Keith Barrow

PUBLIC services began on October 11 on the first phase of the metro network in the Iranian city of Shiraz.

SWEDISH railfreight operator Green Cargo has signed a contract with Bombardier to install automatic engine stop-start technology on one of its diesel locomotives as part of a trial which aims to cut fuel consumption and emissions by reducing idling time.

Freight has always been an important business for Austrian Federal Railways, and the company's freight unit suffered a particularly rocky ride through the economic crisis. However, as Keith Barrow reports from Vienna, Rail Cargo Austria has taken the opportunity to address many long-term weaknesses in its structure with a reorganisation that is already yielding promising results.

THE Mayor of London Mr Boris Johnson unveiled artist's impressions on October 9 for London Underground's (LU) next generation small-profile train, 250 of which are due to enter service from the mid-2020s.

While high-speed lines have been built primarily to serve the inter-city market, regional travellers are also benefiting from the investment in new rail infrastructure. IRJ editors look at the development of regional high-speed in three European countries and consider the prospects for growth.

DYNAMIC testing began on Atlanta's first modern tram line on October 1, when the first of four Siemens LRVs travelled the entire length of the 4.3km route under its own power.

THE chairman and managing director of Athens metro operator Attiko Metro Mr Christos Tsitouras, and the vice-president of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Mr Mihai Tanasescu signed a €200m loan last month, the first installment in a €400m agreement to finance the extension of Thessaloniki metro Kalamaria extension.

THE Norwegian government has revealed plans to increase spending on the country's railway network to record levels next year as part of the 2015 state budget, which was announced on October 8.

SCOTLAND's transport minister Mr Keith Brown announced on October 8 that Transport Scotland has selected Netherlands Railways (NS) international passenger subsidiary Abellio to operate the ScotRail franchise, ousting First Group, which has held the contract since 2004.