International Railway Journal - October 2008 - (Page 14) Transit news Mexico City concession launched EXICO’s federal government launched a tender on August 11 for the 30-year concession to design, build and operate suburban Line 2. Line 2 will have five stations and will run for 21km from Jardines de Morelos to Martin In brief Austin (United States) The opening of Texas Capital Metro’s commuter rail line from Downtown Convention Center to Leander could be delayed until next March because two of the nine stations have not been completed. The 51km line was due to open in the third quarter of this year. Manila Construction will begin on metro line MRT7 in January, according to Bulacan mayor Mr Eduardo Roque. The 20.7km line will run mostly on viaduct from an interchange with light metro line MRT3 at North to Tala. The $US 1.24 billion project will be completed in 2011. The government says it will use sales tax proceeds to fund the 5.4km extension of MRT3 from North to Monumento. The decision will obviate the need to seek foreign loans for the Pesos 6.3 billion ($US 134 million) project. M Carrera, carrying around 400,000 passengers per day. The $US 501 million project is being funded by the federal government, and is being implemented as part of the national infrastructure plan. The winning bidder will be announced in February. SBB to lengthen Zürich trains Bangkok The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is to issue a revised plan for the Metro Orange Line in an effort to speed up construction. MRTA now proposes building only the 12km section from Thailand Cultural Centre to Bang Kapi at a cost of Baht 80 billion ($US 2.34 billion). MedellÃn (Colombia) Construction has begun on the 2.5km metro extension to Sabaneta. The $US 125 million project is expected to bring an extra 52,000 passengers per day to the metro. CONSORTIUM of Siemens and Bombardier has been awarded a contract worth Æ’189 million to supply 113 low-floor double-deck intermediate coaches to Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), and eight to the Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Railway (SZU). SBB will use its coaches to lengthen its existing Zürich A S-Bahn trains. Siemens will manufacture the bodyshells, and its share of the contract is worth Æ’122 million, while Bombardier has a Æ’67 million share, which covers final assembly and commissioning. The coaches will be delivered between October 2010 and March 2016. Dayton (United States) Ohio’s Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority is considering the construction of a light rail loop line connecting the city centre with the University. A recent study by Parsons Brinckerhoff suggested the 6.4km line would cost $US 125 million to build. Mexico City The municipal government is proposing the construction of a light rail line from Centro Historico to Buenavista as part of plans to celebrate the bi-centenary of Mexican independence in 2010. Companies are now being sought to design, engineer, and maintain the line. The winning bidder will also be required to supply LRVs. T HREE companies or consortia have been invited to bid for the tender to operate Melbourne’s suburban rail network and two for the tram system. Transdev, the parent company of the current light rail operator Yarra Trams, and Keolis/Downer EDI have been selected by the Victorian government to compete for the tram contract. The companies vying to run the suburban rail network are: Keolis/ Downer EDI; Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM), a consortium of MTR Corporation, Hong Kong, United Group Rail and John Holland, Australia; and Veolia, whose Connex subsidiary currently operates the network. Debrecen (Hungary) The municipal government has invited tenders for the supply of 18 low-floor airconditioned LRVs. The contract will include the supply of spare parts. Rio de Janeiro Construction will begin on Line 3 of the Rio de Janeiro metro next month, according to state governor Mr Sérgio Cabral. The first section of the line will run for 23km from Araribóia in Niterói to Guaxindiba. 18.2km of the line will be on viaduct with the remainder at grade. Jerusalem The managing director of light rail concessionaire City-Pass, Mr Jakob Edri, has resigned, along with Mr Yekhiel Lavi, general manager of construction company Moriya. No reason has been publicly given for the resignations. Toronto Skoda says it is interested in bidding for Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) $US 1.25 billion low-floor LRV contract. In July Skoda said it would only bid if TTC removed its requirement for a 100% lowfloor vehicle. TTC had previously cancelled its request for proposals because the bids failed to meet its technical evaluation, or were not commercially compliant. IRJ Lisbon Metro Lisbon has awarded a Æ’58 million contract for construction works for the Blue Line extension from Amadora Este to Reboleira to a consortium of Portuguese companies including Tâmega, Soares da Costa, Teixeira Duarte, and Zagope. The line will open in the third quarter of 2011. Photo: Paul Bigland 14 IRJ October 2008
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