THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE

www.lrta.org www.tautonline.com

AUGUST 2016 No. 944 LA TAKES LIGHT RAIL TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Intermodal: Urban rail’s part in the bigger picture Dubai signs Metro expansion deal Could ‘Brexit’ jeopardise UK funding? Seattle brings forward LRT growth ISSN 1460-8324 £4.25 Prague Systems Factfile 08 Tram/metro growth High-floor to meet in the Czech capital low-floor in Utrecht 9 771460 832043 LRT MONITOR TheLRT MONITOR series from Mainspring is an essential reference work for anyone who operates in the world’s light and urban rail sectors. Featuring regular updates in both digital and print form, the LRT Monitor includes an overview of every established line and network as well as details of planned schemes and those under construction.

Each entry includes:

An overview A high-quality of the system’s image for ease development, of future recent major reference projects and known plans for the future

Contact names The vital and numbers operational for the key statistics decision-makers

The European edition covers 425 tramway, light rail and metro systems across the continent – from Armenia to the United Kingdom. Our data is derived from first-person research, so you can be assured that it is the most up-to-date possible, with regular updates to ensure you stay on top of this thriving market. Other editions:

For more details contact +44 1733 367607 or email [email protected] www.mainspring.co.uk/monitor CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association AUGUST 2016 Vol. 79 No. 944 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL EDITOR Simon Johnston Tel: +44 (0)1733 367601 E-mail: [email protected] 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK ASSOCIATE EDITOR 289 Tony Streeter E-mail: [email protected] WORLDWIDE EDITOR Michael Taplin Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. E-mail: [email protected] NEWS EDITOR John Symons 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. E-mail: [email protected] SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR Neil Pulling WORLDWIDE CONTRIBUTORS Tony Bailey, James Chuang, Paul Nicholson, Richard 302 Felski, Ed Havens, Bill Vigrass, Andrew Moglestue,

H. Pulling 304 Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Vic Simons, Herbert Pence, Alain Senut, Thomas Wagner. NEWS 284 DEVELOPMENTS IN PRAGUE 302 PRODUCTION Seattle accelerates light rail plans; Transport Witold Urbanowicz details the Czech Rick Wilson for West Midlands formally launched; capital’s planned expansion schemes. Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 E-mail: [email protected] Dubai signs ‘Route 2020’ metro contract; DESIGN CAF wins in Maryland; Could ‘Brexit’ SYSTEMS FACTFILE: UTRECHT 304 Debbie Nolan jeopardise EIB investment support? Utrecht should have two distinct but ADVERTISING connecting light rail formats by 2018. COMMERCIAL MANAGER Geoff Butler INTERMODAL 2016 289 Neil Pulling takes a visit. Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 E-mail: [email protected] Can coherent and efficient integrated travel PUBLISHER strategies be developed across all modes WORLDWIDE REVIEW 309 Howard Johnston that satisfy all parties? TAUT reports from Citadis unveiled for Shanghai’s future lines; Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the Nottingham’s two-day Intermodal event. Ontario government contributes towards LRTA and LRTA Publishing on the third Friday of each stage 2 of Ottawa’s light rail scheme; air- month preceding the cover date. LOS ANGELES: LRT TO THE BEACH 295 conditioned Hong Kong tram enters service. LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY A relative light rail latecomer, Los Angeles Brian Lomas E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] has opened new lines in 2016 and could be MAILBOX 314 LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) about to take its networks to the next level. Viewpoints on green track, the great gauge Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up debate and monorails as public transport. members of the Light Rail Transit Association. LA STREETCAR 301 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES Mott MacDonald’s Gordon Head explains CLASSIC TRAMS: ROTTERDAM 316 LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), the objectives and challenges of the Peter Burke takes a look at the museum line 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Streetcar project to revitalise downtown LA. celebrating the former RTM network. Tel: +44 (0)117 9517785 BACK ISSUES Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION What does Brexit mean for rules and funding? Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. ‘Brexit’ didn’t even exist as a word until a few months ago, yet now this LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE term is on the lips of everyone in the country it refers to, everyone across the c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, Kent DA16 2BY, UK. European Union which the UK has voted to leave, and around the world. Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 It is still early days: As yet, nobody yet knows exactly what form Brexit in England and Wales. will take, where it will lead, or when. What is known is that there will LRTA CHAIRMAN have to be significant negotation between the UK and its EU partners and Andrew Braddock within the structures of the organisation itself – as well as potentially other partners E-mail: [email protected] around the world as the UK seeks to re-establish independent trading relationships. LRTA DEPUTY CHAIRMAN Depending on how the situation is handled, Brexit undoubtedly offers opportunities Paul Rowen as well as challenges, but it’s one of the latter I want to pick up on here: the European LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE c/o 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU, Investment Bank has raised questions about its ability to carry on funding UK projects of UK. Private Limited Company, No. 06169422 all kinds (see News). While those who pushed for the UK to leave rightly pointed out that in England and Wales. the country is a net contributor to the EU’s budget – thereby suggesting that money for © LRTA Publishing 2016 things currently being supported could be available even if the source might change – Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also at this point there is understandably some uncertainty about the way forward. The same later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the is true of regulation: will the UK be part of the single market and, if not, what might that opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of mean for a wide range of legislation? These decisions must be taken carefully and there LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. could be wide-ranging repercussions for transport, the environment and millions of jobs. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in Building and operating light rail is a long-term undertaking, so confidence in the any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and stability of legislation and funding is a pre-requisite. So while a post-referendum UK is retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from probably right not to rush into anything, it’s also surely true that to keep disruption to a the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the minimum, some kind of directon of travel needs to be made clear as soon as possible. magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. Brexit is just one of many uncertainty-causing factors in the world right now. But what COVER: New Kinkisharyo P3010 rolling stock at businesses, and planners, need... is certainty. Simon Johnston, Editor Metro’s Monrovia facility in Los Angeles. Vic Simons

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 283 News Seattle accelerates its light rail plans Next openings of Sound Transit’s massive USD54bn programme brought forward by two to five years

ollowing public reaction Seattle Streetcar 407 northbound at its open house on Westlake Avenue on the South meetings, Sound Transit Lake Union line in June 2016. has approved changes The Amazon logo is prominent, Fto its 25-year Draft Plan 3 that while in the background is the bring forward the agency’s 37-storey Amazon Tower, the planned light rail extensions group’s corporate HQ. S. J. Morgan (99km/62 miles) by two to five years. Extensions to Federal Way and Redmond will now open in 2024, to Ballard in 2035, Everett in 2036, to West Seattle and Tacoma in 2030 and Tacoma Link to Community College in 2039. The overall USD54bn cost is to be funded in part by new sales, motor vehicle excise and property taxes, which will be on the November ballot for voter approval. In other news, the Inekon trams equipped with batteries for off-wire movement on the First Hill Streetcar are of the 121-Trio type, as distinct from the 12-Trio. As planned, 407, the additional 121-Trio purchased specifically for expansion of service on the South Lake Union Streetcar line, In the spring, a shortage of The five ex-Melbourne trams Restoration Inc. in Arlington, and financed by Amazon, is now motormen forced the occasional from the former Waterfront WA, for indefinite storage, and in the active fleet of that line, cancellation of some duties on the Streetcar line have all vacated will be joined by 525 as a source joining 2007-built 12-Trio cars First Hill line, but a new class of their warehouse that is due to be of parts. The others have gone 301-3. Cars 401-6 are serving the trainees completed their training demolished; 272 and 605 went to to St Louis for the Delmar Loop First Hill line. on 10 June eliminating that issue. the property of Historic Railway heritage tramway. Car-maker BYD Škoda breaks through in Germany eyes Chinese Škoda Transportation has won tram market its first tram order in Germany, with the decision of the city of At a shareholder meeting on Chemnitz to award a EUR35m 6 June, BYD Chairman and contract for 14 five-section, Chief Executive Wang Chuanfu 32m, stainless-steel, double- announced that the Chinese ended 100% low-floorForCity conglomerate is to develop a Classic trams. Delivery of the light rail vehicle division to serve first prototype will be in 2018 the country’s second-, third- with series delivery planned and fourth-tier cities over the for 2019. A 15T ForCity (Praha next five years. 9238) ran trials in Chemnitz Already a manufacturer of in April 2012. electric cars, rechargeable battery The new trams, based on units, mobile phone components those already delivered to Škoda’s computer-generated image of its new tram for Chemnitz. Škoda and photovoltaic cells, the Miskolc and Konya, will firm would be well-placed to replace the ten remaining standard-gauge Chemnitz 915mm-gauge network dating develop light rail vehicles for the Tatra T3 sets dating from the system dates from 1960, from 1880. country’s growing market for late 1980s, as well as providing when the city was in the DDR The city is also noted for sustainable transportation, Wang fleet expansion for the new and called Karl-Marx-Stadt. tram-train operation under the suggested. He also confirmed line 3. The 40km (25-mile) Standard-gauge replaced a so-called Chemnitzer Modell. that the Shenzen-based company has already set up a light rail research institute to look at Mannheim opens Stadtbahn Nord tram extensions vehicle technologies as well as train integration, interiors and Mannheim’s Stadtbahn Nord (4A) to Käfertaler Wald. Both over the Rhein–Haardt-Bahn to communication systems. 6.4km (four-mile) extensions run to the city centre (joining Bad Dürkheim as line 9. The company estimates that its opened on 11 June. It is hoped to the network at Bonifatiuskirche) Former OEG service from Hbf operating income this year will add a million passengers per year and across the river Rhein to to Wallstadt and Heddesheim via exceed CNY100bn (EUR13bn); to the system. Oggersheim in Ludwigshafen and Wassterturm has been renumbered its total revenue for 2015 was The western branch, line 4, runs to Bad Dürkheim. RNV has added 5A. Peak service 15 runs to CNY77.6bn (EUR10.3bn). to Waldfriedhof and the eastern one limited stop service per hour Mannheim Hbf via Paradeplatz.

284 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Transport for West Midlands launched Authority and ‘Alliance’ confirmed that will deliver GBP1.2bn Midland Metro expansion

urther to news in the last The alliance consists of the West issue, Transport for West Midlands Combined Authority, Midlands (TfWM) Colas Rail (and its partners Colas formally replaced the Ltd, Barhale, Thomas Vale and FUK’s West Midlands Integrated Auctus Management Group) and Transport Authority and Centro a consortium of designers made (the Passenger Transport up of Egis Rail, Tony Gee and Pell Executive) as part of a devolution Frischman. package that came into effect on Midland Metro Alliance 17 June. This was delayed from Director Iain Anderson 10 June due to a last-minute said: “This is an extremely parliamentary challenge. exciting opportunity for all TfWM will drive forward parties within the alliance. more than GBP4bn (EUR4.7bn) The scale of the proposed of transport infrastructure development programme, and delivery over the coming decade, the commitment to a ten-year including further tramway duration provides us with a extensions, new suburban rail unique opportunity to develop lines, cycle routes and improved efficient bespoke solutions, motorway links. A key priority build long term relationships over the next 12 months will be and to play a major role in to draw up a timetable setting out the enhancement of the which schemes will be delivered communities within which we The newly-announced Midland Metro Alliance will deliver four new extensions when in the lead up to the arrival to the UK’s Midland Metro over the coming decade; CAF Urbos 21 on Bull Street in will be operating.” of the UK’s new High Speed 2 central Birmingham on 28 June. Neil Pulling A business case is also (HS2) rail line in the region. currently being prepared Specific projects – most Proposals to extend Midland agreement which will see the to extend the Metro from of which have already been Metro to a new Wolverhampton same planning, design and Wednesbury to Brierley Hill. previously announced – include Interchange have been accepted construction team building the The last remaining element in extending the Midland Metro in full. The GBP18m (EUR22m) four new tram extensions over the first phase of the expansion tramway to the planned Curzon extension paves the way for the the coming decade totalling of Midland Metro came on HS2 station, and on to the airport/ next stage of a wider GBP120m GBP1.2bn (approx. EUR1.4bn). 1 June when Birmingham’s HS2 Interchange; to Centenary (EUR144m) redevelopment of A significant departure from Snow Hill stop was opened Square (2019) and along Broad land around the railway station. the traditional UK model of on a permanent basis; it had Street to Edgbaston (2020-21); Preparatory work is already appointing contractors on a previously been open for a short to Wednesbury connecting to underway and the extension project by project basis, the period earlier in the year. the existing line to Birmingham is expected to be operational agreement will see all parties in Services reached Grand and Wolverhampton; and in 2019. the alliance share the risks and Central from 30 May (TAUT 943), along Pipers Row stopping at On 28 June, the formation rewards with a significant focus on when a new timetable featuring the bus station and the new of the Midland Metro Alliance team-working with stakeholders, improved peak hour services Wolverhampton Interchange. was confirmed, a legal businesses and the community. was introduced.

CAF wins Maryland NEWS IN The striking PICTURES appearance of the Riyadh Purple line contract Metropolis mock-up, CAF USA has been selected to commuter services and local looking from deliver 26 five-sectionUrbos bus routes. the front to LRVs for the USD2bn Purple CAF USA also holds 20% the interior. Line in the Maryland suburbs of a joint venture with lead Alstom of Washington DC, USA. contractor Fluor and Alternate The contract, announced Concepts (operator of Phoenix’s on 28 June and valued at more Valley Metro) to operate and than USD200m, will see the maintain the line for 30 years 80% low-floor double-ended from its opening in early 2022. vehicles manufactured at CAF Riyadh metro mock-up unveiled USA’s plant in Elmira, NY, and On 8 June Alstom unveiled a full-size mock-up of the Metropolis destined for includes spares and tooling. the city’s future metro project in the presence of the Governor of Riyadh, HRH The 16.2km (ten-mile) Purple Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The event was organised for Line will run from Bethesda in the ArRiyadh Development Authority, to mark the end of tunnelling work Montgomery County to New on the future line 5 (Green line), one of three metro lines (Yellow, Green and Carrollton in Prince George’s Purple) totalling 64km (40 miles) being built by the FAST Consortium. County with 19 intermediate The event also marked the start of track construction by Alstom, on an stops. The line, electrified at at-grade section of line 4 (Yellow line). Alstom is supplying a fully-integrated metro system, including 69 two-car Metropolis trains, infrastructure, CBTC 1500V dc, will provide direct signalling, automation and the energy system (optimised to reduce power connections to Washington An artist’s impression of the consumption). Each air-conditioned train features three classes of travel: first, Metro’s Red, Orange and Green Urbos LRV that will be running in family and single, with all axles powered. lines, MARC and AMTRAK Washington’s suburbs from 2022. CAF

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 285 News

New Jersey extends LRVs Dubai’s RTA signs ‘Route

NJ Transit has rolled out the first of its extended fleet for the 2020’ metro contract Newark Light Rail system after successful prototype testing. The company opted to tackle network Red line to reach Expo 2020 site five months ahead of the show opening capacity issues by lengthening ten of its Kinkisharyo LRVs, he AED10.6bn stations at Jumeirah Golf Estates five months before the official nearly half of the existing fleet, (EUR2.6bn) contract for and Dubai Investment Park and opening of the Expo. rather than buying new, saving the Route 2020 project a terminus at the Expo site. Alstom, lead partner in the over 65% of the estimated cost. to extend the Dubai Station designs are inspired by consortium, is to deliver 50 Kinkisharyo designed an TMetro Red line has been awarded aeroplane wings. new trainsets as part of the additional section that could to the Expolink consortium of Capacity of the new line is contract, with 15 to operate be inserted into the existing Alstom (France), Acciona (Spain) estimated as 23 000 passengers/ the Expo service and 35 to three-car units; NJ Transit has and Gülermak (Turkey) by the hour/direction according to supplement the existing already successfully introduced emirate’s Roads and Transport RTA studies, with initial Kinkisharyo rolling stock to a similar practice on the Hudson Authority. estimates of 125 000 passengers enhance Red line services. The – Bergen system (25 sets), where The 15km (9.3-mile) extension carried each day in 2020, rising firm will also be responsible for the NJ Transit prototype tests will run 11.8km (7.3 miles) on to 275 000/day by 2030. electromechanical works. Thales were carried out. viaduct and 3.2km (two miles) Construction on the extension will provide technical systems The cost per set was USD1.55m in tunnel with seven stations from Nakheel Harbour and and Acciona and Gülermak will compared to approximately including a transfer with the Red Tower Station to the Expo 2020 handle civil engineering. USD4.6m for a brand new set. line, elevated stations serving site is scheduled to begin later An extension to Al Maktoum More than 80% of project costs The Gardens, Discovery Gardens in 2016. Passenger operations International Airport is planned were funded under the federal and Al Furjan, underground are to begin on 20 May 2020 – for the future. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program, jointly administered by the Federal Highway Trambaix/Trambesós link quantified Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. Barcelona’s city council has effective option was found to other) and with a total cost recently released the results of be a connection from Francesc of EUR175m over a 30-year the studies it commissioned Macià along Diagonal to Plaça period, this would be used Hasselt – Maastricht to determine how the two de les Glòries. At an initial by an estimated 222 000 tram plan under threat presently separate tram cost of EUR105m (equally daily, including 15 000 new The inability of the planned networks (Trambaix and split between construction passengers. It is claimed this light rail line to reach the centre Trambesós) should be and landscaping on the one would eliminate 12 500 car of Maastricht, Belgium, due to connected. The most cost- hand and extra trams on the journeys and cut CO2 emissions decisions made by the city council in the Diagonal area by 50%. will reduce passenger numbers Each of the 11 new stops by 13% according to a study would be used by double the released in June. This may herald number of passengers that abandonment of the project. currently use any of the existing PESA resumes Moscow Trambesós and Trambaix halts, tram deliveries one of the reasons for the need In early 2015, after 60 of the 120 for extra vehicles. Fokstrot low-floor trams had This compares with the been delivered, the deal between option of a bus connection the Moscow city-region tram operator and PESA was put on along Diagonal costing hold as the Ruble was trading so EUR20m which would attract low in relation to the Euro and 49 000 daily passengers and Mosgortrans said that it could not only reduce car journeys by afford to complete the order. 1800. Nevertheless the most But following a period of stability effective solution would a delivery of ten new trams has be the construction of an been agreed with a further 20 underground tram tunnel likely to follow; PESA is hopeful along Diagonal, which could that the original order will eventually be fulfilled. be used by as many as 239 000 Barcelona has 41 Alstom Citadis 302 trams to operate its two separate tram daily users but has a prohibitive Hyperloop for Moscow? networks. This is 211.04 of Trambesós near Can Llima. M. R. Taplin price tag of EUR475m. First unveiled in 2013, the radical vaccum-tubed Hyperloop recently underwent its first scale model testing in Las Vegas. First steps taken for Baton Rouge light rail project Among the first countries to register interest are Sweden and On 22 June Baton Rouge Metro The bond is part of the for planning, environmental and Finland (connecting Stockholm Council, LA, approved a USD10m USD34m that the City-Parish engineering studies. and Helsinki) and Slovakia. bond to fund the proposed of Baton Rouge is expected to If federal funding is Reports have also emerged of tramlinkBR line to connect commit to the USD170m project confirmed, the city’s bond will Russia joining the list of interested Louisana State University to budget; the bulk of the funding be repaid with downtown vehicle parties; preliminary discussions downtown Baton Rouge with is expected to come through parking fees. Construction is indicate the possibility of freight a 4.8km (three-mile) light rail Federal Small Starts funding. expected to take three years services starting in 2019, with passengers carried from 2021. route that serves 11 stops and a The City-Parish received a federal with anticipated passenger depot at South Boulevard. TIGER grant in September 2014 service beginning in 2021.

