by Editor | Mar 27, 2023 | News
On 7 February the Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag published a consultation document called Plan Toekomstvaast Tramnet 2030 (Plan for the future tramway network 2030) for Rotterdam. Intended to meet the needs of residents as the city reshapes with new housing areas to accommodate planned population growth, the plan took some commentators by surprise in recommending some tramway closures on sections of route where passengers numbers are relatively low or where tracks cannot be segregated, in addition to putting forward new lines. Trams are to be speeded up by reducing the number of stops, and frequency improved on lines 2, 23 and 25. The eastern section of line 7 to Woudesstein is set to disappear, as is the section of line 8 between Marconiplein and Spangen. While at the other end the branch of line 8 to Kleiweg goes in favour of line 8 taking over the Schiebroek line from the 25. The northern arm of line 4 is cut back from Molenlaan to Kootsekade and on the western section the street track in Nieuwe Binnenweg goes.. Line 21 disappears and with it the Woudhoek branch. The plan says ‘buses are faster and of better quality than the trams they replace’. A new eastern radial line is proposed from Kralingse Zoom, south across the river and then west to Zuidplein for metro interchange. A new western crossing of the Maas would give the opportunity for a tramline from Centraal Station to Zuidplein. The existing schedule of lines should look like this is 2030: 2, Charlois–Keizerswaard; 4, Kootsekade–Eendrachtsplein; 7, Marconiplein–Crooswikj; 8, Marconiplein–Schiebroek; 23, Centraal Station–Beverwaard; 24, Vlaardingen Holy–De Esch; 25, Centraal...
by Editor | Mar 21, 2023 | News
The US Department of Transportation is requesting USD 4.45bn to be allocated 18 transit projects in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. This is the first step in the federal budget process that needs Congressional approval before Full Funding Agreements (FFA) can be executed. Amongst the nine projects recommended to receive funding for the first time is USD 350M for the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line rapid transit extension. Five projects that were given partial funding in previous budgets are also included: USD 500M for BART Silicon Valley extension phase II in San Jose; USD 167M for the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Phase I in Los Angeles; USD 28.8M for the Rochester Bus Rapid Transit Project; USD 700M for the planned Hudson Tunnel Project linking New Yor and New Jersey; USD 496.8M for the proposed Second Avenue Subway Phase II in New York. A third group of projects already having FFAs will see payments accelerated: USD 165M for the Los Angeles Westside Subway Section 2 and USD 478M for Section 3; USD 291.9M for the Minneapolis Southwest LRT; USD 250.7M for the Seattle Lynwood Link LRT extension. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, ‘Transit connects people to jobs, schools, loved ones and more. We are proud to deliver this funding to expand transit across the country, which will create good-paying construction jobs and provide better options for people to get where they need to go’. A notable omission from the list of projects due to receive funding is Philadelphia’s 4-mile (6.4km) King of Prussia rapid transit branch from the Norristown line. A federal grant of 60% of the...
by Editor | Mar 19, 2023 | News
In mid-December 2022, the newest extension of the Brno tram system opened after three years of construction, thus taking the entire network in the Czech Republic’s second largest city to roughly 72 km. The 900 m long branch line in the west of the city is used by line 8 and runs from the junction station Osová to the Bohunice hospital. The key part of the new route is a 650 m long tram tunnel, the longest such structure in the Czech Republic, including the country’s first underground tram stop at the intermediate calling point Západní brána. At the surface level terminus at Campus Bohunice, space constraints have prevented the installation of a turning loop, thus requiring line 8 to be operated only with bidirectional LRVs. To this end, the municipal operator DPMB can rely on its existing fleet of 38 Tatra KT8D5, although it also received the five new Škoda 45T between mid October 2022 and late March 2023. These 31 m long 45T offer space for 233 passengers, consist of three articulated sections and have been locally classified as nos. 1760-1764. They initially had to complete commissioning trials and driver training and therefore were only used sparingly for revenue services during late 2022 and early 2023. DPMB ordered these trams from Škoda 2020 and has options for 35 more. At the new Nemocnice Bohunice terminus the track capacity offers enough space for four idle trams, plus there are also two additional layover sidings for overnight stabling. Aside from the hospital, the terminus also serves a new office complex and adjacent shopping centre, additionally functioning as a convenient interchange between...
by Editor | Mar 17, 2023 | News
On 10 March the Council of Ministers approved the extension of the tramway system by 3.4km with two new branches, to from Rout Bréck-Pafenadll to Hollerich and from the central station to Laangfur. The 1.1km Hollerich line will cost EUR 29M and should open in 2028. The 2.3km Laangfur line, costing EUR 106M, should be ready to carry passengers in summer 2027. This is the first stage of an extension to Kuebebierg. Two thirds of the funding will be provided by the state and one third by the city. The second generation of Luxembourg trams started service on 10 December 2017 and in four phases has extended the line 16 to km (Kirchberg–Bonnevoie). 3.6km is without overhead wire using the CAF superconductor/battery system rapid Charge Accumulator. In 2024 this line will be extended further to reach Cloche d’Or in the south and Luxembourg Airport in the north. 21 CAF Urbos 100% 45m low-floor trams were delivered in 2017 and 12 more have arrived since. The new extensions just announced will require further expansion of the fleet. About 90 000 passengers/day are using the existing line. The city’s first generation tramway closed in 1964. With a population of around 110 000 people and with a further 400 000 commuting into the city each day, the capital, Luxembourg City, suffers from some of the worst congestion in Europe. A study in 2017 suggested that drivers spent an average of 33 hours in traffic jams during 2016. These new expansions help to address these issue and, to further incentivise the use of public transport, it’s free to...
by Editor | Mar 16, 2023 | News
Testing on the Newhaven extension of Edinburgh Trams started on the evening of 13 March and was the first tram to be seen on Leith Walk for some 67 years (November 1956). The test from Picardy Place to Newhaven (4.7km) was low speed but from 17 March 20mph testing starts, prior to a dummy timetable in May and passenger service from 21 June. Council leader Cammy Day said, ‘It’s a momentous night to see the tram coming down Leith Walk to Newhaven. It’s probably the largest infrastructure project we have done in the city for a long time, and we apologise for the disruption. But as you can see, the amount of people in the street tonight, taking pictures from their windows and coming out of the pubs and applauding shows us there is real jubilation that the trams are finished’. Construction of the £207.3M project started in November 2019, and COVID has caused a13-week delay, but completion is within budget. The extension serves eight new stops, including Ocean Terminal. Improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure forms part of the...
