News from the Cities
Mobility panel and quality of service survey in Seville
In order to follow up users perception of public transport improvements, the Consorcio de Transportes de Sevilla decided to constitute a panel of travellers to be interviewed regularly. The main objective of this work is to have a database of panellists available to be asked by phone once or twice a year about different aspects
Private sector funding boost for Metro extension in Birmingham
A crucial agreement detailing the private sector’s largest funding contribution towards the Midland Metro extension has been signed. Westfield has completed its agreement with Centro-PTA by pledging its support for the new 11-lilometre tram lines through the Black Country with a £36.5m (€53 million) contribution towards the £268m (€400 million) project – the largest single
Very short cycle rental service introduced in Brussels
The Brussels capital region launched a very short term bicycle renting service called ‘Cyclocity’. The initiative wants to encourage the use of bicycle for short trips. The project aims at commuters as well as tourists as registration is possible immediately with a credit card. The service is provided by JC Decaux on the same principle
Congestion charging in Milan from early 2007
Milan city is suffering from high levels of pollution caused by road transport, industry and coal-burning plants emissions. The surroundings mountains have a worsening effect by trapping the noxious emissions. In an attempt to tackle severe air pollution and traffic jams Milan municipality announced the introduction of a congestion charge by 1 January 2007. Visitors
Stockholm votes YES to congestion charge, but…
Residents from Stockholm’s 461 municipalities voted in a referendum, on 17 September 2006, about the controversial traffic-control system tested in the city centre over a period of seven months. A 53% majority voted in favour of the proposal as 46% voted against. The charging scheme would impose charges ranging from €1 to €2.10 each time
16 and 17-year-olds in full-time education travel for free in London tram and buses
From September around 130,000 16 and 17-year-olds living in London in full-time education or unwaged training can apply for a 16 to 17-year-old Oyster photocard, offering them free travel on TfL bus and tram network and 50% discount on metro and Docklands Light Railway network. This measure follows the abolition of fares on buses and
Bombardier will provide new rolling stock for Porto Metro
A consortium led by Bombardier won a € 115 million contract for the provision of Porto Metro rolling stock. 30 Flexity low-floor light rail vehicles will be added to the current fleet from 2008-2009. The contract also includes a 5-year maintenance period. The vehicles are 37-metre long, can reach a top speed of 100 km/h
Stockholm one step forward for the new North-South tunnel
Stockholm’s suburban rail network crosses the city from North to South. This tunnel, build in 1871 constitutes however a bottleneck and doesn’t allow extra train services at peak hours, explaining the importance of bus service improvement during the congestion charging trial period (see EMTA News n°24). The Citybanan project is a 6-kilometre infrastructure that will
New central station inaugurated in Berlin
The new Berlin Hauptbahnhof opened on 28 May, few days before the beginning of the Soccer World Cup 2006. With this new station, the whole rail network has been reorganised allowing new connections and huge time savings. In the past, the structure of the network was based on an east-west corridor and a 120-kilometre long
Brussels Capital Region updates its mobility plan
The regional mobility plan, also called “Plan Iris” was adopted by the Government of Brussels Capital Region in October 1998 and is currently being updated. Mobility experts have estimated the impacts in 2015 of a “do-nothing” scenario: – 5% increase of mechanised trips – decreasing average speed for cars – permanent congestion of roads –
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