Canberra Light Rail: Business Case released

Canberra Times, 31 October 2014: The ACT government released details of its business case for a proposed light rail development from Gungahlin in the north to the city, with a potential extension to Russell.

Sydney: Light rail proposal in Western Sydney

Daily Telegraph 27 October 2014: Four options under consideration from Parramatta CBD to Castle Hill, Bankstown, Carlingford & Macquarie Park, and Sydney Olympic Park & Strathfield.

Parramatta City Council has previously supported a feasibility study into various light rail options for the Western Sydney region.

Western Sydney Light Rail Network

Ecotransit is a public transport advocacy group that supports aspects of the Western Sydney Light Rail proposals that have been put forward.

Ecotransit - Western Sydney Light Rail

Suzhou: Opening of the city's first tram line

Railway Gazette, 26 October 2014:  The first tram line in Suzhou, China was opened in the western parts of this large Chinese city.  The 18 kilometre line is the first of six lines that are planned for the city.  Residents in the area were provided with 50,000 free tickets to enable them to gain familiarity with the system during the testing phase.

Suzhou is a rich city with approximately 5.4 million people - it is only 100 kilometres from Shanghai.  The tram system will compliment other major metropolitan transport projects including 53 kilometres of metro lines that were already in operation in 2014.  

The rolling stock has been manufactured by Bombardier in a factory in Nanjing, China.  

Bombardier manufactured trams for Suzhou

Links to Flickr photos:

Sydney: Construction begins on South East Light Rail to Randwick

Sydney Morning Herald, 23 October 2014:  Construction work begins on George Street in Sydney CBD for a light rail that is planned to extend to Randwick.  Russell Kenley from Swinbourne University of Technology, highlights the challenges posed by the large number of below ground cables and other utilities that may impact on the construction of the new line, particularly in the CBD.  Laing O'Rourke have been awarded this contract. 

Link: Laing O'Rourke Preliminary Works Contract

Flickr Photo of an old Randwick tram from 1954:

Manchester: Airport Tram nearing completion

Link: Newspaper Article from City Metric: 

Manchester's new airport tram line will be ready ahead of schedule

A new tram line on the Manchester Tram Network is due to open in November, providing a new transport link to Manchester Airport.  This will bring the total network length to 92.5 kilometres, being the largest in the UK.

MetroLink runs the new line.

Link to MetroLink Manchester - Operator of the new Airport Line

Sunshine Coast, Light Rail Proposal

Sunshine Coast Daily, 8 October 2014:  Considerations are taking place on the merits associated with a light rail network on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.  As at 2012, the region had a population of 324,000 and the total number of registered motor vehicles was 252,000.  It is a fast growing area with a high proportion of older people who are retiring.