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UNITED STATES national passenger operator Amtrak has taken the first step in its long-term fleet renewal programme with the acquisition of 130 new single-deck coaches for its long-distance services. The $US 298.1 million five-year contract has been awarded to the US subsidiary of Spanish manufacturer CAF. Manufacturing and final assembly will be carried out at CAF USA's plant in Elmira, New York, with the first coach due to roll off the production line in October 2012.

KRAKOW tram operator MPK is to expand its fleet of Bombardier Flexity Classic LRVs after placing an order for an additional 24 vehicles worth Euros 59 million. The LRVs will be manufactured at Bombardier's Bautzen site in Germany and deliveries will begin in March 2012.

THE board of NJ Transit has approved the company's 2011 budget, which includes an operating budget of $US 1.79 billion and a $US 1.35 billion capital investment programme.

GERMAN Rail (DB) has officially launched a Euros 120 million project to electrify a section of the Saxony - Franconia Line between Dresden and Nuremberg. The electrification of the 73km Reichenbach - Plauen - Hof line involves the installation of around 3000 catenary masts, and includes work on the historic Göltzschtal viaduct (pictured).

SIEMENS has sealed two separate contracts totalling Euros 45 million to deliver 13 electric locomotives to customers in Australia and Austria.

A CEREMONY was held in Xuzhou, China, today to mark the start of tracklaying on the world's longest high-speed line. China's Ministry of Railways says all track on the 1318km line from Beijing to Shanghai will be completed as early as the end of this year.

THE Ministry of Railways (MOR) has awarded a Yuan 5.2 billion ($US 766 million) contract for an additional 40 CRH 1 eight-car 250km/h trains from Bombardier Sifang Transportation, a joint venture between Bombardier and CSR Sifang Rolling Stock. This order increases the number of CRH 1 cars supplied to MOR to 1280.

DURING the visit this week of German Chancellor Angela Merkel with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Siemens president and CEO Mr Peter Löscher signed agreements with Russian Railways (RZD) to upgrade marshalling yards and supply passenger trains. Both projects will involve the creation of a joint venture.

FRENCH Rail Network (RFF) has chosen a group led by Vinci and including Caisse des Dépôts and AXA for final negotiation for a Euros 7.8 billion public-private concession to build a 340km high-speed line between Tours and Bordeaux. RFF hopes to sign the contract by the autumn. The financial arrangements will be finalised early next year to allow construction to start by the end of the year.

BRAZIL's National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) has opened the bidding process for a concession to build and operate a high-speed line between Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Campinas. The closing date for bids is November 29 and the winner will be announced at Commodities and Futures Exchange in São Paulo on December 16.