SWEDEN's Lussavaara-Kirunava AB (LKAB) inaugurated the latest phase of its iron-ore mining operation in Kiruna, northern Sweden today, which includes a 12km, standard-gauge underground automatic railway.

PILBARA region junior miner Brockman Iron is seeking track access rights to Fortescue Metals Group's (FMG) existing rail infrastructure under the provisions of the Western Australia Railways Access Code.

SWISS intermodal operator Hupac achieved a small profit of SFr 4.4m ($US 4.5m) last year, up 65.6% on 2011, despite a drop of 7.8% in total revenues to SFr 454.5 million.

MACANDREWS, a subsidiary of shipping group CMA-CGM this week launched a new refrigerated railfreight service linking Bilbao with Murcia in the southeast of Spain.

LOGISTICS group Kuehne & Nagel and wagon leasing company VTG have announced plans to create a jointly-owned rail logistics business after signing a letter of intent at the end of April.

BIDS for the partial-privatisation of Romania's national railfreight operator CFR Marfă were submitted to the government on May 8, with three contenders vying for a 51% stake in the company.

BULGARIA's interim prime minister Mr Marin Raykov and transport minister Mr Kristiyan Krastev today inaugurated the country's reconstructed rail link with Turkey, travelling over the 16.9km line from Svilengrad to the border near the village of Kapitan Andreevo.

CZECH intermodal and railfreight operator Metrans opened its new container terminal at Česká Třebova in Eastern Bohemia, Czech Republic, on May 6.

BRAZILIAN mining conglomerate Vale has cleared a significant hurdle in its plans to build a railway to serve the new Carajás Serra Sul (S11D) mine in the state of Pará after the project was granted environmental approval by the federal government.

BRAZILIAN rail freight operator MRS Logistics signed an agreement with Rio de Janeiro state governor Mr Sergio Cabral on April 25 authorising the construction of an intermodal terminal in Queimados, 25km northwest of the city of Rio de Janeiro.