk as a benchmark with its maintenance facilities, measuring many energy parameters in the workshop’s everyday life, such as lighting, heating and air conditioning, catenary consumption etc. The objective EU Light Rail of this research is to determine the most Driving innovation effective measures to reduce energy consumption in the railway industry. MEDIA PARTNER Have your say... What makes an ideal modern tramway depot?  [email protected]

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org april 2020 / 143 EULRC Zaragoza HP vert 2004.indd 1 08/03/2020 14:11 in your next issue of

Can Tram-Train doha: maximising SYSTEMS FACTFILE: bridge the gap? efficiency BRANDENBURG Dr Rob Carroll describes the challenges Julia Wahnsiedler of TIG/m details the More recognised in relation to the State to the provision of level boarding and advantages, efficiencies and cost savings that bears the same name, the small presents some of the solutions to extend achieved through the application of German city of Brandenburg an der Havel the greater level of accessibility from next-generation off-wire technology – has an intriguing metre-gauge tramways to heavy rail networks. as applied in Qatar’s capital. tram system, finds Neil Pulling. may 2020 PLUS... issue + Mike Russell explores Leipzig’s impressive new tramway museum. + The latest news and analysis, system developments, transport policy On sale announcements and industry comment from around the world 17 April

THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE Den Haag

Mirroring the systems densely-populated area that Den Haag serves, Neil Pulling www.lrta.org finds that variety factfile Den Haag www.tautonline.com is a strong feature No. of the second Den Haag, tHe net biggest Dutch HerlanDs 2020 N O. 988 The Netherlands APRIL 150 light rail system. Subscribe now!

THE WORLD TRAM MARKET IN 2O2O Now in its 83rd year, Tramways & Urban Transit is

ome of the national Inside Den Haag business climate’. It has become parliament and a Centraal during the . It also runs ten bus lines, evening peak on the designated commissioner centre for international plus six in a weekend night service. jurisdiction, Den 6 November 2019. of regional and urban public The upper platforms In early 2020 HTM identified 12 Haag () is transport, and thereby the client of the world’s leading monthly publication dedicated solely to normal lines on the system by theH Netherlands’ third largest city. handle two city many service providers. tram lines and both number and with reference to Projected for continuing growth, Den Haag’s ‘Royal City by HTM RandstadRail their description of stock used: the Sea’ tag relates to palaces, the 2019 population of 537 833 Zoetermeer services. Red-and-beige tram (lines 1, 6, 12, residences of the monarch represented an approximate 20% 16); RandstadRail tram (lines 2, 3, and having a border along the increase over the 1995 total. 4, 19) and R-net tram (lines 2, 9, 11, North Sea. One of the city’s The capital, Amsterdam, is 50km 15, 17). The first and oldest type are eight administrative districts, (31 miles) to the north-east. two groups of high-floorGTL8 Both in Zuid-Holland province, Scheveningen has its own fame as by Belgium’s BN. These uni-directional a seaside resort. Horse-drawn trams Den Haag and are only trams were built in 1981-84 between here and central Den Haag about 21km (13 miles) apart, with the (3001-3100, many now withdrawn) began in 1864, and a Scheveningen city of between them. This is and 1992-1993 (3101-3147). an area and an economy that relies line was the first to use overhead HTM’s RandstadRail vehicles are light and urban rail developments. electrification during 1904. Alstom bids for Bombardier’s rail arm upon comprehensive and efficient all 70% low-floor, bi-directional The operator of today’s services public transport. In December 2014, Alstom Regio-Citadis is municipally-owned HTM tram-trains. 23 Zuid-Holland local authorities They were built in 2006-07 in Transport operators combat COVID 19 Personenvervoer NV. With dense went into a voluntary association as Salzgitter, Germany (4001-4054) with central coverage and reaching Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag the 2011 batch (4055-4072) built in deep into the suburbs, HTM’s (MRDH). Covering 2.3m inhabitants, Reichshoffen, France. Car 4015 was US increases transit funding for 2021 rail services stretch inland from MRDH aims to ‘improve accessibility withdrawn following a collision Words and pictures by £4.60 the coast down to and including and strengthen the economic with another Regio-Citadis at De Rade neil Pulling. the substantial cities of Delft and stop in 2014. Tram crossings Den Haag Delivering a safe Light rail variety in the Netherlands www.tautonline.com. public environment www.lrta.org april 2020 / 145

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Mirroring the densely-populated systems area that Den Haag serves, Neil Pulling finds that variety Den Haag factfile is a strong feature of the second the netherlands No. Den Haag, biggest Dutch 150 The Netherlands light rail system.

ome of the national Inside Den Haag business climate’. It has become Zoetermeer. It also runs ten bus lines, Centraal during the parliament and a the designated commissioner plus six in a weekend night service. evening peak on centre for international 6 November 2019. of regional and urban public In early 2020 HTM identified 12 jurisdiction, Den The upper platforms transport, and thereby the client of normal lines on the system by Haag (The Hague) is handle two city many service providers. number and with reference to theH Netherlands’ third largest city. tram lines and both Den Haag’s ‘Royal City by their description of stock used: Projected for continuing growth, HTM RandstadRail the Sea’ tag relates to palaces, Red-and-beige tram (lines 1, 6, 12, the 2019 population of 537 833 Zoetermeer services. residences of the monarch 16); RandstadRail tram (lines 2, 3, represented an approximate 20% and having a border along the 4, 19) and R-net tram (lines 2, 9, 11, increase over the 1995 total. North Sea. One of the city’s 15, 17). The first and oldest type are The capital, Amsterdam, is 50km eight administrative districts, two groups of high-floorGTL8 by (31 miles) to the north-east. Scheveningen has its own fame as Belgium’s BN. These uni-directional Both in Zuid-Holland province, a seaside resort. Horse-drawn trams trams were built in 1981-84 Den Haag and Rotterdam are only between here and central Den Haag (3001-3100, many now withdrawn) about 21km (13 miles) apart, with the began in 1864, and a Scheveningen and 1992-1993 (3101-3147). city of Delft between them. This is line was the first to use overhead HTM’s RandstadRail vehicles are an area and an economy that relies electrification during 1904. all 70% low-floor, bi-directional upon comprehensive and efficient The operator of today’s services Alstom Regio-Citadis tram-trains. public transport. In December 2014, is municipally-owned HTM They were built in 2006-07 in 23 Zuid-Holland local authorities Personenvervoer NV. With dense Salzgitter, Germany (4001-4054) with went into a voluntary association as central coverage and reaching the 2011 batch (4055-4072) built in Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag deep into the suburbs, HTM’s Reichshoffen, France. Car 4015 was (MRDH). Covering 2.3m inhabitants, rail services stretch inland from withdrawn following a collision MRDH aims to ‘improve accessibility Words and pictures by the coast down to and including with another Regio-Citadis at De Rade and strengthen the economic Neil Pulling. the substantial cities of Delft and stop in 2014.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org april 2020 / 145 Den Haag

RIGHT: A Siemens Avenio in R-net livery amongst reflections in the Hofvijver, as seen from the Binnenhof.

BELOW RIGHT: A shopping area in the Wateringse Veld suburb, Hoge Veld is on one of the two lines serving this suburban residential district that became part of Den Haag during the 1990s.

BELOW: The first HTM Regio- Citadis, 4001, near Prinsenhof stop. Molen de Roos windmill needed ‘R-net trams’ are the newest type, 70 structural protection Siemens bi-directional Avenio due to tramway works and for (5001-5070) built in Vienna and underground entering regular service in November re-routing of the 2015. Introducing the Regio-Citadis and main railway line Avenio required some infrastructure through Delft. changes and temporary line closures. Diverting services was made easier by the system’s dense central coverage. Indicated by a red and dark grey livery, R-net is the branding for ‘high-quality public transport in the ’ (the Netherland’s urbanised western arc). The Randstad name is thus used here in two contexts and with different liveries (R-Net and RandstadRail). Built as a high-capacity link between Den Haag and a rapidly- expanding satellite community, the Zoetermeer City line opened in May 1977. It began as a heavy rail operation by NS, the national railway operator. Conversion to BELOW: With light rail during 2006 allowed for Scheveningen’s landmark Kurhaus raised frequencies and to give better in the background, extension potential. It also dispersed GTL8-II 3122 with or obviated the passenger transfers a line 1 service needed around Den Haag. Established from Delft. This alignments were retained, albeit is near the site segregated from main line tracks. of the terminus As with Rotterdam RET’s metro line E, for a section of which was partly a conversion of the former Hofplein railway into Den railway which Haag, the new service was branded ABOVE: Part of multi-mode interchange, closed in 1953. ABOVE: Arriving from Scheveningen, Lansingerland-Zoetermeer terminus joined The tram depot 5052 nears Madurodam stop and the loop RandstadRail. The Zoetermeer line’s HTM in May 2019, creating a two-stop access track is in added in 2009 for shorter line 9 services. connection with HTM’s tramway was extension of line 4. the foreground. The lighthouse is part of Madurodam park. created near Laan van NOI. This station also hosts the RET trains, the latter initially using Den Haag Centraal surface-level platforms. Dual-height platforms exist at those stops hosting both of the RandstadRail formats. HTM Zoetermeer lines (3 and 4) are worked exclusively by Regio-Citadis. The type is also used on line 19, one of two HTM services to Delft. It is unique in having no presence at either of the main Den Haag stations. There are, ABOVE: One of the system’s four pekel however, interchanges at Delft and (brine) trams, rebuilt BN GTL8-I 3009 leaving Ypenburg stations, also with HTM and Scheveningen depot on 6 November 2019. RET RandstadRail at Leidschenveen.