286 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Paris T6 extension opens T6, one of two Paris systems that Could ‘Brexit’ jeopardise use the NTL rubber-tyred system, opened a short extension on 11 June, following commissioning on 28 May. The extension north from funding for UK transport? the Robert Wagner stop has added 1.6km (one mile) of underground Major long-term scheme finance uncertain following UK ‘Leave’ vote running, taking the line to 14km (8.7 miles) and 21 stops. The two new stops are Viroflay- ne of many Rive-Gauche, connecting with uncertainties the Paris – Brest RER railway, and resulting from the the new terminus at Viroflay- UK’s referendum vote Rive-Droite, connecting with the Oto leave the European Union (EU) Paris –Versailles RER service. The descent/ascent to the underground of 23 June is how it may affect section has a 9.5% gradient, one of funding for UK transport schemes. the main reasons that rubber-tyred The European Investment stock was chosen. Bank (EIB) supports urban rail schemes across Europe and Jakarta LRT project has contributed substantial breaks ground 22 June saw the ground-breaking sums to the construction of for the planned 6km (3.7-mile) Midland Metro, Manchester first phase light rail line from Metrolink, Nottingham Express Kelapa Gading to Velodrome Transit, London’s Crossrail (for the 2018 Asian Games). and the extension of London Underground’s Northern Line Alstom appoints new extension to Battersea. UK & Ireland MD EU funding mechanisms have been instrumental to many tramway projects; Alstom has appointed Nick The EIB is owned by the EU’s Alstom Citadis 2020 outside the European Parliament in 2011. Neil Pulling Crossfield as Managing Director 28 member states. The UK, for UK & Ireland. Mr Crossfield alongside Germany, France the BBC’s Newsnight that the financing prospects, such as those has worked for Alstom since 2015 and Italy, is among its largest uncertainty created by the vote used for major infrastructure and has extensive experience shareholders, with a 16% stake. means that some UK projects, projects. Those types of projects across the rail industry and Over the last five years, the EIB which previously would have could still be ongoing if and when other industry sectors, both in has supported schemes across the stood a good chance of receiving the UK would be leaving the EU. the UK and across Europe as a UK with over GBP5bn (EUR6bn), European financing support, are Leave campaigners have former Managing Director of Siemens Rail Automation UK, but after the ‘Leave’ vote it has now less likely to be approved. consistently claimed that as the Managing Director of Invensys been suggested that there may The EIB also told Newsnight it UK is a net contributor to EU Rail and Director, Contracts & be an impending freeze on would be particularly cautious budgets, funding levels can be Procurement at Network Rail. some investments. The EIB told when looking at longer-term maintained. Moscow’s first express tramline costs estimated

It has been reported that investment with the remainder The first line is planned to of 241km (150.6 miles) and Moscow’s first Region coming from the regional run from the regional town pass through 26 major Moscow Express Tramway line has budget. Companies interested of Podolsk to Ramenskoye via regional towns, reducing road a construction estimate of in the project are reported Domodedovo, an estimated traffic significantly as well RUB92-98bn (EUR1.3-1.4bn); to include VTB Capital, the distance of 74.5km (46.6 as improving travel times 75% of this project cost is Eurasian Development Bank, miles). When complete, the between residential areas and expected to be met by private Siemens and Alstom. RET will have a system length the city’s airports.

Miami Beach proposal revealed NEWS IN PICTURES The first detailed renderings of and catenary-free operation is a what Miami Beach’s LRT scheme possibility. could look like have been released The current proposal is for a by the Connect Miami Beach light rail system in Miami Beach consortium of CAF USA, OHL, itself, but future plans include Globalvia COMSA, Community connecting with the mainland Asphalt, Atkins SENER, over Biscayne Bay (TAUT 942). Railworks and LK Comstock. Alternative proposals are CAF’s Urbos has been tailored expected from the Alstom-led for Miami with easy bicycle Greater Miami Tramlink Partners movement seen as a priority and Miami Beach Mobility Nexus (including storage racks inside) Partners. Metro meets Flying Scotsman Tyne & Wear Metro passengers were surprised on 11 June by a visit from the world famous Flying Scotsman steam locomotive, recently renovated in a ten- year GBP4.2m (EUR5m) programme. The visit was kept under wraps to avoid trainspotters trespassing on the lines to get a better view. Raymond Johnstone, Nexus Director of Rail and Infrastructure, said: “About 60-70 spectators came to see the Flying Scotsman go through. Metro drivers were briefed not to enter Northumberland Park if they saw Flying Scotsman because it would have blocked the view.” Connect Miami Beach

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 287 “On behalf of UKTram specifically Voices from the industry… and the industry as a whole I send V my sincere thanks for such a great event. Everything about it oozed quality. I think that such an event shows any doubters that light rail in the UK can present itself in a way that is second to none.” Colin Robey Managing Director, UKTram

The 11th Annual UK Light Rail Conference brings together over 250 decision-makers for two days of open debate covering all aspects of light rail 27-28 July 2016 operations and development. Delegates can explore the latest industry Conference Aston innovation within the event’s exhibition area and examine LRT’s role in alleviating congestion in our towns and cities and driving economic growth. Birmingham, UK Topics and themes for 2016 include: > Safety and security in street-running environments > Refurbishment vs renewal? BOOK NOW! > Low Impact Light Rail To secure your place > Delivering added value from construction and modernisation please call > Managing timetable change and passenger disruption +44 (0) 1733 367600 > Environmental considerations for LRT construction or visit > Selling light rail: Who? When? How? www.mainspring.co.uk > What the Luxembourg Rail Protocol means for light rail > Tram-Train: Alternative perspectives > Where next for UK LRT? > Major project updates

SUPPORTED BY News Focus INTERMODAL 2016 Can coherent and efficient integrated travel strategies be developed across all modes that satisfy all parties and bring us more in line with the needs of the passenger? TAUT reports from two days of debate in the UK city of Nottingham.

he challenges of increased Nottingham Express Transit concessionaire that the card could be a model for other UK urbanisation, road congestion Tramlink Nottingham and Local Enterprise cities as the first such scheme outside the and poor air quality are regularly Partnership D2N2, Councillor Nick country’s capital. addressed in TAUT, as are the McDonald from Nottingham City Council Cllr McDonald said that “bold and opportunities presented by proudly spoke of his city’s policies of allying sometimes radical political commitment technologyT and smart solutions. We all land use and sustainable transport. He has always been at the forefront our decision- accept that trams and light rail are not also explained its success in discouraging making”, referencing the city council’s land the complete solution to challenging the city centre car use, with the recent use policies and the Workplace Parking Levy convenience of private travel, however with implementation of its cycle superhighway introduced in 2012 that has helped part-fund the pronounced way that our relationship vision and extensions to its tram network. Nottingham’s transport improvements. with travel is changing, the interaction Nottingham Express Transit doubled in Bircham Dyson Bell’s Senior Associate between the growing popularity of light rail size with the opening of two new lines to Rahul Bijlani further outlined the and how that integrates with other forms of Clifton and Toton in August 2015 and the background to road charging schemes as transport are key to how our society develops. city region has developed an integrated an enabler in unlocking transport funding: Intermodal 2016, held in the UK city smartcard that covers both municipal and “The legislation which allows local of Nottingham on 20-21 June, addressed private bus and tram operators. The Robin authorities to bring road charging levies into many of the issues in the creation of the Hood Card was also presented at the event, force is very powerful, very flexible and in development of efficient integrated transport with the challenges in rolling out complex fact has been under-used. The scope of the networks that deliver comfortable, secure, commercial structures and dynamic fare powers is very broad. When talking about connected end-to-end journeys. capping highlighted, although it is hoped road user charging, you can do pretty much The UK’s Department for Transport’s figures show that the car is the most common mode of travel (accounting for 64% of all trips in 2014, and 78% of the total distance travelled in the latest available data). Of all “Everyone in the journeys made in 2014, 19% were under one mile (1.6km), and 66% under five miles and West Midlands will although 24% of households in England benefit, although not have no car access, bus and rail usage outside the capital is shown to be on the decline. necessarily at the The UK’s tramways and light rail systems buck this trend, however, with the latest same time or in the figures showing widespread year-on-year same way.” growth (allied to larger networks and greater availability of services) and Transport Cllr Roger Lawrence Focus surveys confirming higher passenger ABOVE: The Intermodal audience comprised a satisfaction with their journeys. broad spectrum of the passenger transport industry. A series of 47 presentations and debates at Intermodal explored the role of technology, funding and finance, modal integration, system design, propulsion innovation, passenger safety and security, climate change and passenger focus across all urban modes. They were heard by an audience of senior transport planners, local and national governmental figures, consultants and the supply chain over two fascinating days. The common consensus shared by the delegates, presenters and panellists at the event is that the power shift away from the traditional transport model is growing in pace as technology allows the piecing together of both work and leisure trips from a multitude of separate travel options. Today’s passengers demand real-time information, entertainment and control from journey planning through to completion, yet many modes are still largely operated independently – to the detriment of the door-to-door journey.

Funding, governing and finance Following an introduction by event Combined authorities, City Deals and the difficulties in reaching common regional consensus and how all Chair Peter Richardson, Chairman of this could affect transport decision-making and funding options proved a lively debate.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 289 News Focus

anything – charging at specific times or with a focus on the imperative of combating need to be on a path to either electric or on specific days, areas, distances, payment emissions and moving away from traditional hydrogen propulsion, or both, by the middle method and you can be very sophisticated. internal combustion-engined vehicle use. of this century.” “There will be more emissions-related Although buses are often portrayed as charging going forward, such as London’s an old-fashioned, fume-belching mode The solutions? Ultra Low Emissions zone and recent that clogs our streets and as a ‘rival’ to light Both Bombardier PRIMOVE and Ballard policy statements by DEFRA state that rail, the debate around their future in the Power Systems offered visions of alternative ‘clean air zones’ are being promoted and UK formed some interesting discussion. traction power that can help to address the will be required in the five most polluted Although having declining usage outside climate challenge for public transport. UK cities in terms of nitrogen dioxide – London, buses are still the most prevalent Nikolaus Sauer, Project Manager for Birmingham, Leeds, Southampton, Derby provider of UK public transport– around PRIMOVE, outlined his firm’s electric and Nottingham.” 5.6bn journeys each year, three times that of solutions and the driver for the development Held just a few days before the UK’s the nation’s railways – and one of the panel of inductive charging to make systems referendum on EU membership, many discussions brought together municipal cleaner, quieter and more attractive with talking points surrounded independence commercial and municipal operators, invisible fast charging. These systems are and devolution, and a common call was consultants and manufacturers on the future undergoing trials in Germany on both heard amongst many speakers for a greater of the UK bus market. bus and tram and in November 2015 a need for sub-national transport bodies for Gary Nolan, a Regional Director of Bombardier tram powered by PRIMOVE planning, procurement and legal structures. Stagecoach’s UK Bus division, said: “We’re and MITRAC technologies in Mannheim During a debate on how devolution could working on various propulsion options, completed a 41.6km (25.8-mile) test on reshape the UK’s transport dynamic, with chip fat buses in Kilmarnock, the Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr (RNV) network Member of Parliament for Nottingham South biomethane buses in Lincoln, a fleet of 40 entirely away from catenary power. Lilian Greenwood (at the time also Shadow gas buses running in Sunderland and 400 PRIMOVE’s ‘premium’ solution uses a Transport Secretary) said: “We have to make electric-hybrid buses across the UK. All of power convertor installed under the road the links between portfolios. When we talk them have significant additional cost and surface with a feeder coil that transmits about transport it’s too easy to get narrowly that’s the issue we’re facing: which one do power inductively to the vehicle. Cooling focused and not think about what that could we go with and which one offers the best units are located onboard and on the mean for economic and housing development commercial answer? pavement alongside stops or incorporated and what that could mean for health. “For example, the gas plant we built in into them. Charging takes 30-60 seconds “Bringing that to a local level, decisions Sunderland cost a million pounds; we got a and offers enough charge for short that don’t need to be made in Whitehall grant towards the vehicles but we had to distances, while longer charges are given being made closer to the end user – the fund the plant ourselves and that’s where at route termini. All power equipment is passengers, the car driver, the pedestrian, the you need the volume. When you’re playing incorporated into one box that is easy to citizen – is really important.” around with small numbers of vehicles, integrate and maintain and features remote Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of the cost can be astronomical. The perception monitoring. PRIMOVE tram technology with Wolverhampton Council and a member of of dirty, smelly buses is wrong, but we’re the newly-formed West Midlands Combined doing all we can.” Authority, added: “The core of our plan is Mark Fowles, Managing Director of transport, although there is a clear difference municipal bus operator Nottingham City between devolution and decentralisation Transport (and former Chair of Arrow Light “Our contribution and I don’t think everybody realises that. We Rail that delivered Line One of Nottingham’s hope that there will be a stronger decision tramway) offered insight of his own: “Public to global warming is process in there, and we have a mantra in the transport’s contribution to global warming miniscule compared West Midlands that everyone will benefit, is miniscule compared to the big issue – the although not necessarily at the same time private car… we’re talking about the gnat on to the car... it’s the and not necessarily in the same way.” the backside of the elephant. It’s the car, gnat on the backside Nathan Marsh, Partner at EY, usefully it’s industry, that’s where the issue is. drew together many points from the Public transport is something we can of the elephant.” two days in stating that he believes that do something about, but I can’t see any we need new models of thinking about politician, anywhere in the world, saying Mark Fowles investment, passenger interaction and the “you’re not going to drive your car”. It’s just transport offering. He remarked: “The role not going to happen. TOP RIGHT: of technology and the passenger desire “We need some form of propulsion Nottingham’s for a more personalised, more retail-like mechanism that closes the CO2 loop. That tramway is experience means the economic case has to doesn’t necessarily mean that the vehicle a successful change. Quite simply, the current funding won’t be producing CO2, what it means is example of structures, sources and mechanisms will not that the CO2 is captured because once we go seamless be fit for purpose over the next 15-20 years. above the 400 parts/million, we’re gone in integration of a “We need to link urban transport terms of climate change. modern light rail investment to wider social and economic “One of my best friends is one of the system into both connectivity. We need to innovate outside world’s leading authorities on climate change an established and historic city technology. We all know about coding, app and he no longer recycles because he thinks and with other development and data analytics etc and all of it’s too late already. Until we wake up to that transport modes. these are rich, deep and important, but I want fact, the imperative that will drive forward to see the same sort of innovation from the that closed loop cycle will not reach the RIGHT: One legal sector, from the accountants and from political agenda because it’s too expensive of the most local and national government.” and too hard to deal with – sadly.” fascinating Michael Jacobs, Visiting Fellow at the discussions saw The environment UK’s Institute for Public Policy Research, the audience A key driver of the need to move away from commented in a separate debate: “No major question expert private urban and interurban travel choices UK city outside of Blackpool and Preston practitioners from a range of is tackling poor urban air quality and the is compliant with the current guidance on disciplines on the associated impacts on public health. Almost particulates and NOx is a major concern as future challenges all UK towns and cities fail to meet EU air we are also way over recommended limits and opportunities quality regulations and these challenges were in all UK cities. We need to get rid of diesel for urban highlighted across both days at Intermodal, cars first, then all diesel vehicles and we transport.

