Brazil: The Supervía consortium has begun operating Rio de Janeiro’s Flumitrens commuter network under a 25-year concession (RG 9.98 p567). Trains, stations, track and signalling will be upgraded over the next three years using a US$180m loan from the Inter-American Development Bank.
Canada: Bombardier has selected a site in Burnaby, British Columbia, for its Centre for Advanced Transit Systems which will assemble cars for Vancouver SkyTrain Line 2 (RG 8.98 p504).
China: Kowloon - Canton Railway has called tenders for design of its East Rail extension from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui East and the 10·5 km line from Tai Wai to Ma On Shan. Seven contracts are to be awarded in March, paving the way for construction to begin in February 2000. Both lines will open by June 2004.
France: Work on Line B of the Strasbourg light rail system was due to start on January 10.
India: Construction work has started on 8 km of the Delhi metro network, linking Shahdra to Tiz Hazari. Chief Engineer Lalit Meghnani said in December that the first section would be finished in October 2000, and the first public services would start in 2002.
Italy: A consortium including Leitner and municipal transport operator APM has won a 74·8bn lire contract to build and operate a 2·5 km cable-worked mini-metro in Perugia. Linking Pian di Massiano to Cupa with seven stations, it is due for completion in June 2001.
Japan: Tokyo’s Teito Rapid Transit Authority has applied for powers to build a 9 km line linking Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro for US$2bn; work could start this year for opening in 2007.
Taiwan: The 7·8 km Hsinchung line in Taipei (RG 1.99 p10) was formally opened to traffic on December 24.
Uruguay: SNC Lavalin and EGM-EU have approached the government and city authorities with a proposal to build a light metro in Montevideo.
Ukraine: Work has started on a metro in Donetsk, with the launch of a 5·6 m diameter tunnel boring machine from Proletarski. The first line with six stations is set to open in 2005.
USA: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has selected Parsons Brinckerhoff to do preliminary engineering of the Vasona light rail line in San José for $7m.
BRW and Hazelet & Erdall are to undertake preliminary engineering studies for a light rail route in Cincinnati, along Interstate 71 from 12th Street in Covington to Pfeiffer Road in Blue Ash.
NJ Transit has selected Harmon Industries for an $11·6m resignalling of the Newark City Subway and a 1·2 km extension.
Tri-Rail has started double-tracking of the 11·2 km Golden Glades - Opa-Locka section of its Miami - West Palm Beach line. The $23m cost is being funded by Florida Department of Transportation.
