Information portal about all European guided public transportation systems. This site is regularly updated.
ver.5.0 © 2005-2024, Ing.Michele Tarozzi

Michele Tarozzi was born in Bologna (I) on September 7th, 1971, was graduated magna cum laude in 1998 at the University of Bologna in Civil Engineering.
Freelance, he has been working for years in the field of plan and design of guided public transportation infrastructures, doing in the meantime research and teaching in urbanistic and project management.

Books and Papers:

Urbanistica e Cooperazione a Bologna 1889-1985 - Cento anni di vite parallele, [Urban planning and Cooperation in Bologna 1889-1985]
Roma, 1999, Editore Gangemi (urbanistic volume, pages 272, EAN: 9788874488995)

The European Automated Light Metros
Inarcos, n. 653 October 2004
ABSTRACT
Among the recent mass rapid transport European applications, Automated People Movers (APM) have an important role. Thanks to the light infrastructures and to the high frequencies (which allow short stations and vehicles), they have an easier urban insertion in many hystorical towns. This paper analizes the cases of the most important existing (Lille VAL, Lyon Line D, Copenaghen M1 Line, Toulouse Line A, Rennes Line 1) or planned (Brescia, Lausanne, Turin, Bologna) APM European systems.

The European modern tramways and LRT systems
Le Strade, n. 1410, September 2005
ABSTRACT
Since 1980, European modern tramway and LRT systems had many successfull applications. Thanks to the track protection (traffic light priority at the crossroads or, in many cases, central underground sections) which minimizes the road traffic segments, these systems joins remarkable commercial speeds (against classical tramway lines) with lower costs than underground light metros (20 M Euro/km vs. 70 M Euro/km). This paper analizes the cases of some of the most important existing modern tramway and LRT lines (Barcelona, Bordeaux, Charleroi, Dublin, Lyon, Messina, Nantes, Oporto, Strasbourgh).

Tram-on-tyres: the European first applications
Le Strade, n. 1415, March 2006
ABSTRACT
In the last years some European towns invested in innovative tram-on-tyres infrastructures. These systems are based on different kinds of guide technology (mechanical like Bombardier GLT and Translohr, optical like Irisbus Civis, magnetical like APTS Phileas). Reversibility is one of the most important tram-on-tyres features: all these vehicles can switch from tram-like (with guide) or bus-like mode, in order to circumvent obstacles along the route. The very light infrastructure allows interesting cost reductions, even if the system capacity is reduced against classical tramways (with steel wheels). This paper analizes the main European applications (Caen, Nancy, Eindhoven, Clermont Ferrand, Rouen, Padova, Mestre, L'Aquila, Bologna, Douai).

Monorail urban transports
Le Strade, n. 1418, June 2006
ABSTRACT
Monorail systems offer remarkable cinematic performances (low horizontal radius, high vertical gradient) with a low enviromental impact, thanks to the light infrastructures and to the viaduct solution: monorails, for all this reasons, have many applications in amusement centers (Disneyland, Mirabilandia, etc), parks, zoo and tertiary high tech districts. From years '80s many urban applications have been developed; many of these systems are fully automated (APM) and this feature tends to became a rule.
This paper analizes the main monorail technologies (suspended or SAFEGE, Alweg, Steel-Box), the innovative tendencies (MAGLEV) and the most remarkable European (Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Moscow) and worldwide applications (US: Seattle, Tampa, Jacksonville, Newark, Las Vegas; JAPAN: Chiba, Osaka, Tama and Naha; AUSTRALIA: Broadbeach and Sidney; CHINA: Shenzen, Chongqing; MALAYSIA: Kuala Lumpur, Sunway City, Putrajaya;INDONESIA: Jakarta).

Tram-train: perspectives and criticities
Le Strade, n. 1432, November 2007
ABSTRACT
After the first experience in Karlsruhe (1992), many European towns planned similar transport systems, in order to minimize the times of dispacement reducing vehicle changements and to optimize the costs of construction using or re-using existing railway infrastructures.
The perspectives of tram-train systems have been analized showing the main advantages of this technology (on one side) and the main criticities due to technical and normative reasons (on the other side), starting from some real experiences of complex "trak-sharing" or "joint-use" applications (Karlsruhe, Saarbrucken, Chemnitz, Leiden, Nordhausen, Strasbourgh, Alacant, Liberec and, potentially, Sassari), simplier railway recovery or re-use applications (Manchester, Paris-T4, Bergamo, Cagliari) and a completely opposite case in comparison to the original Karlsruhe model (train-tram in Zwickau).

Driverless tranport systems in the European airports
TP Trasporti Pubblici, n. 2 (year XXIV), February 2008
ABSTRACT
The constant developement of many European airports and their physical expansion brought the necessity of efficient connections between different terminals and easy links to intermodal exchange points (airport railway stations, parking areas).
The main features requerred to this kind of service are high availability standards and continuous service during the day (in some cases 24 hours no-stop service), which can be efficently and cheaply assured by automated transport systems without drivers and fixed operators on vehicles and in the stations. This paper analize the most remarkable recent European experiences of dedicated (London Gatwick, Paris Orly, London Stansted, Frankfurt Rhein-Main-Airport, Rome Leonardo da Vinci, Dusseldorf International Airport, Zurich International Airport, Birmingham International Airport, Paris Roissy, Madrid Barajas International Airport, London Heatrow) and urban systems (Nurnberg Flughafen, London City Airport, Copenhagen Lufthavnen, Bologna Guglielmo Marconi).

