NORTH America's two largest shortline and regional rail operators are set to begin merging their operations after the United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) approved Genesee & Wyoming's (GWI) application to take control of the assets of RailAmerica from December 28.

RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) has completed the acquisition of 75% of the shares freight logistics operator Gefco from PSA Peugeot Citroën for €800m. PSA Peugeot Citroën will retain its remaining 25% holding in Gefco.

SIEMENS handed over two 5.2MW Vectron 3kV dc electric locomotives to DB Schenker Rail Poland at a ceremony at the Polish Railway Institute on December 20.

THE Greenbrier Companies has rejected American Railcar Industries bid of around $US 543m for the company describing the offer as "inadequate" and one that "grossly undervalues the company and is not the best interest of Greenbrier stockholders."

FOLLOWING a four-year investigation, the French competition authority has fined French National Railways (SNCF) €60.9m for anti-competitive practices following a string of complaints raised by open-access railfreight operators in 2008 and 2009.

KYRGYZSTAN Railways' (KTZ) director general Mr Argyhbek Malabaev says that the railway is aiming to complete a final comprehensive feasibility study by the end of 2013 for a new cross-country electrified line that will open up the country to transit traffic between China, the Persian Gulf and Europe.

AN agreement has been signed in the Kazakhstan capital Astana by GE Transportation, the Remlokomotiv subsidiary of Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) and Transmashdiesel to set up a joint venture company to produce GE Evolution series engines.

POLISH train and terminal operators have joined forces with other industry organisations to establish the Foundation for Railways (FPK), a new group which will plans to lobby the country's government to develop a more coherent policy on rail transport.

CANADIAN Pacific Railway announced on December 4 that it will invite expressions of interest this month from 'prospective partners' for the western section of the former Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) railway, which the Class 1 acquired in 2008.

FOLLOWING speculation that Pilbara iron-ore miner Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) was considering selling its rail infrastructure as a way of reducing its debt liabilities, the company has confirmed to The West Australian newspaper that it has opened up a data room for a small group of potential investors.