SIEMENS and Tisséo, the operator of the VAL light metro in Toulouse, are to conduct a three-year study of the adhesion of rubber-tyred metro trains with a view to improving their safety.

A new fleet of Chinese-built suburban EMUs entered service on Buenos Aires' Mitre Line on November 25, replacing life-expired rolling stock with an average age of more than 50 years.

A CONSORTIUM led by CAF, Spain, has been chosen by Mexico's Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT) to supply trains and equipment for a new inter-urban passenger service linking Mexico City and Toluca.

BAY Area Rapid Transit (Bart) opened its $US 484m rail extension to Oakland International Airport on November 22, a 5.1km automated peoplemover (APM) link from Coliseum station which replaces a shuttle bus service.

BRITAIN's infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has issued the Wessex Route Plan, a blueprint for the future of passenger and freight services from London Waterloo to the south and the west of England over the next 30 years.

DELAYS in delivery of Stadler Flirt EMUs for the new Nordbahn service, which is due to commence on Schleswig-Holstein's central network from Hamburg to Itzehoe and Wrist on December 14, is putting the start of operations in doubt.

BUDAPEST Transport Company (BKV) has published a tender to rebuild 222 metro cars used on Line 3 with an option to rebuild a further 42 cars.

TANZANIA Railways (TRL) has negotiated at $US 130m loan with Tanzania Investment Bank for the installation of a global positioning system (GPS) and acquisition of new locomotives.

THE government of the Brazilian state of Bahia has authorised a Reais 800m ($US 314m) financial package for the 5.5km extension of Salvador metro Line 1 from Pirajá and Águas Claras/Cajazeiras.

SAN DIEGO Association of Governments Board of Directors (Sandag) has unanimously approved the final environmental impact report for the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project, which will extend the city's light rail network north from Old Town along the Interstate 5 corridor to La Jolla and University City.