1.
Rubber-tyred trams
–
A development of the guided bus is the tramway on tyres, in which a vehicle is guided by a fixed rail in the road surface and draws current from overhead electric wires. Two incompatible systems using physical guide rails exist, the Guided Light Transit designed by Bombardier Transportation, there are no guide bars at the sides but there is a central guidance rail that differs in design between the systems. In the case of Translohr, this rail is grasped by a pair of metal wheels set at 45° to the road. In the GLT system, a single double-flanged wheel between the rubber tires follows the guidance rail, in both cases, the weight of the vehicle is borne by rubber tires to which the guide wheels are attached. Power is usually supplied by lines, rechargeable batteries, or internal combustion engines where there are no overhead wires. The Translohr system operates as a vehicle at all times, while with the Bombardier system the vehicles can be driven autonomously as requirements dictate. On the other hand, Translohr vehicles operate like standard trams and cannot move without guidance, the infrastructure installation can be less complicated than the installation of a complete tram line in an existing street. These systems have been likened to the equivalent of rubber-tyred metros. There is no evidence to prove the superiority of either guidance system, both Bombardier and Translohr have had derailments during operation. Roll way Rubber-tyred metro TEDA Modern Guided Rail Tram Tram Tyre
2.
Guided bus
–
Guided buses are buses steered by external means, usually on a dedicated track or roll way that excludes other traffic, permitting the maintenance of schedules even during rush hours. Guidance systems can be physical, such as kerbs or guide bars, or remote, Guided buses may be articulated, allowing more passengers, but not as many as light rail or trams that do not also freely navigate public roads. There are only a few examples, but more have been proposed in various countries, the first guided busway in the United Kingdom was in Birmingham, the Tracline 65,1,968 feet long, experimentally in 1984. Several guided busways have been planned or built in the United Kingdom and it was discontinued as the majority of buses fitted with guide wheels were withdrawn for age reasons. There are no plans to convert newer buses, the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway between Cambridge and St Ives is the worlds longest guided busway. The Nagoya Guideway Bus in Nagoya, opened in March 2001 and is the guided bus line in Japan. The kerb-guided bus guidance mechanism is a development of the early flangeways, the Gloucester and Cheltenham Tramroad of 1809 therefore has a claim to be the earliest guided busway. Earlier flangeways existed, but were not for passenger carrying, optical guidance relies on the principles of image processing. A camera in the front of the vehicle scans the bands of paint on the ground representing the reference path, the signals obtained by the camera are sent to an onboard computer, which combines them with dynamic parameters of the vehicle. The calculator transmits commands to the motor located on the steering column of the vehicle to control its path in line with that of the reference. Optical guidance is a means of approaching light rail performance with a fast, the distance between the door steps and the platform is optimized not to exceed 5 centimetres. Level boarding is possible, and there is no need to use a mobile ramp for people with mobility impairments. Other experimental systems have non-mechanical guidance, such as sensors or magnets buried in the roadway, in 2004, Stagecoach Group signed a deal with Siemens AG to develop an optical guidance system for use in the UK. Two bus lines in Eindhoven, Netherlands, are used by Phileas vehicles, Line 401 from Eindhoven station to Eindhoven Airport is 9 km long, consists largely of concrete bus lanes and has about 30 Phileas stop platforms. Line 402 from Eindhoven station to Veldhoven branches off from line 401 and adds another 6 km of bus lanes, the regional authority for urban transport in the Eindhoven region has decided not to use the magnetic guidance system any more for some years. The Douai region in France is developing a public network with dedicated infrastructure. The total length of the lines will be 34 km, the first stage is a line of 12 km from Douai via Guesnain to Lewarde, passing close to Waziers, Sin-le-Noble, Dechy and Lambres-lez-Douai. 39 stop platforms will be provided with a distance between the stops of 400 m
3.
