THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE www.lrta.org www.tautonline.com FEBRUARY 2020 NO. 986 2020 VISION Our predictions for the new systems due to open this year Hamilton LRT cancellation ‘a betrayal’ Tram & metro: Doha’s double opening China launches 363km of new routes Berlin tramways Added value £4.60 Bringing Germany’s What is your tram capital back together project really worth? European Light Rail Congress TWO days of interactive debates... EIGHT hours of dedicated networking... ONE place to be Ibercaja Patio de la Infanta Zaragoza, Spain 10-11 June The European Light Rail Congress brings together leading opinion-formers and decision-makers from across Europe for two days of debate around the role of technology in the development of sustainable urban travel. With presentations and exhibitions from some of the industry’s most innovative suppliers and service providers, this congress also includes technical visits and over eight hours of networking sessions. 2020 For 2020, we are delighted to be holding the event in the beautiful city of Zaragoza in partnership with Tranvía Zaragoza, Mobility City and the Fundación Ibercaja. Our local partners at Tranvía Zaragoza have arranged a depot tour as part of day one’s activities at the European Light Rail Congress. At the event, attendees will discover the role and future of light rail within a truly intermodal framework. To submit an abstract or to participate, please contact Geoff Butler on +44 (0)1733 367610 or [email protected] +44 (0)1733 367600 @ [email protected] www.mainspring.co.uk MEDIA PARTNERS EU Light Rail Driving innovation CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail 64 Transit Association FEBRUARY 2020 Vol. 83 No. 986 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL EDITOR – Simon Johnston [email protected] 44 ASSOCIATE EDITOr – Tony Streeter [email protected] WORLDWIDE EDITOR – Michael Taplin 52 [email protected] NewS EDITOr – John Symons [email protected] SenIOR CONTRIBUTOR – Neil Pulling WORLDWIDE CONTRIBUTORS Richard Felski, Ed Havens, Andrew Moglestue, Paul Nicholson, Herbert Pence, Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Alain Senut, Vic Simons, Witold Urbanowicz, Bill Vigrass, Francis Wagner, Thomas Wagner, Philip Webb, Rick Wilson PRODUCTION – Lanna Blyth Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 [email protected] NEWS 44 SYstems factfile: BERLIN 64 DESIGN – Debbie Nolan Doha completes its metro and opens its first Neil Pulling returns to one his favourite ADVertiSING tramway; China’s annual mega month of cities to look at tramway expansion in the COMMERCIAL ManageR – Geoff Butler Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 new openings; Sydney opens the first phase German capital. [email protected] of its South East line; Fury at Hamilton LRT cancellation; CRRC wins in Monterrey. WORLDWIDE REVIEW 70 PUBLISheR – Matt Johnston São Paulo extends its monorail; Macau Tramways & Urban Transit A neW era for UK light rail? 50 inaugurates a new light metro service; 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, TAUT reviews the transport promises made tramway extensions open across French Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK by the new UK Government and makes the cities; Würzburg places 18-tram order Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring case for moving quickly with investment. with HeiterBlick; Abidjan confirms metro on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each proposals; Kraków receives first of 50 new month preceding the cover date. NEW TRAMWAYS FOR 2020 52 Stadler low-floor trams; St Louis’ Loop Michael Taplin presents his annual review Trolley closes due to funding shortfall. of the systems that could open this year. PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION MAILBOX 75 Warners (Midlands), Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK Developments in denver 58 Dealing with disruption in Ottawa; Why the LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Vic Simons explores the latest openings in 2020s will be the public transport decade. Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up Colorado as the RTD faces a labour crisis. members of the Light Rail Transit Association. CLASSIC trams: GOTHA 76 What is Your tramWAY Worth? 