INDIAN Railways (IR) carried out an initial trial run with a piggyback train between Vasar Road and Boisar in Maharashtra state on January 5 as a precursor to a proposed roll-on roll-off service which will carry lorries between Kolad and Boisar.

THE Korean Ministry for Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Molit) announced on January 6 that non-stop trains between Seoul and Busan would be making a comeback in June or July this year.

A ceremony was held at Oslo Central Station on January 2 to mark the start of work by Bane Nor, Norway’s revamped infrastructure manager, which has been introduced following widespread reform of the country’s railway sector.

ANKARA’s fourth metro line was inaugurated on January 5 by the president of Turkey Mr Recep Erdoğan, prime minister Mr Binali Yildirim, minister of transport, maritime affairs and communications Mr Ahmet Arslan, and the city’s mayor Mr Melih Gökçek.

JAPAN’s coalition government agreed on December 20 to adopt a route via Obama for the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tsuruga to Kyoto.

DUBAI Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a joint venture of Systra and Aecom a 14-month contract to support preparations for the second and third phases of the Al Sufouh Tramway.

DB Regio has secured two concessions to operate regional services in four German states.

THE European Commission adopted an implementing regulation on January 5 for the new ERTMS European Deployment plan (ERTMS EDP), which sets a target of equipping 50% of Core Network Corridors by 2023.

BOMBARDIER announced on December 29 that the first of 14 driverless Innovia Metro 300 trains ordered by Prasarana to expand the fleets on the Kelana Jaya Line on the Kuala Lumpur light metro network had entered service.

THE mayor of Nantes Mrs Johanna Rolland announced on January 3 that the city will carry out a feasibility study into the construction of a fourth tram line.