290 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org a lightweight battery solution is already in “By 2020 we may see over 1000 fuel cell commercial service in the Chinese city of buses on the roads in China and in Foshan Nanjing and other projects are planned. commercial operation will begin in 2017 Nicholas Pocard, Director of Channel of hybrid fuel cell trams. No additional Management for Ballard gave a different infrastructure is needed, a 200kw power view of the future, that of fuel cell-electric module is used – as opposed to 60-100kw for hybrid powertrains: “From a comparison of a bus – and any additional infrastructure is all the alternative drivetrains, one of the key provided at the depot.” advantages of fuel cell technology is to give On the question of asset lifespans – one of autonomy to the vehicle. Fuel cells are seen in the biggest questions for battery solutions many cases as a range extender to double the – Mr Pocard replied: “Our fuel cell stacks range compared to a pure electric solution have passed 20 000 hours of operational life and give route flexibility without any without degradation. But most important limitation for situations such as steep hills or is the cost reduction; fuel cell modules have heavily-loaded vehicles.” come down by 75% over the past decade and “China has shown a huge demand for are continuing to go down.” electric propulsion. Government incentives provide a strong motivation for operators to Passenger technologies move away from diesel to battery or hybrid At the turn of the 21st Century, around 200 fuel cell operation. Fuel cells also overcome the million devices had Internet connectivity. limitations of range and ageing of batteries, By 2008 they exceeded the world’s human particularly in extreme environments that population and there are currently over affect the lifetime and performance of 20 billion. By 2050, many analysts believe batteries over a number of years. there will be 50 billion devices capable of

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Keolis’ Digital and Innovation Group Director Arnaud Julien outlined another vision of this connected passenger environment with a description of the Connectram project launched in Bordeaux in April 2016. An Alstom Citadis fitted with onboard screens and outside cameras uses augmented reality technology to allow passengers to see the world outside the vehicle with 3D overlaid images of the development of the city’s future Euratlantique neighbourhood and real-time, geo-located information on connections such as available rental bikes, nearby parking garages, and connecting bus, tramway, and train schedules – a truly ground-breaking development. One of the most well-attended sessions over the two days brought together various disciplines to consider the future of public transport. Economists, environmental specialists, architects, engineers and consultants all joined Peter Richardson who chaired the ‘Crystal ball-gazing into the future of public transport’ debate. Jo Baker, Development Director of Urbanisation from Mott MacDonald began ABOVE: Dutch consultant with the statement: “There’s lots of talk Sander van der Eijk gave an about where the future lies and who the big overview of how the city of Utrecht has partnerned public players are going to be. All I would say is that transport development with a Google may be the VHS, Uber may be the strong focus on pedestrian and DVD, but the Netflix of transport is out there cycle accessibility. somewhere and he or she is probably still sitting coding in their bedroom…” RIGHT: The conference David Sidebottom of Transport Focus schedule was accompanied by an exhibition of local and offered the passenger view: “Transport needs national bodies, consultants to be a choice that’s easier, simpler and more and manufacturers from tailored to the passenger. We need to get to across the transport industry, know the passenger, who spends an awful lot such as Midlands engineering of money on our services every year.” service provider Garrandale Questions were soon raised about the Group. development and availability of electric and autonomous vehicles, both of which exchanging data and information about just met with some debate about the timeline about everything you can imagine. These “Transport is the for their introduction. Michael Jacobs staggering numbers prefaced a presentation remarked: “There’s a lot of talk about by Russell Goodenough, Managing Director leading light for the autonomous vehicles, which will be a slow and Head of Transport for Fujitsu UK & way that new tech introduction, but I think what will be much Ireland, who added: “Transport is the leading more interesting are car sharing and car light for the way that new tech is being is being applied to clubs, which are growing very rapidly. This applied to solve big societal issues.” is something that is blurring the boundaries A key theme of the event was how ‘smart’ solve big societal between public and private transport, technology is changing the way we think issues.” because the evidence is pretty clear that about aspects of the planning, development members of car clubs get rid of their cars so and operational lifecycle and how passengers Russell Goodenough it is not increasing the amount of cars on the use and interact with transport. roads as was once thought. These cars are In one of a series of presentations on used much more than private cars, therefore digital solutions, Peter Smith from asset take up much less road and car parking space, management specialist SoftSols said: which is one of our primary constraints.” “The Internet of Things, or Industry 4.0, is Generation Z, the primary engagement is Jo Baker added: “As I understand it from all about connectivity. Intelligent systems through social networks and high levels of colleagues, you only need three or four electric make the data about an asset available via connectivity are an expectation. cars on a rapid charge on the same street and Cloud and intranet systems that other “The next generation of intelligent you’re in danger of blowing your power supply. systems can consume and make use of. transport systems will be all about the fusion At the moment there’s a really fundamental So rather than having people out taking between what’s going on in the vehicles, the problem that needs to be addressed urgently measurements and carrying out physical intelligence in the vehicles we’re building, with our domestic power grid.” inspections, this data can be easily shared the intelligence in the fabric of the transport with many different people – operators, infrastructure, operators’ systems and the Tramway development maintainers and manufacturers – and allow data from the users with devices who are Given the complexity and non-uniformity of maintenance schedules to be adjusted and telling us what they’re doing and where UK towns and cities, there is no ‘one size fits more efficiently planned.” they’re going. They can tell us an awful lot all’ solution and UKTram has completed a lot Mr Goodenough continued: “My view more in the how we increase capacity and of work on the applicability of various modes. of the future in passenger terms is about efficiency on our networks. The services “The right answer isn’t always a tramway”, smartphone tech, tablet tech and wearable themselves will tell us what’s going on. The conveyed UKTram Chairman Geoff Inskip tech; it’s also more social. As we move network will know how many people are in a presentation focused on the 2012 from Generation X to Generation Y and around it and where the congestion is.” UKTram Guidance. He went on to outline the

292 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org appraisal process, breaking it down into four northwards to Chesterfield, amongst others, basic questions: What do you want? Why do or tram conversion of heavy rail lines. you want it? Who will deliver it? Where is the Following this, former heavy rail Managing money coming from? Director Christopher Garnett OBE gave an He stated that the best solutions are always engaging presentation on his report into the ones with the greatest long-term benefits prospects of converting the loss-making and when assessing each case, emphasised railway on the Isle of Wight to tram operation. the importance of considering the robustness Currently part of the South-West Trains of the case for these benefits before looking at franchise, the Island Line uses former London affordability and funding. Where situations Underground rolling stock built in 1938 and are complicated with multiple modes, using third rail current collection. Suffering interfaces and other considerations that have from chronic underinvestment and declining to be taken into account, it is essential to ridership, current revenues are GBP1m while appoint a ‘champion’ for each to achieve an operating costs are GBP4m; earlier in the unbiased balance. Many light rail projects year Mr Garnett prepared a report for the Isle falter in failing to take wider benefits into of Wight Council that suggested using light account, he added, concluding: “Are these rail operation (covered in detail by Michael plans realistic and achievable, and do you Taplin’s analysis in TAUT 941). have the resource and capability to deliver He said: “Trams are a lot more forgiving ABOVE: Nottingham City Council Major Projects that particular option?” on the quality of the track than a train is Director Chris Deas explained some future objectives Chris Deas, Major Projects Director of and overhead can be a lot simpler… this of the NET tramway, including short spur lines, interurban links and even the potential for tram-train. Nottingham City Council, gave a whistle- is a solution that would be one heck of a stop tour of the development of Nottingham lot cheaper and moves away from onerous BELOW: Christopher Garnett OBE delivered an Express Transit before looking at what the railway group standards. engaging presentation on the future of the Isle of future may hold for links beyond the city “There is an argument to say that the Wight’s Island line and how tram conversion could be region and the development of the HS2 line needs its own franchise, but it has got a cheaper solution for more effective operation. high-speed rail link that will pass very close to the newest terminus and park-and-ride at Toton Lane. He told the audience: “A tram link to HS2 can be achieved relatively easily with a 1.6km (one-mile) extension with a very short journey time and links into new housing developments. It’s a no-brainer. We’ve also looked at two short extensions from HS2 that would give better access from a park-and-ride site on the M1 motorway… either of which could be delivered for under GBP250m.” Proposed routes between Toton Lane park- and-ride and the neighbouring city of Derby could follow either the A52 or canal corridor (the latter offering three times the amount of stops and a journey time of 28 minutes, rather than 18 for the A52 option) and would cost between GBP400m (EUR475m) and GBP700m (EUR835m). Further into the future, linking East Midlands Airport to the network via the East Midlands Gateway freight interchange and key commercial sites with largely segregated alignments would cost GBP350m-390m (EUR415m- 465m) and take around 25-30 minutes. A connection north-east from the city’s station to Gedling and a route via the the Holme Pierrepoint National Watersports Of course, this has never been done before, Centre with a park-and-ride on the A52 “Why do we always but why not?” road were also discussed for 9km-10km Although there are technical challenges (14.5-16- mile) routes to the east at a cost of think heavy rail that are still to be addressed, Mr Garnett GBP200m-GBP210m (EUR240m-EUR250m). added: “The next compatible rolling stock The long-discussed 6km (9.5-mile) corridor to when maybe released by London Underground won’t extend the original line one spur westwards sometimes we be available until 2028, by which time the from Phoenix Park to Kimberley with five existing trains will be 90 years old. So what stops would cost in the region of GBP130m- should be is the cost of upgrading the track? What is GBP160m (EUR155m-EUR180m). Mr Deas thinking tram?” the cost of electrification? What is the cost of was confident that further expansion of NET operation and how does that compare against was not only possible but likely, although Christopher Garnett OBE a scenario of patch and mend on the existing he was keen to point out that none of the railway until the next round of Bakerloo line projected costs included an ‘optimism bias’ stock becomes available in 2028 – and can [a Department for Transport and HM Treasury you keep it all running until then? requirement that budgetary adjustments are “This raises the interesting point that if based upon on data from similar projects we could move the Island line to tram or elsewhere], which within a business case to still be part of the national rail system. operation, what other branch lines in the could increase thte total by 50-60%. It has got to have through ticketing, it has country could we move from heavy rail Tram-train projects are still to be explored got to have national train information, to tram? Why do we always think heavy across sections of the Erewash Valley heavy conditions of carriage and revenue allocation, rail when maybe sometimes we should be rail line in nearby Long Eaton heading otherwise it all completely falls over. thinking tram?”

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Light rail service returned to Santa Monica on 20 May 2016, after a 63-year break. Courtesy of LA Metro

LOS ANGELES: LIGHT RAIL TO THE BEACH – AND BEYOND Although a relative latecomer to the US LRT renaissance, with two significant openings already in 2016, this November could see funding released for a raft of new projects that would see Los Angeles County take its networks to the next level. Vic Simons reports in words and pictures.

ith a relatively loe seen concerted efforts to move towards a networks. At its height in 1924 the Yellow population density regional rail-based network focused around Cars had a complex 1003km (642-mile) considering its spread over key employment centres and attractions. network, but with a post-war transition to an approximate 12.3km2 County transportation comes under suburban communities and more affordable area, Los Angeles County the auspices of the Los Angeles County ownership, the shift towards private car usage isW the most populous in the United States Metropolitan Transportation Authority – was inevitable. Within 20 years of the end of by some margin. Including more than 80 branded since 1993 as Metro. Metro is not World War Two the transition was complete. towns and cities as well as the vast city of Los only the operator of rail and bus services, Struggling to compete with its new Angeles itself, major population centres close but also provides the funding and fulfils competition, the last Yellow Car ran in 1963, to the city include Long Beach, Pasadena, the planning and administrative function with a shift to motorbus operation. Pacific Torrance and Santa Monica all require for commuter and highway projects across Electric operation ceased the same year; efficient public transport connections in a the county. this system included a small subway which region plagued by congestion and long was taken over by buses in the 1950s. It is cross-county commute times. A little history fortunate that many of its rights-of-way have The city of Los Angeles has a population Public transport first came to the city of Los been retained, forming large sections of the approaching four million residents. There are Angeles in 1873 and within just a few years current Blue and Expo light rail lines. over ten million in the wider county and the a variety of operators were running services It wasn’t long before the city and county’s Greater Los Angeles ‘five-county’ area includes using steam, cable and horse traction. prosperity – and population – outgrew the San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and By the early part of the 20th Century the highway-facilitated policies and the first Ventura with a regional population closer to main operators were the Los Angeles Railway rail-based transport schemes were devised 19 million. Road building had long been seen (Yellow Cars) using a 1067mm (3ft 6in) gauge in the 1970s. It would be another 15 years as the solution to movement, forcing people operating largely within the city and the before the political will and funding drove to drive, but with major arteries reaching standard-gauge interurban Pacific Electric these plans forward, although it is clear that gridlock proportions – and the associated Railway (Red Cars) operating cross-county the catastrophic 1994 Northridge earthquake poor air quality – the past three decades have and beyond, both of which had electrified accelerated the process as although freeways

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were badly damaged, rail-based networks a 34-minute end-to-end running time with were back up and running within days. services running every 15 minutes at most The first modern LRT line opened in July times, halved during Monday-Friday peaks 1990, heading southward from 7th Street and lengthened to 20 minutes in the evening. in downtown LA to Long Beach. Known There would be an eight-year hiatus as the Blue line, this incorporated much of before the opening of another LRT line in the trackbed of the former Pacific Electric the County. The first 13-station phase of the line to the large coastal community and as Gold line (plans for which date back to the such was an obvious first choice for ease of 1980s) began operations in 2003, from Sierra implementation. The USD877m (approx. Madre Villa in Pasadena to Union Station, EUR762m) line is 35.4km (22 miles) long, and providing easy interchange not only has 22 stations and is much more of a with the Red and Purple subway lines but also traditional interurban in its nature. It leaves with Metrolink and Amtrak services. This was its underground terminus at 7th/Metro ABOVE: Azusa station on 6 May with a two-car extended in 2009 by eight stations beyond and emerges to the surface near Pico station P2550 set about to return to Los Angeles with car Union Station eastwards to Atlantic Station in 702 at the rear. before taking up the former Pacific Electric East Los Angeles, including two underground alignment south to Long Beach. Here there is a BELOW: View from the driving cab of Kinkisharyo stations at Mariachi Plaza and Soto, forming a short section of street-running, incorporating car at Santa Monica on 9 May 2016. large horseshoe alignment. a four-station terminal loop; seven Blue line stations have park-and-ride facilities with A year of openings provision for over 2000 vehicles. End-to-end March 2016 saw the opening of a third running time is around 72 minutes, with 18.5km (11.5-mile) phase to take the Gold 12-minute headways at most times of the day, line further east from Pasadena, with six enhanced to every six minutes during the more stations, to APU Citrus College in Monday to Friday peaks. Azusa. This project included a new stabling The next line to open was the 32km (20- and maintenance facility at Monrovia, the mile) east-west Green line, opened in 1995 approximate halfway point on the extension, at a cost of USD718m (EUR624m). With 14 and park-and-ride facilities at most of the new stations, the Green line serves an important stations with multi-storey lots at some. corridor in southern LA County and connects Apart from offering many more travel another two significant communities, opportunities to Downtown LA, Metro has Redondo Beach to Norwalk. Currently the recorded a significant increase in ridership closest line to Los Angeles International between Azusa and Pasadena with as many as Airport (LAX), it uses the median of the I-105 66% (according to Metro surveys) being new BELOW: Union Station with the Gold line viaduct freeway – which was designed to incorporate to transit. Interestingly, the agency has noted to East LA clearly visible on the left. This is the only the line – and intersects with the Blue line through line at Union Station and is where the a reduction in use of the parking facility at at Willowbrook/Rosa Parks where there is under-construction Blue/Expo line will join the Gold Sierra Madre Villa since the extension opened. an elevator connection between platforms. line tracks, Downtown LA is in the background. Note The 12 260m2 (132 000ft2) Monrovia Using a dedicated elevated alignment, it offers the stub-end Metrolink platforms. maintenance facility has been built as a

296 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Courtesy of LA Metro response to growth as the existing Chinatown ten-lane I-210 freeway in Pasadena; simple, Gold line headways are generally every 12 depot lacked the expansion room to serve the semi-transparent noise mitigation barriers minutes, reduced to six minutes in the peak. longer line, and features a three-storey main could have been constructed to protect At weekends service is every 12-20 minutes. building that houses offices, a training centre the platforms, enhancing the otherwise Alongside construction of the Gold line for up to 200 employees and maintenance and impressive passenger experience. route further into the San Gabriel Valley, stabling facilities for up to 84 LRVs, reducing An example of the modal integration that Metro’s other major project has been the the need for sub-contracting. Environmental drives Metro is the new 501 express bus route. construction of the Expo line to the west side considerations are key to the development The ‘NoHo Express’ links the North Hollywood coastal resort of Santa Monica. So-named of the 9.7ha. (24-acre) site, with recycled Red line terminus with Pasadena and Gold because of its primary routeing in the median materials featuring heavily in construction line stations at Memorial Park and Del Mar, of Exposition Boulevard, which runs east from and resource-friendly innovations such as avoiding crossing downtown LA. Making downtown LA and parallels the I-10 freeway, solar arrays that supply a third of the site’s just eight stops and running at a half-hour the first 12km (7.5-mile) section opened in power requirement, and smart water metering. frequency it has an end-to-end running time of 2012 with ten stations from 7th Metro to The only major criticism of the Gold line around 40 minutes, taking advantage of the car Culver City. This first phase cost USD930m is the high noise levels at those stations pool and transit lanes on the CA-134 freeway. (EUR830m) and offers modal interchange to located in the median or parallel to the Enhanced fares are charged for the service. regional bus services at Culver City.

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ABOVE: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti at Santa Monica station on 9 May.

