THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE www.lrta.org www.tramnews.net JUNE 2014 NO. 918 TRAM-TRAIN: CREATING MULTI-MODAL MODELS Case studies from Germany, France and the UK Alstom takeover on the horizon? Edinburgh Trams launch date given Elections dampen French tram plans ISSN 1460-8324 £4.10 Paris T5 & T7 Melbourne 06 Two very different Rebuilding a complex forms of light rail tram interchange 9 771460 832036 Local knowledge Global vision From Sydney to Salford, our light rail professionals understand the business of developing, operating and maintaining a light rail system. What’s more, we know how to successfully integrate it with the wider transport network Combining local knowledge with international technology, we’re accomplished at delivering light rail projects around the world To find out more call0203 077 7900 232 / JUNE 2014 www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org www.ghd.com CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association JUNE 2014 Vol. 77 No. 918 www.tramnews.net EDITORIAL EDITOR Simon Johnston Tel: +44 (0)1733 367601 E-mail: [email protected] 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK 228 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tony Streeter NEWS 228 E-mail: [email protected] Alstom considers a bid to split energy and WORLDWIDE EDITOR Michael Taplin 240 transport business; Edinburgh Trams goes Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight live on 31 May; Manchester expansion PO37 6EA, UK. E-mail: [email protected] TRAM-TRAIN: THE CONCEPT 234 continues; NY subway derailment injures 19. NEWS EDITOR Michael Taplin gives an overview of John Symons tram-train projects – and their DOMAIN INTERCHANGE REBUILD 252 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. E-mail: [email protected] application in Europe and beyond. Transforming a complex Melbourne tram interchange through careful design. SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR Neil Pulling PILOT PROGRESS: A UK UPDATE 238 WORLDWIDE CONTRIBUTORS Network Rail and South Yorkshire PTE SYSTEM FACTFILE: PARIS T5 & T7 255 Tony Bailey, James Chuang, Paul Nicholson update TAUT on the UK’s pioneer scheme. Neil Pulling samples both tramway and (Australia), Richard Felski (Spain), Ed Havens, Bill Translohr lines in the French capital. Vigrass (USA), Andrew Moglestue (Switzerland), NANTES KEEPS THE FAITH 240 Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov (Russia), Vic Simons, Alain Senut (France), Thomas Wagner (Germany). Vic Simons looks at a very different WORLDWIDE REVIEW 261 PRODUCTION tram-train service, the city’s second route. Algiers tram extension opens; Besançon Lanna Blyth completes tram infrastructure; Hamburg’s Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 E-mail: [email protected] LESSONS LEARNT FROM AN LRC 242 further U-Bahn plans; Kansas City commits DESIGN The results of a bid to increase frequency to extending its under-construction streetcar. Debbie Nolan by converting suburban heavy rail to LRT. ADVERTISING MAILBOX 266 COMMERCIAL MANAGER NORDHAUSEN’S UNUSUAL DUO 244 More support for Dundee tram circulator. Geoff Butler Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 E-mail: [email protected] Where else can you find steam trains, CLASSIC TRAMS 268 PUBLISHER diesel railcars and hybrid tram-trains on Howard Johnston the same lines? Tony Streeter reports. Herbert Pence considers the formational Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the years of Maine’s Seashore Trolley Museum. LRTA and LRTA Publishing on the third Friday of each YEARS OF month preceding the cover date. NOTTINGHAM 10 EXPRESS TRANSIT LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY Brian Lomas Nottingham: Ten Years of NET E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] A decade on from its opening, the UK tramway is expanding into a LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up true system with two new routes. Tramways & Urban Transit celebrates members of the Light Rail Transit Association. this anniversary with a focus on Nottingham Express Transit. SUBSCRIPTIONS LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), In association with 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. BACK ISSUES Tel: +44 (0)1406 373070 Trams. Trains. Why can’t they play together? PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION Tram-train. It’s a term that’s fallen in and out of fashion for the past Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, decade or so as a solution to linking regional rail lines with urban tramway Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. systems and increasing frequencies on expensive-to-run surburban lines. LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, Kent DA16 2BY, UK. At the moment, the mode is very much in vogue in France and Spain Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 (see pages 240 and 234), and the UK is becoming very excited as its very in England and Wales. own tram-train trial is about to get underway in earnest (see page 238). LRTA CHAIRMAN On the