THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT RAIL MAGAZINE www.lrta.org www.tautonline.com FEBRUARY 2021 NO. 998 NEW TRAMWAYS FOR 2021 From Algeria to the USA: A tramway a month for 12 months? Lyon reveals EUR2.55bn five-year plan China’s 700km of new lines in 16 days Bolsanaro rejects Brazilian rescue plan F uel cells F rankfurt (Oder) £4.70 Powering up a new Rebirth and renewal wire-free revolution? of a border tramway LRTThe LRT MONITOR series from MONITOR Mainspring is an essential reference work for anyone who operates in the world’s light and urban rail sectors. Featuring regular updates in both digital and print form, the LRT MONITOR includes an overview of every established line and network as well as details of planned schemes and those under construction. A high-quality An overview image for ease of the system’s of future development, reference recent major projects and known plans for the future The vital operational Contact details statistics for each system @ [email protected] | www.mainspring.co.uk/monitor CONTENTS 54 Adnane302 – T he official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association FEBRUARY 2021 Vol. 84 No. 998 www.tautonline.com CC B Y EDITORIAL - S A 4 EDITOR – Simon Johnston .0 [email protected] ASSOCIATE EDITOr – Tony Streeter [email protected] WORLDWIDE EDITOR – Michael Taplin 80 [email protected] NEWS EDITOr – John Symons [email protected] SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR – Neil Pulling WORLDWIDE CONTRIBUTORS R ichard Felski, Ed Havens, Andrew Moglestue, Paul Nicholson, Herbert Pence, Mike Russell, Nikolai Semyonov, Alain Senut, Vic Simons, Witold Urbanowicz, Bill Vigrass, Francis Wagner, 51 Thomas Wagner, Philip Webb, Rick Wilson PRODUCTION – Lanna Blyth NEWS 48 SYSTEMS FACTFILE: T el: +44 (0)1733 367604 Lyon reveals EUR2.55bn five-year plan; FRANKfurt (ODER) 68 [email protected] China opens 700km of new routes in 16 Tony Streeter explores the German border DESIGN – Debbie Nolan days; USD1.5bn in capital grants for US town that is looking forward to fleet renewal ADVertiSING transit projects; Amstelveen LRT conversion on its metre-gauge tramway. COMMERCIAL ManageR – Geoff Butler completed; Bolsanaro vetoes rescue plan Tel: +44 (0)1733 367610 for Brazilian transport operators. WORLDWIDE REVIEW 73 [email protected] Bombardier wins SkyTrain replacement deal; PUBLISHER – Matt Johnston rerailing us transit 54 Strasbourg approves five tram extensions; Tramways & Urban Transit Morgan Lyons offers a few thoughts on the Metro works begin in Agra; Funding for two 13 Orton Enterprise Centre, Bakewell Road, challenges ahead for a new US administration. new lines in Palermo; PK-TS metre-gauge Peterborough PE2 6XU, UK prototype arrives in Kaliningrad; Portland Tramways & Urban Transit is published by Mainspring neW tramWAYS for 2021 57 advances expansion plans despite ‘no’ vote. on behalf of the LRTA on the third Friday of each Mike Taplin describes how, despite the month preceding the cover date. ongoing influence of the pandemic, up to MAILBOX 78 12 new LRT systems could open this year. Why a new landmark UK ruling should serve as a wake-up call for leaders. PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION A fuel cell future for LRT? 64 Warners (Midlands), Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH, UK As hydrogen increases in popularity as an CLASSIC TRAMS: buenos aires 80 alternative fuel, Alex Luvishis looks at how Ernesto Falzone harks back to the early LRTA MEMBERSHIP (with TAUT subscription) this might be used for future tramways. years of Buenos Aires’ heritage tramway. Tramways & Urban Transit is sent free to all paid-up members of the Light Rail Transit Association. LRTA WEBSITE AND DIARY Time to get tough on our ever-present enemy Brian Lomas [email protected] [email protected] There’s an invisible killer on the loose and it’s currently attacking millions of people around the world. We’ve dealt with its kind before however, and we can, SUBSCriPTIONS, MEMBERSHIP AND BACK ISSUES and indeed need, to deal with this latest vicious incarnation. The science and LRT A Membership Secretary (Dept T06), 38 Wolseley Road, Sale M33 7AU, UK. Tel: +44 (0)117 951 7785 technology are in place, and getting better all the time, it now requires political [email protected] Website: www.lrta.info will, investment – and legislation. Of course, we’re talking about air quality... Advocates of improved public transport have made the case for reducing our reliance on FOR CORPORATE SuBSCRIPTIONS VISIT www.mainspring.co.uk the combustion engine and private travel modes at local, national and international levels for years. However with poor air quality being an invisible and slow-acting killer, the LRTA REGISTERED OFFICE message about the dangers doesn’t appear to have reached those that matter. Until now. 8 Berwick