Around the US & Canada- Light Rail, Tram, Streetcar, LRT & Transit news

Late February has brought a mixed bag of news on Light Rail, Tram, Streetcar, LRT & Transit projects in North America, some positive & some negative. The Cardinal posts a selection of national, local press and on-line Blog reports. 1) Gray: Streetcars are a ‘Very Wise Decision’ Mayor Vincent Gray’s mixed track record with streetcars […]

Rail group: Provincial report biased – News1130

Rail group: Provincial report biased Sheila Scott Feb 22, 2011 05:20:09 AM FRASER VALLEY (NEWS1130) – The group Rail For the Valley says an independent firm has taken a look at a provincially commissioned transit study into light rail released in December, and found the government report was biased. The study commissioned by the Ministry […]

False assumptions worry rail expert

False assumptions worry rail expert BY PAUL J. HENDERSON, THE TIMES FEBRUARY 22, 2011 The provincial government’s lack of interest in interurban light rail from Chilliwack to Surrey is biased and based on a number of false assumptions, according to a British light rail consultant. At the request of the Rail for the Valley advocacy […]

New French Tramways

Reims Tramway is under test:- http://www.lunion.presse.fr/article/marne/le-tram-a-lepreuve-du-feu http://www.tramwaydereims.fr/start.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reims_tramway and http://www.lineoz.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10893&sid=66eedf4b75d814adaceb51ca2f60e00f&p=306994#p306994 Map of the system:- http://www.mars-reims.fr/images/Panneau%20CITURA%20(800×1200).pdf Information on French Light Rail/Tram systems at: http://www.transbus.org/dossiers/tramway_projet.html Images of the new Alstom Citadis 302Ai??LRV’s  

Susan Heyes and the Canada Line fiasco – Justice denied!

The Canada Line was never about providing good public transitAi??for the region, rather the metro was all about political and corporate prestige. The Vancouver International Airport gang wanted a prestigious metro to connect YVR to downtown Vancouver, for corporate prestige because they thought that a metro would make YVR ‘world class’; the City of Vancouver […]

Nottingham Tram – Councils Negotiate NET Settlement

Nottingham NET Phase 2 Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council have negotiated a settlement which will allow the City Council to take the project forward as sole promoter. http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/netphase2/index.aspx?articleid=7487

Light Rail, Tramway & Streetcar news from America

The Cardinal has posted a number of news articles on European Light Rail & Tramway developments in the past month; now from the US comes news of two new transit scheme initiatives and developments on a third. Washington DC Streetcars on track for return to D.C. Washington Post 15 February 2011 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/15/streetcars-on-track-for-return-to-dc/   Czech built Skoda Inekon […]

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 Ai??A?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 regionA?ai??i??ai???s transport authority, the Black Country […]

29 new Tram Projects announced for France

11 February 2011  Railway Gazette Funding allocated to 78 French urban transport projects http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/funding-allocated-to-78-french-urban-transport-projects.html FRANCE: Transport Minister Natahalie Kosciusko-Morizet announced the final tranche of light rail, metro and bus funding allocations under the Grenelle de l’Environnement on February 9. The announcement covers a total of €590m allocated to 78 urban transport projects in 54 conurbations […]

Dix in favour of light-rail transit in the Fraser Valley: group

Dix in favour of light-rail transit in the Fraser Valley: group BY IAN AUSTIN, THE PROVINCE FEBRUARY 7, 2011 Advocates for light rail in the Fraser Valley can claim an early victory in their quest to get support from leadership candidates for the B.C. NDP and the B.C. Liberals. Adrian Dix, one of the favourites […]