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CANADA'S two largest railways have announced a substantial increase in first quarter net income as North American freight traffic volumes recover.

SIEMENS is putting the finishing touches to the first of its fourth-generation Velaro high-speed trains ahead of a handover to launch customer German Rail (DB) later this year. The eight-car Velaro-D, which is classified class 407 by DB has capacity for 460 passengers, 30 more than the previous generation of class 406 ICE3 trains. The 320km/h class 407 will be capable of operating in multiple with ICE3s.

THE Mayor of London Mr Boris Johnson inaugurated the latest section of the city's orbital railway today with the launch of a preview service on the Dalston Junction - New Cross Gate section of the East London Line (ELL).

 

EAST Japan Railway (JR East) has commissioned Knorr-Bremse to supply traction bogie braking components for 23 of its new-generation E5 series Shinkansen high-speed trains.

PLANS to build a tram-train network on the French island of Réunion are in doubt after the new president of the regional council, Mr Didier Robert, requested that €435 million of funding allocated to the project be diverted to the construction of a new coastal road. Robert had campaigned against the €1.6 billion project to build a 42km line linking Saint Marie, Saint Denis, and Saint Paul, which was championed by his predecessor Mr Paul Vergès. Vergès was ousted from his post by Robert in March's regional election.

GERMAN Rail (DB) confirmed this morning that it will go ahead with a £1.6 billion takeover of British train and bus operator Arriva. The £7.75-a-share deal, which is the largest acquisition ever made by DB, was approved yesterday by the DB supervisory board and has also been ratified by the German government.

RAPID MetroRail Guragon (RMGL), India, has selected Siemens to build a 6.1km metro line to the urban business district at Guragon Cyber City, 30km south of Delhi city centre. The new line will link the growing business and residential area with the capital's metro Line 2 at Sikanderpur and is Siemens' first complete rail installation in India.

POLISH regional operator Masovian Railways (KM) has awarded Bombardier a Euros 41 million contract to supply 11 Traxx P160 DC Bo-Bo electric locomotives.

EVEN though the ban on air traffic has been either entirely or partially lifted in some European countries, several major European airports remain closed, notably those in southern England, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium. Even where airports have reopened, services remain restricted, and railways throughout Europe are responding with either longer trains or extra services.

AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) has agreed a contract with Siemens for the supply of up to 200 Desiro ML regional emus over the next five years. The contract also includes an option for maintenance of the vehicles, and if all elements are fulfilled, it will be worth nearly Euros 1 billion.