SRI LANKA’s Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development announced on July 1 that land acquisition has begun for the first light metro line in Colombo following the completion of a feasibility study commissioned by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

A viable market exists for low-fares high-speed train services between Britain and France, according to a study commissioned by Channel Tunnel operator Getlink.

TESTING of the first driverless metro train for Singapore’s Thomson-East Coast Line is underway at Mandai depot in the north of the island in preparation for the opening of the first phase of the line at the end of next year.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) has launched work on a SFr 4.4m ($US 4.4m) maintenance hall for passenger trains in Brig with a ground breaking ceremony on June 26.

THE government of the state of Mato Grosso in the centre-west region of Brazil has announced a tender to resume the light rail project in Cuiabá, which was originally due to open in time for the 2014 football World Cup.

TRANSPORT for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has awarded a consortium of Bombardier UK and Kiepe Electric a £72m contract to supply 27 additional M5000 high-floor LRVs to boost capacity on the city’s Metrolink light rail network.

THE Netherlands government has decided to reconstruct and expand Amsterdam Central and Amsterdam South stations in order to improve accessibility to the Dutch capital and increase the capacity of the city’s rail network.

BYBANEN, the public company responsible for overseeing the 20km light rail line in Bergen, signed an eight-year contract with Keolis Norge on June 29 for the operation of the system and maintenance of its LRV fleet.

CAF, Spain, has entered into an agreement to acquire Polish bus and LRV manufacturer Solaris in a deal worth around €300m.

CZECH Railways (ČD) has awarded a consortium of Škoda Transportation and Siemens a €115m contract to supply 50 Viaggio Comfort coaches, with delivery of the first vehicles planned within 32 months.