146 / april 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org

1 9 Zwarte Pad

Kurhaus DEPOT

11 Strandweg

6 Dillen- 2 19 burgsingel 16 HMC World Antoniushove Van Boetzelaerlaan Forum

Statenplein Station 12 Mariahoeve Markenseplein 15 17 Station Den Haag Graven- Centraal straat Voorburg ’t Loo

Beatrix- kwartier Station Brouwers- Laan van gracht NOI Goudenregenstraat Monster- sestraat Loosduinseweg 11 12 DEPOT Station Den Rijswijkseplein/ Haag HS Station HS

De Savornin Lohmanplein Leidschenveen Zoetermeer to 3 4 6 Leyenburg Station Ypenburg 3 Arnold Station Spoelplein Moerwijk

Hoornbrug 2 Kraayen- steinlaan 15 DEPOT Hardenbroekstraat Nootdorp Centrum

De Uithof Rijswijk 4 Station

De Dreef 9

Brasserskade

16 17 Dorpskade

19 Station Delft under construction THE FLEET line 19 extension

Trams have onboard ticket/smartcard top-up machines and the former practice of sales by the driver has ended. All-over advertising is represented on all three fleet types. Since November 2019, HTM vehicles carry the amended logo with ‘Kom verder!’ added – an exhortation to get on board; use the network. Much amended from the original condition, including modified front ends to reduce the effects of collision impact, there are variations within the three-section BN GTL8 types (articulated long tram, eight axles). They are about 29m long and 2.35m wide; capacity around 190 with 75 seats. The Regio-Citadis has three sections over 36.8m. With space for about 220, the quality and configuration of seating is consistent with use over long distances. Unlike Regio-Citadis used in however, HTM’s have doors in the centre section. In early 2019, 4014 was modified and styled as ‘InnOVatietram’ to 1 gather user opinions on new features. Abtswoud- Ordered in batches of 40, 20 and 10, the penultimate Avenio was delivered in December separk 2019. They are based upon steel-bodied Siemens’ Plus as used by MTS (near 0 1 2 ) and Budapest rather than the Combino. Each with a wheelset and fully low-floor, Kilometres the four sections (overall length 35m; 2.55m wide) have capacity for 232, with 70 seated.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org april 2020 / 147 Den Haag

RIGHT: The Several notable system features elevated approach cluster around the principal stations. network facts for HTM services to Part of an upgrade at Den Haag HS, a Den Haag Centraal. Opened: 1864 (electrified 1904) An Avenio waits to listed national monument, a new pair of Lines: 12 follow 4017 which roofed tramstops (carrying the station’s full Hollands Spoor title) opened in Depots: 3 will have used the other tracks through January 2018. This area also has an Approx. weekday hours: the junction by on-street turning loop and a grade- 05.00-23.00 Ternoot stop. separated junction. Den Haag Centraal Main line frequency: 10 minutes opened in 1973 – rebuilding has BELOW: Gauge: 1435mm since added two elevated levels to the Representing the previous surface-only tram operations. Power: 600/750V dc, oldest type in overhead supply the HTM service HTM lines use two island platforms, fleet, 1983-built at right-angles above Centraal’s main Fleet: 201 (HTM, 2018) GTL8-I 3074 is at line terminus platforms. City network/operator: HTM Markenseplein To the south, the tracks pass over Personenvervoer NV – www.htm.nl terminus. the street tram platforms and through Regional authority: Metropoolregio nearby buildings on a westward Rotterdam Den Haag – https://mrdh.nl descent to a 1250m tram tunnel. This Civic and tourist information: opened in 2004 and includes the city https://denhaag.com centre Spui and Grote Markt stops. The southern end of a long signalled section, from the tunnel ramp on Prinsegracht, sees all services including Regio-Citadis operate as a street-running tramway. In August 2016 RET line E started using a new terminus near the bus station in the Centraal complex, the highest of the interchange’s tracks. The open framed tubular covering is similar to the Netkous (‘net stocking’) LEFT: Opened in October 2006, Leidschenveen has dual-height viaduct including Beatrixkwartier platforms for the two RandstadRail formats which converge nearby. stop, which opened in 2006. At a similar length as the city centre tunnel, LEFT: Delivered Vliettunnel containing Oosteinde stop in 2019, Siemens Avenio 5061 is at is on line 19, introduced in 2010. Wouwermanstraat, After World War Two there were a stop set on a system closures, but from the junction. The HOVM 1970s long extensions were built to transport museum emerging outer housing areas such and depot is in the as Leidschendam, Ypenburg and background. Wateringse Veld. More related to wider network connections, Zoetermeer has the latest addition, a line 4 continuation of the elevated track from Javalaan, opened with two new stops in May BELOW: Near the 2019. Directly over the A12 motorway tunnel ramp, Grote and Den Haag-Gouda main line, Markt platforms are the new Lansingerland-Zoetermeer just below ground terminus is integrated with the NS level. Covered station, bus stops and a free park- parking space above the tracks between and-ride site. The structure allows for here and Spui was extending further towards Rotterdam. part of the tunnel Most track, without overhead project. equipment, has been in place for

ABOVE: All three types in the HTM service fleet, seen from street level at Den Haag Centraal.

148 / april 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Den Haag HS’s main entrance and a junction is between the tramstop pair opened in 2018; the layout allows for trams bypassing the platform face if not required by a given service.

line 19’s southern extension from upon expanding depot/storage space. RIGHT: With the Station Delft to Delft University of Interconnected Zichtenburg depot/ MRDH regional Technology for several years. There works and the newer Meppelwerf logo added to the will be seven stops including the stabling area is used for Regio-Citadis RandstadRail projected terminus, TU-Technopolis. and Avenio. Together the current livery, 4043 is at Zichtenburg depot. Now under MRDH control, the largest facility, it lies between scheme is nearing a decade beyond the Beresteinlaan and De Uithof. Extra original projected opening. Replacing stabling has been created on the the Sebastiaansbrug lifting bridge has Lansingerland-Zoetermeer extension. been one source of delay: services may HOVM public transport museum be running by early 2021. (www.hovm.nl) and heritage There are depots at Scheveningen operations use the former Frans (access by non-revenue track from Halsstraat depot, dating from 1906, near Kurhaus) and Lijsterbesstraat near Wouwermanstraat stop. (between Goudenregenstraat and A specially priced ‘hop-on, hop-off’ RIGHT: Azaleaplein). HTM aims to close service with BN-built PCC vehicles – Multiple tracks Lijsterbesstraat, initially favouring a a former HTM mainstay and in regular at Scheveningen new site just off the line 19 route. service until 1993 – runs between April Zwarte Pad terminus where, That plan was halted following and October (www.touristtram.nl). as on most of the Rijswijk council’s refusal of As with other Dutch public transport, system, loops are development permission. HTM has the location, schedule and fleet for a formerly all indicated that future tram orders numbers of active HTM services can be uni-directional – GTL8-II replacements – depend followed on https://ovzoeker.nl. fleet. essential facts Local travel: Visit information points for tickets, excellent print materials include Den Haag Centraal and HS and also Delft station. Charged by distance and allowing cross-modal use, the OV-chipkaart system prevails for ABOVE: On lines 4 and 6, many bus routes domestic public transport – specific journeys can be planned and costed onhttps://9292.nl . Visitors are likely to converge at the Leyenburg interchange, sited use a disposable form of OV-chipkaart. For HTM services only, a two-hour ticket is EUR4; day tickets cost EUR7.10; next to a large hospital site. three-day tickets are EUR1. Despite shared RandstadRail branding, HTM-specific tickets are not valid on RET trains. Of use if incorporating travel in Rotterdam or via the ferry terminal at Hoek van Holland (EBS bus 31 to Den Haag Leyenburg), HTM and other Zuid-Holland public transport (excluding trains) there is a one-day ticket at EUR14.50; see https://touristdaytickets.nl. Specified duration tickets are activated by first validation using onboard readers; tap in/out thereafter. Revenue protection is handled by mobile teams. Prices as at January 2020.

