THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE HEADLINES l LA approves light rail connector l RATP Dev boosts presence in Algeria l Nottingham’s new tram design unveiled FINAL FUNDING APPROVED FOR UK TRAM-TRAIN TRIAL UK Light Rail Conference – Full review Track technology: Riding The Tide: Inspection and How Norfolk is monitoring tools embracing light from the EU’s rail and looking PM ‘n’ IDEA project to expand JULY 2012 No. 895 WWW. LRTA . ORG l WWW. TRAMNEWS . NET £3.80 Delivering a world-class light rail system for Metrolink across Greater Manchester MPT The M-Pact Thales consortium brings together three industry leading companies: Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail and Thales UK. The consortium is responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of the multi-million Contact: Bryan Diggins, MPT Project Director pound Metrolink extension. e: [email protected] MPT advert 2012.indd 1 8/5/12 11:07:56 Contents The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association 248 News 248 JULY 2012 Vol. 75 No. 895 Portland – Milwaukie attains full funding and TriMet www.tramnews.net orders another 18 LRVs; Aarhus to build Denmark’s first EDITORIAL LRT line; UK’s final approval for tram-train trial; RATP Editor: Simon Johnston Dev expands in Algeria; Nottingham’s new trams revealed. Tel: +44 (0)1832 281131 E-mail: [email protected] Eaglethorpe Barns, Warmington, Peterborough PE8 6TJ, UK. 254 UK Light Rail Conference review Associate Editor: Tony Streeter TAUT reports on the leading topics of debate from the E-mail: [email protected] UK’s largest-ever light rail industry gathering. Worldwide Editor: Michael Taplin Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. 259 Turning The Tide E-mail: [email protected] Following controversy and programme overruns, the new 254 News Editor: John Symons light rail system in Norfolk, Virginia is proving itself a 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. boon for the city. Vic Simons reports. E-mail: [email protected] 263 Systems Factfile: Dortmund Contributor: Neil Pulling Neil Pulling examines the impact of continual public Design: Debbie Nolan transport modernisation for the Ruhr’s largest city and Production: Carla Corrado how it has helped the shift to a new economic model. Tel: +44 (0)1832 281134 E-mail: [email protected] 268 PM ‘n’ IDEA: Innovative track technology Worldwide Contributors: Aare Olander, Nikolai Semyonov, Sergei Tarkhov (CIS), Mike Russell, Norman Bartlett, Dr Jay Jaiswal and Dr Robert Carroll discuss the cost and Thomas Wagner, Pedro Costa, Richard Felski, Jordi Ibanez (Europe), efficiency savings that can be realised by light rail infrastructure 259 Yoshiri Nogi (Japan), Anthony Bailey, Ian Hammond, Paul Nicholson owners from the EU-funded PM ‘n’ IDEA programme. (Australia), Vic Simons, Charles Lietwiler, Steve Morgan, Tom Swinney, Julian Wolinsky (North America). 273 Worldwide Review LRTA Website and Diary: Brian Lomas Calgary West trials; Suzhou’s metro operations begin; E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Halberstadt marks 125 years of tram operation; Luas Commercial Manager: Vicky Binley collision driver acquitted; Amsterdam revisits metro plan; Tel: +44 (0)1832 281132 E-mail: [email protected] Bern publishes options for second cross-city tramline. Advertising Manager: Andy Adams 277 Letters Tel: +44 (0)1832 281135 E-mail: [email protected] Replacing first-generation rails with new; Why the UK Eaglethorpe Barns, Warmington, Peterborough PE8 6TJ, UK. needs greater transport funding parity. 280 Publisher: Howard Johnston 278 The LRTA at 75: A Personal View Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the LRTA and LRTA Publishing on the third Friday of each month preceding the cover date. Light Rail Transit Association Chairman Andrew Braddock reflects on 75 years of the Association, and why its role is LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up members of the more relevant than ever in the modern world. Light Rail Transit Association. You are welcome to join the LRTA. 280 Classic Trams: Long-lived interurbans subscriptions: LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), Mike Russell reviews the history of Poland’s last 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. surviving interurban tramway lines. BACK ISSUES: Tel: +44 (0)1406 373070 PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION: Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. Green light for UK tram-train… finally LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE: c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, simON JOhnstON, editOR Kent DA16 2BY. Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 in England and Wales. LRTA Chairman: Andrew Braddock. LRTA Deputy Chairman: Vic Simons Thursday 17 May could prove to be a The rest of the Conference provoked LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE: c/o 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn landmark day for LRT development in stimulating debate on a range of topics Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU. Private Limited Company, No. 06169422 the UK. On that day, Transport Minister and I hope issues like the long-running in England and Wales. Norman Baker chose the UK Light Rail debate of ‘whose responsibility and © LRTA Publishing 2012. Conference to announce funding approval who pays’ for utility diversion has also Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also later be used for the UK’s long-awaited tram-train trial. made positive headway as the utilities on our websites or other media. A contribution is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the opinions expressed in it, and such opinions Although the announcement was met companies really do seem to want to are not those of LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. with rousing applause from the audience work with promoters. As an industry, we No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording of the great and the good from the all need to get better at communicating or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior industry, it was very much one of relief. and cross-pollination with our various permission in writing from the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the The UK has been talking about the stakeholders. In some cases we do it very contents of the magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. application of (what should be) relatively well, but in too many others the report THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE HEADLINES simple to implement technology for over card would say ‘must try harder’. l LA approves light rail connector l RATP Dev boosts five years now and after much debate, Lastly, I must make reference to the presence in Algeria l Nottingham’s new tram design unveiled changing of routes and deciding on proposed GBP1000 (EUR1250) fines for responsibility, it seems we could see tram- photography on the Glasgow Subway. Vossloh tram-trains trains in the north of England by 2015. Such plans do nothing to promote light such as those used in Alacant, Spain, should While this is obviously good news, one and urban rail schemes as attractive, be running in the UK has to ask why it has taken so long when inclusive modes – saying nothing of the FINAL FUNDING APPROVED tram-train units are already running, fact that the ‘Clockwork Orange’ is a FOR UK TRAM-TRAIN TRIAL by 2015, UK Transport UK Light Rail Conference – Full review very succesfully, in Germany, France and tourist attraction in its own right! Track technology: Riding The Tide: Minister Norman Baker Inspection and How Norfolk is monitoring tools embracing light 75 l from the EU’s rail and looking Spain – with other nations well on the As always, I welcome your thoughts on PM ‘n’ IDEA project to expand JULY announced on 17 May. 2012 No. 895 1937–2012 WWW. LRTA . ORG l WWW. TRAMNEWS . NET £3.80 Picture courtesy SYPTE. way to implementing their own schemes. the issues of the day – [email protected] TAUT_July12_Cover.indd 1 28/5/12 15:10:13 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org JULY 2012 247 News PORTLAND – MILWAUKIE MAX LINE ATTAINS FULL FUNDING AGREEMENT ON 22 May Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff signed the full-funding grant agreement to provide USD745.2m (EUR593m) for the 11.75km (7.3-mile) light rail line between Portland and the Milwaukie suburbs in Oregon (US). The grant clears the way for the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Or- egon (TriMet) to begin construction of the line, the full cost of which will be USD1.49bn (USD1.19bn). When it opens in September 2015, the 11.75km (7.3-mile) light rail link will connect Portland State University in the downtown area, inner Southeast Portland, Milwaukie and North Clackamas County, bringing the MAX system to a total network length of 97km (60 miles) with 97 stations. “The Portland – Milwaukie light rail project will make a huge difference in the quality of life of thousands of people in the greater Portland area, connect residents in north A Siemens ‘Type 4’ S70 LRV on South West 5th Street just short of PSU terminus, 21 September 2009. Vic Simons Clackamas County to jobs downtown and breathe new life into older neighborhoods TriMet orders another 18 Siemens S70 LRVs like Brooklyn,” Federal Transit Administra- tor Rogoff said. SIEMENS has been awarded a USD73m provements compared to its predecessor in- The new light rail link will be the region’s (EUR58m) contract by TriMet to build 18 cluding LED interior lighting; more ergonom- sixth MAX construction project. The project S70 LRVs for Portland, USA, as part of the ic cabs; upgraded digital camera technology; will include the building of ten stations as well Portland – Milwaukie MAX extension.