News roundup

According to Tram magazine (issue 95/08.-10.2008), Mirage 1614 was withdrawn following an accident in April. To handle the extra traffic during the EURO 2008 championships, the following units were temporarily reinstated between 6th and 17th June: 1606/12/5/9-20/2/711/23-4. Additionally withdrawn are now 1607/16.

For the first time since 1928, the 5-hour break in tram and urban bus services on the morning of 1st May did not occur this year. Zürich's trams now run during all normal operating hours every day of the year.

Withdrawn trolleybus 31 was the victim of a fire brigade training exercise on 6th June.

Following the visit of the Hess hybrid bus demonstrator in March, Solaris' equivalent (which is, however, single articulated) saw service with VBG for three weeks from 13th June. The bus is owned by Welti-Furrer and normally used in Lenzburg.

The magazine also discusses plans for a tram in Biel. This would be built as an extension to the ASM Biel – Täuffelen – Ins line and continue from Biel Bahnhof to Bözingenfeld. If all goes to plan, construction could begin in 2014.

In Geneva, it has been decided to extend the Cornavin – Onex – Bernex project from the Bernex P+R site to Bernex Vailly. The additional section will be opened with the rest of the line in 2011. Geneva is equally planning a tram extension to Meyrin (to open in 2010), an extension of which will cross the border into France and reach Saint Genis-Pouilly P+R in circa 2013. The branch to Champs-Fréchets is set to open in 2009. Some changes have been made to the alignment in view of objections.

According to bahnhofplatz.net, testing on the second phase of Glattalbahn started as planned on Monday (13th). The following units are reported observed on the first day: Cobra 3052, Tram 2000 Sänfte 2121, Mirage 1660+1657, Tram 2000 2006+2312 and 2057+2401. The VBG Cobra 3062 is also being tested, but has so far not been seen on the new line. It will be used for the official press presentation of the new line on Monday (20th).

this item was added on 15.10.2008 (5664 days ago)
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