TRIAL operation began on the new underground rail link beneath the Dutch city of Delft on November 1, when a Netherlands Railways (NS) VIRM EMU carried a group of journalists through the 2.3km tunnel.

GERMAN infrastructure manager DB Networks has issued a tender notice for a contract to reinstate the German section of the short cross-border link between Selb, Germany, and Aš in the Czech Republic.

PASSENGER operations began on the 14.5km extension of Manchester's Metrolink light rail extension from St Werburgh's Road to Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport on November 3, more than a year ahead of schedule.

OPEN-ACCESS long-distance operator Thello announced on October 30 that tickets have gone on sale for its new Marseilles – Milan service, which is due to begin operating next month.

CALIFORNIA High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) says it received three sealed bids on October 30 for the contract to construct the second section of the state's high-speed network.

A MILESTONE in the construction of the world's longest railway tunnel was celebrated at noon on October 31, when a ceremonial gold sleeper was laid to mark the completion of tracklaying in the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

PLANS to build the first metro line in Oran, Algeria's second city, have been completed and it is hoped to launch a tender for the first phase in the first quarter of 2015.

CONSTRUCTION of the first phase of JR Central's Chuo Shinkansen maglev project linking Tokyo and Nagoya has been approved by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

EIFFAGE Group has appointed Keymile to install the telecommunications system on the 182km high-speed line it is constructing between Le Mans and Rennes under a public-private-partnership deal to build and operate the line which was awarded by French Rail Network (RFF) in 2011.

ADANI Mining has selected Parsons Brinckerhoff as its project management consultant for the Carmichael integrated coal mine, railway and port project in the Galilee Basin in the Australian state of Queensland.