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THE director-general of Brazil's National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), Mr Bernardo Figueiredo, says that bid documents for the concession to fund, build and operate a high-speed line linking Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Campinas will be published by the end of this week. The contest to select a concessionaire will take place in late November, with a view to starting construction by the end of next year.

WITH the United States' high-speed rail plans progressing, US secretary of transportation, Mr Ray LaHood, visited Italy today to learn more about the intricacies of the country's high-speed rail network.

SBB Cargo and the Swiss intermodal operator Hupac are forming a new traction company called SBB Cargo International for transalpine transit railfreight between Germany, Switzerland and Italy which will start operations at the beginning of 2011. SBB Cargo will have a 75% stake and Hupac the remaining 25%, with the possibility of other partners joining later.

ARRIVA Netherlands is set to expand its fleet of Stadler multiple units to 99 with the announcement that it has placed a Euros 140 million order for an additional 38 trains from the Swiss supplier.

STATE Railway of Thailand (SRT) says it will invite international bids to establish a locomotive assembly plant in Thailand as part of plans to renew its ageing fleet.

DELHI Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has awarded Bombardier a second contract to supply Movia metro cars for the rapidly-expanding network in the Indian capital. The $US 101 million order for 74 vehicles includes options for a further 40 cars.

PLANS for a cross-city rail tunnel under Dublin took a major step forward today when Irish Transport System (CIÉ), the holding company for Irish Rail (IÉ), filed a formal application for a railway order with the country's Planning Board.

RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) CEO Mr Vladimir Yakunin has approved the initial tranche of funding for Russia's first high-speed line. The Euros 10 million package will allow feasibility studies to begin on the 660km line from Moscow to St Petersburg, which will have a design speed of 400km/h and will reduce journey times from the 3h 45min achieved by today's Sapsan services to just 2h 30min.

RESHAPING Europe's railways to meet the economic challenges of the next decade, a greater role for the European Railway Agency, and the continuation of the Innotrack project were central themes at the 10th summit of European railway CEOs, which was held in Rome on June 26.

Atos Origin’s acquisition earlier this year of Shere, Britain, expanded its presence in the rail IT services market. Kevin Smith spoke to Tony Lacy (pictured), general manager for transport at Atos Origin, about the company’s latest developments and where he sees the market heading in the next few years.