Worldwide, 120 individual urban rail projects were completed in 2017, according to the International Association of Public Transport’s (UITP) rail projects’ database, which is the equivalent of 789.14 miles of new infrastructure.
Project completion last year was 35 percent higher for metro rail and 27 percent higher for light rail transit when compared to 2016.
Europe had the largest rate of light rail transit projects completed for the first time. North America was fifth. Asia-Pacific was second followed by the Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America.
A total of 187 miles of light rail lines were opened in 24 countries. The largest project was 32.2 miles in Wuhan, China.
Asia-Pacific was the top region for metro rail, mostly because of projects in China, followed by the Middle East and North Africa.
Globally, 601.49 miles of metro rail opened in 20 countries; 72 percent were new lines and 28 percent were line extensions.
Fully automated metro lines represent 36 percent of new metro infrastructure, 621.37 miles, with 13.3 percent being installed in 2017.
UITP has been trying to consolidate links with local operators and organizations in China. UITP held a workshop with China Association of Metros on automated metros in Beijing in November.