CHINA’s top economic planning authority the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) confirmed on September 6 that it has given the go-ahead for the first phase of the metro network in Baotou, the largest city in the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia.

NORTHERN Ireland’s infrastructure minister Mr Chris Hazzard announced on September 6 that Parkeon has been appointed primary supplier to design and deliver the £45m Translink Future Ticketing System (TFTS).

CROWN Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed laid a foundation stone on September 5 to officially launch construction on the Route 2020 metro link to the site of Expo 2020.

TORONTO and Hamilton transit authority Metrolinx has appointed CH2M as vehicle technology consultant for the Toronto Regional Express Rail (RER) project.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) will introduce a new service for tourists next year on the historic scenic mountain route through the Gotthard Pass called the Gotthard Panorama Express, in addition to a train aimed at hikers and a conventional RegioExpress service.

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.

CHINA’s first driverless subway line, the Yanfang line in Beijing will begin operations at the end of 2017 according to a report on August 29.

BRAZIL’s interim federal government led by president Michel Temer is investigating how to revive the country’s ambitious new line construction programme at a time of financial austerity by involving the country’s concessionaire rail freight operators.

ANKARA Metro Line M4 from Atatürk Cultural Center to Gazino in Keçiören, has been completed 12 years after the foundations were laid in 2004, and Turkish prime minister, Mr Binali Yildirim announced on August 31 that the line would open at the end of the year.

HONOLULU leaders and US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) officials reached an agreement on the Honolulu metro project on August 30 in which the 32km line will be built all the way to Ala Moana as planned rather than being cut back to Middle Street, but without additional federal funding.