GERMAN Rail’s (DB) freight subsidiary DB Cargo has awarded Siemens a contract to upgrade its locomotive fleet with condition-based, predictive maintenance.

HELSINKI Transport (HKL) has leased two of its Variotram low-floor LRVs to Rhine-Neckar Transport (RNV), which will evaluate the vehicles on its tram networks in Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, and Heidelberg.

CZECH Railways (CD) has ordered 12 EffiShunter 300 shunting locomotives from CZ Loko to replace class 714 locomotives, which were built in the mid-1990s.

BEACON Rail Leasing announced on July 21 that it has concluded the acquisition of the fleet of class 220 and 221 Voyager inter-city DEMUs operated by British franchises Virgin Trains West Coast and Cross Country Trains.

AUCKLAND Council is expected to decide next week whether to proceed with an order for 17 battery-electric multiple units, which would replace DMUs on services on suburban services to Pukekohe.

HYUNDAI Rotem announced on July 21 that it has been awarded a Won 176bn ($US 157m) contract by Seoul Metro to supply 214 metro cars for Line 2.

SAN FRANCISCO Bay Area Rapid Transit (Bart) moved a step closer to the introduction of its Bombardier Fleet of the Future cars this week with the start of mainline testing during normal operating hours.

KEOLIS subsidiary Syntus has awarded Stadler a 15-year contract to maintain the 16 Flirt EMUs the Swiss manufacturer is supplying for use on Dutch regional services between Zwolle and Kampen/Enschede from December.

CAF’s Miira business unit, which specialises in the design and manufacture of wheelsets and couplers, has acquired Rifer, an Italian rail vehicle and wheelset maintenance company.

LEIPZIG launched its new fleet of Solaris Tramino XL low-floor LRVs on July 13, when the first vehicle entered trial passenger service on Line 4 from Gohlis to Stötteritz.