Erwin Reidinger

THE supervisory board of Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has approved plans to significantly increase the number of overnight trains it operates and the railway has been negotiating with German Rail (DB) to take over some of its overnight services, which are due to be withdrawn in December.

THE Austrian government has unveiled a new subsidy scheme which will enable the state to continue supporting wagonload rail freight traffic beyond the end of next year.

AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) has confirmed it plans to focus on the development of its international passenger and freight business as the company's financial performance continues to improve.

AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) has unveiled plans for a €265m project to rebuild the Vienna Hütteldorf - Meidling line, which will enable the introduction of higher frequencies on Vienna S-Bahn Line S80.

THE Cuban Ministry of Finance has confirmed funding for 240 new passenger coaches per year in a bid to upgrade the country's railways.

AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) is planning to order up to 300 more EMUs in addition to its existing framework contract for 200 Siemens Desiro ML sets.

AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) has built a full-size mock-up of an interior concept for its next generation of couchette coaches, which will be used to evaluate passenger reaction to the proposed interior.

THE government of the Austrian province of Styria has given its backing to a €20m project to restore the 2.8km cross-border link between Bad Radkersburg and Gorna Radgona after more than 70 years.

INNSBRUCK Transport (IVB) has awarded Bombardier a contract to supply 20 Flexity 2 low-floor LRVs as part of the expansion of the Austrian city's metre-gauge tram network.

THE final phase of Vienna's new Main Station became operational on December 13, bringing a major-shake up of long-distance services into the Austrian capital.