New metro lines open across China
A flurry of new line openings has marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. They include the opening of the first metro line in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, and an airport line and metro extension in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. Major line extensions also debuted in five additional cities. [railjournal.com]
France: Lyon to get new low-cost high speed rail link to Paris
Lyon will become the fifth French city to get a direct low-cost Ouigo TGV link to Paris starting in June 2020. Ouigo high-speed trains will make three daily trips between Lyon’s La Part-Dieu and Paris-Gare de Lyon. National carrier SNCF is expanding its’ budget Ouigo service to cities across the country. [thelocal.fr]
New rail link to world’s coldest city opens
Yakutsk, capital of the Sakha Republic in north-east Siberia, has been connected to the Russian rail network – almost. The new line ends across the miles-wide Lena River from the city. In summer, ferries cross the Lena, and in winter, vehicles drive across the frozen river, but there is no way to cross in spring or autumn. [independent.co.uk]
Asia: Singapore – Malaysia metro further delayed
Development of a metro link between Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malaysia, suspended in May until the end of September, has been further delayed until October 31. Opening of the international metro across the Straits of Johor had originally been planned for 2024. [railwaygazette.com]
Asia: Revival of Manila tram system eyed
A private consortium is keen on investing close to $500m USD to build a tram line along a 10 km stretch of Roxas Boulevard’s service road on Manila Bay. The new tramway would follow the same route plied by the old Manila street tram in the early 1900s. [inquirer.net]
