SOUTHWEST Ohio Regional Transportation Authority (Sorta) has awarded Transdev Services a five-year contract to operate and maintain the initial 5.8km phase of the Cincinnati Streetcar network, which is due to open in September 2016.

SACRAMENTO Regional Transit District carried out the first test runs on the 6.9km southern extension of the light rail Blue Line from Meadowview Road to Cosumnes River College on June 29.

ALL Aboard Florida, the inter-city passenger subsidiary of Florida East Coast Railway (FEC), has awarded Siemens a 30-year contract to maintain its train fleet.

RJ CORMAN, United States, confirmed on June 25 that it has finalised the acquisition of the Carolina Southern Railroad for $US 13.9m.

SAN FRANCISCO Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) unveiled a full-size mock-up of its forthcoming S200 SF LRV on June 16 and confirmed that it has exercised an option with Siemens for 40 additional vehicles.

FORTH WORTH Transportation Authority signed a $US 106.7m contract with Stadler Rail for eight four-car articulated DMUs for the Tex Rail commuter line in a ceremony at the city's Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) on June 9.

M1-RAIL, the non-profit organisation established to design, build and operate Detroit's first modern tram line, announced on June 8 that it has awarded Brookville Equipment Corporation, United States, a $US 32m contract to supply six Liberty 70% low-floor LRVs for the project.

THE board of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Septa) has approved the acquisition of 13 ACS-64 electric locomotives from Siemens as part of its budget for the 2015-16 financial year, which starts on July 1.

HOUSTON's Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) celebrated the opening of two new light rail lines over the weekend of May 23.

WATCO Companies confirmed on May 18 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchased two west Texas shortlines from Iowa Pacific Holdings for an undisclosed sum.