COPENHAGEN metro authority Metroselskabet has awarded two major contracts worth DKr 9.1bn ($US 1.45bn) for the Sydnvan branch of the city's automated metro network, the company's CEO, Mr Henrik Plougmann Olsen, announced on November 28.

SANTA Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has awarded a contract to WSP to manage the final phase of the extension of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (Bart) metro from Fremont to Silicon Valley.

THE first 10km section of main line in Israel has been electrified and is ready to be energised. This is part of the 35km section of the new A1 link between Jerusalem Navon (formerly Hauma) station and Anava Junction.

A new 10km section of railway between Campofelice di Roccella and Ogliastrillo on the Palermo - Messina main line in Sicily was opened on October 16 by the minister of infrastructure and transport Mr Graziano Delrio, and the CEOs of Italian Rail Network (RFI), Mr Maurizio Gentile, and Italferr Mr Carlo Carganico.

MALAYSIA’s prime minister, Mr Najib Razak, says that land acquisition has started for the construction of the 350km high-speed linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, while three months of public consultation to allow people to comment on the project will begin on November 1.

LUXEMBOURG’s minister of development and infrastructure, Mr Franҫois Bausch, announced on October 13 plans to extend the country’s first tram line, the first section of which will open on December 10.

THE Lithuanian parliament voted on October 10 in favour the Rail Baltica project to build an 870km standard-gauge 240km/h mixed-traffic railway linking the Baltic state capitals with Poland and the broader European railway network, thereby completing the ratification of the project.

TANZANIA’s Reli Assets Holding Company (Rahco) has awarded a $US 1.9bn contract to Yapi Merkezi, Turkey, to build another section of the new 160km/h standard-gauge railway that will eventually link Dar es Salaam with Mwanza on Lake Victoria, Rwanda and Burundi.

SPAIN’s infrastructure manager Adif has started tunnelling for a 4.5km rail link to serve both terminals at Barcelona Airport replacing the existing single-track branch line which only serves Terminal 2 on the north side of the airport.

BANGKOK Expressway and Metro together with C H Karnchang have awarded a contract to a consortium of Siemens and ST Electronics, Thailand, to supply trains and equip and maintain two extensions of the Blue Line.