JAPANESE metro operator Tokyo Metro has announced that it will assist Hanoi in the management and operation of its new metro network currently under construction through a new subsidiary, Vietnam Tokyo Metro (VTM).

SWITZERLAND’s Federal Transport Office (BAV) confirmed on April 10 that it has issued a construction permit for the Limmattalbahn, a 13.4km light rail line linking Zürich-Altstetten main line station with Killwangen-Spreitenbach in the neighbouring canton of Aargau.

TRANSMASHHOLDING (TMH), Russia, says it increased turnover by 22% in 2016 to Roubles 120bn ($US 2bn) thanks mainly to strong growth in the sale of passenger vehicles.

THE new Abellio regional cross-border train service between Düsseldorf main station, Germany, and Arnhem Central, Netherlands, began operating on April 6.

THE president of Indonesia, Mr Joko Widodo, attended a ground-breaking ceremony on April 8 to mark the start of construction of a rail link in Central Java from Surakarta (also known as Solo and president Widodo’s birthplace) to Adi Sumarmo International Airport.

THE government of the Australian state of Victoria has announced that final bids for the $A 6bn ($US 4.5bn) Melbourne Metro tunnel and stations public private partnership (PPP) have been received and are being assessed by the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority (MMRA).

BILBAO’s third metro line was inaugurated on April 8 by the president of the Basque government, Mr Iñigo Urkull, and the deputy general of the provincial council of Biscay Mr Unai Rementeria.

AMSTERDAM’s North-South Line moved a step closer to opening on April 6 with the first full-speed test run on the 9.8km metro line, which will connect Amsterdam North, Central Station and the city’s historic centre and with the business district in the south of the capital

ISRAEL Railways (IR) made a profit of Shekels 77m ($US 21m) from current activities in 2016, a 10% increase on its Shekels 70m profit in 2015.

FIVE groups from Europe and Asia have applied to the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) to qualify to bid for its “early train operator” tender. The winner will work alongside CHSRA on the design, development and procurement of the high-speed rail service, with a view to a franchise agreement.