THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE www.lrta.org www.tautonline.com DECEMBER 2018 NO. 972 TUNNEL VISION UNLOCKS ALICANTE LRT PROMISE RewardingXxxxxx xxxxxx excellence xxxxx at the xxxxxx Global xxxxx Light Rail xxxxxxxx Awards Tramway service returns to Milwaukee UK tram-train finally opens for business Atlanta scales up multi-mode ambitions Dublin Isle of Man 12> £4.60 From tram to metro Victorian pioneer in Ireland’s capital celebrates 125 years 9 771460 832067 “I am delighted that the UK Light Rail Conference is coming back to Greater Manchester in 2019. “Metrolink forms a key backbone of sustainable travel for the region as it continues to grow, so this important two-day event offers an invaluable chance to network with peers from around the world and share knowledge and best practice as we all aim to improve the way we plan, build and deliver exceptional light rail services to passengers.” Manchester Danny Vaughan 23-24 July 2019 head of Metrolink – transport for Greater Manchester “An excellent event, providing a stimulating and varied two-day programme addressing current The industry’s premier exhibition and knowledge-sharing and future issues pertinent to Voices event returns to Manchester for 2019! today’s light rail industry” V from the clive Pennington With unrivalled networking opportunities, this invaluable technical Director – Light rail, industry… two-day congress is well-known as the place to do amey consulting & rail business and build long-lasting relationships. There is no better place to gain true insight into the “I thought the whole conference was great – there was a workings of the sector and help shape its future. great energy about it.” to discuss how you can be part of it, visit us online at Dr. stuart thomson – head of Public affairs, Government and Infrastructure, Bircham Dyson Bell www.mainspring.co.uk or telephone +44 (0)1733 367600 SUPPORTED BY ORGANISED BY CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association DECEMBER 2018 Vol. 81 No. 972 www.tautonline.com EDITORIAL EDITOR – Simon Johnston [email protected] 444 ASSOCIATE EDITOr – Tony Streeter [email protected] WORLDWIDE EDITOR – Michael Taplin [email protected] 448 NewS EDITOr – John Symons [email protected] SenIOR CONTRIBUTOR – Neil Pulling WORLDWIDE CONTRIBUTORS Tony Bailey, 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 451 PRODUCTION – Lanna Blyth Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 [email protected] NEWS 444 SYSTEMS FACTFILE: alicante 479 Openings in Milwaukee and Adelaide; Paris Despite major delays, the TRAM light rail DESIGN – Debbie Nolan to retire TFS cars after massive 115-tram service has become an important resource ADVertiSING order; Further delays to Sydney CBD project; for the Costa Blanca. Neil Pulling pays a visit. COMMERCIAL ManageR – Geoff Butler Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 ‘More MARTA’ transit masterplan approved. [email protected] WORLDWIDE REVIEW 486 PUBLISheR – Matt Johnston UK TRAM-TRAIN opens for service 448 Canberra opening delayed until 2019; Sofia Neil Pulling reviews the events of the first day. secures EU funding for tram modernisation; Tramways & Urban Transit 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, Changchun adds a third light rail line; Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK evolution OF the M5000 450 Liberec waves goodbye to the venerable Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring More detail on the latest order for T2; Bern seeks up to 50 new low-floor LRVs; on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each Manchester Metrolink’s growing network. Phuket confirms 2023 LRT opening; Free month preceding the cover date. rides on Tampa’s TECO heritage line. Keeping pace IN dublin 451 TAUT considers the latest developments in MAILBOX 491 the Irish capital – and looks to the future. More on short-termism and air quality. PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION Warners (Midlands), Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK SENSORY DESIGN TECHNIQUES 456 CLASSIC TRAMS: THE MER at 125 492 LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) How operators are making use of all five Mike Russell reviews the preparations for a Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up senses to attract – and retain – passengers. very special anniversary on the Isle of Man. members of the Light Rail Transit Association. LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY GLOBAL LIGHT RAIL AWARDS 2018 – SPECIAL REVIEW 459 Brian Lomas [email protected] [email protected] SuBSCriPtioNS, MEMBERSHIP AND BACK ISSueS LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley The importance of delivering on our promises Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 When ‘selling’ urban rail – to the travelling public, to financiers, or to local [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info and national authorities – we make a number of promises. Cost-effective and FOR CORPORATE SuBSCriPtioNS VISIT stress-free travel. Social inclusion. Convenience. The highest environmental www.mainspring.co.uk credentials. Freedom from congestion. Reliability. LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE As light rail schemes already have many battles to gain acceptance from 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling DA16 2BY, UK. these stakeholders, what happens when we don’t deliver on the benefits we promise? Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 As I write this, about to embark on a multi-week tour of Asia, my travel plans have been in England and Wales. thrown into chaos after finding out – from a news article, not the operator – that a key LRTA ChaIRMAN – Paul Rowen city rail connection is subject to industrial action. Our tickets were booked and paid for [email protected] months in advance, but we have been given little information about our alternatives. © LRTA 2018 At risk are missed flights, further expense, not to mention the arguments and Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also reputational damage after I had ‘sold’ to my wife the promise of relaxing and stress-free later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution travel by using public transport for every element of our door-to-door journey! is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the Incidents and accidents happen, of course, but it is crucial that we recognise the opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of importance of each and every ticket sold and the impact disruption has on people’s lives. the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in Sadly, this is the day-to-day reality for too many people. It is also the reason that public any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including transport anxiety is a key barrier in encouraging more of us away from private travel. photocopying, recording or by any information storage and Our article on sensory design (see page 456) gives a number of fascinating case studies retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from on the finer details of how the ‘look and feel’ – and the smell and touch – of public the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the transport can make a tremendous difference to converting the non-believers into magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. passionate advocates. This is a key element, but we have to get the basics right first. We can talk about cost, technology and technical detail endlessly, but the ‘value’ of Cover images: Neil Pulling, Tony Sullivan the fundamentals must be beyond debate. Simon Johnston, Editor and Mike Russell www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org DECEMBER 2018 / 443 News On time, on budget: ‘The Hop’ opens After 70 years’ absence, light rail returns to Milwaukee with a year of free passenger service he USD123.9m project USD3.2m, providing service to build a circulator 05.00-24.00 Monday-Friday, tramline in the lakeside 07.00-24.00 on Saturday and city of Milwaukee came 07.00-22.00 Sunday. Tto fruition on Friday 2 November A 12-year USD10m when the 3.2km (two-mile) sponsorship arrangement with double loop line carried its the Potawatomi Native American first passengers on a 15-minute Community’s casino will permit service. The opening ceremony riders to travel free of charge by Mayor Tom Barrett took place for the first year, and the trams at Cathedral Square Park at noon, carry all-over advertising for the with passenger rides from 13.00. casino and hotel. ‘The Hop’, as the service is Milwaukee had a first- known, was completed on time generation streetcar system (19 months) and on budget, with from 1860 to 2 March 1958. The five three-section 20m Brookville famous Chicago North Shore and Equipment Corporation Liberty Milwaukee Railroad provided trams delivered at a cost of A line of riders in Milwaukee’s Cathedral Square Park on 2 November. Immediately high-speed interurban service on USD4.65m each. The new 38t following the opening ceremony, Liberty 5 (right) was used by dignitaries to ride the 118km (73-mile) route to and vehicles include onboard battery north to Burns Common, while car 3 (left) was the first public car in service. A. Grahl from Chicago from 1907 to 1963. power for the 2km (1.2 miles) Milwaukee is the first of along Kilbourne Avenue and bridge. A 350m Lakefront branch construction started in April three US city tramways to open Jackson Street that is not is mostly complete, but will not 2017 with Kiewit Infrastructure this year, the others being El equipped with overhead. open until 2020 due to delays carrying out the work. Paso (due on 9 November) and The vehicles (01-05) run from a with a development at the Operations are in the hands of Oklahoma City in December.