USA: A traditional Hawaiian blessing officially marked the start of construction of the next section of the Honolulu Skyline automated light metro.

UK: A ‘pioneering’ approach to rail project delivery by the South Rail Systems Alliance achieved a 42% reduction in carbon emissions during a two-week possession at Stoke Gifford near Bristol.

ROMANIA: The first of 16 Alstom Traxx Universal locomotives ordered by national railway reform authority ARF is undergoing dynamic testing at the Făurei test centre.

GERMANY: The search is underway for a new Deutsche Bahn Chief Executive, after federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder announced that incumbent Richard Lutz will finish his term early.

UK: Greater Anglia says it is the first train operating company to introduce a streamlined booking process enabling disabled and older passengers to pre-book assistance at the same time as buying tickets on the Greater Anglia website.

ITALY: Lombardia regional passenger train operator Trenord has launched an account on the WeChat social media and messaging app which is popular with Chinese visitors.

News from the world rail freight market.

Pandrol has deployed its latest low-vibration trackform and floating sleeper mats on two extensions of the light rail network in the historic centre of Firenze. The company’s Technology Manager for Sustainable Resilient Systems Ernesto San Vicente explains how the challenges of the deployment were overcome.