Azerbaijan: Baku Metro has signed a letter of intent to order 30 metro cars from Mytishchi Carriage Works of Russia at a cost of US$14·25m.
China: On September 14 Hong Kong's Executive Council endorsed proposals for the partial flotation of MTR Corp at the end of next year or early in 2001, which is expected to raise HK$30bn for government infrastructure investment.
Kowloon - Canton Railway Corp has awarded two contracts totalling HK$1·1bn to the Leighton/Rail Services Australia joint venture and the Chun Wo/Henryvicy/China Railway Construction/Queensland Rail jv for installation of 85·6 km of track on West Rail.
MTR Corp has awarded an HK$28m contract to Cable & Wireless HKT CSL Ltd for installation of telephone and transmission systems on the Tseung Kwan O extension.
France: A 4ha site in Colombes currently owned by the Ministry of Defence has been proposed for reuse as a depot for RATP's proposed light rail extensions from St Denis to Nanterre and from La Défense to Bezons.
Germany: Mannheim's MVV has started reconstruction of two route sections totalling 2 km and three stations to Stadtbahn standards ready for the introduction of low-floor LRVs.
Great Britain: London Underground opened a further section of its Jubilee Line Extension on September 17, bringing the stations at Canary Wharf, Canada Water and Bermondsey into use. London Transport Chief Executive Denis Tunnicliffe expected Waterloo and London Bridge to open 'within days'.
London Underground's Circle line was reopened on August 23, following a nine-week closure to strengthen a covered way between Gloucester Road and High Street Kensington. Work included reinforcing roof beams and foundations.
Custom House station on the Docklands Light Railway is to receive a covered walkway, staircases and lifts serving the ExCeL exhibition centre due to open in the autumn of 2000.
Philippines: The Department of Transportation & Communications has approved the technical design for the first phase of North Rail, running 40·6 km from Calumpit to Calcoocan City, and is seeking ways of raising the US$600m needed to fund construction.
Sweden: SL has postponed the opening of the Gullmarsplan - Liljeholmen light rail line in Stockholm for a year because of problems with signalling equipment.
Turkey: Izmir Metropolitan Municipality was due to re-invite tenders last month for the 4·8 km Ucyol - Fahrettin Altay extension, following the decision to suspend work on the 3·5 km route to University and Bornova.
USA: BART has awarded a $45m contract to the Tutor-Saliba/Slattery joint venture for construction of San Bruno station on the extension to San Francisco International Airport (RG 1.99 p31).
New York City Transit has ordered 1000 compact ticket vending machines from Cubic Transportation Systems for $18m which will allow passengers to top up the stored value on their MetroCards using credit or debit cards.
Sound Transit has signed a $200m deal with Burlington Northern for track and signal improvements to accommodate commuter rail services on the Seattle - Tacoma corridor.
Georgia Department of Transportation has commissioned a joint venture of Systra, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Moreland Altobelli Associates to undertake detailed studies into commuter rail services linking Atlanta to Macon, Athens, Canton and Cartersville.
