Perth level crossings to go
AUSTRALIA: As part of the Metronet suburban rail expansion programme, Western Australia’s Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has announced plans to remove six more level crossings on Transperth’s Armadale Line, southeast of the city centre.
Seoul GTX train order increased
SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai Rotem has received an order to supply a further five eight-car trainsets for the Great Train Express Line A commuter rail line which is under construction in the Seoul region.
Virginia Railway Express operating contract extended
USA: The Virginia Railway Express partnership of the Northern Virginia and Potomac & Rappahannock transport commissions has exercised an option for Keolis to continue operating commuter rail services linking towns in the middle and north of the state with Washington DC for a further five years.
MBTA seeks cost certainty with Keolis commuter rail contract extension
USA: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Fiscal & Management Control Board has approved an extension of Keolis’ contract to operate commuter rail services.
Reliability focus and capital investment in NJ Transit strategic plan
USA: Reconstruction of Hoboken Terminal to improve flood resilience and a trial of battery-electric trains are among the rail projects identified in the NJT2030 10-year strategic plan unveiled by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and NJ Transit President & CEO Kevin Corbett on June 8.
New York MTA implements 13-point reopening plan
USA: A 13-point plan to return subway and commuter rail services to pre-coronavirus levels was launched by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority on June 8.
Kobe line transferred to metro operator
JAPAN: Kobe Rapid Transit Railway Co’s Kitajin Line was transferred to Kobe City Transport Bureau on June 1, and is now branded as the Kobe Municipal Subway Kitakami Line.
Bombardier to supply 28 BiLevel coaches to two operators
USA: Bombardier Transportation has signed contracts totalling US$108m to supply 28 BiLevel double-deck coaches to two West Coast transport operators.
Sydney capacity enhancement contracts awarded
AUSTRALIA: The New South Wales government has awarded two infrastructure enhancement contracts totalling around A$600m for works on the southern section of the Sydney Trains suburban network as part of its A$4·3bn ‘More Trains, More Services’ investment programme.
South Coast Rail commuter project infrastructure contract awarded
USA: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Fiscal & Management Control Board has approved the first major construction contract for Phase 1 of the South Coast Rail project to provide commuter services into Boston from the southeast.