Part of the Railway Gazette Group
Transport & mobility projects
Planning & Policy
Data & Digital
Tram-train pilot scheme infrastructure costs up 401%
UK: Significant cost increases and delays to the UK's pilot tram-train project are detailed in a report published by the National Audit Office on July 4.
NAO found that while the Department for Transport and Network Rail have established new technical standards and shared the lessons learned with other tram-train project promoters, it is too early to determine whether the pilot scheme will realise the hoped-for strategic benefits.
Announced in September 2009 and approved by ministers in May 2012 with an expected infrastructure cost of £18·7m, the pilot project involves modernising and electrifying a NR freight line and linking it to the Sheffield Supertram network. This would enable a fleet of Vossloh tram-train vehicles to run through from Sheffield to Rotherham.
While DfT accepted from the start that the financial benefits of the scheme were uncertain, the Treasury give the go-ahead on an 'exceptional' basis to allow a more detailed evaluation of the costs associated with tram–train projects, including practical and operational issues and required changes to technical standards.
This would help inform decisions about proposals for tram-schemes in locations including Greater Manchester, Glasgow airport and the Cardiff Valleys, where promoters envisage that through running between tram lines and under-used heavy rail lines could improve public transport penetration of city centres and release main line rail capacity at busy stations.
The NAO's report focuses specifically on the modification of NR infrastructure; vehicle procurement and tramway works are outside the scope.
NAO found that NR did not have a full understanding of the costs at the start of the project. It revised its forecasts upwards as it discovered that existing assets were in poorer condition than expected and that the work would be more complex than anticipated. Changes were made to signalling specifications, and the characteristics of the tram-train vehicles differed from the agreed design assumptions. DfT's decision to electrify the main line railway at 25 kV 50 Hz in the future required the proposed 750 V DC tram-train electrification equipment to be redesigned to accommodate the future switch over, adding £5m to the costs.
DfT and NR now expect the works to cost £75·1m, an increase of 401% on the original budget, and completion is envisaged for May 2018, allowing the tram-train service to begin in summer 2018.
Responding to the NAO report, NR's London North Eastern & East Midlands Route Managing Director Rob McIntosh said there were 'a significant number of unique issues' that the pilot scheme had to overcome, and while the project 'continues to be complex and challenging', a new team was in place and 'good progress' was being made.
In May 2017 DfT agreed a £2·5m settlement with Supertram operating concessionaire Stagecoach to cover its costs and loss of revenue associated with delays to the tram-train project.
Aarhus light rail to open in September
DENMARK: The first phase of the tram-train network being built in Aarhus is due to open on September 23, project promoter Aarhus Letbane announced on April 28. An initial service of three trams/h will run between Aarhus H and Universitetshospitalet.
Work begins on second phase of Karlsruhe tram and road tunnel project
GERMANY: Jazz played on alpenhorns accompanied Baden-Württemberg Transport Minister Winfried Hermann and Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe Frank Mentrup as they attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase of the Kombilösung tram and road project on April 21.
Stadler selected to supply Szeged tram-trains
HUNGARY: National passenger operator MÁV-Start has selected Stadler Rail Valencia to supply eight electro-diesel tram-trains to operate on the planned route between Szeged and Hódmezővásárhely. The order announced on April 18 includes an option for four more vehicles.
Shijiazhuang metro extended
CHINA: A 5·4 km extension of Shijiazhuang metro Line 3 north from Shierzhong to Xisanzhuang opened on January 20, taking the line to 11·8 km with 10 stations. Construction had begun in August 2016. The city's two-line metro network is now 46·1 km long. Work is ...
New York MTA awards 8th Avenue corridor CBTC contract
Source: Joseph Calisi USA: New York MTA has awarded LK Comstock Co a $245·8m contract to install Siemens Mobility Communications-Based Train Control, and undertake other equipment enhancements on the 8th Avenue subway corridor. The contract announced on January 13 covers the local ...
BART board approves CBTC, connectivity and security programmes
USA: The award of a $798m contract for Hitachi Rail STS USA to roll out communications-based train control on the San Francisco Bay Area's BART metro network was approved by the operator's board on January 9, along with projects to improve passenger connectivity and deploy security staff. ...
© 2019 DVV Media International