MUNICH-based leasing company Mitsui Rail Capital Europe (MRCE) has awarded Siemens a contract to supply 10 additional Vectron MS electric locomotives, taking its Vectron fleet to 66 units.

STADLER, Switzerland, says the decision to remove the Swiss Franc's exchange rate cap with the Euro in 2015 has cost it more than SFr 100m ($US 103.6m) on top of a fall in orders for new trains.

WHITING Corporation, United States, has acquired LB Foster's rolling stock and locomotive repair and service assets in Pittsburgh for an undisclosed sum.

TESTING of the first Siemens Vectron for Czech rail freight operator ČD Cargo began on the Czech mainline network on May 31, when the locomotive ran under its own power between Pořičany and Velím on the Prague - Kolín line.

CHINA Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) signed a contract with CRRC Qishuyan, China, for on May 30 for 56 diesel locomotives, which will be used on the initial phase of Kenya's standard-gauge railway.

VOSSLOH Locomotives, Germany, held a topping-out ceremony on June 3 for its new locomotive factory on the Kiel Business Campus 11 months after ground braking under its plan to relocate form Kiel-Friedrichsort to Kiel-Suchsdorf.

EUROPEAN Locomotive Leasing (ELL) has signed a framework contract with Siemens for 50 additional Vectron electric locomotives, supplementing an initial framework order for 50 units, which was signed in 2014.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has exercised a second and final option with Bombardier for eight additional class 186 Traxx multi-system electric locomotives, taking its fleet to 45 units.

BRITISH train operator TransPennine Express (TPE) has selected CAF, Spain, to supply and maintain a fleet of 200km/h inter-city EMUs as well as coaches to be hauled by class 68 locomotives under a total investment worth £230m.

DENMARK's largest rail freight operator DB Cargo Scandinavia (DBCS) has warned it could be forced to pull out of the market because of the cost of equipping its locomotives with ETCS.