LEFT: Santa Monica station on press preview day, 9 May. Courtesy of LA Metro

The USD1.5bn (EUR1.3bn) second stage, The extension also incorporates a paved extensions adding another 16km (ten miles) which opened on 20 May, extends the route bikeway between Culver City and 17th – excluding the Red and Purple lines and a further 10.6km (6.6 miles) and returns Street stations and a new operations and busways – it will be the largest LRT system in rail-based service to downtown Santa Monica maintenance premises with six stabling the US. after a 63-year gap. The new terminus is just tracks and a capacity for 48 vehicles at four blocks from the Pacific Ocean. The new Stewart Street and Exposition Boulevard ‘The new Measure is key to growth’ alignment drops down from the elevated in Santa Monica. With a running time of Not content to rest on its laurels, two short former terminus at Culver City Station using around 50 minutes, the Expo line operates to – but key – routes are under construction the old Pacific Electric right-of-way and just a 12-minute headway. that will provide much-needed connections beyond 26th Street joins Colorado Avenue. At a preview run on 9 May 2016, Los between existing lines and helping to knit Here it runs in the centre of the street for the Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti explained Metro’s LRT routes together into a far more final stations at 17th Street and the three- to TAUT that the key to delivering such cohesive network. track downtown Santa Monica terminus. major projects were ownership and clear Next on the schedule is the Crenshaw/ There are seven new stations, but only understanding and communication between LAX line that will link the Expo line at Expo/ three feature park-and-ride facilities; all stakeholders towards the common vision. Crenshaw with the Green line just north whilst it is easy to see that the route’s He regarded the extension as a game-changer of Mariposa station to serve Crenshaw, geography makes this provision problematic, for the city and just the start of much wider Inglewood and Westchester and provide that time will tell if the lack of parking will expansion. Since the turn of the 21st Century all-important link to LAX. The US’ second- inhibit ridership. Bus services have been Los Angeles has benefitted from Democratic busiest airport, LAX caters for 75m passengers significantly recast to connect with the mayors with a strong transportation vision annually, and the project includes a 1.6km extension, however, so this may mitigate and with such a pro-transit official such as (one-mile) underground peoplemover from the lack of parking and Metro is at least Mr Garcetti the future looks bright indeed. the new Aviation Century station into the addressing the issue with blog posts of how Metro now operates 140km (87 miles) of main airport terminal. The 13.6km (8.5-mile) best to reach the extension without a car. light rail, with the two under-construction line will be partially at-grade, partially

A two-car Nippon Sharyo test run on the elevated section west of Palms station on the Expo line on 4 May. Courtesy of LA Metro

298 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org ABOVE: New Kinkisharyo P3010 LRVs awaiting entry into service at the ABOVE: P2550 wheelsets raised for maintenance in the new Gold line Monrovia Monrovia depot and maintenance facility on 6 May. depot facility. elevated and partially underground with The draft expenditure allocates 35% for seven new stations. Ground-breaking on new light rail (including the 6.1km/3.8-mile the UD2.06bn (EUR1.77bn) project began Los Angeles Streetcar – a downtown standard- in 2014, with construction planned for gauge, street-running loop) – subway, BRT completion by 2019 ahead of a 2020 opening. and Metrolink projects as well as major works This scheme includes another new stabling at Union Station, 20% for operations and and maintenance base, this time a 10 736m2 17% for highway improvements including (115 650ft2) facility known as the Southwest new toll roads. Washington explained that Yard that has a construction budget of phases 2 and 3 of the Purple line extension USD172m (EUR151m). Initial works on are a priority for the agency. Importantly began on 27 May. Once open in 2019 it will for transport campaigners in the region, for house 70 LRVs and employ 200 staff. The the first time the agency’s plan includes a site has further room to expand as the LRV 2% funding allocation for pedestrian and fleet grows with further extensions to the cycleway projects. ABOVE: AnsaldoBreda P2550 702 at Monrovia on Crenshaw/LAX and Green lines. If approved (Measure R only narrowly the Gold Foothill Extension, showing the large multi- The other major scheme already underway achieved the two-thirds vote required storey car parking structure. is the Regional Connector; although only for approval in 2008), Washington hopes 3km (1.9 miles) long, this fully-underground that the funding would allow acceleration BELOW: Nippon Sharyo 160, part of the original alignment is one of the most challenging of many of these projects for completion fleet procured for the opening of the Blue line in 1990, in construction terms. It follows Second by 2024 in time for a possible Olympics on platform 3 at Santa Monica on 9 May. Street (Alameda to Flower) and Flower Street Games in LA. The other major project is (2nd to 7th) and familiar challenges with the Gold line extension from Azusa into utility relocation and street closures have San Bernardino County to Ontario Airport already seen the budget jump by 10% to and Claremont; Metro is working with San USD1.55bn (EUR1.33bn) in the 18 months Bernardino County to secure a USD68m since construction began. The payoff will (approx. EUR61m) contribution. be an invaluable link between the Gold line Washington expressed disappointment near Little Tokyo station with the Blue and that a direct LAX – downtown rail corridor Expo lines at 7th/Metro station and Silver is unlikely in the short term, although he line busway services to South LA and San conceded that Metro is contributing USD20m Pedro, opening up enormous opportunities towards a study of the best method of across LA County. Through route services are achieving this, regarding the airport link as a planned to run from the San Gabriel Valley to key component of future transit provision. the Long Beach terminus of the Blue line and When TAUT pointed out that next train from East Los Angeles to Santa Monica. There information was not available at all stations, axle assembly overhaul, this time performed will be three new stations in central LA and Washington responded by saying that this by Monrovia-based PAMCO Machine Works. this is scheduled to open in 2021. was being worked on, adding that “we must Fifty cars (P2550) were supplied by Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington told enhance the customer experience”. AnsaldoBreda between 2006-11 for use on the TAUT that the success of the November 2016 Gold line. Delivered late and experiencing ballot for the new funding arrangement Rolling stock weight and reliability issues, options for a would hold the keys to Metro’s ambitious Metro has sourced its rolling stock from four further 100 cars in the original contract were future expansion plans. Revealed in March suppliers since the 1990s, with mixed results: not taken up. as a full USD120bn (EUR105bn) proposal, the The initial 54-car order for the Blue line In 2014 Metro’s largest LRV order to date new programme includes a raft of bus and rail opening from Nippon Sharyo (P865) was was placed with Kinkisharyo for 235 P3010 expansion plans in return for a half-cent sales delivered in 1989-90. Now also used on the cars, being assembled locally at a new facility tax and continuation of the current half-cent Expo line, this fleet was supplemented by an in Palmdale, to the north east of LA. At tax known as Measure R. almost identical order for a further 15 cars the time of writing only a handful were in The draft plan included 40-, 45- and 50- designated P2020, delivered 1994-95 – all service on the Gold and Expo lines, although year options, although the agency is now of these first-generation cars are currently a number had been delivered to the new favouring a “no sunset” version that would subject to a mechanical overhaul under a Monrovia facility and were seen on TAUT’s continue the tax until voters decide to end it. USD6.6m contract award at ORX in 2013. visit undergoing acceptance approvals. This proposal emerged after extensive public Between 1996 and 1999 Siemens supplied As Metro requires all cars to be input and polling showed support for the 53 P2000 units; primarily for the Green line, interoperable on all lines, a ‘standard’ design “no sunset” tax to establish a sustained these cars can also now be found on the Blue of two-section, doubled-ended vehicles has funding stream for the future. and Expo lines. They too are subject to an been established, with level-boarding centre

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 299 Los Angeles

sections and raised seating at the car ends. This configuration prescribes dimensions of 26.5m in length, 2.65m-wide and 3.5m high with capability for multiple unit operation. The P2550 AnsaldoBreda cars are slightly longer at 27.4m.

Subways, busways and Metrolink Completing the Metro urban rail provision are two subway lines that serve central LA and North Hollywood in the north-west of the county. Built underground to serve the highest passenger loadings on the network, the combined 27.8km (17.4-mile) subway starts at the shared Union Station terminus with parallel running for six stations in the city’s downtown. The first segment opened in 1993 to MacArthur Park and extensions followed at various times during the 1990s with the final Red line extension to North Hollywood opening in 2000. From Wilshire/Vermont, the Purple line (designated as a standalone line in 2006) is by far the shorter of the two and “Despite Metro’s incredible extends eastwards for a further two stations to the current endpoint at Wilshire/Western achievements to date, the in the Koreatown district of Central LA. The Red line heads north-west serving agency still has a huge task internationally-famous locations sites such as ahead of it to encourage Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard, the Walk of Fame and Universal Studios on its way people out of their cars.” to its current terminus at North Hollywood where passengers can change to the Orange ABOVE: Contrast Kinkisharyo P3010 car 1007 (left) line busway to Chatsworth. Trains generally and AnsaldoBreda P2550 735 at Monrovia depot. operate every 12 minutes on each line with enhanced service at peaks and reduced LEFT: A Metro Red line service at Union Station; service levels at evenings and weekends. a new underpass at the opposite terminal, North Hollywood, is due to open later in 2016 to improve Following long-delayed plans, work began interchange with Orange line Busway services. in November 2014 on extending the Purple line west to the VA Hospital Westwood The other busway is marketed as the Silver buses (the 500-series routes). Fares are correct station with the eventual aim of going to line and is an entirely different proposition at June 2016. Santa Monica. The 15km (9.4-mile) route to the Orange Line as it utilises transit lanes Stations are similar across the network, is being built in three phases. Phase 1 is to on the I-10 and I-110 freeways on either side all of which have seated sheltered passenger run beneath Wilshire Boulevard for 6.27km of running through downtown LA. The route waiting areas and timetable displays. (3.9 miles) to Wilshire/La Cienega station has ten stations in the freeway medians and Metro makes a conscious effort to align the at the eastern edge of Beverly Hills with two cost USD587m (EUR524m) upon opening cars at the same point on the platforms at intermediate stations. It is hoped to open in 2009. all times. To this end yellow posts have been this first USD2.8bn (EUR2.46bn) phase in Metrolink is the commuter rail system placed on the platforms to designate the areas 2023, and the second phase, which is in the operating across the five-county area with between vehicles. Whilst all platforms can procurement process to select a contractor, five routes radiating from Union Station accommodate four-car vehicles many services by 2026. Although funding is being sought and two eastern routes. Established in 1992, operate in two-car formations. for the third phase, the ambition remains to Metrolink service opened to Perris in 2016 by Washington admitted his frustrations serve Santa Monica by 2035. extending service on the 91 Riverside/Perris at the lack of integration with Metrolink, Two busways complement the rail system: Valley line to Perris South – this is the first despite the fact that around 50% of the The Orange line links North Hollywood with extension since 1994. Service is limited to funding for those services comes from Metro. Chatsworth Metrolink Station on a dedicated three northbound trains in the morning peak 28.8km (18-mile) roadway that opened in with three southbound trains returning in Conclusions stages initially to the Warner Centre in 2005 the evening. This extension takes Metrolink Despite Metro’s incredible achievements before reaching its current terminus in 2012. virtually to the door of the Orange Empire to date, the agency still has an enormous Costing USD484m (EUR432m), the line has Museum, the region’s major light rail task ahead of it to encourage people out of 18 LRT-type stations with raised platforms museum, although, ironically the schedule is their cars and reduce the county’s notorious to allow level boarding and offers some bus such that a car will still be needed to visit it. traffic congestion and improving air quality. priority; other than emergency vehicles only Express and car pool lanes being available to Metro buses and support vehicles are allowed The fare system public transport have helped, but much more on the busway. The cornerstone of the fare system has needs to be done. The biggest issue with the Orange line is become the stored-value TAP card, used to Washington is not unique in having his the poor connection with the Red line at tap-in at rail stations and on boarding buses hands tied by constrained funding, but the North Hollywood. Although physically quite and can be read by fare enforcement officers’ political will for change appears to be in place close, passengers currently have to cross a hand-held machines. and the success of the 2016 ballot measure is very wide and busy road to join Metrorail Whilst the fare system is basically flat vital if progress is to be made. and other bus routes – to address this Metro there are separate peak and off-peak fares for is opening a new pedestrian underpass later senior citizens and one-, seven- and 30-day Thanks to Phil Washington and his team, in this year. Service improvements are planned passes are available. The USD7 (EUR6.15) particular Pauletta Tonilas, Dave Sotero, with the eventual aim of conversion to light one-day pass is reduced to USD2.50 Russell Homan and Joni Goheen, for their support rail, but there are no costs or timescales for (EUR2.20) outside peak hours and additional during TAUT’s visit to LA and subsequent this as yet. fares apply for the Silver line and Express preparation of this feature.

300 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org LA Streetcar

architecture, urban integration, and maintenance facility programming and design. The project will include two milestones: Advanced Conceptual Design (15%) and LA STREETCAR Preliminary Engineering (30%) over a duration of nine months. Mott MacDonald’s Gordon Head explains the objectives and • Identify opportunities to increase average challenges of the Streetcar project to revitalise LA’s downtown core. running to greater than 10km/h (6mph). – Utilise VISSIM modelling with LA DoT input and approval. he City of Los Angeles is planning The design: Challenges and actions • Identify opportunities to reduce capital a 6.1km (3.8-mile) streetcar route The goals for the design phase are to validate funding to no more than USD250m connecting major downtown the projected USD250m cost and confirm in order to qualify for the Federal New activity centres – Civic Center, an average running speed of no less than Starts funding grant. An estimate of Historic Core, Fashion District, 10km/h (6mph). USD282m was prepared during the JewelryT and Financial Districts, and the Sports The Streetcar will be constructed conceptual phase of the project. and Entertainment District. The LA Streetcar at-grade along Broadway (1st to 11th), 11th – Focus on the largest cost drivers will also link to LA Metro’s Red, Purple, to Figueroa, Figueroa to 7th Street, 7th Street (maintenance and storage facility, utility Expo and Blue lines as well as the under- to Hill, and Hill to 1st Street. Options include relocation) and opportunities for construction Regional Connector. 9th Street between Figueroa and Hill, and investment to reduce land cost. The Streetcar and improved connectivity 1st Street to Grand Avenue. – Prepare Small Starts cost estimate. in the downtown Los Angeles core will lead to Mott MacDonald is the prime consultant • Designs to not preclude future off-wire the area’s revitalisation in conjunction with performing preliminary engineering for capabilities. various streetscape projects including MyFig, the project, with a select team of specialist – Investigate power/battery requirements 7th Street and Bringing Back Broadway sub-consultants also providing project for future hybrid configuration. that will make city streets more pedestrian- management, project controls, QA/QC, general • Existing 9% gradient on 1st Street. friendly, increase transit options and include civil, utilities engineering, track and roadway – Examine power and vehicle constraints; the provision of segregated cycle lanes. design, drainage, traffic modelling, stop potential for negative super elevation and track twist. • In lieu of property acquisitions or 7th Street alternative Streetcar adjacent lane occupation, a 9th Street alternative 20m (66ft) turning radius to be utilised. ||||||| Service connection – Design to maximize turning radius to (either alternative) minimise potential ‘wheel squeal’. M Red/Purple line station access • Specific stops to be shared with buses. M Blue line station access – Design to incorporate platform length,

M Future Regional Connector vehicle floor height, ADA compliance and station access door location for both bus and streetcar. One-way circulation • High property cost for maintenance and storage facility. – Examine comparables for downtown area and the potential for shared development. • Mitigate pedestrian and bicycle hazards along the corridor (LA Bicycle Master Plan). – Design to incorporate hazards and potential mitigation as outlined in the Draft Environment Impact Report (DEIR). • Comply with ‘Buy America’ regulations for project components. – Confirm compliance of various potential vendors (e.g. rail and vehicles). • Comply with California Public Utilities Commission General Order on Streetcar crashworthiness. – Examine potential to submit request for exemption. • Integrate with streetscape programmes. – Integrate other projects with Streetcar design to identify potential conflicts. • Various delivery methods being considered including Bid-Build, Design-Build, P3. – Enhance client understanding of alternative delivery methods.

Map and artist's impression courtesy of LA Streetcar Inc

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 301 Prague DEVELOPMENTS IN PRAGUE Nine tramway extensions and a new metro route are planned for the Czech capital. Witold Urbanowicz explains the current intended expansion schemes in more detail.

he Czech capital has ambitious plans to intensively develop its public transport infrastructure. Dopravní podnik, Prague’s public transport operator, lists no fewer thanT nine projects for the construction of new tramlines, which together will total around 27km (17 miles) of new network. Under the plans, some 55 pairs of new tramway stops will also be built. Dopravní podnik’s latest projects are being taken forward with the help of co-financing from the European Union, as part of the 2014-2020 EU Financing Directive.

Nine new extensions On the tramway, the longest planned new route is to run from Chodovská – Spořilov – Opatov – Háje, serving the Jižní Město district and providing access to the metro line C. This new route will be approx. 6.5km (four miles) long, with 13 pairs of new tramstops. In the northern part of the city, a 5.5km ABOVE: Škoda 15T low-floor trams are now a common sight on many routes in the city, with many more on (3.4-mile) line with 13 pairs of stops is the way; 9238 on Palackého náměstí in August 2012. Howard Pulling planned to connect Kobylisy and Bohnice, also providing access to metro line C. BELOW: Tatra T6A5 8677 at Sídliště Barrandov; one of the city’s proposed tramway extensions would see The next new route in terms of length is the this line projected 1.6km south-west to Slivenec. Howard Pulling 4.48km (2.78-mile) line (with seven paired stops) planned for the northern part of the city between Nádraží Podbaba and Suchdol to provide access to the agricultural academy; a park-and-ride facility is also planned. Further current projects are smaller in scale: Divoká Šárka – Dědinská (2.3km/1.4 miles, with five pairs of stops); Sídliště Barrandov – Holyně – Slivenec (1.6km/one mile and with three pairs of stops); Sídliště Modřany – Libuš (1.8km/1.1 miles with four pairs of stops), which will provide connection with the planned fourth metro line (D); Na Veselí – Pankrác – Budějovická (1.5km/0.9 miles and with three pairs of stops); Zlíchov – Dvorce, with a bridge over the Vltava River (800m/ 0.5 miles and one pair of stops); and finally a line to run on Počernická to serve the Malešice neighbourhood. This will be around 2.1km/1.3 miles in length with six pairs of stops.

