FOLLOWING China's first public tender for low-floor LRVs, CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock has been awarded a contract to supply 18 Flexity 2 vehicles for the first phase of the light rail network in Suzhou, which is currently under construction.

Despite a two-year setback due to corruption scandals and the fatal Wenzhou accident, China is on course to complete its 18,000km national high-speed rail network by 2015 as planned. Han Qiao from China Features in Beijing investigates the current state of play for the world's largest high-speed network.

BEIJING celebrated another milestone in the rapid expansion of its metro network on December 30 with the opening of a new line and four extensions, which together take the total length of the system to 442km.

BETWEEN Yuan 600bn ($US 92.52bn) and Yuan 650bn will be invested in China's national railway in 2013, while Yuan 1.8 trillion will be spent on railway construction during the 2013-2015 period.

TEST running is now in full swing on the 681km high-speed line connecting the Chinese capital Beijing with Zhengzhou.

KYRGYZSTAN Railways' (KTZ) director general Mr Argyhbek Malabaev says that the railway is aiming to complete a final comprehensive feasibility study by the end of 2013 for a new cross-country electrified line that will open up the country to transit traffic between China, the Persian Gulf and Europe.

CHINA's National Development and Reform Commission has approved plans for new metro lines in the cities of Nanchang and Fuzhou at a total cost of more than Yuan 30bn ($US 4.8bn).

THE Chinese city of Hangzhou launched commercial operations on its first metro line on November 24, when the governor of Zhejiang province Mr Xia Baolong officially inaugurated the 48km Line 1 in a ceremony at Wulin Square station.

CONSTRUCTION of a 418km standard-gauge line linking the Laotian capital Vientiane with the Chinese network could begin next year, according to local media reports.

BEIJING MTR Corporation, a joint venture company comprising MTR Corporation, Beijing Infrastructure Investment Corporation and Beijing Capital Group commenced a concession agreement with the Beijing municipal government on November 6 for a public-private partnership for part B of the Beijing Metro Line 14 project.