LYON inaugurated the latest addition to the city's already-extensive light rail network on November 17 with the opening of the initial phase of Line T5.
CONSTRUCTION of a 418km standard-gauge line linking the Laotian capital Vientiane with the Chinese network could begin next year, according to local media reports.
THE 4.9km western extension of Paris light rail line T1 from Saint Denis to Asnières Gennevilliers Les Courtilles opened on November 15.
VIA Quatro, the PPP concessionaire responsible for building and operating São Paulo's Metro Line 4, has awarded a €40m contract to a consortium of Alstom and ThyssenKrupp for infrastructure works on the second phase of the project.
ILE-DE-FRANCE Transport Authority (Stif) and Paris Transport Authority (RATP) have placed a €127m contract with Alstom for 14 MP05 rubber-tyred metro trains for Line 14, a fully-automated line which is being extended 5.8km north from St Lazare to Marie de Saint-Ouen.
KENYA's president, Mr Mwai Kibaki, officially opened a $US 4.7m 2.3km extension of the Nairobi – Embakasi line to Syokimau on November 14, which is said to be the first new station built in Kenya for 80 years.
THE Western Australian government has placed an order for an additional five three-car B-series emus from a consortium of Bombardier and Downer EDI, to strengthen the Perth suburban fleet.
CZECH open-access operator Leo Express began trial operation with passengers on November 13 in the final stage of the certification process for its fleet of five Stadler Flirt emus.
EUROPE's economic crisis continues to have a detrimental impact on rail traffic according to figures gathered by the Community of European Railways and Infrastructure Managers (CER), which reveal year-on-year declines in both passenger numbers and freight volumes during the second quarter of 2012.
TRENSURB, the metro operator in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, has selected FrotaPoa, a consortium of CAF and Alstom, as its preferred bidder for a contract to supply 15 four-car emus.