Fourth metro line In addition to tramway extensions, it is planned to construct the first section of the In the future it is intended that line D will Škoda. Some 157 new vehicles under this city’s fourth metro line, to be known as line D. itself be extended towards the city centre, to contract had been delivered at the time of The initial 7.9km (4.9-mile) portion is to Náměstí Míru station (and a connection with writing (the first arrived in 2010). have eight stations and run between Pankrác line A), as well as in a further stage to Náměstí Since 2005 the Czech capital’s tramway and Depo Písnice; although currently in Republiky (to interchange with line C). has also been home to 14T vehicles – also the preparatory phase, it is hoped that DP Praha representative Jiří Došlý states that from Škoda and the first low-floor trams construction could begin in either late 2017 17 three-car trains will be needed to serve to arrive on the system. It is also home to a or early 2018. the new line D. range of Tatra products, including the classic Metro line D is intended to provide a T3 design that dates back to the Communist vital link for the Libuš, Lhotka and Krč Modernised metro, new trams era and was built in its thousands for neighbourhoods in southern Prague, serving Prague’s plans for the EU funding do not in Warsaw Pact countries. an area of 175 000 residents and 127 000 principle include anything for rolling stock. Finally, in wider transport terms, new workplaces. The first stage will connect The metro fleet has been modernised over buses are bought each year to ensure that the Pankrác station; journeys towards the city the last 15 years (without EU money), and average age of the operator’s bus fleet remains centre will be facilitated by a connection the tramway is currently mid-way through at not more than nine years, in accordance with the existing line C. a contract for 250 new 15T vehicles from with European (and Czech) legislation.

302 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AS UNIQUE AS YOUR CITY!

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By 2018 Utrecht should have two SYSTEMS distinct but connecting light rail formats, each Utrecht reflecting urban rail FACTFILE practice from their NETHERLANDS respective eras. Neil No. Utrecht, Pulling reports in 106 Netherlands words and pictures.

trecht’s rail industry to the west and south. This great span Southbound light rail format identified as Sneltram significance mainly of tracks includes Utrecht Centraal 5001+5011 join the (fast tram) at the outset. The system’s relates to the Station (CS), the main hub for city alignment between SUNIJ acronym drew on the mode and national network. transport as well as for the national the Beneluxlaan the municipalities covered: Sneltram The headquarters of railway. This very large site currently carriageways. Utrecht Nieuwegein IJsselstein. The NederlandseU Spoorwegen (NS), hosts construction works that include earlier speeding ‘S’ Sneltram logo has Utrecht hosts more main line the station and Hoog Catharijne gone and ‘U-Tram’ is now favoured, as passengers than any of the three larger shopping complex, which forms part incorporated in the livery. Dutch cities, Amsterdam, Rotterdam of the structure, as well as the present Most of Utrecht Sneltram opened and Den Haag. For light rail however, and future light rail services. in 1983, with additions in 1985 and Utrecht has been a comparatively Capital of the eponymous province, 2000 by which time it reached the minor player for many years; an Utrecht’s 2015 city population of present southern termini, Nieuwegein electric tram service began in 1906, 334 000 is forecast for more growth. Zuid and IJsselstein Zuid. The original but bus replacements were such that Mid-20th Century expansion city terminus was Moreelsepark, normal city services ended by January triggered the creation of its current one stop beyond the CS Sneltram 1939 and the Utrecht-Zeist interurban light rail operation. Serving platforms that were set away from the line closed in 1949. Utrecht’s residential spread with station buildings. Track connecting The wider identity of Utrecht public transport had parallels with this eastern section with the greater is rooted in history, culture and Zoetermeer, situated between Den part passed under the railway in education. Most of what attracts Haag and Gouda. It gained local heavy the Leidseveer tunnel. When local the city’s many visitors, plus the rail coverage in the 1970s; by 2006 it reconstruction removed Moreelsepark large educational and medical had been converted to light rail as part in 2009, CS became the terminus. concentrations, lies east of the main of RandstadRail. A more drastic cutback was needed as convergence of railway lines. Widened Like the Zoetermeer Stadslijn lines rebuilding proceeded. In April 2013 a as demand grew, the railway became in having NS project involvement, All pictures by new Jaarbeursplein terminus shared with an urban divide as Utrecht expanded Utrecht nevertheless adopted the Neil Pulling. buses opened near Centraal’s western

304 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org

THE FLEET

Builder’s plates around the driving cabs testify to changes to the fleet originally created for the Utrecht service by Swiss company SIG in 1982-83. The two-section, bi-directional articulated vehicles numbered 5001-27 had their original appearance greatly altered by new cabs, as part of a 2000-01 rebuild by PFA, Weiden (Germany). Life extension work was completed 2011-12 by a Dutch company more associated with bus building, VDL Heerenveen. Door assemblies have been changed and the interiors reconfigured, although they retain a high proportion of space allocated to seating. A collision near 5 Mei Plein stop in 2010 led to the scrapping of 5018, previously distinguished by being named. Operator changes have prompted livery changes, with the present yellow and brown scheme also used on U-OV buses. Outgoing BRU signed a contract in 2015 with CAF for 27 Urbos 100 trams for use on the Uithoflijn; the first deliveries are expected in early 2017. The 33m fully low-floor trams will have a capacity for 216, 62 seated. As with Sneltram, the Uithoflijn ABOVE: Removed for area redevelopment, this was Utrecht CS light rail stop in June 2008. trams will mainly run as pairs. A wire-free capability could The Uithoflijn replacement will be better integrated with CS. be implemented to allow extension through central Utrecht’s narrow streets and near sensitive equipment in De Uithof. BELOW: The busy combined Jaarbeursplein bus and tram terminus viewed from the Utrecht CS western entrance.

“Capital of the eponymous province, Utrecht’s 2015 city population of 334 000 is forecast for more growth.”

LEFT: Kanaleneiland Zuid, one of several stops serving a large suburban housing area.

RIGHT: On a section taken out of use in 2013, vehicle 5018 (withdrawn 2010) curves away from Leidseveer tunnel on approach to Utrecht CS on 18 June 2008.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 305 Utrecht

ABOVE: Renamed to highlight the adjoining park and ride site, P+R Westraven shows a now rare print use of the Sneltram name.

BELOW: A line 61 service with 5007+5004 heading south from Binnenstad, a section opened in July 2000.

entrance, with the track to the east taken with Strukton Rail as contractor. TOP: City-bound Sneltram infrastructure including out of use. As the future connection with RegioTram Utrecht’s powers extend 5004 between the stops has been modernised, now a new tramline would use a route via to future developments. The U-OV the staggered offering good accessibility and service Jaarbeursplein, a short section west of operator is Qbuzz, now fully part platforms at the information. 24 Oktoberplein Leidseveer tunnel containing Westplein of NS-owned Abellio Netherlands. Intended as cover during Sneltram Zuid stop (called stop was removed. Sneltram’s previous bus counterpart Ziekenhuis stock rebuilding, BRU bought and GVU was also subsumed within the Oudenrijn modifiedE6 trams and C6 trailers Stadtbahn similarities U-OV brand. until 2005) on previously used on Vienna’s Stadtbahn, Sneltram was created and remains a Today’s system hosts U-OV lines Beneluxlaan. but there were technical problems. high-platform, level entry system with 60 (Utrecht CS Jaarbeursplein – With the general recession and similarities to the German Rhine- Nieuwegein Zuid, taking 27 minutes) ABOVE: One of the interruptions due to system renewal, Ruhr or Frankfurt Stadtbahn systems. and 61 (Utrecht CS Jaarbeursplein main road crossings, demand began to decline. Keeping Sneltram uses dedicated rights of way, – IJsselstein Zuid, 36 minutes). with 5002+5027 the Vienna livery and mainly in approaching the either following main roads or on Destinations but not the line numbers junction from the ‘Spitstram’ (peak time) service 2009- its own alignment. There are many are displayed on the vehicles. Nieuwegein-Zuid 14, most of these trams were sold to road crossings, some smaller ones Alternating for a combined peak seven/ branch. Krakow, Poland. An Alstom Citadis featuring barriers and audio warnings eight-minute interval, lines 60 and from the French Mulhouse system to supplement traffic signals. 61 share tracks for the approximately made a brief appearance in September Created and managed by the 10km (six miles) between CS and 2007, part of early investigations public sector, Sneltram has however Nieuwegein Stadscentrum. The busiest for converting the Sneltram system; been operated by contractors stretch is between CS and the stops when the time came for Utrecht from the outset. This was initially serving Kanaleneiland, an inner to expand light rail, it would not Westnederland, then Westnet suburban district developed since be by lengthening or converting before Transdev took over under the the 1950s. The junction for the two Sneltram. Consistent with more recent Connexxion identity. Since December branches is just beyond Nieuwegein practice, it decided on a low-floor 2013 Utrecht’s urban transport Stadscentrum, an important U-OV format, initially with a connection to network has been identified as U-OV, interchange. Sneltram rather than supplanting it. then a brand of Bestuur Regio Utrecht The later branch to be completed, (BRU). This plusregio authority the 7.4km (4.6-mile) IJsselstein Zuid The Uithoflijn that had light rail responsibility has line beyond Nieuwegein Stadscentrum Frequent, short inter-city railway been abolished, with powers passing weaves to provide coverage of varied journeys are a feature of the Randstad, to Utrecht province in January residential developments. The shorter the Netherlands’ westerly curve 2015. The provincial government’s and more direct Nieuwegein Zuid line of intensively developed land that RegioTram Utrecht arm is responsible is edged by main roads and is more includes Utrecht at its eastern edge. for management and maintenance, remote from housing. Like the fleet, Much of Utrecht’s urban transport

306 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org

“Much of Utrecht’s urban transport relates to moving people to and from the main station, clearly a Sneltram role.”

ABOVE: Through-running of low-floor stock for depot access will be via a new connection at the far end of the Jaarbeursplein terminus.

LEFT: The Uithoflijn will run down Heidelberglaan in the university district, currently intensively served by double- articulated buses; line 12 will be deleted.

NETWORK FACTS Opened: 1983 Lines: 2 Stops: 23 Distance: 20.7km (12.9 miles) Depots: 1 Approx. weekday hours: 06.00-23.30 Line frequency: 15 minutes Gauge: 1435mm Power: 750V dc Fleet: 26 Owner (light rail executive): Province of Utrecht (Regiotram Utrecht) City network: U-OV Operator: Qbuzz

INFORMATION City network: http://u-ov.info Civic information: www.utrecht.nl and http://destadutrecht.nl Tourist information: www.bezoek-utrecht.nl ABOVE LEFT: Near City Plaza shopping centre, Nieuwegein Stadscentrum is also an important U-OV light rail-bus interchange. ABOVE RIGHT: Heavily modified inside and out – a Utrecht Sneltram.

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 307 Utrecht relates to moving people to and from replace. The more northerly routed bus the main station, clearly a Sneltram line 28 will be retained. role. East of Utrecht CS, demand is less Converting the extant Sneltram ESSENTIAL FACTS residentially skewed and relates more to low-floor operation would be Local travel: The cross-mode national OV-chipkaart applies to to intense traffic between CS and the an expensive and lengthy exercise Utrecht’s local transport. U-OV tickets specifically cover their concentration of academic and medical and require more trams. Until such own buses and trams (Sneltram card readers on platforms, not institutions in an area called De Uithof. conditions apply, it is intended on board). Single zone-based tickets from EUR2.70. Avoiding The Uithoflijn project results from that Uithoflijn trams will be in zone complications, day tickets (Dagkaart) for 1/3/5 days are light rail being judged a better way to service between P+R De Uithof and available at EUR6/11.50/16. Tickets are bought from machines, as handle demand than the previously Jaarbeursplein. West of Jaarbeursplein at Jaarbeursplein terminus, or the U-OV information centre on the CS concourse’s city side. envisaged busway or further increasing they will run as empty stock for bus frequencies. The clustering of access to the current depot. This is What is there to see? The medieval centre clusters around Uithoflijn stops at the eastern rather in Nieuwegein municipality, close to unusual double-level canal banks, with former warehouses than the city end is indicative of where the line crosses the Amsterdam- now home to many restaurants and bars. Used in outline with the work/study-related demand Rhine Canal between P+R Westraven red surround to represent U-OV’s central zone and opposite the underpinning the project. By 2020 (Sneltram) and Nieuwegein Zuilenstein VVV tourist office, the landmark Domtoren (cathedral tower) has a viewing platform. The arch in the tower’s base was used by over 60 000 daily journeys are forecast stops. A storage and light maintenance the old tramway. between CS and De Uithof. Scheduled compound for Uithoflijn stock will be Details of the Dutch railway museum just south-east of the to open in 2018 with an end-to-end built near P+R De Uithof terminus. city centre can be found on www.spoorwegmuseum.nl journey time of 17 minutes, the 8km Amsterdam is about 30 minutes away with very frequent (five-mile) new line will shadow the For more details of the Uithoflijn project, trains from Utrecht CS. bus line 12 route which it is due to see TAUT 932.

Utrecht P+R De Uithof Utrecht CS Jaarbeursplein Utrecht Centraal Centrumzijde WKZ Graadt van 60 Roggenweg Padualaan 61 UMC Kromme Rijn Heidelberglaan Vaartsche Rijn 24 Oktoberplein-Zuid Galgenwaard

5 Mei Plein

Vasco da Gamalaan

Kanaleneiland-Zuid

P+R Westraven

DEPOT

Zuilenstein Batau Noord

Nieuwegein

Wijkersloot Clinckhoeff Stadscentrum Eiteren St. Antonius Ziekenhuis Merwestein Hooghe Achterveld Waerd

Binnenstad Doorslag Fokkesteeg

IJsselstein LEGEND Wiersdijk 61 Sneltram — lines 60 and 61 IJsselstein Zuid 60 Nieuwegein Zuid Uithoflijn — under construction

308 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org Worldwide Review

AUSTRALIA NEWCASTLE. The starter light rail line linking the city centre with Wickham interchange will be operated by six CAF-built trams. The NSW government is contributing AUD142m (EUR95.1m) towards the project. Newcastle Herald PERTH. The Western Australian Government has confirmed that its 2013 election promise of light rail for the city has been abandoned, though the formal release of the city’s transport plan is scheduled for mid-July. Ten more three-car commuter rail EMUs have been ordered from EDI Rail/Bombardier for delivery in 2019-20. ABC, RGI SYDNEY. The NSW Government is to provide AUD12bn (EUR8bn) towards the automated metro in 2017-20. Revenue service on the 23km (14.4-mile) Chatswood – Epping section of line should start in 2024. RGI In the French city of Lyon on 22 June the new tram stop at Parc Olympique Lyonnais welcomes supporters of Portugal and AUSTRIA Hungary during the Euro 2016 football tournament. Y. Allain WIEN (Vienna). The federal government is providing EUR380m subway under bul. Vitosha and months from 19 June, to enable would be needed if more than for S-Bahn enhancement, with the relocation of the southern Bombardier low-floor trams eight air-conditioned trams were a further EUR70m coming from terminus of line 6 to that of line 1 at to be used; 26 platforms need in service at the same time. the city. Hütteldorf – Meidling Ivan Vazov. The southern terminus modification. Cars 4422/3 and South China Morning Post will be upgraded to permit higher of route 10 is now in bul. James the rebuilt 4402 have now been INDUSTRY. CRRC Nanjing frequencies by track doubling. Bourchier at ul. Korab Planina, as delivered from Bombardier’s Puzhen has signed three contracts Line S80 will be extended from its a reversing triangle. Thunder Bay facility. worth CNY3.15bn (EUR426.6m). northern terminus at Hirschstetten The cutback seems to be in Tramline 514 Cherry St new loop Suzhou will receive low-floor trams to Aspern Nord, including anticipation of the extension of to Dufferin loop was inaugurated for line 3 (due to open in 2019), interchange with U-Bahn line U2 metro line 2 from James Bourchier on 18 June, with regular service Hangzhou will receive metro at Hausfeldstrasse. IRJ to Vitosha. Route 18 now has its from the following day. The service trains for the 12.8km (eight-mile) southern terminus at pl. Zhurnalist supplements line 504 King. extension of line 2, and Honghe BELGIUM (shared with route 12). The northern Tracklaying on the Spadina Prefecture Modern Tram Company ANTWERPEN. The arrival of termini of routes 1 and 7 are now subway York extension was will receive LRVs for the Dianan trams 7336-8 in June marked the at Nadlez Nadezhda and Han completed on 6 June. The 8.6km City Centre Tramway Project, completion of the delivery of the Kubrat metro station respectively. (5.4-mile) line will open next year. opening in 2017. IRJ first tranche of Bombardier Flexity 2 Route 19 has been merged with The province of Ontario has SHANGHAI. The first of 30 Alstom ‘Albatros’ trams. Planned deliveries route 11, leaving the short branch allocated CAD840m (EUR581.7m) Citadis for future lines T1 and T2 will take the series up to 7362 over to Gara Sofiya Sever without tram for Toronto transit projects, in Songjiang District was unveiled the next few years. service. The 2300-series Pesa permitting the city council to give at the Rail+Metro 2016 exhibition Vicinal standard car 9994 will Swing cars are used on route 7. CAD150m (EUR104.1m) to TTC to on 14 June. The 33m low-floor operate city tours this summer, J. Wainwright start planning and design for the car was assembled in China by with departures from Nationale Yonge relief line. D. Drum the joint venture of Alstom and Bank at 13.00, 14.00 and 16.00 on CANADA VANCOUVER. The federal Shanghai Rail Traffic Equipment Sundays 3/17/31 July, 14/21 August OTTAWA. The Ontario provincial and provincial governments are Development Co. Ltd. and 4 September. There is a flat government has announced a making CAD740m (EUR511.9m) Shentong Metro Group has fare of EUR3. T-2000, M. J. Russell CAD1bn (EUR700m) contribution available for transit, including awarded Alstom a EUR46m CHARLEROI. Société Régionale towards stage 2 of the LRT project, new SkyTrain cars (28 contact to modernise a total of 68 Wallonne du Transport has invited which will more than double to Expo/Millennium lines, 22 2003-built metro cars operating tenders for the refurbishment of the length of the 12.5km (7.8- Canada Line), planning for the on line 5. Shanghai Daily the 45 BN trams operated on the mile) east–west line now under Broadway line extension, and Charleroi network. T-2000 construction. Stage 2 includes a Surrey’s LRT project. DENMARK GENT. From 25 July routes 1 13km (8.1-mile) western extension AARHUS. The first of 14 Stadler and 4 were to be operated in from Tunney’s Pasture to Bayshore, CHINA Variobahn low-floor trams for two sections for four months to with a branch to Baseline, and a HONG KONG. Air-conditioned the new system was delivered on permit bridge reconstruction: 10km (6.3-mile) eastern extension tram 88 entered passenger service 23 June. Opening is predicted for 1, Evergem – Gravensteen from Blair to Place d’Orleans. from 6 June after several months May 2017. DS and Korenmarkt – Flanders Expo; The third project in stage 2 is an of trials, painted in a special blue 4 UZ – Langesteenstraat and 8km (five-mile) southern extension livery. RATP Transdev Asia hopes FINLAND Korenmarkt – Moscou. T-2000 of the diesel LRT Trillium line that air-conditioning may help HELSINKI. The EUR275m, 25km from Greenboro to Riverside arrest the decline in tramway (15.5-mile) light rail line linking BULGARIA South. Work on these extensions patronage, which is now down Keilaniemi in Espoo with Itäkeskus SOFIA. Excavations for metro is scheduled for 2018-23. IRJ to 180 000/day. Retrofitting received its final approval on line 3 have necessitated the closure TORONTO. The St Clair tramline would cost HKD250 000 (EUR29 15 June. Work should start in of the tramway portion of the was shut for modifications for six 000) per car, but new substations 2017 for completion in 2021. GRN

