RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) launched an enhanced peak commuter service on the Moscow - Khimki - Kryukovo - Tver line on October 1 using its new ES2G Lastochka EMUs, which have been supplied by the Ural Locomotives joint venture between Siemens and Sinara.

LEASING company Mitsui Rail Capital Europe (MRCE) has ordered an additional 21 Vectron locomotives from Siemens taking its fleet of Vectrons to 56.

SIEMENS confirmed on September 29 that Denver and Minneapolis have exercised options on existing contracts for additional LRVs.

CUMMINS has dispatched its first production QSK95 diesel engine for the rail market to Siemens' plant in Sacramento, California, where it will be fitted into a 200km/h Charger diesel locomotive.

MINNEAPOLIS St Paul Metropolitan Council Environmental Services has published a tender notice for a contract to supply 27 low-floor LRVs with an option for 50 more, even though Metro Transit still has options remaining on an existing contract with Siemens.

HIGH-SPEED test running started on the German Rail (DB) network on September 25 of the first of a fleet of ICx trains being built by Siemens.

FOLLOWING an international tender, Munich Transport (MVG) confirmed on September 15 that it has selected Siemens as preferred for a contract to supply 22 low-floor LRVs with options for up to 124 additional vehicles.

PORTLAND, Oregon, added a fifth line to its light rail network on September 12 with the start of public services on the Max Orange Line from Portland State University (PSU) to SE Park Avenue in Milwaukie.

RIYADH's King Abdulaziz Public Transport Authority has revealed the first images of the new trains for lines 1 and 2 of the Saudi capital's six-line metro network, which is currently under construction.

Despite few immediate prospects for new line construction, an ageing rolling stock fleet and changing government attitudes towards light rail are set to sustain demand in the Russian tram market, as Vladimir Savchuk, deputy director general, for Russia's Institute of Natural Monopolies Research (IPEM), and Igor Skok, senior analyst in IPEM's Railway Research Department, explain.