THE steering committee for the construction of a new line linking Paris with Normandy has approved funding of €5.82m for environment studies and the appointment of a project manager.

PLANS to expand the Midland Metro light rail network in Birmingham and Wolverhampton have received a boost with the allocation of more than £100m in funding from the British government's Local Growth Fund and the region's three Local Enterprise Partnerships.

INNSBRUCK city council has voted in favour of procuring 20 low-floor LRVs for the city's metre-gauge tram network.

NUREMBERG Transport (VAG) has invited bids by July 31 for a contract to supply 21 metro trains with options for up to 13 more trains in two tranches of six and then seven sets.

THE ALSTOM-led Gibela consortium and Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa (Prasa) have concluded the design review for the new fleet of 600 X'Trapolis Mega EMUs, clearing the way for production to begin on the first vehicles.

AZERBAIJAN Railways (ADY) has issued a tender for technical supervision and technical support services in preparation for the procurement of 62 electric locomotives for the Baku – Beyuk – Kesik corridor, which is currently being upgraded.

ARCELORMITTAL Liberia (AML) took delivery last month of six additional ES44AC locomotives from GE, which will supplement the existing fleet of three GE units and enable the operation of 140-wagon trains on the 243km line linking the Tokadeh iron-ore mine with the port of Buchanan.

POLISH infrastructure manager PKP PLK announced on July 1 that dynamic testing has begun on Poland's first ERTMS Level 2 installation.

TRANSPORT for London (TfL) has selected Keolis Amey Docklands, a joint venture of Keolis (70%) and Amey (30%), to operate the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) automated metro network until April 2021 with an option for a two year extension.

LATVIAN passenger operator Pasazieru Vilciens (PV), has selected Stadler for a 15-year hire-purchase contract to supply 25 1520mm-gauge EMUs.