Expanding Calgary’s Light Rail

Already emission-free, doubling in size since 2001 and taking delivery of new Siemens SD160NG LRV’s, Canada’s CTrain is a model of sucessful light rail. http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/technical_information.htm Light Rail in Calgary is in the midst of a mini revolution. New vehicles, new stations and new routes are all part of a major expansion described by the Canadian [...]

Allez le Tram, the Politics & Financing of the French Tram

The Cardinal has reported on the success of French Light Rail/Tramways, regularly on the Rail for the Valley blog. In this article the history, development, style, politics & importantly financing will be outlined. With a light rail renewal France has gone full steam ahead to become a leader in technological design and leading style. Howard [...]

Absurdity, Hiatus, Ignominy, Irony, Paradox and Prognosis

The Cardinal cordially welcomes Zweisystem back & offers him wishes for a speedy recovery from his recent illness; – Hurry up and get the heck out of there! Zwei, remember Mark Twain’s advice `be careful when reading health books; you may die of a misprint’   With Zweisystem back in the section, continuing his mission, [...]

Birmingham [UK] city centre tram project moves forward

City centre tram project moves forward Centro Press release Work to extend the Metro tram system through the streets of Birmingham city centre took a major step forward today after the Government made more than £75 million available for the exciting scheme. http://centro.journalistpresslounge.com/centro/news/index.cfm/fuseaction/details/id/F14523AB-13D3-97AA-2D8F6458AC73B094/cnt/1/ref/main/type/News%20Releases/ses/1.cfm The joint project by Centro, the region’s transport authority, the Black Country [...]

A city committed to tram-trains

Kassel’s tram-train system has transformed public transport in the region. With other cities starting to take an interest in the concept, it is no wonder people from around the world are making the journey to central Germany. Report from the Light Rail Transit Association [LRTA] published in the January 2010 edition of Tramways & Urban [...]

World Tramway patronage statistics

At grade tramway system statistics. Passenger patronage, in excess of 100 million boardings per annum Updated for 2010   St Petersburg, Russia: 476 million Budapest, Hungary: 364 million Prague, Czech Republic: 350 million  Warsaw, Poland: 270 million Moscow, Russia: 251 million Vienna, Austria: 240 million Zagreb, Croatia: 214 million Zurich, Switzerland: 199 million Yekaterinburg, Russia: 180 [...]

Slowly New Orleans is growing back into a proper network.

Streetcar service along Rampart, St. Claude is getting a green light Tuesday, January 25, 2011 The Times – Picayune http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2011/01/streetcar_service_along_rampar.html More than 20 years after transit officials began exploring the idea of bringing streetcar service to Faubourg Marigny, Treme and St. Roch via the North Rampart Street and St. Claude Avenue corridor, the project is [...]

London Tramlink seeks bids for additional trams

from the Railway Gazette, 31 January 2011 http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/london-tramlink-seeks-bids-for-additional-trams.html      UK: Transport for London subsidiary Tramtrack Croydon Ltd is seeking bids for the lease of 10 new or second-hand trams to increase capacity on the light rail network in south London from the end of summer 2011.  Transport for London press release http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/18051.aspx   A [...]

Proposal for Light Rail in Copenhagen

The Danish Minister of Transport Hans Christian Schmidt will promote a light rail system using the bypass road Ring 3 west to Copenhagen:   http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2011/01/20/220647.htm   The Light Rail line will pass through ten municipalities, and is estimated to cost DEK 1,5 billion [CAD$273 million]. From Lundtofte, south to Ishøj by the coast and then via Kgs, [...]

Grand plan to bring tram system to Chester

ChesterFirst  Published date: 24 January 2011 | Published by: Laura Jones   http://www.chesterfirst.co.uk/news/98061/grand-plan-to-bring-tram-system-to-chester.aspx MAJOR plans to extend a tram network from Manchester to Chester will be presented to the government tomorrow. Think tank Trams UK will recommend at the House of Commons that the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) light rail system, the Manchester [...]