TRAMS returned to Birmingham New Street station for the first time since the early 1950s in the early hours of April 24, when a CAF Urbos LRV was used for the first test run on the newly-completed section of the Midland Metro from Bull Street to Stephenson Street.

TRANSPORT for London has named Mr Mark Wild as the next managing director of London Underground and he will start his new role in June.

LONDON Luton Airport (LLA) has announced plans to build a peoplemover between the airport terminal and Luton Airport Parkway station to replace the existing bus link.

THE first of 10 Stadler Rail Valencia (formerly Vossloh Rail Vehicles) class 88 EuroDual electro-diesel locomotives for British open-access operator Direct Rail Services (DRS) was delivered by rail to the VUZ Velim test centre in the Czech Republic on April 15 for dynamic testing.

IRJ at Infrarail, London: Sir Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail (NR), outlined some of his thinking for the future of Britain infrastructure manager to Infrarail delegates.

Effective rail lubrication strategies play an important role in optimising wheel and rail life, but developments in rail and rolling stock technology in recent decades have shifted the goalposts for friction management. Barnaby Temple, head of technology with LB Foster Rail Technologies, explains how research into the issue in Britain is redefining top-of-rail friction management.

IRJ at Infrarail, London: Max Bögl, Germany, and Tarmac, Britain, have formed a joint venture to market Max Bögl's FFB slab track system in Britain.

TATA Steel UK has signed a deal to sell for a nominal consideration its Long Products Europe business, which includes the manufacture of rails at mills in Britain and France, to Greybull Capital, a family investment concern.

BRITAIN's Department for Transport announced on April 7 that it has shortlisted three bidders for a contract to operate the West Midlands from next year.

VOITH has fitted a British class 158 DMU with two DiwaRail hydro-mechanical transmissions in a trial project with leasing company Angel Trains and operator Arriva Trains Wales.