61 A small-town survivor, Mike Russell pays a LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY Brian Lomas Reg Harman offers a critique of UK visit to the German tramway renowned for [email protected] [email protected] transport appraisal processes. its excellent celebration events. SuBSCriPtioNS, MEMBERSHIP AND BACK ISSueS LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 Welcome to the second decade of the 21st Century [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info This month, one of our lead stories focuses on a Canadian city that had FOR CORPORATE SuBSCriPtioNS VISIT planned its future around a new light rail system line – only to have spent www.mainspring.co.uk millions before having the rug pulled from underneath it. Once again, a transformational urban transportation project has descended LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 4TU, UK. into arguing about whose numbers were correct – the current administration, Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 or the one which came before. Figures quoted to support the cancellation of the Hamilton in England and Wales. LRT scheme claim it would cost nearly five times the amount calculated just a few years ago LRTA ChaIRMAN – Paul Rowen – surely they couldn’t be that far out? Audits have been called and the lobbying continues… [email protected] Across the pond, the new UK Government has also set out a plan for investment in © LRTA 2020 transport unseen for generations. Tantalisingly, light rail and tramway schemes are Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also mentioned – so now it is time for them to deliver on the bold pre-election promises. We take later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution a deeper look at what this may mean on page 50. Fittingly, Reg Harman also offers a short is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the critique of the UK’s appraisal and development processes and asks if they are adequate in opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of assessing the true benefits of long-term investment in tramways and light rail schemes. the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. Elsewhere, Mike Taplin takes a look at the prospects for new systems in 2020. Some are No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including re-entries, others are mega-projects that have taken years to reach fruition; they all have photocopying, recording or by any information storage and a few common drivers – addressing crippling urban congestion, reducing reliance on the retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from private car and preparing cities for planned population growth. the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the The second decade of the 21st Century will offer some of the greatest challenges we magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. have ever faced. It also offers some of the greatest opportunities. We have the technology to make the changes that society needs, but do we have the political will to come together COVER: The futuristic design of the new Alstom when it really matters? I am hopeful that we will make the right choices – it’s just a Citadis for Paris tramline T9, due to open to question of how quickly we can put those plans into action. Simon Johnston, Editor passengers later this year. Alstom / Toma-Atypix www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org FEBRUARY 2020 / 43 News Double celebrations in Doha First modern tramway service opens in the Qatari capital as the state-of-the art metro is completed ABOVE: The interior of the Avenio trams features large digital passenger information screens and colours described as ‘neutral and calming’. Qatar Foundation LEFT: The Education City Tram features canopied stops with charging rails used to top-up the hybrid energy storage system of the Siemens-supplied vehicles. Qatar Foundation he first section of the delivered by Siemens under a conditioning throughout known as the Education line, Education City Tram USD412m turnkey contract (with and sunshades to protect includes 11 stations on a mostly in Doha, Qatar, opened Middle Eastern construction the roof-mounted electrical underground route; 5.4km to passengers on partner Habtoor Leighton Group) equipment. The vehicles also (3.4miles) at the western end is T24 December. The Blue line awarded in 2012. This also saw feature Siemens’ Sitras hybrid on an elevated alignment. It is features seven stops, serving the supply of electrification, energy storage system of open to passengers 06.00-23.00 sites across the 12km2 (4.6 square signalling and communications supercapacitors and batteries, Saturday-Thursday and mile) education and research systems and an operations with recharging taking place via 14.00-23.00 on Fridays. complex development built by control centre and a depot. roof-mounted conductor rails Two extensions of the north- the non-profit Qatar Foundation Four of the 27.7m-long, at tramstops and in tunnels. south Red line opened on the to the east of the capital. Facilities 2.55m-wide trams – capacity Platform screen doors are same day, taking the system’s served include the Education City for 234 passengers, 60 seated – installed at four stops. longest line to 40km (25 miles) Stadium, Qatar Academy and are used for the initial service. Travel is free, with trams with 23.4km (14.5 miles) VCUarts Qatar. They have been adapted for the running 06.30-17.00 on underground. These include a A fleet of 19 three-section 100% local climate with insulated and weekdays and to a four-minute one-station spur from Oqba Ibn low-floorAvenio trams have been tinted windows, uprated air- headway at peak times.