THE government of the Federal District of Mexico City has awarded a contract to carry out civil works on the 3.9km western extension of metro Line 12 to a consortium of Prodemex, Mexico, and Proacon, Spain.

BRAZIL's National Bank for Social and Economic Development (BNDES) has announced that it will provide loans totalling Reais 70.5m ($US 21.9m) to finance 19 diesel locomotives ordered by freight operators VLI and Rumo Logistics from GE Transportation.

ARGENTINA's interior and transport minister Mr Florencio Randazzo inspected the first of 27 metre-gauge commuter DMUs for the Belgrano Sur commuter network at the port of Buenos Aires on July 7.

THE first of 32 Alstom Citadis low-floor LRVs for the 28km Porto Maravilha light rail network was unveiled on July 5 by the mayor of Rio de Janeiro Mr Eduardo Paes.

THE first of a new fleet of DMUs for Tren del Valle commuter rail services between the Argentinean city of Neuquén and the neighbouring town of Cipolletti was delivered on July 5.

IN response to growing demand, Medellin Metro has selected CAF to supply 20 three-car trains for the 34.5km two-line metro network in Colombia's second city.

CUBAN Railways (UFC) closed its Havana Central station on June 24 for the start of a three-year rebuilding and renovation project, which will include the construction of additional platforms.

THE governor of the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, Mr Luiz Fernando Pezão, has confirmed an election pledge to build the new Line 3 linking Niterói with São Gonçalo as a metro rather than a bus rapid transit line.

THE governor of the Brazilian state of São Paulo, Mr Geraldo Alckmin, signed a 20-year public-private partnership concession with BR Mobilidade Baixada Santista consortium on June 23 to operate the new light rail line and buses in Santos.

IRJ at UITP 2015, Milan. Sir Peter Hendy, who has completed his two-year term as UITP president handed over to his successor Mr Masaki Ogata at the closing ceremony of the 2015 congress.