BANGLADESH Railways (BR) has awarded a Taka 2976m ($US 35m) contract to Hyundai Rotem for the supply of 10 metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives funded by the Asian Development Bank.

CZECH rolling stock manufacturer Škoda Transportation Group has acquired the remaining 25% stake in Finnish train builder Transtech for an undisclosed sum.

SCI Verkehr says in its latest Multiple Units - Global Market Trends study that the world market for regional and suburban multiple unit trains is currently worth more than €9bn and is growing at around 9% per year, while the €8bn aftersales market has an annual growth rate of 4%.

THE first Bombardier Traxx MS2E locomotive for RegioJet entered passenger service with the Czech open-access operator on May 16, working the 17.48 Prague Hlavní - Ostrava - Návsí service.

AUSTRIA's narrow-gauge Zillertalbahn announced on May 15 that Stadler is the successful bidder for a €80m contract to supply five hydrogen fuel cell multiple-units.

VIVARAIL, which is offering low-cost regional trains to the British and international markets using trains built with former London Underground aluminium coach bodies and bogies has completed its first entirely battery powered train and is making progress with the first diesel-powered class 230 set for West Midlands Trains.

NORWAY’s minister of transport Mr Ketil Solvik-Olsen confirmed on May 15 that the government will provide funding for state-owned rolling stock company Norske Tog to order 25 additional Stadler Flirt trains, including the first bi-mode sets, to meet continuing growth in passenger numbers.

PRODUCTION is due to start in the fourth quarter of 2018 on Turkey’s national EMU project under a joint venture of Tüvasaş, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) and Turkey’s Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communications (UDH).

BRITISH rolling stock leasing company Eversholt Rail announced on May 11 that it has joined the consortium that will develop, manufacture and market the Revolution Very Light Rail (VLR) vehicle.

CRRC Qingdao Sifang unveiled a ‘high altitude’ catenary-free tram for the first light rail line on the Tibetan plateau on May 9.