Keith Barrow

BRITISH leasing company Eversholt Rail Group has completed a prototype installation of a Brecknell-Willis Duplex pantograph on one of its 225km/h class 91 locomotives in a project which aims to improve the reliability of the fleet of 31 locomotives used by long-distance passenger operator East Coast.

BRITISH infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) and Balfour Beatty Rail have completed the first full track and ballast modular switch & crossing (S&C) replacement during a midweek possession.

LYON inaugurated the latest addition to the city's already-extensive light rail network on November 17 with the opening of the initial phase of Line T5.

CONSTRUCTION of a 418km standard-gauge line linking the Laotian capital Vientiane with the Chinese network could begin next year, according to local media reports.

THE 4.9km western extension of Paris light rail line T1 from Saint Denis to Asnières Gennevilliers Les Courtilles opened on November 15.

IRISH RAIL (IE) made a loss of €20.9m in 2011 and is unlikely to return to profitability until 2016, according to the company's newly-published annual report.

EUROPE's largest wagon leasing company VTG has achieved a 2.6% year-on-year increase in third quarter revenues, defying the overall lack of growth in the European railfreight market.

BRITAIN's Department for Transport (DfT) has approved the acquisition of an additional eight five-car class 377/6 Electrostar emus from Bombardier for the Southern franchise, exercising an option from a contract for 130 vehicles signed in December 2011.

THE Western Australian government has placed an order for an additional five three-car B-series emus from a consortium of Bombardier and Downer EDI, to strengthen the Perth suburban fleet.

CZECH open-access operator Leo Express began trial operation with passengers on November 13 in the final stage of the certification process for its fleet of five Stadler Flirt emus.