RZD Logistics, the logistics arm of Russian Railways (RZD), processed more than 56 million tonnes of freight in 2016, a 5% increase year-on-year, with intermodal traffic in particular experiencing significant growth.

MTR Corporation, Hong Kong, reported an 8.4% increase in revenues in 2016 as the company successfully opened new metro lines and extensions in its domestic market and continued to expand its international operations.

A cornerstone was laid in Dortmund-Eving, Germany, on March 7 to mark the start of construction on Siemens’ €80m service and maintenance depot for Rhine-Ruhr-Express (RRX).

MUMBAI Metro Rail (MMR), India, plans to purchase driverless trains to operate on Mumbai metro Line 3, which will run for 33.5km from Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (Seepz) in the north of the city to Cuffe Parade in the southern district of Colaba.

CSX is set to appoint former CP and CN chief executive Mr Hunter Harrison as CEO on May 31 following weeks of speculation over the future of management at the United States Class 1 railway.

THE International Union of Railways (UIC) is protesting strongly against a unilateral decision by the European Pallet Association (EPAL) to terminate an agreement for the exchange of freight pallets which will take effect on May 1.

BRITISH rolling stock leasing company Eversholt Rail has awarded a £6m contract to Knorr-Bremse Rail Services to refurbish 22 class 320 three-car EMUs operated by Abellio ScotRail.

DESPITE reporting a 6.7% increase in passenger traffic to 117.9 million trips in 2016, turnover at Finland’s VR Group decreased by 3.6% year-on-year to €1.187bn, according to the company’s annual results announced on March 6. This resulted in an operating profit of €45.3m, down from €65.4m in 2015.

ALSTOM has successfully handed over the first of 69 driverless metro trains it is delivering to Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) for use on lines 4, 5 and 6 of the Saudi capital’s metro network.

GERMAN Rail (DB) has issued a tender for the provision of new locomotive-operated push-pull single-deck inter-city trains. The trains will be bought by DB using its own resources; no EU funding is involved.