East Japan Railway Company (JR East) launched its latest radio-based train control system on October 10 2011. Takashi Kato, manager, and Kenji Fujita, deputy manager of electrical and signal network system department at JR East, highlight the merits and characteristics of the new system.

As the first metro line on the Anatolian side of Istanbul prepares to open, and with construction about to begin on a second line, David Briginshaw reports on the city's ambitious plans to expand its transit network to more than 500km.