Alstom
–
A merger with parts of the General Electric Company plc formed GEC-Alstom in 1989, the company became Alstom in 1998. In 2014, Alstom and General Electric announced that a US$17 billion bid for the power and grid divisions had been made. The GE acquisition deal for the power and grid division was accepted by EU and US anticompetition authorities in mid 2015, in 1932, Alsthom expanded into transportation by acquiring Constructions Electriques de France, Tarbes, a manufacturer of electric locomotives as well as electrical and hydraulic equipment. In 1969, Compagnie Générale dElectricité became the majority shareholder of Alsthom, in 1976, Alsthom merged with Chantiers de lAtlantique, becoming Alsthom Atlantique. Thus, the business expanded into marine, the next year, it constructed the first 1300 MW generator set for the Paluel power station, setting a world record with an output of 1500 MW. In 1978, Alsthom delivered its first TGV to SNCF, the TGV went on to break world rail speed records in 1981 and in 1990. It also set the endurance record for high-speed train lines in 2001. In 1986, Alsthom Belfort received an order from EDF for the largest gas turbine in the world, in 1988–89, holding company CGEE Alstom acquired ACEC Energie and ACEC Automatisme from the dissolution of Belgian electrical engineering company ACEC SA. Alstom acquired 100% of ACECs transport division, renaming it ACEC Transport, in 1991, Alstoms parent company CGE was renamed Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Générale dElectricité, or Alcatel Alsthom for short. In 1994, GEC Alsthom acquired the vehicle manufacturer Linke-Hofmann-Busch from Salzgitter AG. In 1995, the acquired the remaining shares in the steam turbine manufacturer MAN Energie. In early 1998, GEC Alsthom acquired the electrical contractor Cegelec, in 1998, GEC-Alsthom bought Italian firm SASIB SpAs rail signalling subsidiary Sasib Railways, which included the former General Railway Signal. In June 1998, GEC Alsthom was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, GEC, at the same time, the company name was changed to Alstom. In 1999, Alstoms energy division merged with ABB in a 50–50 joint company known as ABB Alstom Power, Alstom also bought Canadas Télécité, a passenger information and security solutions company, and sold its heavy-duty gas turbine business to General Electric. The next year, it bought out ABBs share in ABB Alstom Power, in 2000, Alstom sold its diesel engine businesses to MAN Group. It also acquired a 51% stake in Fiat Ferroviaria, the Italian rail manufacturer, in April 2003, Alstom sold its industrial turbine business to Siemens for €1.1 billion. By 2003, Alstom was facing a crisis due to poor sales and over $5 billion of debt liabilities. Alstoms share price had dropped 90% over two years, in 2004, the French state took a 21% stake in Alstom and received an EU-approved French government bailout worth €2.5 billion
4.
Clermont-Ferrand tramway
–
The Clermont-Ferrand tramway is a transit system located in the city of Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne Region of France. It is a Translohr system, meaning it is guided by a single rail and this tramway comprises just one tramline, called Line A, that serves 34 stations and runs on 15.7 kilometres of double track length. However, there have been plans for extension of the line. Clermont-Ferrand constructed its first tram system in 1890, but in 1956 the tramway was decommissioned in favor of new bus routes, the current Translohr system officially opened in 2006. The first tramline in Clermont-Ferrand was put into service on January 7,1890 by the Electric Tramway Company of Clermont Ferrand, the Clermont-Ferrand tramway distinguished itself from other systems as it was the first to use electricity in France. The first 1,435 mm standard gauge tram track ran from Montferrand to Jaude, shortly after this, an extension was opened to Royat on lAvenue des Thermes. A total of 22 two-axle tramcars were put into service, in 1902, a section between Jaude and Place Delille, via Place Gaillard, opened. In 1913, a link to Cermont-Ferrand Train Station via Salins, before the First World War, the Beaumont line was extended to Ceyrat. In 1928, a link to Aubière was created, following the route of Line 3 on Avenue Léon Blum, at the end of the Second World War, the tram suffered many setbacks. As cars began to more popular, the government did not focus any effort on public transportation systems. The tramlines were gradually replaced by buses, the last tram in Clermont-Ferrand ran on 17 March 1956. After this, public transportation in the city was solely by bus, in many places, the rails were paved over to make way for cars. In the 1970s, concern over the consequences of automobile use increased, in the 1983 Elections, a tramway was proposed by Socialist mayor Roger Quilliot in his re-election campaign. However, the project was only seriously considered starting in 1990. The development of the system was given to SOFRETU, which proposed the building of two tramlines, one line, and an east-west line. In 1996, tenders were offered for the stock for the tramway. Alstom proposed that Alstom Citadis trams be used for the system, a revised project was developed in 2000. A new tender was made in 2002, and the only bidders were, Irisbus with their Civis trolleybus, Bombardier with their TVR rail transit system, the contract was ultimately won by Lohr Industrie due to pressure from the government and from Michelin
5.