What is there to see? A HTM visitor leaflet shows ‘tramstops nearest the most frequently visited hotspots’. Three termini are near the shore, a mix of promenade, beach, dunes and harbour. The pier and Kurhaus building are prominent Scheveningen features. Madurodam (1:25-scale miniature replicas) and Vredespaleis (Peace Palace), home of the International Court of Justice and Gemeentemuseum (municipal collection) all have named tramstops. Centrum in Den Haag’s main shopping district is near the picturesque Binnenhof and Hofvijver, the parliament buildings and ornamental lake, also Mauritshuisart gallery. Delft’s almost stereotypically Dutch historic centre is ABOVE: Used twice by line 3 services, once a short walk east of Delft station and Prinsenhof stops. as a terminus, Centrum-West is at the centre of the ‘pretzel’ of track around Zoetermeer.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org april 2020 / 149 Worldwide Review

AUSTRALIA on 4 February. If successful, 40 CANBERRA. The ACT Transport more cars may also be Minister and the National Capital refurbished. RGI Authority have announced that 1.7km (1.05 miles) of the Woden CANADA tramway extension will be wire- CALGARY. A further 15 S200 LRVs free. This will involve retrofitting have been ordered from Siemens the existing 14-car CAF fleet with for delivery from 2021 to replace batteries, and so fitting trams in the remaining U2 cars dating any further order. G. Sutherland from the 1980s. Calgary Transit NEWCASTLE. Small cracks in the already has 63 S200s in service. RGI rails of the new light rail system EDMONTON. Trials with saw a temporary speed restriction Bombardier Flexity Freedom low- introduced near Worth Place and floor trams on the new 12.7km Civic in late February. Transport (7.9-mile) Valley line started on for New South Wales is working 7 February, along 66th St. with contractor Downer EDI Passenger service will start later on repairs. Newcastle Herald this year. PARRAMATTA. The ground- Three submissions have been The first EVO2 low-floor bogie car, 320 (seen left), entered passenger service in the breaking ceremony for the new received for the CAD2.6bn Czech city of Most on 3 February. DPMost light rail line from Westmead (EUR1.74bn) PPP contract for to Carlingford took place on Valley Line West, the second its 30-year contract with maintainer to open until 2022 rather than 4 February. It is hoped to carry phase of the Valley line, forming Rideau Transit Maintenance. September 2021. passengers in 2023. an eventual urban-style 27km The diesel-operated Trillium As of late February, all of the Local media reports that (16.8-mile) line between Mill LRT line is to close for 16 months new Flexity low-floor cars available construction of Stage 2 to Sydney Woods in the south-east and from 2 May to allow upgrades had seen service, except prototype Olympic Park is under review Lewis Farms in the west. and works for the extensions to 4401 which required structural due to budget restrictions. The City re-tendered the scheme the airport and Riverside South. work and is currently at Thunder IRJ, Architecture & Design as a Public-Private Partnership Services are to be replaced by the Bay undergoing a rebuild. SYDNEY. Although the fleet after two of three shortlisted R2 bus line between Bayview and D. Drum, P. Webb numbers carried by the Alstom entrants for a conventionally- Greenboro stations. Citadis X05 trams are 01-60, it funded scheme withdrew their Documents released in late CZECH REPUBLIC is understood that officially they bids in November. A shortlist was January indicate the CAD1.6bn MOST. Tram 320, the first of the are 2201-60. TW to be announced on 12 March, (EUR1.06bn) contract awarded to new EVO2 cars from Pragoimex, with contracts signed by the end SNC-Lavalin for expansion of the entered passenger service on AUSTRIA of the year. Construction is to take Trillium line was awarded despite 3 February. transphoto.ru WIEN (Vienna). Eight six years. Edmonton Journal a “unanimous consensus that [its] PRAHA (Prague). Route closures Bombardier Flexity Wien trams LONGUEUIL. On 27 February proposal should not be considered and traffic restrictions were in were in service on line 6 in January, the city’s mayor unveiled further in the evaluation process", place in March along a number and another nine are expected proposals for a South Shore from the team assembled to of tram routes due to track to arrive this year; some will tramway to link the city centre, review each bid’s technical merit. modernisation. appear on line 11. UTM Cégep Édouard-Montpetit college The documents include a Over the weekend of 7-8 March, and Hospital Charles-Le Moyne 2018 memo from the legal team, DPP operated two newly-restored BELARUS along Taschereau Boulevard. The advising the city that a lack of Tatra T2 cars on route 2; the cars MINSK. The first of six new route would also connect with clarity in the scoring mechanism are eventually destined for heritage 78.4m four-car Stadler M110 the future Panama station of the for submissions may leave the route 23. Prague Morning, M. J. Russell trainsets entered service on line 2 67km (42-mile) Réseau Express city open to legal challenge if the on 5 February. The aluminium- Métropolitain light metro, due to bid was excluded. EGYPT bodied trains have capacity for open in late 2023. Ottawa Citizen, CBC, P. Webb ISKANDARIYAH (Alexandria). 756 passengers, 168 seated; In November 2019, the TORONTO. On 14 February By early February eight of the a further four 97.7m five-car province announced a CAD60m the City of Toronto and the 15 Tatra-Jug trams were in Egypt; trainsets were included in the (EUR40m) modal study for the Province of Ontario signed a five were in service on the Ramleh order placed in January 2017. South Shore’s east-west corridor Transit Partnership Agreement line tramway. transphoto.ru Although the first train is and is considering the mayor’s committing both governments allocated to Moskovskoye depot, proposal. CBC News to deliver the Ontario line (line 2) FINLAND they are destined for line 3 when OTTAWA. Ottawa’s east extension, Yonge North HELSINKI. CAF has been it opens in July 2020. Minsk Metro Confederation line light rail subway extension, Eglinton awarded a further contract (worth is considering extending the service saw further serious delays Crosstown west extension, Bloor EUR39.9m) for five four-car metro order to replace the 30-year-old related to power and vehicle – Yonge capacity enhancement trains, including spares. When stock on line 1 and 2. RGI, belta.by failures in late February, operating and TTC state of good delivered in 2022, they will bring with as few as six of the required 13 repair enhancements and the fleet to 50 trains. The existing BELGIUM vehicles (out of a 17-strong fleet). modernisation. The province will CAF sets, delivered with temporary BRUSSEL/BRUXELLES. Two such failures saw passengers contribute 40% to major projects cabs pending implementation of Tramline 47, converted to bus forced to disembark and walk and both parties called on the automatic train operation, will operation in 1957, is to be recreated alongside tracks back to stations. Federal Government to deliver be modified for full-time driver between Rogier and Hôpital OC Transpo responded by CAD6bn (EUR4bn) in funding. operation (the ATO project having Militaire in 2024 according to running the R1 replacement bus The province is to build and been abandoned). RGI an announcement made on service along the full length of the own new subway lines with the TAMPERE. Hannover Stadtbahn 1 February. T-2000 12.5km (7.8-mile) LRT line, as well TTC acting as operator; the city car (6148) has arrived to carry out as direct S1 bus service between and TTC will own and operate tests on the new tramway, as the BULGARIA downtown and the stations at Blair, trams and buses. first of the Škoda ForCity Smart SOFIA. Two four-car metro sets Hurdman and Tunney’s Pasture. The 19km (11.8-mile) Eglinton Artic trams on order is not yet modernised by It is reported that the city is Crosstown line faces another ready. Passenger service will start (Metrowagonmash) were unveiled looking at options to renegotiate delay, and is now not expected in 2021. DS

