LATEST NEWS 2007-2010
Contributions and comments: e-mail us! From 2008 our news items will be focused as much as possible on 'transit oriented' developments and events.
Photo: (C) Light Rail Atlas/Tetsuo Muro, December 25, 2009
January 2010
Toyama expands its tramway The city of Toyama (Japan) took an important leap to redevelop the economic potential of down town by opening of a 3.5km tramway loop (December 23, 2009). The single track loop comprises a new section of 0.9km that serves as a short cut between the two legs of the existing urban system. The loop is operated with three new trams, named 'Centram', which are similar to the cars that operates 'Portram', the converted harbour line (see earlier news).
See also: www.lightrail.nl/toyama
Photo compilation: (C) Light Rail Atlas/Panoramio:
Las Condes Santiago, December 2009.
New tram in Chile The commune of Las Condas (Santiago, Chile) considers a new tramway network. A Spanish Group has proposed a tram between Santiago and Las Condes that would use the main axes of three urban communes. Las Condes is inhabited primarily by upper-mid to high income families, so the tramway project enhances already strong social-economic territory.
Photo compilation: (C) Light Rail Atlas/ProRail et al., January 2009
New TramTrain project in The Netherlands After RandstadRail and RijnGouwelijn a new TramTrain project has been approved. The regional 13km railway in the province of Overijssel between Zwolle and Kampen will be transformed into tramway. This 'conversion type' project is due to open in 2012. The tram is justified by the fact that it offers better accessibility to existing and new urban areas. Five new stops have been envisaged.
Photos & map: (C) Light Rail Atlas/Rob van der Bijl
Portland, Oregon, November 2, 2008
The three existing lines in blue, red and yellow. Extensions in green-yellow.
WES see box. Streetcar to Lake Oswego in direction of green arrow.
New city loop of Streetcar not on the map.
New plans for TOD in Portland, Oregon The light rail system of Portland will expand substantially and support future urban development. A new light rail line along I-205 will serve Clackamas County, Milwaukie and Southeast Portland in 2009. In down town a new alignment will be served too, called 'Portland mall'. Eventually this line will be used for future extensions, e.g. to Milwaukie in 2015. WES, the first commuter rail line in Oregon opens February 2, 2009. Self-propelled diesel trains will carry passengers between Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville. Streetcar will expand too. A new loop across the river has been envisaged, while an extension to Lake Oswego is under investigation.
Map: Seattlestreetcar.org
New Streetcar in Seattle On December 12, 2007 Seattle celebrated the official start South Lake Union, a tramway (called 'streetcar') from the fast-growing South Lake Union neighborhood to Seattle's downtown core area and other public transport systems, including the future light rail.
Photo: (C) Light Rail Atlas/Rob van der Bijl, Montpellier, October 26, 2007
Line 2 is a huge success and will be extended into the region of Montpellier.
1500 kilometers of new tramway in France Jean-Louis Borloo, the French minister of environment, has announced the construction of 1500 km of new tramway for 2020 (and new TGV lines too), in order to elaborate his green policy. The reduction of car use is an important target. Borloo mentioned "un énorme effort sur les tramways": "actuellement il y a 329km de lignes de tramway" hors Paris. "On passera à 1.500km". Cela représente un investissement de "17 milliards d'euros", sur lequel l'Etat paiera "4 milliards d'euros".
Photo: (C) Light Rail Atlas/Rob van der Bijl, Nijmegen, April 12, 2007
The tramway will use the alignment of a busway along a regional railway.
Nijmegen considers a tram The region of Arnhem-Nijmegen and the city of Nijmegen have been investigating the opportunities of a tramway serving a huge medical and university complex at the south side of town. The tramway would serve as a shuttle between this complex and the main station, as well as the city centre. In the future this starter line could be extended into the region. RVDB/Lightrail.nl was and will be involved in the investigations. A final decision is due to be made in 2008.
Map: courtesy Goudappel-Coffeng, 2006
New regional tram in the Low Lands The Flamish government has approved the proposal to connect the city of Hasselt (BE) to Maastricht (NL) by means of a new regional tramway. The Flamish budget is 55 million euro, while money for the section in The Netherlands is not available yet. The tram will use new street sections in Hasselt and existing and former railway for the remaining portion to Maastricht.
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