AFTER two year of negotiations, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and French National Railways (SNCF) signed a new operating contract for TER regional services on November 13, setting ambitious targets to cut delays by 40% and halve cancellations by 2020.

A proposal for a new standard-gauge line linking China’s national railway network with cities in northern Vietnam has been included in a bilateral memorandum of understanding on trade which was signed on November 13 as part of the state visit of Chinese president Mr Xi Jinping to Vietnam.

MPK Krakow has opted to award a contract for up to 50 low-floor LRVs to a consortium of Stadler Poland and Solaris after Pesa, the winning bidder in the tender, failed to a submit financial guarantee for the contract.

THE government of Uzbekistan has signed a $US 80m loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank to finance the electrification of the 145.1km Pap - Namangan - Andijan line in the east of the country.

ARRIVA Netherlands has signed a contract with Stadler for 18 Wink electro-diesel multiple units, which will initially operate on biodiesel on non-electrified lines, with provision for conversion to battery and 1.5kV dc overhead electric operation.

UKRAINE’s cabinet has given Kharkiv Metro approval to sign loan agreements with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction (EBRD) which will fully-finance a project to expand the metro network in the country’s second-largest city.

SIEMENS announced on November 10 that it has secured a €56m contract to refurbish the fleet of Desiro EMUs used by British train operator South Western Railway (SWR).

CALIFORNIA Department of Transportation confirmed on November 8 that Sumitomo Corporation of America will now work with Siemens instead of Nippon Sharyo to deliver a $US 371m order for 137 coaches for California and Illinois.

THE board of Italian open-access high-speed operator NTV has decided to exercise an option for five additional Pendolino Evo trains.

POLISH long-distance operator PKP Intercity has signed a Zlotys 273m ($US 75m) contract with H. Cegielski, Poland, for the modernisation of 60 type 111A/141A coaches, with an option for the refurbishment of a further 30 vehicles.