150 / april 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org FRANCE GERMANY ANNECY. The 30km (18.6 miles) . On 29 February, 12 tramway project between Annecy people were injured when a car and Albertville, estimated to cost collided with passengers at the EUR400m, is being firmed up with Gervinusstraße tramstop at 17.15. a timetable of starting work in Seven were seriously injured in 2023 for completion at the end the accident, with five others of 2025 or early in 2026. A final sustaining minor injuries. RTL.de decision is due in August. lineoz.net FRANKFURT-AM-MAIN. With BORDEAUX. Tramway line D finance secured for the 26-station was extended by 5.5km (3.4 miles) Regionaltangente West tram- from Marie du Bouscat to Eysines train scheme (Bad Homburg – Cantinolle on 29 February. The Neu-Isenburg via Flughafen), EUR250m project includes nine planning permission is now being stops and two car parks, and the sought with the hope to start 9.8km (six-mile) line now shares passenger service in early 2026. 4km (2.5 miles) with line C. RMV will join the Karlsruhe -led An extension to Saint-Médard-en- VDV alliance that is seeking a A line-up of new Tatra-Jug trams for the Egyptian city of Iskandariyah urbanrail.net Jalles is planned. joint order for dual-voltage (Alexandria) at Place Zaghoul. A. Lyom CAEN. Since the replacement of tram-train vehicles, in this case the rubber-tyred TVR 750V dc and 15kV ac. IRJ tram services, retaining operation The end of the season is expected by the new steel-wheel tramway, KÖLN (Cologne). The 28th only on lines where trams do not on 21 September. a 9% increase in passengers has Stadtbahn-B LRV to be put through cause traffic congestion, using GENERAL. All systems other than been registered. An improved the rebuilding programme is 2114, air-conditioned bogie trams. the Steam Railway frequency is being considered for now back in service as 2414. DS However recent visitors have suffered a fall in passengers in introduction later in the year. UTM MAGDEBURG. It is reported that found tramway operation at a 2019. Particularly hit was the NANCY. The conventional ten Tatra KT4D vehicles are to be higher level than three years horse tramway, which ran over tramway project designed to acquired from Berlin to meet a ago, with lines 5, 18, 24/29, a shortened line and carried replace the rubber-tyred single- rolling stock shortage, pending an 25 and 36 operating at reasonable 14 380 passengers compared rail guided trolleybus received its order for new trams. DS frequencies. IRJ, The Telegraph with 80 606 in 2018. Figures for declaration of public utility on REGENSBURG. Plans have been C. Heaton the were 11 February. The last trolleybuses announced for an S-Bahn network PUNE. Maharashtra Metro 135 857 (2018: 244 863); for the will run at the end of 2021, and the due in 2024, with five services and Corporation has secured the Snaefell Mountain Railway 49 852 first trams in 2023. L’Est Républicain several new stations. TR finance to complete its 32.5km (76 434). The equivalent for the PARIS. Test running on the (20.2-mile) two-line metro steam line was 128 107 (113 197). 6.4km (four-mile) northern (including the purchase of 102 extension of metro line 14 BUDAPEST. Tenders have been cars) from AFD France and the to Marie de St-Ouen started invited for the so-called metro European Investment Bank. It is TEL AVIV. Consultation has in mid-February; passenger line M5 that will form a north– hoped to carry passengers before begun on proposals for a three-line service is expected this summer. south link between the suburban the end of 2021. RGI 145km (90-mile) metro, designed A further extension to St-Denis HÉV lines. It is hoped that to supplement the LRT network Pleyel will open in 2024. substantial funding will come INDONESIA already under construction. On 5 February regional from the European Union. Tenders JAKARTA. A Japanese-led Planning is due to be complete President Valérie Pécresse for new rolling stock will be partnership has been awarded a by the end of 2020 for the metro announced that tenders for the invited later this year. IRJ contract to start work on stage 2 that would serve 100 stations and operation of RER lines would be of the metro, from Bundaran HI run through 23 local authorities. invited during the period 2025-40 INDIA to Harmoni. Completion is The Ministry of Transport is (when incumbent RATP’s last HYDERABAD. Metro operation expected in December 2024. concurrently developing plans contracts expire). RGI on the 11km (6.8-mile) north– for two major interchange hubs, STRASBOURG. With the city south Green line from JBS Parade IRELAND at Glilot Junction in the north centre tramway crossing at Ground to Mahatma Gandhi DUBLIN. SNC-Lavalin is to advise and Junction in the south, Homme de Fer saturated, plans Bus Station was inaugurated on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to serve as gateways to the are being developed for a new line 7 February. This is the city’s third on the 19km (12-mile) Swords metropolis for metro, light rail, from Place de Haguenau via Gare metro line, operated by Keolis, – Charlemont MetroLink line, railway and bus services. SNCF to link with line B to Elsau. offering interchange with existing due to open in 2027. Work could Early projections suggest This would be fed by new lines lines at each end. urbanrail.net start next year, with the Canadian the metro will cost NIS150bn from the northern suburbs. KOLKATA (Calcutta). On company advising on rolling (EUR34bn) to construct, although CTS exercised an option on 13 February the first section of stock (including Unattended the two new hubs are not included 3 March for 17 Alstom Citadis the east–west metro line was Operation) and operations. in this figure; it is envisaged these 403 45m trams, taking the total inaugurated, 5.7km (3.5 miles) will be financed in part by private number of the type in its fleet to from Salt Lake Stadium to Salt Lake ISLE OF MAN developers via land value capture. 80. The order is valued at EUR52m Sector V, on elevated alignment. DOUGLAS. Strathallan Depot, a The aim is to transition the and like the ten cars ordered in The remaining 10.8km (6.7 miles) new structure that incorporates proportion of people using public 2017, the additional trams will of the line will be in tunnel from a facade based on the original transport in the metropolis from be certified under BOStrab Salt Lake Stadium to Howrah building, is to open at Easter. 15% (now) to 40% by 2030. Globes regulations to allow operation on Maidan, but is not expected to Up to 13 horse tramcars and five For more on Tel Aviv’s light rail cross-border Line D. lineoz.net open until 2022. Manx Electric Railway cars can be programme, see TAUT 975. TOULOUSE. The plans for the Line 2 is standard gauge, unlike accommodated. third metro line have received the broad gauge line 1, and is The season is to begin on ITALY their declaration of public served by 14 six-car trains supplied 20 April over a truncated route GENOA. Italferr – a subsidiary utility. The 27km (16.8-mile) by BEML. Service is provided (Derby Castle – Mona Avenue) due of state-owned railway manager line will cost EUR2.7bn and 08.00-20.00 Monday-Saturday to ongoing reconstruction of the and operator Ferrovie dello Stato should be ready to open in 2025. and 12.00-20.00 Sundays, with a Douglas Promenade, but the line Italiane – is preparing a technical Five new trams have been ordered train every 15 minutes. is expected to be extended in time and economic feasibility study with an option for three more. The West Bengal Government for the Manx Heritage Transport for a 2.3km (1.4-mile) monorail lineoz.net has again announced plans to cut Festival (29 July-2 August). to connect Erzelli station to the

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org april 2020 / 151 Worldwide Review

ROTTERDAM. Zuid Holland has Trams on lines 21 and 22 scrapped plans for a tram extension returned to Huta Katowice from from IJsselmonde to Ridderkerk. 17 February following completion In December, 27 000 passengers/ of a PLN51m (EUR11.9m) day used the metro to Hoek van track modernisation. infotram.pl Holland, a patronage predicted ŁÓDŹ. On 26 February a contract for three years after opening. was signed with Modertrans for Peak run-out in the January 30 Moderus Gamma five-section timetable involves 98 trams and low-floor articulated trams for 60 metro trains; there were 112 2022; for the first time featuring trams in the fleet. OR swivelling bogies. infotram.pl UTRECHT. On 18 January the OLSZTYN. The first of the 12 first operation of a coupled set new trams being built in Turkey of CAF five-section plus seven- by Durmazlar was delivered to section trams was used on line 22 Olsztyn on 13 February after a on a trial basis. This combination two-week road journey. Another will be used on the Nieuwegein line is expected before the end of April Hannover Stadtbahn 6148 has been transferred to Tampere for trials on the new once work to extend platforms to and delivery should be completed tramway. It seen here in the newly-completed depot. P. Tiitola / Tampereen Ratikka 75m is completed. Weekend service in September. infotram.pl on line 22 will be introduced in POZNAŃ. The city council has Science and Technology Park, 2021. OR approved the construction of a with a possible future extension . The Xochimilco new tramline from Naramowice to Cristoforo Colombo Airport. light rail line’s northern half, PANAMA to Umultów. The PLN380m MESSINA. EUR4.4m is to be between Tasqueña and Estadio PANAMA CITY. The government (EUR88.5m) project should be invested in upgrading the city’s Azteca stations, reopened on has approved a 2km (1.2-mile) ready in spring 2022. infotram.pl 7.7km (4.8-mile) tramline, and 16 January following track extension of metro line 2 to TORUŃ. Tenders have been EUR6.8m in overhauling the renewal. The deteriorated concrete Tocumen airport, for completion invited for five 100% low-floor fleet. It is planned to purchase a trackbed had forced LRVs to in the first quarter of 2022. articulated trams, including a rescue vehicle. run at reduced speeds on some The USD2.5bn contract for capability for limited battery- The city’s mayor has said sections in recent years. the third metro line, a 26.7km powered operation, and for that EUR80m is to be spent on The repairs were expected to (16.6-mile) elevated monorail around 8km (five miles) of track improving the tramway network reduce the journey time from from Albrook (interchange with reconstruction works along and the purchase of electric buses 60 to 35 minutes and allow the line 1) to Ciudad del Futuro, has ul. Bydgoska, Broniewskiego, in the coming years TR, ilSicilia number of cars scheduled in service been awarded to a South Korean Kraszewskiego and Szosy Lubicka. NAPOLI. Trams returned to to be increased from 14 to 20. joint venture led by Hyundai. The deadline for bids is 6 April, service on 31 January after over The 7km (4.3-mile) section Hitachi will supply 28 six-car with a contract award in the three years of suspension due to between Estadio Azteca and trains. RGI summer. The works are to last until roadworks at the depot entrance. Xochimilco is scheduled for a mid-2022. TR, Transport Publiczny At present just line 1, Piazza similar renovation, and is expected POLAND WARSZAWA (Warsaw). Municipio – Poggioreale) is to be closed from around April BYDGOSZCZ. The Municipal Metro Warszawskie has signed a operating. UTM to December. Roads and Public Transport PLN15.5m (EUR3.6m) contract The modified livery introduced Authority has cancelled its tender with Speno for the reprofiling LATVIA in 2014, all-over-silver with thin for 4km (2.5 miles) of track of tracks on metro lines 1 and DAUGAVPILS. The new 2.3km yellow stripes in place of the green reconstruction along Toruńska. 2. Works will be carried in short (1.4-mile) alignment for tramline band and thin blue stripes, has Three bids were received, ranging overnight possessions over the 3 serving the regional hospital given way to a different design, from PLN118.7m (EUR27.6m) next two years. Transport Publiczny started carrying passengers on the first major livery change since to PLN145.8m (EUR33.9m), 5 February. Work on the 1990. Introduced in January on exceeding the authority’s planned PORTUGAL EUR5.65m project, 80% funded 1991-built Concarril TE-90 car budget of PLN87.5m (EUR20.4m) PORTO. The annual parade of by the European Union Cohesion 25, it is white with a blue skirt and for the works. Transport Publiczny museum trams from Massarelos Fund, began in March 2018. mostly blue ends, with a line of ELBLĄG. The new Moderus Beta along the coastal tramway is due The first of eight low-floor arrowheads along the sides above MF09 bogie trams started carrying to take place on 9 May. M. J. Russell trams from Railvec, working the windows. S. J. Morgan passengers from 10 February. in partnership with Russia’s However, the city’s tram drivers ROMANIA PK Transportnye Sistemy of NETHERLANDS went on strike over pay and BOTOȘANI. Nine new low- Tver, began operations on route 2 AMSTERDAM. It was hoped overtime demands on 17 February floor buses have been ordered to on 31 January. urbanrail.net, lsm.lv that the first of the new CAF trams and did not return until 3 March. replace the tramway operation in would enter passenger service in Tramwaje Elbląskie has 141 full- May. The two-route tramway may LUXEMBOURG April. The new timetable from time employees at Tramwaje be Romania’s newest – opening LUXEMBOURG. Public 6 January saw a peak run-out of Elbląskie, of which 57 are drivers. in September 1991 – but it has transport became fare-free on 167 trams and 39 metro trains. infotram.pl, Transport Publiczny suffered from a lack of investment 29 February, 24 hours earlier than The government plans to build GRUDZIĄDZ. A new tender for and unreliability, with a number planned. Luxembourg is the first thousands of affordable homes four low-floor articulated trams of derailments in recent months. country in the world to abolish between Amsterdam and Almere was issued in early February with The decision to purchase diesel fares nationwide, although Pampus, and is drawing up plans a budget of PLN22.1m (EUR5.1m). buses to replace the tramway has first-class rail fares still apply. for a 20km (12.4-mile) EUR2.9bn The previous tender attracted just attracted strong local criticism. The Ministry of Mobility and metro line along this corridor. OR one bid, from Modertrans, that was In February the city’s mayor Public Works has announced DEN HAAG. The tram fleet as judged too expensive. infotram.pl announced that the city intends to that it is examining the potential of 1 January comprised 70 eight- KATOWICE. On 15 February remove the prefabricated concrete for new tram routes from axle GTL 3045/50/2/7/60/5, Modertrans delivered the first of slab tracks on Nicolae Iorga and Kirchberg to Route d’Arlon and 3070-4/7/80/3/6/8-90/2/3/5/8, ten single-unit bogie trams, one Vilor Stradă, part of an abandoned towards Cessange. Longer-term 3100-47, and 69 Avenio 5001-69. of the two double-ended cars project to link to the two tram ambitions include reaching For Randstadrail light rail service (the other eight will be single- routes, this year. DS, Sitri Botoșani. Esch-sur-Alzette and Foetz; such 4001-14/6-72. There is also the ended, and there is an option for GALAȚI. Tramway operation has extensions could open by 2028. Hoftrammm restaurant car 3035 five more). Delivery should be ceased for about 18 months due to RTL and party tram P1 (ex-1302). OR completed in June. major infrastructure work on Strada