Bologna People Mover
Quarry and Construction, n. 544 (year XLVI), April 2008
ABSTRACT
The high-speed railway station next opening and the growth of G. Marconi Airport (due to important investments such us the airstrip lengthening) are the main reasons of the development of the People-Mover project, connecting these 2 terminals with an intermediate stop at Lazzaretto new universitary quarter. This paper decribes the infrastructure and its approving procedures.

Bologna Metrotram
Le Strade, n. 1438, June 2008
ABSTRACT
Bologna bases its future public displacements plans on the so called Metrotram, a guided mass transport infrastructure connecting Fiera District, the railway station, the urban center, Ospedale Maggiore (one the main hospitals) and, in a further phase, Borgo Panigale suburb. Other future developments are considered, such as CAAB/Agraria and Lazzaretto extensions. This paper decribes the infrastructure and its approving procedures.

The role of tram-train systems in European suburban displacements: perspectives and criticities, Tram-on-tyres: the Italian and European first experiences
Acts of the third Italian National Seminary "Tram System"
, Rome 19-20 June 2008

The 'wireless' trams
Le Strade, n. 1444, January-February 2009
ABSTRACT
The overhead power collection is one of the most critic features concerning the urban insertion of the modern tram lines. This paper decribes some recent alternative solutions (Alstom APS, Bombardier Primove, hybrid systems, etc.) and their applications in the European towns.

Urban guided mass transit: the different choices
TP Trasporti Pubblici, n. 2 (year XXV), February 2009
ABSTRACT
In Europe there are currently more than 500 different Urban guided mass transit systems, that could be classiffied in specific categories (metros, LRT, standard trams, tram on tyres, tram-train, driverless metros/APM, monorails, cable systems). This papers analyzes the recent trends and some interesting features about their localization (concerning urban demography, urban rank, etc.).

Guided transport systems and accidentalness
Le Strade, n. 1454, January-February 2010
ABSTRACT
In Europe there occurs every year about 9000-10000 accidents related to mass transport systems (including urban systems, such as metros and tramways), with about 1500 casualties. This papers analyzes recent trends in accidentalness, proposing a classification and tryng to deduct some invariants.

Urban People Movers
Le Strade, n. 1459, July-August 2010
ABSTRACT
The European first experiences of Automated People Movers mostly took place into specific areas such as airports, commercial centers and amusement parks. Recently this trend changed, with the opening of some urban People Movers applications; this papers analyzes some of the most significant recent systems (such as Perugia Minimetro and Venice People Mover), analyzing the main features and tryng to deduct some invariants.

Some unsuccessful cases
Le Strade, n. 1465, March 2011
ABSTRACT
In the last years some projects of guided urban transport systems were abandoned, rejected or deeply modified: the analyzis of this cases offer useful topics for further experiences.

Back to train in the heart of Marche, December 2014
Le Strade, n. 1503, December 2014
ABSTRACT
The former "Porto San Giorgio-Fermo-Amandola" railway (Marche, Italy) has been abandoned and closed since 1956. This paper analyzes the perspectives of a potential reuse of the track, such as for a modern suburban tram/LRT connection or recovering/modernizing the elder railway service.

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News 2008
  • Dec 08
  • - Kazan: Gorki-Prospekt Pobedy metro extension opened on 26-12-2008
  • - Vitoria Gasteiz: the first segment (Landaberde-Plaza de america Latina) of the new LRT line opened on 23 December 2008
  • - Saint Petersburg: metro line 5 opened on 20 December 2008
  • - Krakow: Fast Tram LRT line opened on 11 December 2008
  • - Milan: metrotranvia (LRT) line Milan-Cinisello Balsamo opened on 7 December 2008
  • Nov 08
  • - Bucharest: metro M3 Nicolae Grigorescu-Linia de Centura section opened on 20 November 2008 (initially operated as shuttle service)
  • Oct 08
  • - Lausanne: driverless light metro M2 (Metro Ouchy) opened on 27 October 2008
  • - Warsaw: metro Line 1 extension (Slodowiec-Dworzec Gdanski) opened on 25 October 2008
  • Sep 08
  • - Marseille: T1 and T2 tramway lines extended on 26 September 2008
  • Jun 08
  • - Nurnberg: driverless metro U3 (Gustav Adolf Strasse-Maxfeld) opened on 15 June 2008
  • May 08
  • - Kiew: metro Line 3 extension from Borispolkaya to Krasny Khutor opened on 23 May 2008
  • - Wien: U2 extension from Schottenring to the stadium (Stadion) opened on 10 May 2008
  • Apr 08
  • - Warsaw: metro Line 1 extension from Plac Wilsona to Slodowiec opened on 23 April 2008
  • - Bursa: LRT extension from Sehrekustu to Araba Yatagi opened on 6 April 2008
  • Mar 08
  • - London: TTS-Tracked Transit System APM opened on 27 March 2008 at the new Heathrow Airport T5 Terminal
  • - Cagliari: Light Metro Line 1 (Repubblica-Gottardo) opened on 17 March 2008
  • Jan 08
  • - Perugia: Leitner Minimetro cable-system opened on 29 January 2008
  • - Bruxelles: STIB/MIVB operator ordered 102 Bombardier Flexity trams (to be delivered in 2009-2013)
  • - Bergen: contract signed with Stadler for the delivery of 12 Variotram tramcars (with an option for further 20 vehicles) to be used on the new LRT line (under construction)
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