THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE www.lrta.org www.tramnews.net NOVEMBER 2013 NO. 911 GOLD COAST LRT: ON tracK FOR 2014 St Louis: 20 years of bi-state operations Shanghai tramway plans progress Philadelphia’s ‘doomsday’ rail plan Record entries for Light Rail Awards Linz Urban planning £3.80 System integration LRT’s role in French pays dividends cities examined Long association to end in October 2013 RUBBER LEVEL CROSSING SYSTEMS · ANTI-TRESPASS PANELS · LIFTING PINS www.rosehillrail.com Rosehill Announcement Advert.indd 1 24/09/2013 17:11 467 CONTENTS The official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association NOVEMBER 2013 Vol. 76 No. 911 www.tramnews.net EDITORIAL 460 EDITOR Simon Johnston Tel: +44 (0)1733 367601 E-mail: [email protected] 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK ASSOCIate EDITOR Tony Streeter E-mail: [email protected] 476 WOrlDWIDE EDITOR Michael Taplin Flat 1, 10 Hope Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 6EA, UK. E-mail: [email protected] NewS EDITOR John Symons 17 Whitmore Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST9 0LW, UK. E-mail: [email protected] SenIOR COntrIbutOR Neil Pulling WOrlDWIDE COntrIbutORS Aare Olander, Nikolai Semyonov, Sergei Tarkhov (CIS), NEWS 460 SYSTEMS FACTFILE: LINZ 476 Mike Russell, Norman Bartlett, Thomas Wagner, Shanghai adds trams to the mix and aims Neil Pulling reports from Austria – where Pedro Costa, Richard Felski, Jordi Ibanez (Europe), for 50% public transport share; Nottingham citizens lead Europe in public transport use. Yoshiri Nogi (Japan), Anthony Bailey, Ian Hammond, Paul Nicholson (Australia), Vic Simons, Charles Lietwiler, Citadis unveiled; Blackpool trams to reach Steve Morgan, Tom Swinney (US). North station; Serco to operate Dubai trams. ST LOUIS: 20 YEARS YOUNG 481 PRODuctION Vic Simons examines MetroLink, which Tel: +44 (0)1733 367604 E-mail: [email protected] WHY PASSENGERS PREFER TRAMS 465 uniquely draws support from two US states. DeSIGN Keith Bailey from Passenger Focus presents Debbie Nolan results from his organisation’s tram WorLDWIDE RevIEW 485 ADVertiSING passenger survey pilot. First Urbos leased from Vélez-Málaga arrives COmmercIAL ManaGer in Sydney; Wien line 26 extension opens; Vicky Binley Tel: +44 (0)1733 367602 E-mail: [email protected] QUEENSLAND'S FIRST LRT ProJECT 467 Poznan expands express tramway; New York With opening of Gold Coast Light Rail just ADvertISING ManaGer orders Kawasaki metro vehicles. Andy Adams nine months away, GoldLinQ CEO Phil Tel: +44 (0)1733 367605 E-mail: [email protected] Mumford outlines the background. MAILBOX 490 PublISher Driverless cars – no competition for modern Howard Johnston more THAN JUST TRANSPorT 473 LRT?; more on Portugal’s Almada system. Tramways & Urban Transit is jointly published by the Reg Harman compares the development of LRTA and LRTA Publishing on the third Friday of each three modern French tramways and how CLASSIC TRAMS: THE ANDES – PART 3 492 month preceding the cover date. they have integrated themselves into city life. Heritage systems and oddities in Chile. LRTA WebSIte anD DIary Brian Lomas E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) Does urban rail need a human element? Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up members of the Light Rail Transit Association. Writing this a few days after the 2013 Light Rail Awards, it is great to see You are welcome to join the LRTA. so much innovation in terms of saving costs, generating efficiencies and SubScrIptIONS developing a better experience for our passengers. LRTA Membership Secretary (Dept T06), With technologies derived from motorsport for tram propulsion 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. systems, power-saving devices for when vehicles are stabled, innovative BACK ISSUES fault reporting and increased automation across both operational and Tel: +44 (0)1406 373070 maintenance processes, there is an important question to be asked around the role of PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION humans in the transport systems of the future. Warners (Midlands) plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK. In conjunction with the Austrian Institute of Technology, Bombardier is already Tel: +44 (0)1778 391000. testing ‘seeing’ trams that can detect obstructions, assess any risks posed and warn LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE the driver – no doubt this technology will become more ‘active’ in the coming years in c/o 138 Radnor Avenue, Welling, Kent DA16 2BY, UK. terms of applying the brakes and taking other measures on behalf of the driver. Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 Next-generation payment systems, fare evasion counter-measures and automated in England and Wales. penalty chasing are also removing the need for the traditional conductor roles and LRTA CHAIrman back office staff. So is it possible to foresee a future where automation will ever take over Andrew Braddock completely from the human face of public transport? And is this desirable? LRTA Deputy CHAIrman Vic Simons One of the interesting elements that comes out of the Passenger Focus Tram LRTA PUBLISHING REGISTERED OFFICE: Passenger Survey pilot in the UK (page 465) is the need for better passenger information c/o 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4TU, for when services are disrupted. In my opinon, knowledgable, friendly faces should UK. Private Limited Company, No. 06169422 always be on hand to give advice to those unfamiliar with an area for onward in England and Wales. connections or points of interest, give a reassurance of safety and also for when things © LRTA Publishing 2013. do go wrong with our services. That is one of the advantages of public transport – and Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution one that has certainly proven invaluable to me over the years. is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the Even the best car satellite navigation devices can’t offer the kind of personal opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of interaction that many desire, or answer detailed questions with a smile – and neither LRTA Publishing or the LRTA. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in will the driverless cars we keep reading so much about... Simon Johnston, Editor any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from COVER IMAGE: Gold Coast tram 003 undergoing night-time route clearance testing on 1 October, the the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the second evening of vehicle testing on the new light rail system that is due to open in 2014. Richard Youl magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. www.tramnews.net . www.lrta.org NOVEMBER 2013 / 459 News Shanghai’s tramway plan; city aims for 50% public transport share by 2015 Trams to add to the mix in China’s biggest city, which already offers the world’s largest metro system hina’s largest city, passengers each, and a 34.8m with a population of CNR Changchun-built low-floor 23m, already has the tram for Shenyang has been world’s largest metro displayed in Shanghai. A period Csystem (462km, 287 miles), of public consultation closed on carrying about 8.5m passengers 6 October. daily. It also operates an Shanghai had a first- extensive network of buses and generation 14-route tramway trolleybuses – now trams are to system from 1908 to 1972 and be added to the transport mix. the city transportation authority There is already a 10km has stated its aim that 50% of (6.2-mile) Translohr rubber-tyred vehicular journeys will be made tramline at Pudong in the eastern on public transport by the end suburbs (Zhangjiang Tram), of 2015. opened in 2009, but the city has A Shenyang tram on display in Shanghai. Shanghaist CSR Zhuzhou has been decided to adopt conventional awarded a contract for seven tramway technology for its first two lines, totaling 28.5km at Songjiang University with low-floor trams to operate a latest proposals. These involve (17.7 miles), should open in Rongle Rd. A 200 000m2 depot new 7.7km (4.9-mile) line in the building six tramlines in the 2016: T1 will link metro line 9 will be built at the east end of Haizhu district of Guangzhou. Songjiang district, totalling at Songjiang Sports Center with line T1. Siemens will supply propulsion 90km (56 miles) with 118 stops, future metro line 22 at Xinqiao; Four-section articulated systems and bogies for delivery to be completed in 2020. The T2 will connect metro line 9 trams will carry up to 368 in 2014. Ashton tram Serco to operate Dubai tram network services begin On 15 September it was power supply system, and The latest extension to the UK’s announced that an AED105m air-conditioned stops will Manchester Metrolink system (EUR35m) 75-month contract feature platform doors. opened on 9 October, adding to operate the Al Sufouh Upon completion of phase four new stops to the East tramway had been awarded two, with the addition of 14 Manchester line, at Audenshaw, to Serco by Dubai’s Roads and more trams, the tramway will Ashton Moss, Ashton West and Transport Authority (RTA). reach 14.6km (9.1 miles) with 17 Ashton-under-Lyne. This includes 15 months of stops. Ridership is expected to The new section is 3.4km preparation for operations, increase to 66 000/day by 2020. (2.1-miles) long, and adds to the recruitment and training. The interior of the first Alstom Citadis Mattar Al Tayer, RTA 6.3km (3.9-mile) route between Serco has held the Dubai metro for Dubai.