IRELAND's National Transport Authority has granted Irish Rail (IE) approval to launch a new non-stop inter-city service from Cork to Dublin Heuston, which will shave 15 minutes off the current fastest journey time.
THE state government of Western Australia issued its budget for 2015-2016 on May 13 with a commitment to funding the extension of the TransPerth suburban network to Perth airport, but the proposed Max light rail project appears to have been put on hold.
HOUSTON will restart planning for its first commuter rail line under an agreement signed on May 18 by Republican Senator for western Harris County Mr John Culberson and Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) Mr Gilbert Garcia.
CHINA's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) confirmed on May 18 that it has approved the next phase of the metro network in Chengdu, which encompasses the construction of 79.1km of new lines by 2020.
THE board of Luxtram, the public company responsible for developing the first modern light rail line in Luxembourg, confirmed on May 18 that it has selected CAF as preferred bidder for a contract to supply 21 low-floor LRVs for the project in a deal worth €83m.
AUCKLAND Transport celebrated a milestone in the $NZ 1.6bn ($US 1.2bn) modernisation of the city's suburban rail network on May 16, when electric services operated on all lines for the first time.
VIRGINIA Beach City Council has approved a $US 20m budget to fund development work over the next year on the planned extension of Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) light rail line from the neighbouring city of Norfolk.
THE government of Panama announced on May 14 that it has selected Consorcio Linea 2, a consortium of Constructora Norberto Odebrecht, Brazil, and FCC Construcciones, Spain, to build the second metro line in Panama City.
A cross-party Dutch parliamentary committee, set up in December 2013 to investigate the V250 Fyra high-speed train fiasco, will start public hearings on May 18 which will continue until June 12.
THE Valle d'Aosta region in northwest Italy has awarded Stadler a €43m contract for five three-car bi-mode Flirt trains for the inter-regional passenger service between Aosta and Turin.
