THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE HEADLINES l Grand Paris Express project approved l Chicago invites new L-Train bids l New cross-industry lobbying group formed CROSSING THE RIVER: PORtland’s big step 120 years of the Manx Electric Railway Budapest renewals Czech car building The challenges of From Tatra to modernising one PRAGOIMEX: of Europe’s Proven tram largest tramways technology MAY 2013 No. 905 WWW . LRTA . ORG l WWW . TRAMNEWS . NET £3.80 TAUT_1305_Cover.indd 1 04/04/2013 16:59 Grooved rail to carry you far into the future Together we make the difference At Tata Steel, we believe that the secret to developing rail products and services that address the demands of today and tomorrow, lies in our lasting relationships with customers. Our latest innovation is a high performance grooved rail that has three times wear resistance* and is fully weld-repairable, responding to our customers’ needs for reduced life cycle costs. Tata Steel Tata Steel Rail Rail 2 Avenue du Président Kennedy PO Box 1, Brigg Road 78100 Saint Germain en Laye Scunthorpe, DN16 1BP France UK T: +33 (0) 139 046 300 T: +44 (0) 1724 402112 F: +33 (0) 139 046 344 F: +44 (0) 1724 403442 www.tatasteelrail.com [email protected] *Compared to R260 Untitled-2 1 03/04/2013 11:26 TS_Rail Sector Ad_Revised.indd 1 25/09/2012 08:57 Contents The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association 164 News 164 MAY 2013 Vol. 76 No. 905 European electrified transport lobbying group launched; Not- www.tramnews.net tingham enters intensive works phase; US public transport’s EDITORIAL 57-year high; 200km Grand Paris Express metro network Editor: Simon Johnston approved; Chicago invites bid for next-generation L-train cars; Tel: +44 (0)1832 281131 E-mail: [email protected] Eaglethorpe Barns, Warmington, Peterborough PE8 6TJ, UK. Zaragoza completes first tramline. Associate Editor: Tony Streeter 170 Portland: LRT systems cross the Willamette E-mail: [email protected] Vic Simons reports on Portland’s ambitious expansion of Worldwide Editor: Michael Taplin both its Streetcar and MAX light rail systems. Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. 177 E-mail: [email protected] 175 Los Angeles LRT update News Editor: John Symons A short report on progress with the city’s Gold and Expo lines. 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. Rugged and proven tram technology E-mail: [email protected] 177 Senior Contributor: Neil Pulling Robert Davidson looks at technological development from the Czech Republic and the move from Tatra to PRAGOIMEX. Worldwide Contributors: Aare Olander, Nikolai Semyonov, Sergei Tarkhov (CIS), Mike Russell, Norman Bartlett, 183 Systems Factfile: Szczecin Thomas Wagner, Pedro Costa, Richard Felski, Jordi Ibanez (Europe), Yoshiri Poland’s seventh-largest city has an extraordinary history, and Nogi (Japan), Anthony Bailey, Ian Hammond, Paul Nicholson (Australia), 183 Vic Simons, Charles Lietwiler, Steve Morgan, Tom Swinney (US). its tramway is now benefitting from major EU project funding. Production Executive: Carla Corrado 188 Budapest: Reconstruction challenges Tel: +44 (0)1832 281134 E-mail: [email protected] Senior figures from Budapest’s transport authority and operator Design: Debbie Nolan discuss the challenges of modernising a diverse urban rail network. Commercial Manager: Vicky Binley 195 Worldwide Review Tel: +44 (0)1832 281132 E-mail: [email protected] Dhaka receives first funding offer for metro ambitions; Bres- Advertising Manager: Andy Adams Tel: +44 (0)1832 281135 E-mail: [email protected] cia opens automated metro; Göteborg completes Sirio fleet deliveries; Further upgrades for Glasgow Subway stations; Eaglethorpe Barns, Warmington, Peterborough PE8 6TJ, UK. 188 Publisher: Howard Johnston Oceanside diesel LRT services close due to brake queries. Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the LRTA and LRTA 201 Letters Publishing on the third Friday of each month preceding the cover date. Will the UK’s HS2 high-speed rail project assist or hinder LRT LRTA Website and Diary: Brian Lomas projects; Paul Rowen discusses light rail safety regulation. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] 204 Classic Trams: Spanning the Andes – Part 1 LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up members of the In the first of a four-part series, Mike Russell considers Light Rail Transit Association. You are welcome to join the LRTA. tramway survivors in South America – starting in Buenos Aires. SUBSCRIPTIONS: LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. BACK ISSUES: Tel: +44 (0)1406 373070 Climate change: Preparing for the unexpected PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION: Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. SIMON JOHNSTON, EDITOR LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE: c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, Kent DA16 2BY. Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 After a few editorials discussing the The challenges come as operators are in England and Wales. economic climate, I sit here in late March forced to prepare for the unexpected – LRTA Chairman: Andrew Braddock. LRTA Deputy Chairman: Vic Simons as extreme winter conditions sweep across who knew it was likely to snow heavily LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE: c/o 8 Berwick Place, Northern Europe. So my thoughts turn to in late March? Making sure networks are Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU. Private Limited Company, No. 06169422 in England and Wales. the real climate and the challenges for clear, vehicles are well-maintained and light and urban rail systems – but more that engineering teams are on alert to © LRTA Publishing 2013. importantly, the opportunities. the breaking conditions to keep services Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution is accepted on the basis that The weather, by its very nature, is running all year round are key. The fact its author is responsible for the opinions expressed in it, and such opinions unpredictable. However in recent years we have to be prepared for winter lasting are not those of LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. what would previously have been well into late Spring is another matter… No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording considered ‘freak’ occurrences, are now We can only hope that Indian summers or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior becoming more common. I defy those prevail in those countries suffering hardest permission in writing from the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the who refute/deny climate change to say at the moment, and that previous years’ contents of the magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. that there is no link between the two. experience will bear out and that we’ll We all know that rail-borne transport is all be wearing shorts and outfits without THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE HEADLINES generally more reliable and efficient than sleeves into early November. l Grand Paris Express project approved l l Chicago invites new L-Train bids the automobile, and in extreme weather Next month, you’ll notice a new-look l New cross-industry lobbying group formed conditions this is brought into ever sharper TAUT. It’s not a radical departure from focus. Simple messages such as DB’s the current design that we know you all MAX and Streetcar marketing from the 1960s ‘Everybody’s appreciate, but an evolution to reflect the services on 5th Street talking about the weather… we’re not’, fact that we’ve listened to comments over in Portland, Oregon. are powerful ways to get people out the past few years. We have endeavoured CROSSING THE RIVER: Both LRT systems are of their cars – not only improving their to give you a fresh-looking publication PORtland’s big step expanding across 120 years of the Manx Electric Railway transport options, but also potentially that’s easier to navigate to further take Budapest renewals Czech car building The challenges of From Tatra to the Willamette River, modernising one PRAGOIMEX: reducing accidents on the roads. If that advantage of the growing number of you of Europe’s Proven tram largest tramways technology MAY 2013 for a full report see No. 905 WWW . LRTA . ORG l WWW . TRAMNEWS . NET £3.80 isn’t a win-win, I don’t know what is. who are subscribing online. TAUT_1305_Cover.indd 1 04/04/2013 16:59 page170. Vic Simons www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org MAY 2013 163 163_TAUT1305_Contents.indd 1 08/04/2013 14:39 News EUROPEAN ELECTRIFIED TRANSPORT LOBBYING GROUP LAUNCHED THE Platform for the Electrification of Sur- and oil products account for 96% of trans- The Transport White Paper also calls for face Transport, an influential group of busi- port energy needs and the newly-formed the phasing out of conventional combustion- nesses and trade associations, was launched group says the development of light rail, engined vehicles from cities by 2050, some- on 19 March to promote the benefits of elec- trolleybuses, electric buses, cars and motor- thing the Platform for the Electrification of tric transport technologies across Europe. cycles as well as light commercial vehicles Surface Transport supports. Further policies It brings together leading transport manu- can improve this. surround complimentary taxation policies facturers such as Alstom and Nissan, trade The group aims to follow on the back of and pricing based on carbon emissions for bodies for the power industry, UNIFE (the the success of the European Union power vehicles in urban and suburban areas in align- Association of the European Rail Industry, generation sector’s considerable progress in ment with sustainability and climate goals.