A COURT in Vienna has rejected an appeal by Siemens against public transport operator Wiener Linien's decision to award Bombardier a contract worth up to €562m for up to 156 low-floor LRVs.

PROPOSALS to connect Stockport to the Manchester Metrolink light rail network were published by Stockport Council on January 22 as part of a broader rail plan for the area, which has been developed in consultation with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

TRANSPORTS Ciutat Comtal (TCC), a joint venture between Barcelona metro operator TMB and Catalonia's largest privately-owned public transport operator Moventia, has been selected for a 10-year concession to operate and maintain the light rail and bus networks in Portugal's second city Porto.

PUGET Sound regional transport authority Sound Transit has been awarded a $US 1.33bn federal loan by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to fund the expansion of Seattle's light rail network.

RHEINBAHN, the operator of Düsseldorf's light rail network, has awarded Siemens a contract to resignal the 11km Stadbahn tunnel beneath Düsseldorf city centre.

THE mayor of San Francisco Mr Edwin Lee announced on January 13 that San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will exercise a $US 210m option with Siemens for 40 additional SF200 low-floor LRVs, taking the total number of vehicles on order to 215.

A CEREMONY was held at Houston's Downtown Transit Center on January 7 to mark the entry into passenger service of Houston MetroRail's new fleet of 39 H3 LRVs, which are being supplied by CAF USA.

MPK Lodz signed a Zlotys 166m ($US 45.8m) contract with Pesa on December 30 for 22 low-floor LRVs, which will be used on the Polish city's 120km metre-gauge tram network.

METROPOLITAN Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) launched public services on the city's first modern tram line on December 30, marking the opening with three months of free travel on the 4.3km route.

THE government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) says four private sector consortia have submitted formal expressions of interest for the Capital Metro light rail project in Canberra.