NIGERIAN Railway Corporation (NRC) is inviting contractors and consultants to prequalify by June 9 for a range of contracts to rehabilitate the railway as part of the federal government's Railway Rehabilitation Programme.

AN emergency programme is underway to adapt platforms across the French railway network after it emerged clearances at many stations are insufficient to accommodate new-generation regional trains, which are due to enter service over the next few years.

VEOLIA Transport Germany has awarded German Rail (DB) subsidiary DB Vehicle Maintenance a six-year contract to carry out heavy maintenance on 78 DMUs, which are used on regional services across Germany.

MASSACHUSETTS Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has approved the purchase of 24 light rail vehicles from CAF, Spain, for the Green Line.

CZECH Railways (ČD) launched trial passenger operation of its new fleet of Siemens Railjet long-distance trains on May 6, when the first set entered service on the international Prague – Vienna – Graz route.

NORWEGIAN infrastructure manager Jernbaneverket has awarded Windhoff, Germany, a contract to supply 11 self-propelled track and catenary maintenance vehicles.

BELGIAN light rail operator De Lijn has awarded Bombardier a contract worth around €6m to carry out heavy overhauls on 20 metre-gauge trams, which are used on the 68km coastal tramway between Knokke and De Panne.

THE FRENCH Railway Safety Board (ESPF) has granted Authorisation to Place into Service for Vossloh's range of G6 six-axle diesel shunters, allowing the locomotives to operate commercially on the French mainline network.

ALSTOM has won a €300m contract from Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) for 50 type KZ8A 8.8MW electric locomotives. The contract was signed in Baku in the presence of the president of Azerbaijan Mr Ilham Aliyev and the French president Mr François Hollande.