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First « Passenger day » in Berlin-Brandeburg
VBB, the regional transport authority in Berlin- Brandenburg (6 million inhabitants on a 30,000km2 territory) held on 20th June the first “Passenger Day” for users of public transport systems. This initiative aimed to foster the exchange of information between the population, transport companies and public authorities, so as to promote the use of public transport
Green light for new tramway in Edinburgh
Since the closure of its tramway network in 1956, the capital city of Scotland (800,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area) has seen many attempts to reinstate light rail. But it is only in 2003 that the Scottish Executive formally agreed to fund the construction of a modern tramway network. The project, which consists in building
DELFI : a national door-to-door
The DELFI system, that aims to provide doorto- door travel information for public transport users in whole Germany, was launched in 1996 by the German Ministry of transport in co-operation with the Länder (regions). A first version of the system was officially presented on 28th June. Instead of being a new countrywide journey planner, DELFI
London will invest €4.5 billion into public transport infrastructures over the next 5 years
The British government released on 20th July its White Paper about the future of Transport in the UK by 2030. This document, in line with the Spending Review for 2004/2009, supports the Business Plan of Transport for London of almost €4.5 billion of capital investments for the coming 5 years. This announcement is good news
The French State will withdraw from public transport organisation in Paris (Ile-de-France)
The French Parliament adopted on 30th July a law on devolution of powers from the State to local authorities, which contains a chapter on public transport in the region of Paris Ile-de- France (11 million inhabitants). According to this law, the French State, which currently has the majority of stakes in STIF, the regional public
Metro keeps growing in Porto and fare integration under way
One year after the inauguration of its first section (see EMTA News n°9), the metro network keeps growing in the second largest Portuguese metropolitan area (1.5 million inhabitants). The section of 12km (18 stations) inaugurated in December 2002 (Blue line) carried 6 million passengers during its first year of operation, and patronage increased by 30%
New contract for local and regional railways in Rhine-Ruhr
VRR, the public transport authority of the Rhine-Ruhr conurbation (7.2 million inhabitants on a 5,000km2 territory in Germany around Düsseldorf and Essen), signed in July a new contract with DB German railways for the operation of local and regional railway services. The 15-year contract reaches a total value of €6 billion. According to the contract,
Successful fare integration implemented in Seville
Greater Seville includes 22 municipalities for a total population of 1.2 million inhabitants. Achieving greater fare integration between the 10 companies operating transport networks on its 1,300km2 territory has been a major objective of the Consorcio de Transportes del Area de Sevilla, the metropolitan transport authority since it was set up in March 2001. On
The Commission releases a White Paper on services of general interest
The European Commission released on 12th May a White Paper on services of general interest, which acknowledges that services of general interest are an essential component of the European model of society, and stresses the need to achieve public service obligations in competitive open markets. The Commission thinks it is premature to propose new framework
Towards more integrated and more reliable rail services in London ?
Heavy rail carries 42% of morning peak passengers into central London; it is a backbone of the public transport systems of the British capital city. Surveys show that Londoners make seven times more rail journeys than people in other UK cities, and that one third of all rail journeys in the country are made wholly
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