Brazil: São Paulo state government is negotiating with IBRD and JBIC for loans to fund the acquisition of 17 six-car trains for the city's metro network, and the modernisation of signalling and telecoms.

China: Andrew Corp has won a contract to modify Hong Kong MTR's communications infrastructure to enable migration of the metro's 80 MHz radio system to an 800 MHz tetra system to support more advanced calling functions.

Netherlands: Having been suspended since derailments in November 2006 (RG 1.07 p14), services on the Rotterdam Hofplein – Den Haag section of RandstadRail were restored on September 3. Services to Zoetermeer and Oosterheem are still operated by bus.

Russia: A 3·7 km extension of Moscow metro Line 10 north from Chkalovskaya to Trubnaya opened on August 30.

UAE: Aconex is supplying an online information management and collaboration platform which will control the large volumes of data needed by planners and engineers across numerous dispersed locations during the construction of Dubai's 49 km Purple Line (RG 6.07 p336).

UK: Following trials, last month Transys, TfL and Barclaycard launched 'OnePulse', a chip and PIN credit card combined with London's Oyster transport smart card and 'wave and pay' technology for cashless purchases worth less than £10.

Transport Initiatives Edinburgh has selected Spanish manufacturer CAF to supply 27 'timeless and attractive' 40 m long trams for the Scottish capital's planned light rail line. The recommendation will be presented to city councillors as part of the system's final business case to be considered at a full meeting on October 25.

USA: On September 6 the California Transportation Commission approved $314m in capital funding for Phase 1 of the Exposition light rail link in Los Angeles, completing the $640m financing package and ensuring the line will be built as far as Culver City. Opening of the 14 km route is planned for 2010.

Dialight Corp has been awarded a $1·8m contract to provide LED signals for the New York subway. The contract covers the replacement of 13 400 incandescent units with LED modules, completing the conversion of the subway's 50 000 signals and bringing an expected $1m a year saving in energy and maintenance costs.

Venezuela: Caracas Metro is to refurbish 200 cars under a three-year programme costing US$60m. This will include modernising traction equipment, braking systems and air-conditioning.

  • CAPTION: The city of Utrecht has appointed HTM Consultancy to study options for re-introducing trams to replace double-articulated buses on routes 12 and 12S which carry 25 000 passengers/day. A Mulhouse Citadis 302 tram was demonstrated in the Dutch city last month, running to specially-built low platform at Moreelse Park on the sneltram route to Nieuwegein
  • CAPTION: Due to enter service this year are six Tango high-floor LRVs being built for Bogestra by Stadler Pankow GmbH. The bi-directional LRVs have seats for 64 passengers and standing space for 105. They will augment the fleet on the 14·8 km Line U35 from Bochum to Herne, which is now carrying up to 70 000 passengers/day

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