152 / april 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Siderurgistilor and Bulevardul The new nine-stop line will be 1 Decembrie 1918. transphoto.ru operated by Norwegian group , IAȘI. Pesa has been awarded connecting the central station and a EUR38.5m contract by the science village at Brunnshög. DS Ministry of Development and Regional Administration for 16 five-section Swing 122Na trams, AARAU (AVA). A major project with delivery from 2021. This to rebuild the former WSB station acquisition is in addition to the at Aarau has started, with work due 16 low-floor trams ordered from to last until 2025. The new station Bozankaya in 2019. infotram.pl will include 64 apartments. EA BASEL. A special event to mark RUSSIA 125 years of electric tramway CHERPOVETS. O n operation will be held on the 11 February a 71-407 tram weekend of 5-6 September. No arrived from Uraltransmash for details are yet available, but it demonstration. transphoto.ru seems unlikely that there will be KRASNODAR. Tenders have a substantial cavalcade as most An ex-Dresden Tatra T4D car enters the terminal loop for Botoşani route 102 at been invited for new trams: 29 of the museum cars are currently Eminescu, pictured in April 2015. The city is planning to replace its tramway with bogie cars in 2020-21 and 27 of an unserviceable. M.J. Russell bus services due to dilapidated infrastructure. M. J. Russell unspecified design in 2021-22. GENÈVE. Referring to the item on transphoto.ru Léman Express in TAUT 986, the rail to Bath and surrounding areas. INDUSTRY. UKTram has formed MOSKVA. Work has started to amount of CHF1.8bn (EUR1.69bn) The event was chaired by LRTA a working group including build a metro station at Vnukovo essentially represents the cost Vice-President Andrew Braddock. engineers from its membership, airport, which will be the terminus of construction of the CEVA BLACKPOOL. Demolition of Network Rail and suppliers of a 5.2km (3.2-mile) extension of infrastructure between Lancy- the Wilko building adjoining Pandrol and Thermit, to line 8A. Passengers should start Pont-Rouge and the border near Blackpool North station is expected investigate ways to reduce damage arriving there in 2022. RGI Annemasse. On the French side to start in April, allowing the next to embedded on-street sections of SAMARA. On 27 February Tatra some EUR240m was spent on phase of redevelopment which track. A disproportionate number T3SU 1106 suffered a derailment the section from the border to includes the tramway terminus that of breaks in rail joints occur on when it ran away empty while Annemasse and refurbishment was originally expected to open in street sections compared with the driver was taking a break, and of three stations. The network is 2019. Opening is now anticipated ballasted track, with repairs overturned on a bend, rolling down not operated by Lémanis, which in 2021, subject to confirmation costing GBP20 000 (EUR23 000) a bank to crush several cars. There is just the co-ordinator between and completion of the extension per break. A guidance document were no injuries. transphoto.ru the operators CFF and SNCF. from North Pier, which still lacks is to be produced this year, There are 23 Stadler Flirt EMUs overhead wires. It had previously published through the Light Rail SINGAPORE and 17 Alstom Coradia PolyvalentI been suggested that a temporary Safety and Standards Board. MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY. EMUs, totalling 40. terminus could be provided, but LONDON (GENERAL). Transport Sixty-two three-car automated A few weeks after the launch this is now considered less likely. for London has announced a metro sets have been ordered 25 000 passengers/day were Blackpool was forced to cancel GBP2m (EUR2.3m) sponsorship from Hyundai Rotem for the 24km using the network; the target is a planned Heritage weekend due to deal with Google for its Oyster (14.9-mile) elevated Jurong line, 57 000/day. P. Hofmann storms in February, with all services and contactless card-readers. to open in 2026. This is the NYON – ST-CERGUE (NStCM). due to high winds and waves. The 12-month sponsorship covers first order for Hyundai Rotem Six more Stadler ABe4/8 two- EDINBURGH. Work on the main the replacement of 5686 pads from Singapore MTR, valued at car EMUs are due for delivery in phase of the Trams for Newhaven across the network; revenue will be EUR270.2m. IRJ 2021-22, which will create a project was to start on Leith Walk reinvested into the network. RGI standard fleet with the four existing in late March and will continue LONDON (UNDERGROUND). SPAIN vehicles of this type. Older vehicles to mid-2021, during which time Roundel signs have been installed BARCELONA. The 1.3km BDe4/4 201-5 and trailers Bt 301 the road will be reduced to a single at the future station at Battersea (0.8-mile) Tibidabo heritage and ABt 302-5 (ACMV 1985-6) lane towards the city centre. Power Station – the first of 113 tramway is still closed for will be offered for sale. T-2000 Tram services were unable to for this site as well as the second reconstruction, and little work ZERMATT – GORNERGRAT reach the airport at times during station on the Northern line appears to have been done in the (GGB). Five new trains have been February, due to flooding and extension at Nine Elms. The last two years since it was announced. ordered from Stadler for CHF45m infrastructure damage. roundels to be made for a new Re-opening is unlikely before 2022. (EUR42.3m). The Polaris (Popular . Northern station were for the GC has commissioned a Landscape Railway in Switzerland) Final driver training is underway extension to Morden in 1926. feasibility study for a tram-train sets will see a 20-minute service. EA on the Park line ahead of The new 3km (two-mile) line is network in the Tarragona area, its opening on 22 March. Drivers to open in 2021. between Cambrils and Tarragona THAILAND have undertaken simulator NOTTINGHAM. Nottingham and Reus and Tarragona. This BANGKOK. The Blue line sessions before test driving on Trams has become the first UK light would include Vandellós – Vila- extension from Tao Poon to Tha the new 5.5km (3.4-mile) line, rail operator system to secure ISO Seca, which recently lost its Phra started carrying passengers which will have six new stops 55001:2014 (Assets) certification. service through the opening of a for free from 15 February. linking destinations including ISO 55001 specifies requirements new section of the Mediterranean urbanrail.net stadium, the Imperial for an asset management system; corridor from Barcelona – Valencia. War Museum North, EventCity recognising excellent management TMB is running a pilot at three UKRAINE and the retail intu . of rolling stock, infrastructure, stations on metro line 5 with an LVIV. Tenders are being invited A ‘contactless earlybird bonus’ facilities and equipment, it covers information screen showing the for ten low-floor trams in has been introduced, offering aspects such as lineside vegetation, occupancy of each carriage on the 2021-22, partly using funds from savings on the anytime drains, buildings and car parks. next train. UTM, R. Felski the EIB. infotram.pl price to people travelling before SOUTH YORKSHIRE. Flooding 07.00 on weekdays. It follows a was a major problem in February trial carried out in 2018. with no trams able to reach LUND. Opening of the new 5.5km BATH. Bath Area Trams Redundant T68 1020 and T68A Meadowhall terminus for four (3.4-mile) tramway has been Association held a conference in 2001 were scrapped at Trafford days due to the high levels of postponed to 13 December 2020 February as part of a campaign to Depot in February. Preserved 1007 the River Don; services due to a delay in depot completion. advance proposals to bring light and 1023 remain. terminated at Meadowhall South.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org april 2020 / 153 Worldwide Review

