ALEXANDRIA: Egypt’s president, Mr Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, has approved a simplified agreement between Egypt and the French Development Agency (AFD) regarding a €250m loan in two tranches for the construction of a metro line from Abu Qir to Borg al-Arab. The 43km line will be implemented in three stages, with work on the first 22km stage to begin in October.

Bordeaux: A 5km branch of light rail Route A from Quatre Chemins to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport opened on April 29. The single-track extension has passing loops at the five stops. Services operate every 10 minutes, offering a 35-minute journey time from the airport to the city centre.

The project also included the development of a parallel cycle path, while a 120-space park-and-ride facility is due to open at the Caroline Aigle stop later this year.

Seville: The city council has awarded Idom a €429,000 contract to draft the technical study and works design for the second phase of the Metrocentro light rail extension from Luis de Morales to Santa Justa. The second phase will complete the route to Santa Justa mainline station where there will be interchange with high-speed, long-distance and suburban rail services.

The project includes the design of a 600m long double-track alignment and a redevelopment and urban integration plan.

Manila: The Philippines Department of Transportation (DOTr) has begun construction of two more underground metro stations in Quezon City, part of the Metro Manila Subway project. The Quezon Avenue and East Avenue stations are due to be operational by 2028.

  • The Philippines government has called for bids for a three-year, Pesos 900m ($US 16m) contract to maintain the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2), as it moves forward with plans to privatise operation of the line. The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said it is looking for a contractor to deliver maintenance and cleaning services on LRT-2 for three years.

Toronto: Hitachi Rail STS Canada has appointed Ricardo to provide Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) support during the construction and commissioning of the Ontario Line.

Hitachi Rail STS Canada is a member of Connect 6ix Group, the consortium appointed to deliver the rolling stock, systems, operations and maintenance (RSSOM) contract for the new 15.6km driverless metro that extends from Exhibition Place in the west of the city, through the city centre and to Eglinton Avenue and Don Mills Road in the northeast. Ricardo will ensure all safety requirements for the new railway in relation to the RSSOM contract have been identified and adequately addressed, through to the line’s planned completion in 2031.

Barcelona: The Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM) has awarded a joint venture of Inse Rail and Bews a contract to draft a feasibility study and final project design of the extension of the Diagonal - Baix Llobregat light rail line to the centre of Sant Feliu de Llobregat.

The study will define two alternatives which will incorporate the results of compatibility studies with the project to move the mainline railway line underground. A third alternative or variant of the previous two will be considered to include the possibility of a third additional stop closer to the El Pla industrial estate.

After the optimum route has been selected, the joint venture will use BIM methodology to draft the construction project, which includes both the light rail line and development of the surrounding urban area.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Airport Metro (HAML) has appointed a consortium of Systra, Rites and German Rail (DB) as general consultant for the Airport Express Metro Line, which is due to open in 2026, and will connect with existing Hyderabad metro network.

Systra will be involved in a review of the detailed project report (DPR), preliminary design, tender preparation and procurement, proof checking of design, supervision of civil and systems works, project scheduling, monitoring and reporting, system integration, and testing and commissioning.

Taipei: Construction of the MRT Circular Line’s new eastern section is expected to begin within two years, according to Taiwan premier, Mr Chen Chien-jen and Taipei mayor, Mr Chiang Wan-an. The government approved construction of the east section on March 29. The new 13.25km line will have 10 underground stations, and is expected to be completed within 10 years.

Toshkent: The second phase of the Circle Line metro has opened for revenue service. The 7.7km extension from Qo’ylik to 12-Bekat in the Quruvchilar district south of the international airport adds a further five stations. Signalling on the elevated extension was supplied by 1520 Group and Trans Engineering Group.

Paris: Public transport authority Île-de-France Mobilités has awarded RATP Dev a contract to manage the new Orly Airport metro station, which will serve the airport to the south of Paris and the municipality of Paray-Vieille-Poste. Services to station will begin on Line 14 from mid-2024 and on Line 18 from 2027.

RATP Dev will be responsible for obtaining the necessary permission to open the station for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games; the management of access to the station; ticket sales; upkeep and maintenance; providing passenger information; ensuring cleanliness and accessibility of passenger areas; and coordination of security operations in conjunction with the provider of these services.

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