SIEMENS and Tisséo, the operator of the VAL light metro in Toulouse, are to conduct a three-year study of the adhesion of rubber-tyred metro trains with a view to improving their safety.
TAIPEI celebrated the opening of the 8.5km eastern extension of metro Line 3 from Ximen to Songshan on November 15 with a day of reduced fares and free rides for holders of the city's EasyCard contactless smartcard.
TAIWAN's Bureau of High Speed Rail (BHSR) says construction of a southwest extension of the airport rail link between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TTIA) and Zhongli station will commence this month, while testing is now underway on the primary Taipei Railway Station - TTIA section of the much-maligned 51km project.
THE president of Taiwan Mr Ma Ying-jeou and the mayor of Taipei Mr Hau Lung-bin inaugurated Taipei's MRT Xinyi line on November 24, nearly eight years after the start of construction.
TAIWAN's Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) approved plans on January 7 for the construction of the first phase of a light rail line serving the Danshui district of New Taipei City, paving the way for construction to begin later this year.
TAIWAN High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) has selected Lloyds Register Rail as independent safety assessor (ISA) for the 3.3km underground extension of the Kaohsiung – Taipei high-speed line to Taipei Nangang station.
Taiwan's first two metro networks have experienced vastly different fortunes since they opened. Yet despite the challenges, the island's major cities still have confidence in urban rail, as Glenn Smith discovers.