Place, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 4TU, UK. A landmark ruling in the UK courts in late December should be a wake-up call to all Private company limited by guarantee, No. 5072319 in England and Wales. those who deny the problem. One can only hope that the ultimate sacrifice made by a nine-year-old London girl are enough to tip the balance in favour of decisive action. LRTA CHAIRMAN – Paul Rowen [email protected] This month we look at some of the cities that are taking the right steps. From Algeria to the USA, as many as 12 new tramways could open in 2021, providing emissions-free © LRTA 2021 mobility to millions. You can read all about them, starting on page 57. Of course, Articles are submitted on the understanding they may also later be used on our websites or other media. A contribution transitioning away from fossil fuel power towards electrified transport isn’t as simple as is accepted on the basis that its author is responsible for the just laying tracks in the street or raising wires in the sky – but it is certainly a good start. opinions expressed in it, and such opinions are not those of The past 12 months have seen us all have to adopt new habits and routines. We have the LRTA or Mainspring. All rights reserved. all become more aware about transmissible airborne dangers, and only with awareness No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in can you start to truly affect change. We’re fighting a double pandemic, and there is any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including certainly evidence that combined they are far more deadly than on their own. photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from Many of the solutions to poor air quality are already here, now we need binding the copyright owner. Multiple copying of the contents of the legislation and strict penalties for non-compliance. Ask people to do the right thing magazine without prior written approval is not permitted. and you may get change, enact a law and you’re far more likely to see results. Scrutiny is crucial, but 2020 has shown us that laws can be passed quickly given the right motivation. COVER: Test running on Tampere’s new tramway For fear of sounding like a broken record, the costs of action may be high, but the costs in July 2020; the Hervanta depot and control centre of inaction are infinitely greater. Simon Johnston, Editor is visible in the background. T uukka Varjoranta www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org FEBRUARY 2021 / 47 News Lyon’s EUR2.55bn multi-modal plan French region launches ambitious tram, bus and metro expansion initiative in December he mandate for time of 11 minutes, saving over investment in multi- half an hour over the current car modal projects to journey. If successful, other lines strengthen public could link Caluire with Gare de Ttransport in the greater Lyon area, Vaise, and Rillieux with Décines. Destinations 2026, was launched High-quality bus service (BHNS) by regional transport authority will link Part-Dieu with Genas, SYTRAL on 17 December. Bellecour with Gare de Yvours In order to offer effective and Gare de Vaise with Dardilly. alternatives to the private car The 20km (12.4-mile) Centre (with diesel vehicles to be banned West line, which could be either by 2026) the plan proposes four bus or tram, is to link Part-Dieu new tramlines, a cable car line, with Charbonnieres-le-Bains. three new high-capacity bus A tram link from La Soie to Gare lines and one new line still to be de Vénissieux is also to be studied. Lyon 900, one of 22 43m Alstom Citadis trams delivered recently, was the 100th determined as either Bus Rapid Consultation on possible Citadis in the TCL fleet. It is seen on line T3. O. Meyer Transit or tram. Consultation will metro extensions will embrace also start on future extensions to extensions of line A to Meyzieu In other news, after several Under the agreement, SYTRAL the metro network. (9km/5.6 miles), line B to Caluire weeks of negotiations, on will pay EUR29.87m to Included in the ambitious and Rillieux-la-Pape (10km/ 7 December SYTRAL and the Rhônexpress SAS and EUR1.9m plan are some projects that are 6.2 miles), line D to La Ducherea private company Rhônexpress to Transdev Rail Rhône. SYTRAL about to be commissioned: and Le Pérollier (4km/2.5 miles) that provides the express light will be refunded EUR6.9m New tramline T7 from La and a new line E from Part-Dieu rail service from Part-Dieu to in respect of sums paid for Soie to Décines OL Vallée to Francheville-Craponne Aéroport Saint-Exupéry reached maintenance, but not used. (postponed from November to (7km/4.3 miles). None of these an agreement on the termination Transdev Rail Rhône will January due to the effects of the will be opened during the plan of the concession (which had continue to operate the line coronavirus pandemic) period however.