Keith Barrow

A ceremony was held at Metz station on September 21 to mark the handover of the first of 10 Alstom Régiolis bi-mode multiple units for the French region of Lorraine.

DUBAI Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has reportedly finalised plans for the extension of its two existing driverless metro lines with the aim of completing both projects by 2020.

NORWEGIAN infrastructure manager Jernbaneverket says it is ready to launch pilot operation of ERTMS in the southeast of the country in the next stage of preparations for the national rollout of the system.

THE European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide a further €235m loan to Polish infrastructure manager PKP PLK to finance the upgrading of the 92.5km Warsaw – Radom line.

BELGIAN railfreight operator SNCB Logistics has equipped more than 200 of its drivers with tablet computers as part of an effort to improve two-way real-time communications with train crews and create a 'paperless' driver's cab.

SAN DIEGO Association of Governments (Sandag) has launched the final phase of a major project to modernise the Blue Line, the oldest part of the city's light rail network, which opened in 1981.

THE restoration of the war-damaged railway network in northern Sri Lanka reached another milestone on September 14, when the country's president Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated the 63km section of the Madawachchi – Kankesanturai line between Omanthai and Kilinochchi, 23 years after the last trains ran.

NEW YORK Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has placed a $US 1.8bn order with Kawasaki for an initial batch of 92 two-car M-9 emus for Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) as part of a framework deal which includes options for up to 584 additional sets for both LIRR and Metro-North.

SAMSUNG C&T has subcontracted the construction of the heavy-haul rail link to the new Roy Hill iron-ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to John Holland in a deal worth $A 257m ($US 240m).