THE first tracks were laid on August 8 on the 12km CBD and South East light rail line under construction in Sydney, Australia.

THE government of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh released the first tranche of funding on August 11 for land acquisition for the initial phase of the metro network in Vijayawada.

THE government of the Italian region of Piedmont has awarded BLS, Switzerland, a six-year concession to operate services on the 19km Iselle - Domodossola line from December 11 in a move which will improve regional rail links between the Swiss canton of Valais and northern Italy.

CHICAGO commuter rail operator Metra announced on August 9 that due to changes in the availability of capital required to fund its $US 2.4bn modernisation plan, the agency has temporarily suspended its search for a vendor to supply 367 double-deck coaches.

GERMAN Rail (DB) announced on August 10 that its subsidiary DB Regio has lodged an appeal at the regional high court in Munich against a ruling by Bavaria’s public procurement authority which upheld the decision by Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) to award two contracts for the operation of the Nuremberg S-Bahn network to National Express.

THE government of the Australian state of Victoria has announced three consortia have been shortlisted for the $A 6bn ($US 4.6bn) public private partnership (PPP) to build a new rail tunnel through Melbourne.

ABELLIO Rail Mitteldeutschland CEO Mr Dirk Ballerstein, Saxony-Anhalt transport minister Mr Thomas Webel and Thuringia’s minister for infrastrucutre and agriculture Mrs Birgit Keller signed a 14-year contract in Aschersleben on August 10 for the operation of the Saxony-Anhalt Diesel Network.

TRIAL runs began on August 10 on the 5.2km ITO – Kashmere Gate section of the Delhi Metro’s Violet Line.

SWEDISH national passenger operator SJ says passenger numbers on the Stockholm - Oslo route have climbed sharply since it launched faster and more frequent services between the Swedish and Norwegian capitals.

LISBON commuter rail operator Fertagus has awarded a contract to Emef, Portugal, for part of the heavy maintenance of its fleet of 18 UQE3500-series trains starting at the Entroncamento workshop from September.