Canada: VIA Rail selects Siemens for Corridor fleet renewal
VIA Rail Canada announced that it has awarded Siemens Canada a C$989 million ($741 million) contract to supply 32 intercity trainsets for the Québec City–Toronto–Windsor corridor. [railwayage.com]
Asia: East Japan Railway unveils test version of 360 kph ALFA-X bullet train with dueling noses
East Japan Railway Co. has unveiled a test car of the next-generation ALFA-X Shinkansen, expected to operate at a speed of 360 kph (224 mph). [japantimes.co.jp]
USA: Los Angeles Metro Board approves renaming routes with colors and letters
A plan to phase in new names of LA Metro rail and bus lines using a combination of colors and letters has gained the approval of the transit authority’s board. [masstransitmag.com]
Europe: Could the high-speed rail link between Paris and CDG airport be about to hit the brakes?
Opponents believe the €2 billion allocated to a “train for the rich” should be given instead to the struggling RER B line that already goes to the airport. [thelocal.fr]
USA: Washington DC Metro funding standoff: Maryland and Virginia oppose plan for more service to win back riders
Maryland and Virginia don’t want to pay for a Metro plan to expand rush-hour service, adopt a flat $2 weekend fare and make other service improvements designed to lure back riders. [washingtonpost.com]
USA: Competing Firms Want To Bring Commuter Rail To Milwaukee County
Two companies are competing to bring commuter rail to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with ambitious but unclear plans. [wpr.org]