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FRANCE HAMBURG. Fahrzeugwerke ANGERS. Alstom Citadis trams Miraustrasse and Vossloh Kiepe 1006/7 were given a special ‘yellow have been awarded a contract to jersey’ livery to mark the arrival refurbish ten 40-year old DT3 metro of the Tour de France bicycle race trains by the end of 2017. This type in the city on 2 July. F. Roski was to be completely replaced by GRENOBLE. Alstom Citadis 6012 the new DT5 sets, but increasing has been given a special red livery traffic will need the older sets to (and blue light) to mark the efforts be retained. IRJ of the local fire brigade. T-2000 HANNOVER. Üstra is planning NICE – DIGNE. The six to exercise its option for the two-car DMUs purchased from purchase of 46 more 3000-series SFM in Mallorca last year are Stadtbahn cars, for delivery in 2018- being refurbished by Arterail in Lille 19; 32 of the original batch of 100 and will enter service in 2017. TR are in service. BS PARIS. Saturday 4 June saw HEIDELBERG. The Baden- the ground-breaking ceremony Württemberg high court declared for Grand Paris Express metro line on 12 May that the planning 15 at the future Fort d’Issy-Clamart- permission for the planned Malakoff station. The 33km (20.5- Neuenheimer Feld tramway was mile) line 15 south (Pont de Sevres invalid after objections on technical – Noisy Champs) is to open in 2022. grounds (interference with In one of its first daylight appearances, new Vossloh-built Schwebebahn car 01 is Flooding or danger of flooding instruments) from the University seen at Wuppertal’s Völklinger Strasse on 13 June. H-J. Schad caused by the highest levels Hospital and the Max Planck of water in the River Seine for 30 Society. The political reaction to IRELAND shunting accident at Laxey in July years in early June resulted in the this decision is awaited. SV DUBLIN. Fingal County Council 2015, has also been repaired and closure of line 4 métro station Sant- MÜNCHEN (Munich). From has issued an Invitation to Tender repainted and was returned to use Michel and line 10 métro station 4 October the central section of for a feasibility study on reinstating as part of the increased services over Cluny La Sorbonne. RER line B U-Bahn line U3 between Scheidplatz part of the Howth tram as a possible the TT Races period in June. trains did not stop at Saint-Michel and Münchner Freiheit will be tourist attraction. Either a horse- Notre-Dame and line C service replaced by buses for a 22-week drawn tramway along the Howth ITALY was withdrawn between Gare period to permit complete renewal waterfront or a more ambitious GENOVA – CASELLA (FGC). Full d’Austerlitz and Pontoise/Jevel, of the track infrastructure at a cost electric service on a 1km (0.6-mile) service on this metre-gauge line and between Versailles Chantiers of EUR10m. line from Howth Dart station to was resumed on 21 May after final and Juvisy. RER Line C re-opened The first Siemens C2 six-car Howth Castle and the National repairs to landslip damage were on 9 June as flood waters receded. metro set entered service on Transport Museum have been completed. EA ST-ETIENNE. The first of the new 17 June on line U6, after temporary suggested. MILANO. Works have finally CAF trams was delivered in mid- approval of three sets for The Luas pay dispute has been started on the Milano – Desio June ready for assembly and testing passenger testing. BS resolved with phased increases interurban tramway, where this autumn. Tram-2000 SCHWERIN. Gotha two-axle accepted by all grades of staff. service was suspended in 2011. STRASBOURG. The first of the tram 21 and snowplough 904 Drivers expect to receive 4% rises Completion is programmed for next tranche of Alstom Citadis left for the Wehmingen tram each year for the next four years, 2019, including extension to trams (equipped for operation on museum on 22 June. DS plus an annual bonus of 6.5%. Seregno. NordMilano24 the Kehl extension) is scheduled for The settlement is said to be a NAPOLI. CAF has been selected delivery on 22 August. Tram-2000 HUNGARY ‘marker’ for other claims by to supply ten six-car metro trains BUDAPEST. Mayor István Tarlós transport workers and discussions for line 1, with an option for GERMANY has announced that the rack are currently taking place between ten more. RGI BERLIN. Tramlines M13 and tramway will be extended in both unions and Dublin Bus staff. 50 resumed running across directions, to Normafa on the hill, MOROCCO the Bösebrücke to Virchow- and to the recently-rebuilt Széll ISLE OF MAN CASABLANCA. Yapi Merkezi Klinikum from 27 June following Kálmán tér for metro interchange. DOUGLAS. The Manx Electric has been awarded the EUR83m the completion of rebuilding The HUF23bn(EUR72.5m) cost Railway Society has criticised the construction contract for the 14.6km work that started on 19 March. DS will be financed by a loan from the current planning application for (9.1-mile) second tramline in the BRAUNSCHWEIG. Tenders European Investment Bank. the reconstruction of Douglas city from Benoussi to Boulevard have been invited for nine 36m at A new tramline from Keleti to Promenade not including Anoual, due to be completed least 70% low-floor trams for Rákospalota is also planned, as well provision for tram tracks. in 2019. Alstom is supplying delivery in 2019, with an option as extensions at both ends of line 1, The MERS says this would 50 Citadis trams for this line. IRJ for seven more. A study for the north to Aranyvölgy MAV station, reduce the horse tramway to a expansion of the 1100mm-gauge and south to Kelenföld station.TR meaningless stub. NETHERLANDS network has recommended up to SZEGED. A tram-train project SNAEFELL. Services have now AMSTERDAM. Tramline 24 five new lines. IRJ for the line to Hódmezövásárhely been restored to the sections of was withdrawn from 11 May and BREMEN. On 2 June planning is planned with a HUF1.1bn line affected by flooding and its rolling stock used to boost permission was given for the (EUR3.5m) contract let to the soil erosion over the winter. This the frequency on line 16. The extension of tramline 1 to SZH TT consortium to design the had resulted in sections being 13 stored high-floor trams in Mittelshuchting and line 8 to eight-vehicle fleet. TR worked as single track while the series 780-816 are being Stuhr and Weyhe. DS remedial work took place. scrapped, though 794 will be DESSAU. The summer timetable INDIA The decision to rebuild tram 3, retained for museum purposes. OR from 4 July saw the end of tram CHENNAI (Madras). A 9.1km (5.7- which was badly damaged in a run- DEN HAAG. The new Centraal service on the 1.2km (0.75-mile) mile) elevated extension of metro away accident, has been reaffirmed. Station terminus for RandstadRail branch to Kreuzbergstrasse (line line 1 has been approved for A new body will be constructed line E to Rotterdam is due to open 2), built and opened in 1987. DS completion in March 2018. RGI using as many of the original in late August. It is designed so that DUISBURG. The city council fittings as possible, all of which in an emergency HTM trams from has decided to end its seven-year IRAN were recovered from the accident Laan van NOI can use the facility. participation in the Via partnership TEHRAN. The metro line 3 site near The Bungalow. The Korte Voorhout terminus with Essen and Mülheim/Ruhr station at Khajeh Abdollah e Ansari Trailer 58 on the Manx Electric of line 17 is a single stub from on 31 December. opened on 6 June. urbanrail.net Railway, which overturned in a 2 May as a result of increased

310 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org SWITZERLAND the airport without travelling via APPENZELLERBAHNEN Edinburgh Waverley. (AB). An order has been placed GREATER MANCHESTER. with Stadler Altenrhein for four Major Second City Crossing three-car sets that will operate in works at St Peter’s Square began Abe2/4+B+Be2/4 formation when on 26 June and were scheduled delivered in 2018. There is an to last until the end of August. option for a fifth set. EA At the same time services were BERN – SOLOTHURN (RBS). suspended on the Eccles line for The new Be4/10 ordered from track renewal, although a partial Stadler for delivery in 2018-19 resumption of service was expected will be 1-14. EA from early August when trams LA-CHAUX-DE-FONDS – would again reach MediaCityUK LES PONTS-DE-MARTEL. from Deansgate-Castlefield. The level crossing problem was Bus replacement services were resolved quickly, and the line to run from Piccadilly to Eccles reopened on 29 May. TR every ten minutes, increased MONTREUX – ZWEISIMMEN to every five minutes at peaks. (MOB). Zweisimmen station is Additionally, a walking route being completely rebuilt with was signposted from the city gauge-changing equipment centre to Deansgate-Castlefield A coupled set of Durrmazlar Greencity LRVs on the Bursaray line in the Turkish to permit introduction of to replace cross-city trams. city of Bursa. Bursaray through service from Montreux Transport for Greater to Interlaken in 2018. Manchester is developing a security around the US Embassy. RUSSIA The MOB section will be closed scheme for overnight weekend The use of double-ended Siemens NIZHNIY NOVGOROD. Scenic completely from 24 October to 5 car parking at stops, following a Avenio trams made this possible. tramline 11 was restored from November. TR successful trial launched at a total The Strandexpress summer 2 May, with a KTM-8 tram NYON – LA CURE (NStCM). The of 15 stops last December. The service started on 5 May, running operating 07.00-19.00 and section from Trélex to Givrins is new scheme is expected to start in from Centraal Station this year. connecting with Volga river closed from 19 May to 13 October August. Due to work on lines 5 and 15 cruises. During the city festival due to the need to renew the LONDON (TRAMLINK). A being carried out at the Nootdorp on 12 June preserved KM tram Colline viaduct. In the meantime, threatened 48-hour strike by terminus, the turning circle was 162 was used. N. Semyonov a bus replacement service is being tram drivers planned for mid-June not accessible for some weeks, ST PETERBURG. The large- provided. EA was suspended after an improved and trams ran empty over part of scale renovation project for pay offer was made. Union ASLEF line 19 to reverse at the triangle in Vasileostrovskaya metro station TAIWAN had argued that tram drivers are Weidevogellaan. was completed to permit re- KAOHSIUNG. Demonstration paid considerably less than train Museum tram 2 has returned to opening on 27 May. N. Semyonov operation of the tramline was drivers while performing effectively Amsterdam where it has resumed SMOLENSK. Ten second-hand extended by four stops to Exhibition the same role. its identity of Amsterdam 72. OR KTM-8 trams have arrived from Center (C8) on 26 June, bringing Live travel data for trams ROTTERDAM. The oldest Moskva, which received RUR10m its length to 4.6km (2.9 miles). has been added to various apps metro trains of the 5200-series (EUR141 000) from the sale. The remaining 4km (2.5 miles) of licensed by Transport for London are being scrapped or sold to a transphoto.ru phase 1 is scheduled to be open in and a new one-hour ‘Hopper’ fare dealer. 5217+5234 are joining June 2017. Focus Taiwan is to be introduced in September. the museum collection. OR SAUDI ARABIA TAIPEI. A turnkey contract for This will allow a free transfer RIYADH. Tunnelling work on the 14.3km (8.9-mile) Sanying within an hour of an initial tram NEW ZEALAND the Green line metro was completed rapid transit line in New Taipei or bus journey using an Oyster AUCKLAND. The ground-breaking on 8 June. Tracklaying on line 4 City has been awarded to a or contactless payment card. ceremony for the 3.4km (2.1-mile) started on the same day, and a full- consortium formed by Ansaldo STS, A new London-wide Tube map City Rail Link from Britomart size mock-up of an Alstom car was Hitachi and RSEA Engineering; appeared in June and for the first to Mount Eden was on 2 June. put on display. The first three of 69 29 two-car automated trainsets time includes Tramlink. Work is scheduled to take 5.5 two-car trains will be delivered in will be supplied. RGI LONDON (UNDERGROUND). years. IRJ 2017. RGI Installation of new signalling WELLINGTON. The Lambton TURKEY by contractors Thales has begun Quay – Kelburn cable tramway SLOVAKIA BURSA. The first of 60Green City between Edgware Road and will be closed from 7 June to 31 KOSICE. A farewell tour for the last LRVs built by Durmazlar for the Hammersmith – the first elements July to permit a NZD3m upgrade Tatra T3 trams in the fleet was held Bursaray light rail line was unveiled of an overhaul of signalling and to the electric drive and winding on 11 May. OR on 15 June. The cost of a 28m two- train control systems across the gear, as well as refurbishment of section car is EUR1.63m. IRJ Circle, District, Hammersmith the two cars. SOUTH KOREA GAZIANTEP. The rebuilt ex- & City and Metropolitan lines. BUSAN. Construction has started Frankfurt Pt high-floor cars Completion is due in 2021, POLAND on metro line 5, a 6.9km (4.3-mile) are G01-25, while at least five delivering a 33% increase in WROCLAW. A further three line to be operated by rubber-tyred ex-Rouen low-floor trams are in capacity with the frequency of Moderus Beta partially low-floor trains. Completion is scheduled for peak service as G26-32. A further trains running during peak periods trams have been ordered for 2021. IRJ eight of this type have been leased increased to 32 trains per hour in 2017 delivery under a PLN11.5m to Kayseri. M. J. Russell central London from 2022-23. The (EUR2.6m) contract signed in SPAIN four lines together make up nearly June. RGI MALLORCA. Tenders have UNITED KINGDOM 40% of the network; they carry been invited to complete the EDINBURGH. The new around 1.3 million passengers per PORTUGAL electrification of the 31km transport interchange at Edinburgh day. SINTRA. The summer timetable (19.4-mile) line from Enllaç to Gateway (Gogar) is under NOTTINGHAM. The increase on the heritage tramway runs Manacor and the 12km (7.5 miles) construction and likely to open by in journeys to 12.2m (see News) from 22 June to 4 September, to Sa Pobla. When finished, the end of the year. The structure reflects the opening of the lines with departures from Sintra at scheduled for 2018, this will will provide an interchange to Clifton and Toton Lane 10.20, 12.00, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00 complete the electrification of the allowing rail passengers from Fife last August. However, there is and 17.00. The flat fare is EUR3. metre-gauge network. TR stations to change to trams to still some way to go before the