TEDA Modern Guided Rail Tram
–
TEDA Modern Guided Rail Tram is a Translohr Light Rail system in Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. It is a modern, high speed rubber tired tram system, the line is considered as part of the Tianjin Metro system. Tianjin once had a conventional steel-wheeled tramway network, the system gradually expanded and reached its peak in 1933 with 116 tramcars. Later however, like most cities around the world, the service was abandoned in 1972 due to its inefficiency. Trams returned in Tianjin in 2006, unlike standard tramway, the Translohr rubber-tired LRT system was adopted. After the abandonment of the network in 1972, gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles such as buses, taxis. Like most Asian countries, China suffered many problems, including pollution, gridlock, increasing population started increasing urbanization of Tianjin, thus more motor vehicles clogged the streets and increased pollution and worsened gridlock. Metro construction started 2 years before the tramway closure, however, it took 14 years to complete the first line as the construction was interrupted greatly by an earthquake and lack of workers. The city was suffering from congestion unheard of in the days of trams and it needed more metro lines, and fast and it was not possible for Tianjin in a short period. So elevated rail also wasnt the permanent solution, many cities around the world like Tunis, Sydney, Buenos Aires and Pyongyang were building LRT systems, and like them, Tianjin also planned for the return of trams. In the 1990s the government looked for a way to decrease pollution as soon as possible, after observation from many cities around the world, the decision was made to reinstate trams in Tianjin. By then number of cars & buses had increased uncontrollably in Downtown Tianjin, the transport authority decided to construct the LRT network in the Tianjin Economic Development Area in eastern side of the main city at Tanggu district. Construction began in 2005 and the 7.86 km long line was opened to the public in 2007, the line is operated by Binhai Mass Transit. The total cost of the project is estimated at 500 million yuan, the Tram line quickly became popular amongst locals. The new system was chosen for TEDA because moving from point A to point B had become slow, the TEDA industrial zone has been Tianjins fastest developing area. 1972 - Abandonment of original tram network as construction on the subway system began. 2005 - Construction of rubber tired LRT started,2007 - Opened to public on May 10,2007. Total length -8 km Opened -10 May 2007, operating hours -5,30 A. M. to 12 Midnight
6.
Zhangjiang Tram
–
Zhangjiang Tram is the only tram line operating in Shanghai today, utilizing a system manufactured by the French Translohr company. It is a tram system, second both in China and Asia. Shanghai originally had a steel wheeled tramway network. Routes expanded gradually, and it reached its largest extent in 1925 with 328 tramcars, Tram service returned to Shanghai in 2009, with commercial service resuming in 2010. Unlike the standard tramway, it chose a modern rubber-tired system, Zhangjiang Tram started construction on December 23,2007. Construction was originally planned to be completed on December 2008, but this was delayed a year, passenger operations started on January 1,2010. Zhangjiang Tram runs from Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Station of the Shanghai Metro Line 2 to Heqing Town. Now the 10 km -long 1st phase, which runs from Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Station to Jinqiu Road is in service and it will be followed by an extension in the direction of Tang Zhen-Qing. The tram networks closure in the 1970s was perceived at the time as the removal of an obstruction to smooth and swift traffic, shanghais transport authority at last decided to open a separate, modern, high speed, rubber tired tram. The line is operated by Pudong, Shanghai Modern Rail Transportation Co. Ltd, the tram lines started running in Shanghai in 2010. The new system was built in Zhangjiang Town, because it is a planned area, the Translohr tram way is constructed in Zhangjiang Town which is in the heartland area of Pudong New District. Due to Economic-Technological Development Area ordinances, sound pollution must be kept to a minimum in this area, traditional steel wheeled trams generate lots of vibration and sound during their journey. Rubber tires on the trams reduce vibration, and as a result noise, additionally, the Zhangjiang Town roads are very hilly, and rubber tired trams can climb steeper grades than traditional trams easily. Another advantage is that rubber tired trams dont require tracks, as steel wheeled cars do, so there is disturbance of underground networks like power cables, phone lines. 1975 – The last standard tram ran,2007 – Construction of rubber tired tram started. The modern tram runs from Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park to Heqing Town, operating hours –5,45 am to 11 pm. It consists of 9 multiple units of three cars each and they are low floor, fully air conditioned, and can operate at high speeds. Most Zhangjiang tram lines run along the centre of the roads, while stations are situated at intersections and have side platforms
