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GE TRANSPORTATION is preparing to begin testing its new 16-cylinder 2750kW diesel locomotive for the European market at its site in Erie, United States. The first two of an order for 30 PowerHaul locomotives from British operator Freightliner are now complete and will initially be tested on the 6.4km test track at Erie before final modifications are made and the locomotives are prepared for transit.

IN CONTRAST to the situation in most other European countries, the freight arm of Latvian Railways, LDz Cargo, witnessed an increase in traffic in the first half of this year with volumes rising 1.2% to 24.9 million tonnes compared with the same period in 2008. A 5.6% decline in export traffic to 1.1 million tonnes was offset by a 7% rise in import traffic, which reached 24.9 million tonnes.

THE infrastructure ministry of the Brazilian state of Ceará (Seinfra) has signed a Euros 86 million contract with AnsaldoBreda, Italy, for the supply of 20 trains for the Fortaleza Metro South Line. The 40m-long air-conditioned trains will have capacity for 445 passengers, and will be delivered in time for the opening of the line next year.

DANISH State Railways (DSB) has signed a framework agreement with Siemens for up to 100 Desiro Classic regional dmus. The first batch of eight two-car trains will be delivered in October 2010 and will be used on Aarhus - Grenaa services. The value of the contract has not been disclosed.

BELGIAN National Railways (SNCB) and NS Hispeed have unveiled the brand name for their long-awaited high-speed services between Brussels and Amsterdam. The fleet of 19 250km/h AnsaldoBreda ‘Albatros' trains will be branded Fyra, after the Swedish number four, which is intended to reflect the four main cities served by the service: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Brussels.

THE Berlin Senate is studying whether it can terminate early German Rail's (DB) concession to operate the German capital's 331km S-Bahn network, which is due to run until 2017, as a result of continuing disruption to services. Trains are running at reduced frequency on most lines, and have been withdrawn entirely on two lines due to a severe shortage of trains awaiting safety checks.

CSR, China, has won an order for 400 7.2MW electric freight locomotives from the Ministry of Railways. The six-axle, ac traction-motored locomotives will have a maximum speed of 120km/h and will be used to haul trains weighing up to 5500 tonnes.

INDIA's railway minister, Mrs Mamata Banerjee, presented her railway budget to the Indian parliament today. She plans to invest Rs 407.45 billion ($US 8.65 billion) in 2009-10 compared with Rs 367.7 billion the previous year. Of this, Rs 29.2 billion will be invested in the construction of new lines, Rs 17.5 billion in converting narrow-gauge lines to broad gauge, and Rs 11 billion - a 119% increase over the interim budget - on passenger amenities. Banerjee says 50 stations will be developed into world-class facilities.

ITALY's new open-access high-speed rail operator, NTV, has signed a contract with Interporto Campano to build a maintenance depot in Nola near Naples for its fleet of 25 AGV trains on order from Alstom. The 150,000m2 depot will cost about Euros 90 million to build.

TORONTO Transit Commission (TTC) has awarded a $C 851 million ($US 735 million) contract to Bombardier for a fleet of 204 low-floor LRVs to replace its ageing fleet of trams. Under the deal, up to 400 more vehicles could be ordered if TTC's plans to add another 120km of light rail lines to its 79km network are realised.