THE European Commission (EC) confirmed on December 19 that a public funding scheme launched by the Italian government to encourage modal shift of freight from road to rail is compliant with European Union (EU) rules on state aid.

TESTING of the first Potsdam Tatra KT4D trams to be refurbished by Prague Public Transport (DPP) began on the tram network in the Czech capital on December 19.

Helsinki City Transport (HKL) has exercised two options with Škoda Transportation’s Finnish subsidiary Transtech for a total of 49 additional Artic low-floor LRVs.

THE Sicilian city of Catania has expanded its metro network for the first time since the opening of the initial Borgo - Porto section in 1999, with the start of passenger services on the branch from Galatea to Stesicoro in the city centre on December 20.

THE first class 707 Desiro City suburban EMU being built by Siemens for South West Trains (SWT) has arrived in London. Testing of the first two five-car trains will begin in early 2017 and are due to enter service in April between London Waterloo and Windsor.

LYON Transport Authority, Sytral has started utility relocation works to enable full construction of Line T6 to begin in September 2017. The 6.7km light rail line is due to open at the end of 2019.

HITACHI Rail has placed an order with Rolls-Royce to supply 136 MTU Series 1600 PowerPacks for installation on 36 class 802 trains that will predominately operate Great Western Railway services between London, Plymouth and Penzance from 2018.

SYSTRA has secured a seven-year project management contract for the implementation of a new train management system for Corsica Railways (CFC).

THE French Railway Safety Board (EPSF) granted an Authorisation to Place in Service (APS) on December 15 to permit Siemens Velaro D class 407 high-speed trains to operate in multiple on the French rail network.

THE French city of Bordeaux opened a branch line extension to Line C of its light rail network on December 17.