THE governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua, Mr César Duarte, signed a letter of intent in Beijing on July 31 with a group of Chinese companies to build the rail element of the San Jerónimo Santa Teresa Master Plan.

BRITAIN's infrastructure manager, Network Rail, has awarded a 10-year alliance contract to Colas Rail and URS, United States, to renew switches and crossings in southern England and Wales.

CONSTRUCTION started on July 28 on Detroit's 5.3km M-1 Rail light rail line which will run north-south along Woodward Avenue in the city centre.

WASHINGTON DC celebrated the largest-ever expansion of its metro network on July 26 with the inauguration of the initial 18.7km five-station section of the Silver Line from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue in Reston.

THE MAYOR of Tucson, Arizona, Mr Jonathan Rothschild and United States Federal Transit Authority (FTA) chief counsel Mr Dorval Carter were among the dignitaries attending the official opening of the Tucson Sun Link tram line on July 25.

CHICAGO Transit Authority (CTA) has announced it will relaunch a tender worth up to $US 2bn for up to 846 metro cars following a disappointing response to the initial tender.

DENVER Regional Transportation District (RTD) has approved plans for a 3.7km extension of the city's Southeast Light Rail line from Lincoln to Lone Tree, Colorado.

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.

CANADIAN Pacific Railway (CP) has reported net income of $C 371m ($US 344m) for the second quarter of 2014, a 47% increase on the $C 252m net income recorded for the second quarter of 2013.

GREATER Orlando Aviation Authority has awarded a design, build, operate and maintain contract to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries together with Sumitomo Corporation for three peoplemovers.