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 311 Worldwide Review

TUCSON, AZ. Cuts to weekend for 120 M5000 trams expected night tram services were postponed imminently, consideration has at the last minute to permit a again turned to the three T68 cars city council review. E. B. Havens remaining on the system. Car 1007 has been accepted by the MUSEUM NEWS Manchester Transport Museum BLACKPOOL (UK). An agreement Society (MTMS) at Heaton has been reached for the Blackpool Park, but cannot move there Heritage Trust to take a 20-year lease until appropriate depot of the illuminated Hovertram (735) accommodation is available. Cars from its owners, the North Eastern 1020 and T68A 2001 are currently Electrical Traction Trust. The tram the subject of further discussions was constructed in 1963 on the with the MTMS and others with frame of a 1935 Railcoach and has a view to securing them for a capacity of 99 seats – making it preservation rather than scrapping. the highest capacity tram in the ISSAQUAH, WA (US). The start pre-light rail fleet. of the 2016 operating season on The tram was withdrawn in 2001 7 May also brought an extension Overhead line gantries for the UK's tram-train pilot are starting to be installed, and purchased for preservation of the line. Thanks to repair of seen here near Bessemer Way, Rotherham in early June. Stuart Cooke in 2007 by the Beith Transport the bridge over the East Fork Collection, subsequently being of Issaquah Creek, the 400m section originally announced target Completion is programmed acquired by the NEETT in 2014. of railway line north of the bridge, of 20m journeys is reached. for March 2022. E. B. Havens The tram will return to Blackpool to Gilman Blvd, returned to use SOUTH YORKSHIRE. Masts INDUSTRY. Škoda has for restoration. for the first time since 2002. for the electrification of the established a US subsidiary, Škoda CRICH (UK). A London horse About 1km (0.6 miles) of track Tinsley Chord freight link and the Transportation UDSA LLC, in a tram has been rescued. What is is now usable, but only about railway line between Meadowhall, move aiming to boost its chances believed to have been a two-horse 900m is used for normal service Rotherham Central and Parkgate of securing US transit orders, and North Metropolitan tramcar was (100m south of Issaquah station is in preparation for tram-train has recruited Scott Ellis to lead the located in a field near Newtown, normally not used). S. J. Morgan operation are now in place at operation, a former Kinkisharyo Powys, where it is thought to have SKJOLDENAESHOLM (DK). The various locations. The line will Business Development Manager. been since 1906. The body of the restoration of København bogie initially be electrified at 750V dc E. B. Havens vehicle remained on its original tram 100 was completed in time but will be upgraded to 25kv ac NEW YORK, NY. The Queens running gear. for it to enter service at the museum when the electrification of the East borough council is requesting In 1978 the museum obtained in June. BT Midlands rail network is completed. funding to study light rail feasibility another North Metropolitan WEHMINGEN (DE). A guest on the LIRR Jamaica – Long Island horse car, identified as 184. This visitor to the tram museum UKRAINE City freight line. NY Daily News was dismantled two years ago on 12 June was Wien articulated GENERAL. A new law which took PHILADELPHIA, PA (SEPTA). with a view to using it in a future car 4773, just withdrawn effect from 16 May eliminated The Key smartcard system was restoration, despite several major from service in the Austrian place names that held links to launched on 13 June. Intended to parts being missing. The Newton capital. The tram was on its way to either the Nazi or Communist replace tokens and paper tickets, tram has most of the missing parts, Kreiensen, where it is going to be eras. As a result the city of the system was first made available and will be dismantled to safeguard installed as a meeting room by a Dnipropetrovsk was renamed to 10 000 customers. E. B. Havens them for the future. The London local business. DS Dnipro, and Dniprozherzhinsk ST LOUIS, MO. Feasibility studies County Council Tramways Trust became Kamenskoye (its pre- are to be commissioned for three has set up a fund to raise money CONTRIBUTORS 1936 name). Both cities have new light rail lines: a three-station towards a restoration project. Worldwide items should be tramway systems. P. Haseldine branch from Clayton to Westport London County Council sent to Michael Taplin at Flat 1, LVIV. The first rebuilt Tatra (P+R); a one-station branch from Tramways 106 has become the 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, KT4 tram was unveiled in early North Hanley to Hazelwood first car from the National Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. June as 1053; three more are to (P+R) and a six-station southern Tramway Museum to operate on Fax: +44 (0)1983 862810 or follow before the end of the year. extension from Shrewsbury to loan to the East Anglia Transport e-mail: [email protected] New interiors, windows and Butler Hill Rd. Museum in Carlton Colville. UK and Ireland items are front ends are featured, together The three ex-Melbourne W2 The vehicle took part in the EATM’s welcomed by the Home News with overhauled bogies. RGI trams from Seattle were delivered on London event on 9-10 July. LCC Editor, John Symons, 17 Whitmore 9 June; 482 and 518 were delivered 106 had been overhauled at Avenue, Werrington, Stoke- USA to St Louis, while 512 was taken to Crich, being returned to service on-Trent, ST9 0LW, UK. E-mail ATLANTA, GA. Plans to fix Gomaco in Iowa. The company for the 2015 season. [email protected] regulatory problems relating to has a USD676 650 contract for the DE PANNE (BE). Newly-restored Acknowledgements are due to the Atlanta Streetcar operation refurbishment and modification Vicinal standard 9942 will be Clifton Flewitt and Eric Pounder, were submitted to the Georgia of one car, in readiness for the active on Saturdays and Sundays plus ABC Australian Broadcasting Department of Transportation opening of the Delmar Loop line from 2 July, with a potential Corporation, BS Blickpunkt on 14 June, and are being evaluated. in spring 2017. S. J. Morgan shuttle service to and from Strassenbahn, DS Drehscheibe, Tramway operation continues. SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Muni). Adinkerke in the afternoon. It will EA Eisenbahn Amateur, Edinburgh The city plans to hire a private The SFMTA has approved a also participate in Trammelant Evening News, Focus Taiwan, GRN operator for its 4.3km (2.7-mile) USD22.7m (EUR20.4m) contract on 6 August and the Tramfestival Global Rail News, Irish Independent, tramway loop. E. B. Havens with SPX GenFare for 1400 new on 11 September. M. J. Russell IRJ International Rail Journal, BETHESDA – NEW fareboxes that will print real-time DUBLIN (IRELAND). Dublin Manchester Evening News, Newcastle CARROLLTON, MD. A passes, eliminating the need for now has a new cafe located in Herald, New York Daily News, USD874.6m (EUR787.6m) loan paper transfers. Trials should start Wolfe Tone Square in a converted NordMilano24, Nottingham Evening has been made to the Purple this autumn. E. B. Havens Lisbon tram (305), which was Post, OR Op De Rails, RGI Railway Line Transit Partners consortium SANTA ANA, CA. Orange County built in Philadelphia in 1902. Gazette International, Shanghai set up to build the LRT line. Transportation Authority has The tram has been converted Daily, South China Morning Post, A further federal grant of approved a 2016-17 budget that over the last few years by owner SV Stadtverkehr, T-2000 Tram 2000, USD900m (EUR809.1m) is includes USD61.6m (EUR55.5m) Dave Fitzpatrick. The Planner, TR Today’s Railways, expected when the full funding for the proposed Santa Ana – GREATER MANCHESTER (UK). transphoto.ru, urbanrail.net and agreement is signed this summer. Garden Grove tramline. E. B. Havens With the last of the current order Wolverhampton Express & Star.

312 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org ELECTRIC ICONS Prague A look at Prague’s trams in the 21st century Authorised by dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy Available in Czech or English Foreword and fleet list at May 2016

£24 plus £3.50 p&p UK, £6.50 non-UK A book by Michael Morton Bsc, FCILT, FCIM, MInstTA

Send cheque (payable to M. Morton) or other payment, stating English or Czech

Now entering service in the Bosnian city of Sarajevo are these ex-Konya Düwag Podbaba Publications, 7 Trinity Gardens, Thornton Cleveleys, FY5 2UA eight-axle trams, originally supplied to the German city of Köln (Cologne). P. Heywood

Michael Morton.inddPMP 1 Transport Films01/07/2016 19:02 Check out our website for recent releases and new locations. Still serving electric traction enthusiasts worldwide – and yes we are happy to supply those with no internet access. 1940’s 3307. Hong Kong (SAR China). Buses. Trams. May 2016. 3316. China. Trolleybus. May 2016. Luoyang. Xinmi. A long running film of buses and trams on Hong Kong We start with the trolleybuses of Luoyang before a look at DANCE ON island through a weekday morning rush hour. the redundant trolleys at Xinmi coal mine.

SATURDAY 3308. Hong Kong (SAR China). Buses. Trams. May 2016. 3317. China. Trolleybus. May 2016. Wuyang and Taiyuan. Another long running programme featuring the buses and We start with the trolleys at the two mining operations NIGHT light rail of the Hong Kong New Territories. near Taiyuan then the city trolley buses. ADDITIONAL CHARGE APPLIES 3311. Hong Kong (SAR China). Buses. May 2016. We pay a 3318. Beijing. China. Trolleybuses. BRT. Buses. May 2016. visit to Lantau island for Discovery Bay, NLB, Long Win and Many locations covered on the huge system including the Citybus plus unfranchised services. exciting new trolleybuses on the BRT routes.

3312. Macau / Hong Kong (SAR China). Buses. May 2016. 3319. China. Tai'an. Ji'nan, Changchun. Trolleybus, Tram, We pay a visit to Macau with city centre bus station and Light Rail, Buses. May 2016. The last mining trolley at coach depot plus buses in Kowloon Hong Kong. Meikuang, Ji'nan trolleys and Changchun trams.

3313. China. Tram Bus. May 2016. Zhuhai catenary free 3320. China. Shenyang.China. Tram, Bus. May 2016. Some Ansaldo on test, Guangzhou new tram on riverside plus amazing scenes of parallel running on new sections of the BRT system plus regular bus services. light rail system, bright sunny weather.

3314. China. Tram. Trolleybus. Bus. May 2016. Guangzhou, 3325. Nottingham. UK. Tram. June 2016. Our long awaited the end of BRT coverage then load testing on tramway and look at the new route to P&R at Clifton with coverage of depot and on to trolleybuses, includes depot. the whole route lineside plus some original route.

3315. China. Tram. Trolleybus. May 2016. We start with the 3326. Nottingham. UK. Bus Tram June 2016. A look at trolleybuses of Hangzhou then the new Suzhou tramway Nottingham’s buses and trams in the city centre on a hot then Shanghai Translohr tram and trolleybuses. sunny day, catching up on the latest changes.

MON 8th TO SUN 14th AUGUST Numerous overseas and UK tram or trolleybus systems being covered in 2016, Step back in time to 1940s BRITAIN ON THE HOME FRONT see them first on our web site and follow our blog. with our WW2 Themed Event where vintage trams will mix with A SELECTION OF FILMS FROM OUR EXTENSIVE RANGE, SENT POST FREE WORLDWIDE. re-enactors. Be transported back with wartime songs, traditional DVDs £15 EACH, TWO OR MORE £12 EACH. CREDIT CARDS WELCOME. pub games and a replica Spitfire. The weekend features military vehicles and a children’s Boot Camp. PMP, 17 BIRCHWOOD DRIVE, LOWER PEOVER, VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND TIMES CHESHIRE, WA16 9QJ Tel: 01565 722045 Fax: 01565 722038 Crich Tramway Village, Crich, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5DP E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01773 854321 Web: www.tramway.co.uk www.pmpfilms.com SITUATED NEAR MATLOCK AND ONLY 8 MILES FROM M1 JUNCTION 28

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 313 Letters

MAILBOX Get your views into print Letters should be clearly typed and preferably not handwritten. [email protected] +44 (0)1733 367615 We reserve the right to shorten contributions for publication.

The many benefits of green track for tramways

It was both topical and apposite to see the green track which researchers have highlighted the delivery of the oxygen we provided outside One & Two Snow Hill, for the extension requirements per individual related to the area of grass or of the Midland Metro to Central Birmingham, on the adverts seedum planted. A nice little positive for the clean air account. in the same magazine for the UK Light Rail Conference. l Further work, still in progress, is measuring the efficacy of Choice of the ‘Zürich’ version of STRAILastic_R (Rasen = Grass) various types of planting as an air filtration system. Plants kept the visible amount of insulation close to the rail head, capture particulate matter which then washes down with and thus the visual effect of the grass was enhanced, when rainfall and watering. compared to some of the other options, including the simpler l The selection of plants is an important detail. Grass will and basic ‘Augsburg’ system. discolour when affected by drought and choice of alternative Green track is becoming increasingly topical as a key species, including clover, can mitigate the visual impact of measure in managing many environmental issues, with the changes in irrigation. Seedum is more drought resistant Grüngleisenetzwerk (green track network) group’s handbook, and comes with added bonuses of coming in colours other shortly to be available in an English edition, highlighting the than green, requiring both a shallower growing medium various technical solutions, and the lessons learned, including and eliminating the need for mowing and collecting grass some detail which might have made for a bit less work on the cuttings. Occasionally local wildlife (wild boars in one area Snow Hill project. A tighter rein on consistent sleeper spacing, on Berlin’s network) find the choice especially tasty, and for example, would have eliminated avoidable trimming pose a rather different challenge. of the standard sizes of moulded profile. Lessons learned l With green track you get the natural benefits noted plus a on management of stored turves would have reduced the significant benefit in the attenuation of noise and patchwork of the initial appearance when the last laid, longest vibration. This arises from the two-fold gain, placing the stored material took a little time to recover a healthy and full rails in a compliant mass and the absorbent noise deadening green appearance. surface replacing the reflective pavement of conventional Key ‘wins’ for green track already documented by the embedded rail or the concrete slab systems. The light rail green track group’s work include: detail can equally extend to heavy rail stabling sidings. l Attenuation of rainfall surges, by up to 50% as the grass/ l I’ve suggested that Virgin (and Abellio) might consider red seedum blanket soaks up the water for slow release. A really and white seedum, appropriately laid out, but there are useful way to manage the risk of flooding, by creating more serious avenues to pursue. Just as we have natural holding-back capacity. waste water treatment with reed beds and ponds, there is l The basic arrangement of a layer of ‘growing medium’ with potential to use the planted ‘carpet’ as a host site for bacteria a filter membrane captures fine material and can keep the or enzymes, or with the plants drawing up the pollutants and underlying ballast and drainage systems practically silt-free. then either being harvested or the entire growing medium l The 1992 Expo in the Spanish city of Seville used trees contained in trays lifted out and replaced with fresh units. watered at night to deliver naturally cooled boulevards This is an area where we are still feeling the way forward, between the main pavilions, and it takes around 2.5m and I’d welcome any thoughts on this. calories to evaporate each gallon (4.5 litres) of water sweated In previous issues, Scott McIntosh has highlighted the by green landscaping. In hot weather city folk flock to the substantial savings that can be made by designing a tramway parks. The cooling effect can be underestimated, and one that avoids, wherever possible, the high cost and other issues office with a green roof measured a 10°C difference above associated with on-street tracks. With green track you bring and below the seedum cover on a hot summer day. parks back into city streets, enhancing the ambience with a l As well as transpiration we get photosynthesis removing measurable lift to property values from quality green space. COx and NOx and returning oxygen. Figures quoted vary,but Dave Holladay, by e-mail

Narrow-gauge or standard-gauge? vehicles riding on it and smaller wagons to The influence on the width of a tram on its I have read with interest your June edition prevent overloads. However, a narrow-gauge price is insignificant, while the capacity of a (TAUT 942), with a letter in the Mailbox about railway can be designed to provide the same larger tram is increased with the possibility of the benefits of the metre-gauge for tramway service as a standard-gauge system. Indeed the offering four seats in a row insted of three. operation. This letter mixes two dimensions: loading gauge on Cape systems is even larger To conclude, there is no need to rebuild the track gauge and the width of the trams. than the one in force in the UK. existing narrow-gauge systems to extend I have been active for more than 40 years It is not the track gauge that limits the them but new systems should be built to in the design of railway systems (heavy rail, dimensions of trams, but the distance between standard-gauge with large trams. metro and light rail) and I am still of the track centrelines. This distance was established Joseph Scheerens, by e-mail opinion that there are generally no major for narrow vehicles when tramways were advantages of a particular gauge above others, built around 1900, but street-running trams Monorail madness as long as we stay below ‘high speed rail’. must be able to cross the path of HGVs and Sometimes transit must take to the air. Narrow-gauge was selected in the 19th buses running in the opposite direction. The The UK’s Docklands Light Railway is a Century to reduce construction cost; this was width of these vehicles is presently 2.55m good example. Parts are elevated on costly achieved by reducing the acceptable axle-load (side-mounted mirrors excluded). Since road structures, though other parts are at-grade – (and consequently the use of smaller rails, vehicles can diverge along their trajectory, some on recycled rights-of-way – and short less ballast, less expensive structural works while trams are mechanically guided, it has sections are even in tunnel. Nineteenth etc), but such a railway was to be protected been proven that a 2.65m-wide tram can safely Century technology moves from one to the from abuse – narrow-gauge to prevent heavy be operated where 2.55m lorries are accepted. other with ease, and handles turnouts and

