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THE EUROPEAN Investment Bank (EIB) today signed a Euros 600 million deal in Paris with Ile de France Transport Authority (STIF) to finance a major renewal and refurbishment of the region's train fleet.

FRENCH Rail Network (RFF) has selected Eiffage as the preferred bidder for the public-private partnership to design, build, maintain and fund the Brittany - Loire Valley high-speed line. The €3.4 billion project involves the construction of 214km of new line, of which 182km is intended for high-speed operation.

DANISH infrastructure manager Banedanmark has awarded an international consortium the contract to design the country's first stretch of high-speed line.

DELHI Metro celebrated the completion of the final section of the initial phase of the Violet Line on January 14 with the opening of the 5km extension from Sarita Vihar to Badarpur.

EUROSTAR chief executive Mr Nicolas Petrovic today hailed a "real renaissance in rail travel" as the company revealed sales revenues rose 12% in 2010 from £675.5 million to £760 million. Passenger numbers grew by 3% to 9.5 million, buoyed by a recovery in business travel and the volcanic ash cloud crisis which grounded European flights during April.

RAILFREIGHT in the United States continued its recovery in 2010 according to figures released this week by the Association of American Railroads (AAR), which show the number of wagon loads carried last year increased by 7.3% to 14.8 million.

GERMAN RAIL (DB) has awarded Bombardier a contract worth around Euros 362 million to supply 27 5.6MW Class 146.2 electric locomotives and 137 double-deck coaches, the first long-distance double-deck vehicles to be procured by DB.

STADLER, Switzerland has awarded ABB a contract worth around $US 55 million to supply traction equipment for two domestic rolling stock orders.

SWISS Federal Railways railfreight subsidiary SBB Cargo and partner Hupac have launched their SBB Cargo International joint venture with the aim becoming a leading player on the highly-competitive transalpine axis.

WE regret to announce the death of Robert G Lewis, founder of IRJ and publisher of this magazine from its first pilot edition in 1960 and monthly publication from January 1961 until his retirement in December 1995. Even after his retirement, Lewis retained a connection with IRJ's publisher Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation as director of special projects.