While the cable cars might steal the limelight, light rail is still the backbone of the transit network in San Francisco, and its importance looks set to increase as the city’s population and employment continue to grow. Keith Barrow reports from California on how the Muni is investing to meet current demand and develop a longer-term vision for the network.

The Saudi capital is making rapid progress with its $US 23bn project to build six metro lines by the end of the decade, with construction reaching 50% completion in early 2017. Keith Barrow looks at this mammoth project and its potential impact on this rapidly-growing city.

Network Rail is currently transitioning to a predictive and preventative infrastructure maintenance strategy. Kevin Smith charts the progress made so far and picks up on some of the challenges the infrastructure manager is facing.

Abellio Greater Anglia is the first British franchise to embark on complete replacement of its train fleet as part of its growth strategy to fund premium payments to the British government of £3.7bn during its nine-year term. Greater Anglia’s managing director Jamie Burles tells David Briginshaw about the operator’s plans to meet these ambitious goals.

IRJ at Railtex 2017: HOPPECKE Industrial Batteries presented its lithium-ion battery, which is specifically designed for use in locomotives with hybrid drives.

ROLLING stock leasing company Ermewa and Amsted Rail subsidiary IONX have signed a preliminary cooperation agreement, which includes the supply of telematics systems for Ermewa’s wagon fleet.

Professor Andy Doherty, Network Rail’s CTO, sets out how Europe’s Shift²Rail research programme could be turned into reality and provide an essential tool for Britain’s infrastructure manager to innovate and change. David Briginshaw reports.

The replacement of life-expired trams on established light rail networks and continued investment in new lines helped to fuel a 43% increase in the sale of light rail vehicles last year, according to data from IRJ Pro. Jonny Dearden, market researcher for IRJ Pro, explores the factors driving growth and looks ahead to the prospects for 2017.

While passenger Wi-Fi and remote monitoring of rolling stock systems are now commonly used by train operators, a convergence is underway which promises to unlock the full potential of onboard connectivity. Nomad Digital CEO Reece Donovan explains the company’s vision for the networked train to Keith Barrow.

Russian Railways is engaged in a wide-reaching programme of “digitising” its railway network in areas ranging from operations to asset management. Efim Rozenberg, first deputy director general of the railway’s research institute, NIIAS, and Alexey Ozerov, head of the international cooperation department at NIIAS, outline some of the projects and achievements so far.