314 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org crossings, even on public roads, so a complex The high-floor vehicles would make No trolleybuses, so what now for Leeds? network can be built with materials available changes to station platforms unnecessary and So now we know, Leeds’ New Generation from the catalogues of many suppliers. underside third-rail collector shoes could be Transport has been formally rejected; the Not that elevated rights-of-way are cheap. adapted to run on the existing contact rail modern trolleybus will not be making a They call for concrete and steel structures on the island. This would obviate the need comeback in Yorkshire’s premier city. This with passenger platforms, escalators and to install overhead equipment and solve the surely will have surprised no-one. It has stairways for the fit, and elevators for the less problem of running in Ryde tunnel. been kept hanging about for so long that it able. Producing steel and cement is energy If DLR running practice could be introduced seemed obvious that nobody really wanted intensive. Nowadays we try to minimise then the trains could be driverless, thereby the scheme. After all, it was a second-class it, and one way is to build at-grade when saving on staff costs, and the resulting clear substitute after the Leeds tramway scheme possible. Doing so usually takes space from views from the ends of the carriages would be was rejected. road users, but this should be regarded as ideal for passengers to observe the line. I am a passionate supporter of trolleybuses a plus, not a drawback. Least of all should Christopher Ralls, by e-mail where they are the best tool for the job, but transit users have to pay for preserving the in this case – for an important city like Leeds convenience of road users by putting transit where there are heavy passenger loadings – lines in the air or in tunnels. light rail was the best option. Monorail spells straitjacket, not freedom. So what comes next? Where do we go Monorails are built in the air because they from here? The local operator may offer New are absurd elsewhere. Do they exist anywhere Routemaster buses and increased frequencies, at-grade or in tunnels? I know of none. Have but it is surely obvious to all that such a any been built with junctions and crossings? solution will not fill the bill, in any way. Is there anywhere a monorail network? A There has been much talk of the Northern simple turnout? Can an operator buy cars Powerhouse. George Osborne has put for replacement or expansion from several his weight behind the prospect of much- suppliers? Will energy costs be less than for improved rail transport for the North of conventional rail? England and even the prospect of HS3 linking I have enjoyed riding the marvellous Manchester and Leeds. Wuppertal suspended monorail and I’m glad Ex-DLR P86 5211 was one of a number of original The six main cities of the north have been that clever eccentrics built it a century ago. Docklands Light Railway cars to see a second life in identified and Manchester and Leeds have been But unless your only route is above a canal, Germany; at Essen Hauptbahnhof with a U11 service flagged up as the chief of these. Manchester I don’t think we should build more. to Karlsplatz. S.Baguette is to have a revamped Piccadilly Station that, Olaf Olsen, New York (USA) if all goes to plan, will rival the biggest of “DLR stock would be ideal the London termini in size and importance, Backing trams for central London and much improved rail routes using more What an excellent letter in TAUT 943 by for the Island line. The modern stock. But what of Leeds? How will S Bawtry about future London tram plans. this other terminus of Northern Powerhouse Let us hope that Mr Khan takes notice and high-floor vehicles would Rail benefit from all the prospective measures brings them to fruition, especially as so much to stimulate the North’s economy? money has already been spent on planning. fit station platforms and When the people of Leeds look westwards Another area of London where tram feeders to the comprehensive light rail network that would easily work is Abbey Wood, where underside third-rail is being constructed in Manchester, might local buses on the north to south routes will they not feel that Leeds too is worthy of such be overwhelmed when the forthcoming collector shoes could first- class public transport? Elizabeth line [the recently-announced Now that New Generation Transport has name for the GBP15bn (EUR17.5bn) be adapted to run on the been thrown out, is it not time to get back Crossrail link] opens. to planning and constructing a proper light Eddie Dawes, by e-mail existing contact rail.” rail system that can be expanded to cover the whole of the Leeds metropolitan area? DLR stock idea for the Island line Guided busway regulation Simon Brown, Reading (UK) A further comment on the Isle of Wight light It is indeed surprising that guided busways rail plan (TAUT 941); as the current proposal are not subject to the ROGS regime since Making a meal of a tram-train project does not include street-running, trams are they are undoubtedly “other guided systems” The extension of the Sheffield tramway from not essential. (Mailbox, TAUT 943, July). How has this Meadowhall to Rotherham is seen as a radical Other high-floor vehicles are running on situation come about? new development. But it’s not new – the Tyne UK systems such as the Tyne & Wear Metro Also surprising is that rear-end collisions are & Wear Metro has run on Network Rail tracks and London’s Docklands Light Railway. not uncommon, whereas tramways regularly from Pelaw to Sunderland since 2002! Although the Tyne & Wear Metro has run at sight at up to 80km/h (50mph). Is that Whatever lessons needed to be learned recently completed refurbishment of its because they have more sophisticated systems about light rail vehicles running on a railway vehicles to run until 2025, if any DLR stock for avoiding bunching, if not actual block (with a very wide range of rolling stock types) becomes available it would be ideal for the signalling? should have been learned many years ago. Island line. David Lyall, London (UK) Michael Bell, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK)

The full list of the year’s meetings and meeting places MEETINGS & EVENTS can also be found at www.lrta.org

AUGUST 2016 SEPTEMBER 2016 Wednesday 14. Brighton 19.40. Martin Tuesday 20. London 19.00. Alan Brown: Martin's Memories! (TLRS) Pearce: Pacific North West 2016. Monday 15. Wickham 19.30. Tuesday 6. Southampton 19.30. Monday 19. Liverpool 19.30. Carl Wednesday 21. Bristol 19.30. George Peter Williams: Frogs, ears and pull- Paul Coles: Modelling. (LRTA/SEG) Phillips, Deputy Managing Director, Gardiner: Travels around the Baltic. offs, development of overhead lines Friday 9. Glasgow 19.30. Alex Dublin Light Rail: Luas development, Saturday 24. Beeston 14.00. David for trams and trolleybuses. (TLRS) Strachan: Glasgow General Omnibus operations and problems. (TLRS) Hanger: 21st Century tramways. (TLRS) Saturday 27. Beeston 14.00. Bring A and Motor Services Ltd – 90 Years on Monday 19. Wickham 19.30. John Saturday 24. Garstang 14.00. Bryan Thing: Current tram interests. (TLRS) 1926-2016. (STTS) Prentice: French tram postcards. (TLRS) Lindop: Blackpool Transport. (TLRS)

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 315 Classic Trams ROTTERDAM MUSEUM EXPANDS Fifty years after the RTM’s last operational line closed, a new museum building has opened to keep alive the memory of this remarkable system. Peter Burke explains. 1

n its heyday, the Rotterdamsche the island of Schouwen-Duiveland never The items on show represent nearly all Tramweg Maatschappij (RTM) played reopened, and while those on Goeree- the types of locomotives and rolling stock a vital role in the economy of the Overflakkee and the Hoekse Waard did, described above. The only type of steam islands to the southwest of Rotterdam. maintenance costs after the flood damage locomotive not represented is the original The region includes several historic proved prohibitive; they were closed a few 0-4-0T, but a replica of the last survivor, towns,I such as Goedereede and Zierikzee, years later and replaced by RTM buses. By the scrapped in 1956, is being built to fill this which in the 15th and 16th Centuries had 1960s tram services had dwindled to a line gap. The other major deficiency is a driving been flourishing trading ports. However, from Rotterdam to Spijkenisse with branches trailer coach, so the locomotives and diesel by the turn of the 20th Century it had continuing to Oostvoorne and Hellevoetsluis. trams (all double-ended) need to run round become reliant on agriculture and needed an The last operational line, from Spijkenisse to their trains at the termini. To keep the steam efficient transport system to carry produce, Hellevoetsluis, closed on 14 February 1966. engines supplied, a water tower has been built mainly sugar beet, milk and livestock, to the outside the museum as an exact replica of one markets of Rotterdam or the sugar factories Expanded museum that stood at Strijen, in the Hoekse Waard. in Steenbergen and Puttershoek. The RTM The newly-formed Tramweg Stichting fulfilled this function by operating a 235km (tramway foundation) set out to salvage what Practicalities (146-mile) network of tramlines and – for it could of the locomotives and rolling stock, Staffed entirely by volunteers, the museum those islands not close enough to be linked by and to establish a museum line running out is open 13.00-16.30 (except on operating bridges – ferry-boats. of Hellevoetsluis. However, the rapid growth days, when it opens at 10.30) on Wednesdays of housing estates and difficulties with the and Saturdays from Easter Monday until Early container transport local authority made this difficult. As part of the last Saturday in September. Trams run Built to the Cape gauge of 1067mm the Delta Plan, a national project to improve Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (3ft 6in), the lines opened in 1898 and were flood defences, dykes were built to link the from the beginning of July until the second initially operated by enclosed 0-4-0T steam former islands and in 1986 the museum was weekend of September, as well as on a few locomotives, joined from 1904 by more relocated to one of these: the Brouwersdam other selected days. The normal service powerful 0-6-0Ts. To speed freight transfers between Goeree and Schouwen. comprises three trips per day (at 11.45, between the more distant islands, barges The new site offered scope for a longer 13.30 and 15.30); the return trip lasts an were built onto which goods trucks could heritage line and more extensive museum hour, but on Wednesdays and Thursdays be directly shunted. Later it was realised buildings. A depot was built to house the visitors leaving on the 13.30 tram can break that energy was being wasted in ferrying stock, and a line linking it to Port Zélande their journey to join a boat cruise on the the trucks’ heavy chassis, so a system was – then a newly built holiday resort halfway Grevelingen, a lake created when the dykes developed whereby the bodies could be easily along the Brouwersdam – formally opened enclosed the former sea inlet between the locked onto/detached from their chassis in 1996, 30 years to the day after the last islands, and return on the 15.30 tram. and loaded separately onto the ferries – the operational services ran. The line has since Entry to the museum costs EUR2. A return precursor of modern-day container transport. been extended almost to the full length of the journey by tram is EUR12, a return by tram Passenger services were initially provided Brouwersdam (around 10km/six miles), with and boat EUR24, and a day ticket offering using handsome steam-hauled teak coaches. plans to continue to Scharendijke. unlimited tram rides EUR18. These tickets Three petrol-fuelled trams were introduced Two decades on, an expanded museum all include museum entry. Special deals are in the 1920s and later rebuilt with diesel building opened earlier this year, providing available for families and children. motors. After World War Two more diesel an improved environment in which to see The museum’s address is G. C. trams, locomotives and carriages were bought the rolling stock as well as housing a fine Schellingerweg 2, NL-3253 MD Ouddorp, from defunct local tramways elsewhere in collection of maps, models, photographs and but in fact it is located a little way outside the Netherlands, France and Germany, and other memorabilia. A miniature tramway Ouddorp, at the northern end of the adapted or extensively rebuilt. Some vehicles offers rides to children, a useful attraction Brouwersdam. Ironically, it is one of the retained their varnished teak bodywork on wet days for families holidaying nearby. most remote places in the Netherlands from but most acquired steel cladding, painted The inclusion of a high-speed train simulator any main line railway station, and so access red and cream. Buffet cars and postal vans may seem incongruous, but the fast line from is easiest by car. Access by public transport were painted pea-green and cream. Like the Rotterdam to Antwerpen and Breda crosses is more complicated but is manageable carriages, all motorised vehicles had two the easterly part of the Hoekse Waard and so on operating days by taking the Metro bogies with two axles each, though only one briefly passes through former RTM territory. from Rotterdam to Spijkenisse Centrum, bogie in each unit was powered. Most of the Unlike most heritage railways, the museum Connexxion bus 101 to Hellevoetsluis motorised vehicles were named after birds. line is not a restored route with stock from and then Arriva bus 104 towards Renesse, As well as enabling islanders to reach a variety of systems. It is a new line, mostly alighting at Port Zélande. There you will find the city, these trams provided leisure on land that didn’t exist when the system a station on the museum line, from where you opportunities for Rotterdammers with long closed, almost exclusively carrying material can catch a tram to the museum. trains carrying day-trippers to the beach at associated with the RTM network or newly More information can be found at Oostvoorne. Camping coaches converted built for the museum line. The exception is www.rtm-ouddorp.nl from goods wagons could be hired for longer a coach recently acquired from Belgium and holidays, Ouddorp and Haamstede being awaiting restoration. The author acknowledges with thanks the popular locations. For villages without In addition, old RTM buses and lorries, help received from Sam de Haan and Eric van tramlines the RTM ran connecting buses. although not stored permanently in the der Reiden in preparing this article. Bas van The catastrophic floods of February museum, often put in an appearance at, or der Heiden’s book De RTM: een Kleurrijk 1953 inundated many RTM lines. Those on even provide transport to, special events. Verleden was a useful source of information.

316 / AUGUST 2016 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org 1. Diesel-electric tram MABD1602 Reiger (Heron), built in 1950 by the RTM’s workshop from a teak-bodied tram bought in 1948 from the Zeeuwsche-Vlaams Tramweg Maatschappij, with MD1805 Meeuw in the background.

2. Unit Sperwer (Sparrow- hawk) was introduced onto the RTM in 1963 in a late attempt to present a modern image. It comprises two tramcars with electric motors EB1701 and EB1702, either side of a generator car MDB1700. After withdrawal of RTM services the unit was sold to the Zillertalbahn in Austria but returned to the RTM museum line in 1999. It is seen here alongside diesel-mechanical shunter M1651 Puttershoek, with general cargo van 296, built in 1915 by Allan & Co. in Rotterdam.

3. 0-6-0T locomotive 50 with diesel-mechanical tram MABD1804 Kievit (Lapwing), originally built 2 for the RTM in 1924 by Hannoversche Waggonfabrik AG but extensively rebuilt in Rotterdam in 1953, and buffet coach ABR1517, built in 1906 by Allan & Co. in Rotterdam.

4. Diesel-electric locomotive M67, built in 1949 by the RTM’s workshop using the frame of an earlier locomotive bought in 1946 from the Maasbuurtspoorweg Gennep. After being used to help lift lines after closure in 1966 it was sent to the National Railway 3 4 Museum in Utrecht but returned to the RTM Museum in 1991.

5. Diesel locomotive M1654 with post van PD291. M1654 was built for the museum line in 2004 for use in permanent way construction and maintenance. PD291 was built in 1915 by Allan & Co. in Rotterdam.

6. Locomotive 50 ready to depart from Middelplaat Haven station. The leading coach, AB398, was built in 1906 5 6 by Allan & Co., Rotterdam. 7. Diesel-electric tram MABD1602 Reiger (Heron), built in 1950 by the RTM’s workshop from a teak-bodied tram bought in 1948 from the Zeeuwsche-Vlaams Tramweg Maatschappij.

8. Diesel-mechanical tram MABD1804 Kievit passing the depot; MABD1602 Reiger is in the foreground.

7 8

www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org AUGUST 2016 / 317 BOOKSHOP Order online from lrta.info/shop – or by post from: LRTA Publications, 31 Ashton Road, Wokingham RG41 1HL Postage & packing – Any UK address: add 10%; All addresses outside UK: add 20%. For Airmail despatch outside Europe: add 30%.

The Tramway Revolution in France 1985-2015 Straßenbahn in Österreich “Thirty Glorious Years” Vol. 3: The Northern Regions Alle aktuellen und ehemaligen Betriebe

The storyline continues with a detailed A comprehensive history of all Austrian look at a further ten French cities – tramways, from the vast network in including survivor Lille and revolution Vienna to little Gmunden’s single line. birthplace Nantes, plus the rubber-tyred With details of closed systems also, this is system in Caen and the unusual cable- a great blend of nostalgia and modernity! car line in Laon. The history of each German text. network is comprehensively illustrated. > B5 hardback; 192 pages, 180+ colour and > 215 x 240 mm softback, landscape format; 208 pages, 284 black & white pictures, several maps plus largely colour pictures, 13 maps. facts & figures for each system past & present.

£15.00 plus postage & packing as shown above. £22.50 plus postage & packing as shown above.

London Trolleybuses Tramwaje dolnośląskie A colour album tom II

Author and long-time LRTA member Second volume detailing the history of the Mike Russell has assembled this tramways of Lower Silesia in the border area atmospheric collection of images of modern Poland. Legnica was a city under from what was once the world’s largest both German and Russian control during trolleybus network, in a circular tour of the 1940s and in that period a trolleybus the capital from the 1950s up to the 1962 line was implemented too. Polish text. abandonment. Highly recommended. > A4 hardback; 160 pages, 200+ pictures in > B4 hardback, landscape format; 96 pages, 150+ colour pictures. colour and black & white, several maps.

£25.00 plus postage & packing as shown above. £17.50 plus postage & packing as shown above.

Manx Electric Railway 65 let Trolejbusů v Hradci Králové Past & Present

A superb album of “then and now” Published to mark 65 years of scenes on the iconic MER which show trolleybus operation in the how little some things on the Isle of progressive Bohemian city of Man have changed over the life of this Hradec Králové. Czech text. atmospheric tramway. > A5 softback, landscape > A4 softback; 140 pages, 270+ colour format; 32 pages, 11 black and black & white pictures. & white and 15 colour pictures.

£19.50 plus postage & packing as shown above. £3.50 plus postage & packing as shown above.

La Filovia Torino – Rivoli e il CTREA New Trams to the Tower (1955-1979) Second Edition

A good record of the interurban trolleybus Well-known Blackpool author Steve line to the west of Turin which was a model Palmer has updated his book on the example of the technology when opened in transformation of the town’s tramway to 1955 – replacing a roadside tramway – but fell a modern light rail system, with several victim to regionalisation of public transport new pictures and revised text. in Italy during the 1970s. Italian text. > B5 softback; 72 pages, 87 mainly colour > B5 softback; 264 pages, 138 colour and 154 pictures and two maps; full fleet description. black & white pictures plus maps and diagrams. £9.50 plus postage & packing as £24.50 plus postage & packing as shown above. shown above.

Please bear in mind that we often advertise books before stock is received from publishers so delivery can take some weeks. IN YOUR NEXT ISSUE OF Runner1928 UK LIGHT RAIL GOING LOW-FLOOR BESANÇON: TRAMS CONFERENCE 2016 IN SAN JOSE ON A BUDGET Now in its 11th annual running, the UK Around the millennium the Santa Clara Besançon is one of the smaller French Light Rail Conference is the largest Valley Transportation Authority became communities to have created a gathering of its kind. TAUT reports on two the only North American undertaking second-generation tramway. Neil Pulling days of debate in Birmingham – with topics to replace its entire second-generation reports from a system that has taken a under discussion including procurement, high-floor LRV fleet with low-floor. ‘budget’ approach with shorter vehicles capacity, safety and technology. Vic Simons assesses the impact. and a low-cost network. PLUS... SEPTEMBER + Why the UK’s Hertfordshire could do with ‘Herts Orbital Transit’ ISSUE + The latest news, rolling stock orders and movements, system developments, transport policy and leading industry comment on sale from around the world 19th August

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Personal membership with TAUT and Tramway Review: For Personal membership online payments: www.lrta.info/personal To December 2016 (4 TAUT + 2 TR) UK £23.96 International £29.96 For Commercial membership online payments: www.lrta.info/commercial To December 2017 (16 TAUT + 6 TR) UK £88.21 International £110.21 Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Forename...... Surname ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Personal membership with online only access to TAUT: Address ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� To December 2016 (4 issues) £11.83 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� To December 2017 (16 issues) £47.33 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Personal membership with online access to TAUT and Tramway Review: Postcode...... To December 2016 (4 issues + 2 TR) £18.08 Email...... To December 2017 (16 issues + 6 TR) £66.08 I enclose a cheque for £ ...... payable to ‘LRTA Subscriptions’

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email: [email protected] Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK AUGUST VISIT US AT INNOTRANS 20 - 23 September 2016

MesseStand Berlin 203 - Germany - Hall 21B

INNOVATIVE ROAD CROSSING CROSSINGS SYSTEMS FOR CITY RAILWAYS & DEPOTS

PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

DEPOTS & TRAM STOPS

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