other hand, I’m sure that Germany and the Netherlands are wondering what Andrew Braddock all the fuss is about. The Germans have been doing it for over two decades and now have LRTA DEPUTY CHAIRMAN hundreds of kilometres of mixed use lines that serve everything from century-old steam Vic Simons locomotives, to freight services, to diesel-powered railcars and innovative hybrid LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE: tram-train units (see page 244). To this end, it seems that the technical problems are far c/o 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU, UK. Private Limited Company, No. 06169422 from insurmountable with a little joined-up thinking, co-operation and common will in England and Wales. and ambition to develop innovative transport systems. © LRTA Publishing 2014. Then you have LRC – or Light Rail Conversion. When DMUs and EMUs become too Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also impractical, or too expensive, to offer the desired service, why not replace such a system later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the with a high-floor tram? There are plenty of perfectly serviceable vehicles around that opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of could be purchased ‘for a song’ as many systems in Europe cascade their rolling stock LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. eastwards as they seek newer lower-floor rolling stock. One example of a brave local No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including authority that tried to make such a project work is featured within this issue of TAUT. photocopying, recording or by any information storage and Sadly, the inflexiblity of the ingrained and prevailing regulations prevented this from retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from progressing on a number of fronts, but it nevertheless offers some interesting lessons. the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. So I hope you enjoy our ‘tram-train special’ and that it provides a little enlightenment on a few of the systems across Europe and the concept as a whole. We think it’s a great (although far from new) concept that has so much potential in the toolbox of any responsible transport planner when applied correctly. Simon Johnston, Editor COVER: Train and tram in Nordhausen on 19 April. On the right is Combino 109. Tony Streeter www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org JUNE 2014 / 227 News Alstom takeover on the horizon? Industry group accepts EUR12.4bn offer from General Electric, but is blocked by French authorities lstom Group has been Mr Montebourg proposed an seeking a buyer for its “equal partnership… to avoid a transport sector for simple acquisition that would, in some months, amid effect, lead to the disappearance Aconcerns over its cashflow since a of Alstom”, suggesting that GE drop in demand for powerplants, transfer its transport division to which led to a 12% drop in Alstom as part of the deal. profits over the last nine months. After being urged to make In early May the American an offer, Siemens has also company General Electric made reportedly expressed an interest a EUR12.4bn offer for the energy in acquiring the firm’s entire division that makes up 70% of business interests, but was yet to the business’ turnover. Yet while submit an offer as Tramways & accepted by the Alstom board, Urban Transit went to press. matters took an unusual turn Siemens has already stated its when France’s Economy Minister aim to lead the European urban Arnaud Montebourg wrote to the and light rail markets and has US industrial group dismissing seen major success in recent the offer as “not good enough”. years with its new Inspiro metro In an interview the same day, train and Avenio low-floor tram. President Hollande backed his A takeover of rival Alstom would The Alstom Citadis may be marketed by GE, or even Siemens, if takeover talks minister’s actions, adding, see the firm well on the way to are successful. This is Lyon 83 on test between Meyzieu and the new 300m T3 “I would prefer better offers.” cementing this position. park-and-ride spur to Les Panettes on 2 April. Y. Allain Manchester expansion continues Southwest line nears green light The Metrolink extension from The line brings the size of the The new Queens Road stop Rochdale station to Rochdale current network to 78km has significantly boosted The Minneapolis-St. Paul Interchange, UK, opened as (48.5 miles), with 77 stops. ridership on the Bury line. Metropolitan Council has planned on 31 March, with Work on the expansion of During March, 17 422 tickets approved a USD1.68bn design the first tram delayed by nine the Deansgate-Castlefield stop were purchased either to or for the Southwest LRT project to minutes due to the numbers began in early April as part of from the new Queens Road and Eden Prairie, including a shallow of passengers wanting to be the Second City Crossing; a Abraham Moss stops, compared subway through Kenilworth on the first service as well as a new inbound island platform to the 9840 purchased to or Park.