Despite strong competition from incumbent Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), Westbahn has made steady progress since it began operating open-access services between Vienna and Salzburg in 2011. CEO Dr Erich Forster outlines the company’s plans to Kevin Smith.

A crucial decision on the future of Switzerland’s inter-city network will be made this year, which could break SBB’s monopoly on the sector. BLS CEO Bernard Guillelmon talks to Keith Barrow about how the country’s second-largest railway plans to re-enter the long-distance market.

Mohamed Mezghani, who took over as secretary general of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) on January 1, outlines the trends and challenges that the public transport sector faces at what he feels is a critical juncture for global urban mobility.

THE first LRV for the Oklahoma City Streetcar project arrived in the city on February 13 after completing its four-day 1900km road journey from Brookville, Pennsylvania.

A consortium of Team Group, Thailand, and Egis, France, has been appointed project consultant for the Baht 53.5bn ($US 1.7bn) Bangkok Pink Line monorail public-private partnership (PPP) project.

THE first Alstom Citadis X05 low-floor LRV for the second light rail line in Nice was unveiled to the media by the city’s mayor Mr Christian Estrosi at Charles Ginésy Maintenance Centre on February 9.

THE first of seven Hitachi Rail Italy Sirio LRVs for Florence light rail Line T3 arrived in the Tuscan capital on February 9.

THE City of Warsaw has launched tenders for a contract to construct a 3.9km underground extension of metro Line M2 from Trocka to Bródno in the northeastern district of Targówek.

LIGHT Rail Manila Corporation has awarded a contract to Voith, Germany, to replace the traction and auxiliary inverters and the vehicle control systems on 24 LRVs with an option for a further three vehicles.