Canada: Vancouver transport authority Translink voted on June 18 not to proceed with development of the proposed C$1·7bn metro line to the Airport and Richmond.
France: The 2·2 km extension of Nantes light rail Line 3 from Plaisance to Sillon de Bretagne was officially opened on May 28. Total cost was €54m, of which €8·3m was provided by the French government and €225000 by the European Union.
With extensive utility diversion approaching completion, civil works have started on the Maréchaux Sud light rail route in Paris. It is expected to open between Pont du Garigliano and Porte d’Ivry at the end of 2006.
Communauté Urbaine de Marseille has awarded a contract to Bombardier for design of a new LRV based on its Flexity Outlook concept; the city expects to order up to 30 cars this year to work its planned three-line light rail network from 2006-07.
Hungary: Budapest Mayor Gabor Demszky has signed an agreement with the government clearing the way for construction of a 3·2 km extension of Line 4 from Keleti to Bosny
