SEATTLE City Council voted on July 21 to approve the alignment of a new tram line in the city centre that will link the existing South Lake Union line and the First Hill line, which is due to open later this year.

PUGET Sound regional transport authority, Sound Transit, has awarded Wabtec a $US 34m contract to design, supply and install Positive Train Control (PTC) on the 132km Sounder commuter rail network around Seattle.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Seattle on April 29 to mark the start of construction on Sound Transit's South 200th Link light rail extension.

A GROUNDBREAKING ceremony was held at the site of the future Roosevelt station in Seattle on August 17 to mark the start of construction on Sound Transit's Northgate Link 6.9km light rail extension from Husky Stadium to Northgate.