Transit news T
Shenyang light rail network opens
RIAL operation began on the light rail network in
the Chinese city of Shenyang on August 15, when the first passengers travelled on the 60km system. Construction began on the
July 26 on the 5.5km southern extension of Metro Line 2 from Aghios Dimitrios to Elliniko. The ƒ550m project included
the construction of new stations at Ilioupoli, Alimos, Argyroupoli, and Elliniko.
Athens Metro opens Elliniko extension A
THENS Metro began commercial operations on
Construction was completed
as long ago as early 2011, but the official opening has been delayed by an investigation into allegations of corruption against Siemens, which supplied the signalling systems for lines 2 and 3. Around 83,000 passengers
Western Australia commits to urban rail T
HE Western Australian state government has
committed to build both its planned Perth light rail and airport rail link despite considerable doubt about a federal government contribution. Western Australia’s
treasurer and transport minister Mr Troy Buswell says transport projects will receive a record $A 5.7bn ($US 5.26bn) in the state’s 2013-14 budget, although around half will be allocated to recurrent
IENNESE public transport operator Wiener
spending and road projects. The key rail investments are
$A 174m to enable work to start on a $A 2bn scheme to connect the airport to the suburban network, and $A 432m towards building the $A 1.8bn, 22km Max light rail line linking the growing northern suburbs with the city centre. Construction of both projects
is planned to commence in 2016 and be completed in 2019. When the projects were announced earlier this year, they were predicated on a $A
conditioning units with heat pumps, a variable-frequency
per day will use the extension. Athens Metro expects to
issue a tender before the end of the year for the construction of a light rail extension to an interchange with Line 2 at Argyroupoli, which will provide better access to the metro from the south of the city.
Yuan 4.86bn ($US 794m) project in February 2012, and the four-line network is expected to carry around 150,000 passengers per day. The three lines have been completed in time for the 12th National Games of the People’s Republic of China, due to be held in the city between August 31 and September 12. CNR Changchun is
supplying a fleet of low-floor LRVs for the four-line network, which are equipped with Voith supercapacitor energy storage units for catenary-free operation. The network is operated by
2.5bn contribution from the federal government. However, the current administration has only pledged $A 500m to one or other of the projects, while in the lead up to federal elections this month, the opposition rules out funding for any urban rail schemes. Buswell says he will turn to
the private sector to help meet the cost of the rail projects, while at the same time insisting the projects will be built, regardless of private investment.
Linien has begun trial operation of the EcoTram, a Siemens ULF light rail vehicle equipped with low-energy heating, ventilation, and air- conditioning systems. The research project is being
Vienna’s low-energy EcoTram takes to the streets V
compressor, and CO2 sensors. Intelligent control units determine when and where heating will be required according to the ambient temperature. TUW says the average
led by the Technical University of Vienna (TUW) with the support of Siemens, Vossloh Kiepe, Rail Tec Arsenal, Wiener Linien, and Schig, with funding from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency. The low-floor vehicle is equipped with three new air-
16
annual energy saving per vehicle could be as much as 100,000kWh, meaning that if the technology was applied over Wiener Linien’s entire fleet of 300 ULFs it could save 3000MWh per year and reduce
CO2 emissions by 600 tonnes. In the first phase of the
project the unmodified ULF vehicle was tested in the Rail Tec Arsenal climatic chamber in Vienna, and the same measurements were taken again after the modifications had been completed. These tests studied inlet temperature for the air-conditioning, air current flows inside the vehicle, and the effects of heat and moisture from passengers. The LRV is now being tested
under real operating and environmental conditions, running in passenger service on Line 62 between Kärntner Ring and Opera House.
a joint venture between the city of Shenyang (49%) and RATP and Transdev (51%) under a three-year contract signed in April. Following the completion of
the trial phase, full commercial operations are expected to begin on September 15.
Moreton Bay Rail Link second phase contract awarded
T
HE government of the Australian state of
Queensland has awarded a consortium led by Thiess Australia a $A 650m ($US 583m) contract to build the second phase of the $A 1.15bn Moreton Bay Rail Link. The TrackStar consortium
also includes Aurecon, Aecom and Hassell, which will be responsible for design, while Golder Associates will carry out geotechnical work on the project. The 12.6km double-track
line from Petrie to Kipper-Ring will become part of Queensland Rail’s Brisbane Citytrain network and is considered crucial to relieve road congestion in southeast Queensland. The project includes the construction of six new stations.
IRJ September 2013
Photo: Artemis Klonos
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