• Responsible for developing transport infrastructure in El Salvador, port authority CEPA has presented the legislative assembly with a pilot scheme for reviving the national rail network. Commuter services could be introduced this year over the 12·5 km between San Salvador and Apopa, requiring investment of 208 000 colones in track renewals and the refurbishment of seven passenger cars.
  • Toronto Transit Commission Chairman Howard Moscoe has put forward a proposal to automate the city's metro services at a cost of C$750m, saying capacity of the Yonge Line could be increased by 40% and an all-night service could be run using one track.
  • On December 4 the Sindh government approved in principle the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway. The $1bn scheme would be undertaken by Pakistan Railways, with the route then transferred to the Karachi Urban Transport Corp which has PR, provincial and city governments as stakeholders.
  • The experimental light rail route serving the Puerto Madero redevelopment area in Buenos Aires (RG 9.06 p493) was expected to begin operations on January 20. Two Alstom Citadis LRVs were due to be shipped from the Spanish port of Bilbao on December 19.
  • The Aragón regional government and the municipality have agreed to begin studies and tendering for a light rail route in the Spanish city of Zaragoza, running east to west from Delicias station to Miraflores and expected to open in 2011. Cost estimates for the 5·1 km route with seven stops range from €182m to €255m depending on construction methods and the time required for commissioning.
  • Expressions of interest in constructing a US$100m rail ink between Jakarta and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have been received from 10 companies, according to PT RailLink, which will operate the line. The government hopes construction will begin in 2007, with trains running by early 2009.
  • On November 20 New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma announced a $660m transport investment programme for Sydney. Completion of the North West Rail Link to Castle Hill and The Hills Centre will be brought forward from 2017 to 2015.
  • Aéroports de Montréal President James Cherry has said that a public-private partnership is being considered for the development of a proposed C$550m rail link between central Montréal and Trudeau Airport in Dorval. Provision has been made for the construction of a station beneath a 275-room Marriott hotel currently being built at the airport, and the land needed for a link to adjacent CN and CP lines has been reserved.

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