TRANSPORT for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says it is on course to complete a second light rail line through Manchester city centre before Christmas after the final rails were laid on September 13.

HELSINKI City Council has approved the project plan for the Crown Bridges project to link the city centre with the island of Laajasalo, which includes the construction of a 10km light rail line.

THE $US 148m Cincinnati Bell Connector tram line began carrying passengers on September 9, connecting The Banks to Over-the-Rhine, making 18 stops.

THE Austrian cities of Linz and Graz both launched extensions of their tram networks on September 12.

AMSTERDAM Municipal Transport (GVB) has chosen CAF as its preferred bidder for a contract to supply a fleet of 63 low-floor bi-directional light rail vehicles with an option for another 60 vehicles.

FOLLOWING months of preparation, the railway world is set to descend on Berlin this month for the leading showpiece in the railway exhibition calendar: InnoTrans which runs from September 20-23. Kevin Smith and Dan Templeton are here to guide you though some of the highlights.

Frankfurt Transport (VGF) has trialled two object detection driver advisory systems in the past three years in an effort to reduce accidents on its network. Michael Rüffer, VGF’s head of operations, reveals the company’s experiences to Kevin Smith.

STRUKTON announced on September 5 that it has been awarded a contract by Melbourne tram operator Yarra Trams to supply new static inverters for B-class trams.

ESKISEHIR Light Rail Transportation Company (EsTram) has awarded Škoda Transportation a contract worth around €26m to supply 14 28T ForCity Classic low-floor LRVs, which will be equipped with batteries for catenary-free operation.

ALSTOM has been awarded a €125m contract by Rideau Transit Maintenance General Partnership, a consortium of SNC Lavalin O&M, ACS and EllisDon, to maintain Ottawa’s 12.5km light rail Confederation Line, which opens in 2018.