Tram-train operation was LOS ANGELES, CA. The 12 February, after 51 years of the season. The VERA support suspended due to flooding in North Hollywood – Chatsworth in service; 4572-73 have been set organisation was shortlisted for Rotherham. Orange line busway is to be aside for the New York Transit the Awards. TYNE AND WEAR. The contract rebuilt with crossing gates at Museum. Railway Age CRICH (UK). Sponsorship of has now been signed with highway intersections, and grade- PHILADELPHIA, PA (SEPTA). new sleepers for the Bandstand Stadler for the GBP300m separated crossings at Van Nuys Peak-hour ‘skip-stop’ operation Curves had raised GBP9700 (EUR355m) contract to build and Sepulveda boulevards under on the Market – Frankford line (EUR11 225) by early February. and maintain a new fleet of a USD391m project to reduce was eliminated from 24 February Installation and ballasting Metro trains, following the journey times. It will prepare the in order to provide a four-minute was largely completed by the end announcement in January that route for conversion to light rail, headway at all stations. R. Barrows of the month to allow test running the Swiss company was the already outlined as an ambition PORTLAND, OR. In an effort to prior to the start of the museum’s winning bidder. Delivery is to under the Measure M spending reduce travel time through the season on 14 March. be completed by 2024 (see TAUT plan approved in 2016. city centre, three MAX stations Funds have been raised to restore 987 for more detail). USD1.3bn in federal funding (two per direction) on the Blue and the historic Bradford cabmen’s WEST MIDLANDS. The has been secured to finance the Red lines were closed from 1 March. shelter. Installed in Bradford in 196-space park-and-ride site at 10.3km (6.4-mile) Purple line The closures of the Mall/SW 4th 1877, it remained in use until Bradley Lane opened at the start subway extension to VA Hospital. Ave (eastbound only) and Mall/SW 1972 when it was moved to Crich. of February, nine months later Revenue service is expected to 5th Ave (westbound only) stations The project has been supported than expected. New destination start in phases from 2023 to 2027, are permanent, the first such by grants from The Pilgrim Trust screens are being installed on in time for the 2028 Olympic closures in the system’s history. and Association for Industrial platforms across the system. Games. Curbed LA The closure of Kings Hill/Salmon Archaeology, and an Arts Council NEW YORK, NY. NYC Transit station is on a one-year trial basis, National Lottery Project Grant. USA has invited Requests for Proposals after TriMet’s original proposal The museum was runner- BOSTON, MA. MBTA has for up to 949 subway cars to form for permanent closure generated up for the Heritage Railway scheduled an 11-month five-car trains equipped with strong opposition from nearby Association’s outstanding visitor suspension of service on the Green CBTC to replace R62 and R62A businesses and the station's users. experience award, centred around line between North Station and trains on lines 1-7. A base order All of the stations were located 2019’s ‘Electrifying the Future – Lechmere from May, to strengthen for 504 R262 trains is planned, within around 100m of the The Creative Genius of Michael Lechmere viaduct. R. Barrows with an option for another 445, nearest end of the closest adjacent Holroyd Smith’ exhibition. CHICAGO IL. A USD38.3m and a second option for another station. TriMet dropped its plan to SEATON (UK). The tramway is contract has been awarded to 415 if funding is secured in the close Skidmore Fountain station. celebrating 50 years of operation T. Y. Lin International to start next Capital Plan period. An The Portland Streetcar system’s this year, with a Gala Festival on planning for the Red line rapid open gangway design is required. three Brookville Equipment Corp. 29-31 August. The first public transit extension from 95th St Final contracts are expected to be trams are now not expected to service on part of the current line Dan Ryan to 130th St. Federal awarded in 2024. arrive until next year. S.J. Morgan took place on 28 August 1970. funding has still to be obtained The last of the 400 St Louis SANTA ROSA – LARKSPUR, WEHMINGEN (DE). Storm for the project. IRJ R42 subway cars were retired on CA. On 3 March voters defeated Sabine on 10 February blew the proposal to extend the down a large tree at the museum, quarter-cent sales tax measure which fell across the front in Marin and Sonoma Counties portion of 1957 Düwag eight-axle to support operations and tram Düsseldorf 2304, causing expansion of SMART. irreparable damage. DS The proposal to extend the sales tax, not scheduled to expire until CONTRIBUTORS 2029, for another 30 years was Worldwide news items for seen as essential in supporting inclusion should be sent to the future of the diesel light rail Michael Taplin at Flat 8, Roxan line that opened in 2017. The Villa, 33 Landguard Manor Rd, 72km (45-mile) line has struggled Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 to meet ridership forecasts (less 6EA, UK. Fax: +44 (0)1983 862810 than 3000/day in January) and or e-mail [email protected] with mounting debt related to UK and Ireland items are its construction, officials say the welcomed by the Home line could deplete its reserves by News Editor, John Symons, 2024 without the tax renewal. 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, TRIC EC R L A E I L Cutbacks may result, including Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 0LW, UK. L X W N A A

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reduced service, the removal of E-mail [email protected]. onboard Wi-Fi and postponement Acknowledgements are due to: of plans to extend north to Architecture & Design, belta.by, CBC Cloverdale. SF Chronicle, D. Kennard News, Curbed LA, Drehscheibe (DS), Eisenbahn Amateur (EA), Edmonton MUSEUM NEWS Journal, Globes, infotram.pl, BALLARAT (AU). Ex- International Railway Journal W2 407 arrived at the heritage (IRJ), ilSicilia, L’Est Républicain, tramway on 14 February, on lineoz.net, lsm.lv, Manchester loan from Haddon museum for Evening News, Newcastle Herald,

AN M RA F I the Begonia festival in early March. Op de Rails (OR), Ottawa Citizen, O L W E A LL

YY SS

I I

It is expected to stay for two Prague Morning, Railway Age,

years. P. Nicholson Railway Gazette International (RGI), (UK). The Volk’s RTL, RTL.de, SF Chronicle, Sitri Railway is expected to re-open for Botoşani, The Telegraph, Tram-2000, the season on 4 April, although Today’s Railways (TR), transphoto.ru, at present there is a shortage of Transport Publiczny, Trolley operational rolling stock such Wire (TW), urbanrail.net, Urban that cars 7 and 8 may be the only Transport Magazine (UTM) and ones available for the early part Express & Star.

154 / april 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.

SMART needs a little more thought to garner success You occasionally feature the SMART (Sonoma-Marin (Counties) some wealthy families who dislike the urbanisation of the Area Rapid Transit) LRT line in your worldwide columns. This area, have launched a campaign against extension of the line modest system features three-car diesel units, running largely on (5km/three miles north to Windsor), and against the sales tax refurbished North-Western Pacific freight lines in the northern support of the operation. They claim that the subsidy for every suburbs of San Francisco, and towns north of there. It has the round-trip journey is over USD100, and that the trains operate feel of a modern-day interurban, with stops every mile or so. at less than 20% capacity on average (70 passengers per train). But it is not yet very successful, by many accounts. Why not? As a member of the LRTA for almost 60 years, I am a fervent The line was built more or less parallel to Highway 101, a key supporter of light rail. But I have to admit, sadly, that SMART north-south artery through California. This road is desperately is a very limp and disappointing example. overloaded by commuter traffic, particularly between Santa When BART (the Bay Area Rapid Transit system) was Rosa (county seat of Sonoma County) and San Rafael (county being planned in the 1960s, the proposal was to create three seat of Marin County). So it should be popular, right? branches to the east of San Francisco, and three to the west The line was recently extended at the southern end, from (only one of which was built – to San Francisco Airport). San Rafael a couple of miles to a single-track stub terminus at The other two western branches were cancelled. Larkspur, where it proudly boasts that it connects with the One would have taken over from the B-Geary streetcar (now ferry service into San Francisco, so aiding the many commuters the over-burdened 38 bus line), but was deemed too expensive. that need to reach that thriving metropolis. But there are three The other would have turned north, in a tunnel under the problems. First, the station (without any waiting room, shelter Golden Gate Bridge, serving Sausalito, Mill Valley, Corte Madera or major signage) is a five- to seven-minute walk (partially and Larkspur Ferry, and progressing to San Rafael and Santa uphill) from the ferry, through a car park that reminds Rosa. The electorate of Marin County rejected this proposal, commuters of the mode of transport they could have chosen. largely because it would bring ‘undesirable’ people out of the Second, the trains do not seem to be scheduled to connect with city and into the leafy, delightful surroundings of Marin. the ferries: some arrivals require passengers to wait over an Travelling by rail in cities in the US is still largely associated hour for the next ferry. Third, being largely single-track, and with being poor (except in cities like New York, where there with limited rolling stock, the service is hardly intensive. is often no real alternative). The backers of SMART have been Elsewhere, the system reaches its apogee at San Rafael, where trying to swim upstream, and with some success: the system is trains draw into a well-appointed platform, parallel to four operating, after all! But the result is hardly compelling. other bus platforms, with services going in all directions. Until the trains are electric, frequent, and serve their This looks excellent, but there is no dedicated park-and-ride, destinations well, they won’t be seen as essential. and multi-storey car parks in San Rafael are full by 08.00-08.30. I wish SMART the best of luck – but an over-modest system North of San Rafael there are a host of other problems, that goes off at half-cock is not a good advert for light rail. mostly to do with access. For example: the Santa Rosa (Airport) David Kennard, by e-mail station is nearly a mile from the passenger terminal, requiring passengers to march along a main road, in weather that could [Ed: The vote to extend the quarter-cent sales tax that would range from winter rains to summer heat in excess of 40°C. fund long-term operations and expansion of the SMART light The situation is exacerbated by the elections scheduled for rail service until 2050 was defeated in early March – see page 3 March in Northern California. Powerful interests, led by 154 for more details.]

