ALSTOM handed over the first 16 of 29 Coradia Continental EMUs for the Mid-Saxony Electric Network (EMS) regional concession to representatives of Mid-Saxony Transport Authority (VMS) and Transdev at the company's Salzgitter plant on March 23.

BRITAIN's House of Commons passed the third reading of the High-Speed 2 (HS2) Hybrid Bill on March 23, authorising construction of the 190km line from London to Birmingham and a junction with the West Coast Main Line (WCML) near Lichfield.

OKLAHOMA City Council voted on March 22 to award a $US 24.9m contract for five low-floor LRVs for the Oklahoma City Streetcar project to Brookville Equipment, United States.

GERMAN infrastructure manager DB Network is planning to upgrade the 3.1km line on Swiss territory between the German border and the bridge across the River Rhine in Basle at a cost €273m.

HAMBURG U-Bahn operator Hamburger Hochbahn has unveiled plans for a new depot in the east of the city, which will provide additional maintenance and stabling capacity for the expansion of its train fleet.

CANADIAN finance minister Mr Bill Morneau announced details of phase 1 of the federal government's new infrastructure plan, which was unveiled as part of the 2016 budget on March 22.

BRITISH open-access passenger operator First Hull Trains has been granted a 10-year extension to its track access agreement from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) which will enable it to continue running its Hull – London King's Cross service until 2029.

TAIPEI Rapid Transit Corporation has awarded a contract to Thales to upgrade the fare collection on the city's metro network as the first step towards a national integrated system.

THE Chinese city of Ningbo inaugurated the second phase of metro Line 1 on March 19 with the launch of trial operation on the 25.3km nine-station western extension from Donghuan South Road to Xiapu in Beilun district.

HIGH Speed Two Ltd (HS2), which is responsible for implementing Britain's second high-speed line, has appointed a team of consultants to act as its engineering delivery partner for the 190km phase one linking London with Birmingham and Lichfield.