BOMBARDIER has handed over the first of 15 Traxx DE ME multi-engine diesel locomotives ordered last year by Germany-based financial joint venture Paribus-DIF Netz West Lokomotiven for use on regional passenger services in northern Germany.

PASSENGER Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has confirmed it expects its new Vossloh Afro 4000 diesel locomotives to enter service on long-distance mainline passenger trains within the next two months.

RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) has begun six months of trials with the first of 32 diesel locomotives being supplied by Sinara for the 1067mm-gauge network on the Pacific island of Sakhalin.

THE Brazilian Railway Industry Association (Abifer) says that Brazilian rail vehicles industry production increased substantially in 2014, with the industrial sector producing and delivering 4703 freight wagons, which was more than double the 2280 produced in 2013, and 374 passenger coaches, an increase of 70% from 219 in 2013. Locomotive production remained static at 80 units.

BOMBARDIER formally handed over the last of 19 Traxx F140 MS (class 186) multi-system electric locomotives for Netherlands Railways (NS) in a ceremony at the Dutch Railway Museum in Utrecht on February 6.

ABB announced on February 5 that it has been awarded a contract worth around $US 50m to supply transformers and associated traction equipment to Bombardier for a new fleet of electric locomotives ordered by Transnet, South Africa.

BOMBARDIER announced on February 5 that its Traxx F140 AC3 Last Mile locomotive has received authorisation from the Swiss Federal Transport Office (BAV) for unrestricted commercial operation in Switzerland.

Transnet Freight Rail is investing unprecedented amounts in new assets. Paul Ash speaks to chief executive Siyabonga Gama about the state-owned railway's bold plan to win traffic back from South Africa's roads.

ROMANIAN rolling stock manufacturer Softronic and LAC Holding, Hungary, have signed an agreement to establish a locomotive assembly plant in Hungary.

DOWNER EDI announced on February 4 that it has secured a 10-year contract worth around $A 1bn ($US 782m) to maintain more than 300 locomotives for Pacific National, Australia's largest private railfreight operator.