Navigation as a silent benefit of trams This feature came to the fore for me line at Crengeldanz, to the south of the I refer to the letter from David Holt in TAUT again a couple of years ago when I visited wooded area. However, for the present, and 987 (‘The missing links in UK tramway Manchester, having only been previously possibly until the Autumn of 2020, according appraisal processes’) and in particular to several decades ago. Armed with the to a German source, the new alignment has a the last sentence in his second paragraph: Metrolink map it was easy and stress-free to bus replacement service between Langendreer “Tram infrastructure is also uniquely valuable use the tramway for almost all destinations, S-Bahn and Crengeldanz. as an aid to navigation in city centres.” despite only having a very hazy idea of the The same source reports that occasional This ‘throwaway’ comment highlights a present-day geography. Key aspects of this journeys continue to operate via the old fundamental factor with railed transport – were identifiable stops, a frequent service, Kaltehardt line early in the morning and ease of navigation with clearly-defined routes. defined routes and a good system map. late in the evening. Growing up in a south-west London By contrast, for the one bus journey we In the current timetable, from 15 December suburb, I learned early in life to navigate made, it took two of us some time and effort 2019, just one such trip is advertised, leaving by the tram routes: they were frequent and even to locate the bus stop we were to use. Erzstr., at the Engelsburg depot on the well-defined, and one felt secure. Bus routes Howard Burford, Isle of Wight, UK Hontrop line, at 03.49 Monday to Friday and seemed far more daunting, apart from some running through to Heven Dorf, to arrive familiar local ones. Bochum- Vicinal at 04.48. This is the only advertised trip, In the more central areas of London, TAUT 985 reported the closure of the single- but since two trams are needed to maintain the Underground system, assisted by its track Vicinal section of Bochum-Gelsenkirchen the half-hourly service, there must be wonderful map, enabled secure travel to one’s route 310 through the Kaltehardt Woods, another morning movement and two return destination without needing any knowledge with its short double-track section at Am movements late at night. of the geography – the train took me to the Honnegraben. The following issue had a So if you’re an early riser, there is still the designated station without my having to picture of a Stadtbahn-M unit on this section. opportunity, best in June, if the Langedreer recognise a possibly strange area through a This portion of the route has been diverted works don’t get finished ahead of schedule. misty bus window. through Langendreer, to rejoin the original Michael J. Walsh, Glenageary, Ireland

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org APRIL 2020 / 155 Classic Trams Lights, trams 1 ...action! Mike Russell completes his survey of the remarkable Blackpool heritage operation and considers the patterns PART of service, of which the Gold weekends are the high point. TWO

lackpool has various generations Blackpool currently has nearly 20 January, February and March Gold weekends of double-deck cars and these are serviceable heritage cars plus a similar number – some journeys cover the full length of the proudly displayed. Standard 147, out of service awaiting maintenance or stored tramway between and . built in 1924 by Hurst, Nelson of for restoration. So there is a veritable fleet The three weekends prior to Christmas see Motherwell, returned to Blackpool from which to select operations on any day, ‘Santa Specials’, involving Santa’s grotto being inB 2000 from a long stay in the USA and after and efforts are made to rotate the allocation. set-up in the Western Train, parked on North restoration has taken up a proud place. One of the most impressive features is the Pier loop, while a special heritage service runs On loan to Services year-round operation: on around 255 days from the Pleasure Beach to Little Bispham. (BTS) from Transport Trust (FTT) is out of 365, heritage cars are in service. With a A ‘Shop Tram’, usually one of the ‘B’ fleet the most recent complete restoration, Standard heritage roster that exceeds that of the regular Balloons, is set up at North Pier during Gold 143, built in Blackpool’s workshops in 1924. public service fleet, this is truly impressive and and Santa Special weekends, selling souvenirs After withdrawal in 1966 it was retained as an knocks sideways almost every other heritage and merchandise. Dates vary slightly each engineering car (753), serving until disabled operation on a working tramway worldwide. year and visitors should consult the calendar: by fire damage. It was restored to balcony, Arguably the only comparable operation is www.blackpoolheritage.com/httours/timetables unvestibuled condition and joined the that of San Francisco’s E and F lines, which Blackpool’s heritage service is advertised heritage fleet in September 2019. includes two more Blackpool open Boat cars. as a Tram Tour with round-trip fares of GBP4 Finally, in the FTT fleet isJubilee class car (EUR4.70) for adults and GBP2 (EUR2.35) for 761, one of two rebuilt from withdrawn Go for Gold children. There is also an all-day ticket for use Balloon cars and so one of the last two The heritage timetable is published before the only on heritage services. This is for a good double-deck trams built for British service, start of the main visitor season and features reason, as the heritage fleet is not equipped though it is currently non-operational. five patterns of service, each colour-coded. to serve stops with access platforms for the It would be generally incorrect to describe The lowest level, requiring one tram shuttling low-floor Flexity 2 LRT fleet, and to prevent any of the heritage fleet as being in original between North Pier and Pleasure Beach every inhibition of the regular ten-minute public condition. Almost all Blackpool trams were 30 minutes in afternoons, operates mid-week service, they work on a limited-stop basis subject to some degree of reconstruction during in May, September and early October. at Pleasure Beach, North Pier, Cabin and their lives and, aside from the two double-deck There are three forms of two-car service. Bispham (plus and Fleetwood on Standards and twin-set 2, a more accurate The blue timetable operates most weekends Gold weekends). They call at stops separate description would be that they have been and school holidays from January to March from but reasonably close to the normal renovated to as-withdrawn 2011 condition. and in November, and mid-week from April service stop, fitted with a distinctive signage. to mid-July, with one car shuttling between On Gold weekends a special all-day ticket is Illuminated trams North Pier and Pleasure Beach every 30 available for GBP12 (EUR14), giving unlimited Illuminated tramcars are a famous part of the minutes in the morning. This increases journeys on all heritage cars, plus use of the Blackpool scene and for many years visitors to a two-car 20-minute afternoon service, regular bus and tram network. Such tickets can could travel the length of the world-famous with occasional northward trips to Cabin all be bought from conductors of heritage cars. autumn Illuminations in a suitably-decorated or Bispham. An enhanced timetable, with car. The surviving serviceable cars have all a 20-minute daytime service – including Remarkable achievement been transferred to the heritage fleet; these are Cabin and Bispham journeys – operates most Everyone engaged in driving and conducting the ‘Western Train’ motor and trailer set (733, April-October weekends and daily during the the heritage services is a volunteer. That BTS 734), the ‘Frigate’ (736) and the ‘Trawler’ (737). summer holidays (late July to late August). management negotiated such an agreement Two other ‘feature’ cars have been reacquired The mauve timetable applies in the autumn, with Trade Union representatives is a great in recent years following earlier withdrawal. at weekends in September and early October, credit to all concerned, because there is no ‘Hovertram’ 735 and ‘Rocket’ 732 are in the and daily from mid-October to the end of the doubt the operation could not be sustainable FTT fleet; both are out of service but the hope is Illuminations in early November, with two were full commercial costs to be incurred. that they can be re-activated for the enjoyment cars providing a 20-minute afternoon service The Blackpool heritage tramway is a very of Blackpool’s autumn season visitors. between North Pier and Pleasure Beach with a rare example of such an operation mingling Two other relics deserve mention. The couple of Cabin extended journeys. seamlessly with a commercial service. It remains of Paisley 16, latterly Glasgow 1016, The high points of the year are the 11 would be good to think that passenger were brought to Rigby Road in 2017 for Gold weekends. At least six heritage cars are numbers would justify the faith placed in it by eventual restoration and now form part of scheduled for service each day over two- or local enthusiasts and also BTS management the FTT collection. Of more local interest is three-day weekends. These events feature who have a business to run. the lower saloon of double- a basic service between Pleasure Beach and If you have not yet sampled this remarkable deck car 43, one of ten introduced in 1924 as Bispham or Little Bispham, with each car operation, visit Blackpool on a Gold weekend. the last batch of new trams to enter service having at least one journey extended to Where else in the world can you experience on that system and technically the only Fleetwood, allowing heritage cars to operate open-top, single and double-deck tramcars all series ordered by the newly-formed Borough, along the surviving street track. in one place, on reserved track, private right- created in 1922. The eventual recreation of The late September Gold weekend, of-way and with on-street running, all while this car would be a magnificent addition to commemorating the date of the tramway’s enjoying the bracing air of the Irish Sea? the fleet, given that Lytham trams could be 1885 inauguration, features all serviceable seen in operation as far north as Gynn Square heritage rolling stock. The LRT service has a With grateful acknowledgment to BTS and Paul until final abandonment in 1937; the remains reduced winter frequency, allowing heritage Wigan, an FTT Trustee, for invaluable help in are currently on loan to BTS. cars to serve Starr Gate in the November, preparation of these articles.

