THE Chinese government has agreed a soft loan for the construction of standard-gauge double-track lines in Thailand, which currently has a metre-gauge rail network.

TRIAL operation has begun on a 1.7km section of China's first catenary-free light rail line in Zhuhai in time for the start of the 10th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.

SHEIK Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai, has officially opened the emirate's first light rail line.

IN the run up to the election on November 29 in the Australian state of Victoria, the Liberal/National coalition government has promised to invest $A 3.9bn ($US 3.4bn) in new rolling stock for the state's suburban, regional and light rail networks, should it be re-elected.

SIEMENS has rolled out the first Desiro ML train for Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) which has branded the EMU fleet Cityjet.

THE Czech Republic's minister of transport, Ing Antonín Prachar, has dismissed the CEO of Czech Railways (CD), Mr Daniel Kurucz, after serving only nine months in office. CD's new CEO is Mr Pavel Krtek who was previously chief financial officer.

THE Hungarian government has approved the purchase by MÁV-Start, Hungary's national passenger operator, of six EMUs with an option for 15 more units.

A GROUNDBREAKING ceremony was staged in Los Angeles on November 7 to mark the start of work on the first phase of a project to extend the Purple Line metro by 6.35km from its current terminus at Wilshire/Western to Wilshire/La Cienega in Beverly Hills. The extension will open in 2023.

THE Chilean government has announced a $US 4.2bn urban public transport investment plan, of which some 45% is slated to be financed by concessionaires.

THE mayor of Rome, Mr Ignazio Marino, officially opened the first section of Line C on November 9. This is the Italian capital's third metro line.