156 / APRIL 2020 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org 1. Prototype Balloon car 700 is one of the nine retained for the BTS ‘B’ fleet, and has been treated to a double-deck application of the new livery applied to the Flexity 2 fleet. It is shown on Pleasure Beach loop on 23 October 2019. Paul Wigan

2. A trio of Blackpool stalwart tramcars on the upgraded tramway, seen looking south from North Pier on 23 June 2018. Nearest is Balloon 717, part of the heritage fleet and not rebuilt to ‘B’ fleet configuration; also rebuilt Railcoach 680 and Standard 147. Paul Wigan

3. The meeting of generations in Lord Street, Fleetwood, on 24 August 2019, with Flexity 2 012 nearing the end of its normal service to Fleetwood Ferry and Balloon 701 returning south during one of the Gold weekends, when heritage cars operate north of Bispham to Fleetwood. Mike Russell

4. Balloon 715 is part of the FTT 2 collection but on loan to BTS. It is shown crossing the road junction at Broadwater on 24 August 2019 during one of the Gold weekends. Flexity 2 015 is in service to Fleetwood in the background. Mike Russell

5. A gathering of the Blackpool open-top trams at Pleasure Beach loop on 23 August 2014, with Princess Alice, Balloon 706 reconverted to open-top form in 1985, standing alongside Boats 227 and 230. Car 706 has been out of service but is expected to enter the workshops shortly for 3 4 full restoration. Paul Wigan 6. Standard car 147 returned home from the US in 2000 and underwent restoration to totally-enclosed form. It is shown on 5 November 2011, approaching Talbot Square on the former section of shared on-street running, by then segregated for sole use by trams. Mike Russell

7. The latest restoration is of Standard car 143, built by Blackpool in 1924, now in original uncanopied, 5 6 unvestibuled form. After withdrawal in 1957 it was retained as a semi-open-top engineering car but later damaged by fire. Following donation to FTT in 2008 reconstruction commenced. Here it is at Tower Buildings on 23 September 2019. Paul Wigan

8. The illuminated feature trams are a famous part of the Blackpool scene, and none is more popular than the Western Train, formed of cars 733+734. They are shown performing Santa Special duties on 7 8 23 December 2017. Paul Wigan

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org APRIL 2020 / 157 NEWS FROM THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT ASSOCIATION Introducing Campaigning for trams in our new LRTA Bath and the Fylde Coast President Blackpool Transport Services Strong support for light rail demonstrated at two summits in February (BTS) Managing Director is to become the President of the Light ampaigners, politicians and LRTA members Rail Transit Association, and will gathered in Bath and Blackpool in February chair the Association’s AGM in to show their support for bringing trams back Katowice, Poland, in September. C Ms Cole has led BTS since to Bath and the wider region, and extending the successful along the Fylde Coast. November 2014, overseeing the Nearly 200 people attended the two summits – tramway’s extension to Blackpool proof, if proof were needed – of the demand for trams North as well as the growth of the in these areas. Both events featured a significant heritage tram service into one input from the LRTA, with Vice-President Andrew of the region’s most popular Braddock chairing the Bath conference and Chair tourist attractions. Paul Rowen doing the same on the Fylde Coast. Ms Cole succeeds former RATP CEO Francois-Xavier Perrin, and Mark Shelford, on behalf of Bath Area Trams A packed room at the Blackpool conference on 18 February. Association, welcomed people to the conference becomes the Association’s first in Bath on 8 February; while Wera Hobhouse, conjunction with the three District Councils – in female President. MP for the city, confirmed her support for the trying to secure funding from the UK Government. LRTA Vice-President Andrew reintroduction of a tram network to reduce Delegates at both events also heard from Braddock, who proposed the pollution and ease traffic congestion. Jim Harkins, Campaigns Director of the LRTA, appointment, said: “I’m delighted Transport journalist Christian Wolmar gave about the dangers posed by PM2.5 emissions from that someone of Jane’s calibre and the keynote address in Bath, while Sam Flynn, buses and Heavy Goods Vehicles – “There is no such experience has agreed to become LRTA Area Co-ordinator, gave a presentation in thing as a ‘green’ bus,” he concluded. our President.” Blackpool. He said, “The road network between On the success of the two events, LRTA Chair Blackpool and Lytham St Annes is already Paul Rowen added: “It is heartening to see the level heavily-congested and we believe that extending of interest from local politicians and campaigners Blackpool’s tramway network is the best solution.” in these areas. Both are moving forward with Blackpool Transport Services Managing Director studies, but it is important that local people Jane Cole also addressed the Fylde audience, develop local solutions – and that they are listened highlighting the work of the undertaking – in to by government.”

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

March 2020 Saturday 28. Beeston 14.00. Saturday 18. Taunton 14.00. Tuesday 21. London 19.00. Alan Murray-Rust: On four wheels Keith Walton: Tramway tales from Eddie Dawes: ... Tuesday 17. Leeds 19.00. Paul Abell: across Europe. (TLRS) Middle Europe. (TLRS) without the overhead The many things I have learnt about Saturday 28. Garstang 14.00. Monday 20. Liverpool 20.00. Friday 24. Leicester 19.30. trams from modelling them. Howard Piltz: Film of Italian systems. John Ryan: Trams of the world, TBA. (TMS) Saturday 21. Taunton 14.00. (TLRS) including Switzerland, South America Saturday 25. Beeston 14.00. Robert Manders: Climbing hills and and Kolkata. (TLRS) Modelling – bring along your latest dead flats. (TLRS) April 2020 Monday 20. Thames Valley 19.30. project. (TLRS) Thursday 26. Manchester 19.00. Mike Skeggs: Chasing classic trams, Saturday 25. Garstang 14.00. Ian Longworth: Isle of Man Railways; Friday 3. Glasgow 19.30. Douglas part 2 (Please note: one week later Geoff Price: Part 2 of his life around the insider’s view. Boyle: Rails – Toronto & Western than normal). (TLRS) trams. (TLRS) Friday 27. Edinburgh. 19.15. Europe. (Please note the change of date Monday 20. Wickham 19.30. Saturday 25. Towcester 14.00. John Hampton: TBA. to the first Friday of the month). (STTS) Clem Fellows: Trams and childhood, Please call 01865 370634 for details. Friday 27. Leicester 19.30. Tuesday 7. Southampton 19.30. part 2. (TLRS) (TLRS Oxford & Chilterns) John Lessells: Tramways on DVDs David Brown: Classic Southern Tuesday 21. Leeds 19.00. Thursday 30. Manchester 19.00. and the Internet. (TMS) Electric in colour. (LRTA/SEG) Malcolm Hindes: More trams on ciné. Tony Young: Tramways in Bolton.

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

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Lost Tramways of England & Tram Atlas Benelux

Three albums of evocative images from the New edition in this popular series: an excellent tramway era in Bradford, Aberdeen and guide to the tram and metro networks and one Dundee. trolleybus system in Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. English and German text. > 150x200mm, hardback; 64 pages (each); fully illustrated in black & white. > B5 softback; 160 pages, 300+ colour pictures £10.70 each (UK addresses); £13.90 (outside plus 40 maps. UK); £16.50 (Airmail beyond Europe), £20.00 (UK addresses); £22.50 (outside UK); £25.00 (Airmail LRTA Members: £0.90 discount beyond Europe), LRTA Members: £1.80 discount

The Tramways of Brighton and its surroundings Blackpool Trams 1950-1967

Useful history of this rather neglected area; Evocative photo album of the famous seaside includes the various unusual installations the system during the years it became the UK’s seafront city attracted! sole remaining tramway network.

> A4 softback, 108 pages, 145 mainly black & > A4 hardback; 210 pages, 350+ colour and black white pictures, six maps. & white pictures, several maps. £26.50 (UK addresses); £32.50 (outside UK); £38.50 (UK addresses); £43.50 (outside UK); £35.00 (Airmail beyond Europe) £50.00 (Airmail beyond Europe), LRTA Members: £2.50 discount LRTA Members: £3.50 discount

Order direct from the publisher as shown

Mit der Straßenbahn durch das Strassenbahn Jahrbuch 2020 Berlin der 60er Jahre Strassenbahn Magazin Special No. 35 Band 11: Die Linien 72 und 74 The annual review of tram systems in Another evocative album of images of Berlin, German-speaking countries with brief reviews covering two routes that served both halves of from the rest of the world. German text. the city. German text. > A4 softback; 116 pages, 250 colour pictures. > 210x240mm hardback, landscape; 96 pages, EUR19.90 – www.verlagshaus24.de 100 mainly black & white pictures, five maps. EUR22.80 – www.lok-report.de

New from Trolleybooks

A comprehensive history of Britain's last new trolleybus system This highly detailed book, published to mark the 70th anniversary of their introduction, tells the fascinating story of trolleybuses in Glasgow – which replaced many of its iconic tram services. From 1949 to 1967 the network grew to be the third largest in the UK, pioneering the operation of vehicles over 30 feet long.

A4 hardback, 222 pages, 450+ photographs and several maps £32 + P&P from trolleybooks.co.uk or order by post from Trolleybooks, 22 Sandfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LA +44 (0)7772 709563 email: [email protected]

The British Trolleybus Society and the National Trolleybus Association created Trolleybooks four decades ago, to publish definitive books about trolleybuses, their history and operation. All profits go towards trolleybus preservation.

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