FORT Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) has awarded a $US 97m signalling and communication services contract to Wabtec for the new Tex Rail commuter line in Texas.

NORTHERN Ireland’s main public transport operator Translink has awarded Nomad Digital a contract to upgrade passenger Wi-Fi on its train fleet as part of a five-year deal which also includes the company’s buses.

CHINA Railway Corporation (CRC) has awarded a contract for the supply of 18 eight-car CRH1 A-A new generation high-speed trains to Bombardier’s Chinese joint venture, Bombardier Sifang Transportation (BST).

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) reported an increased turnover of €5.1bn (2.4%) in its annual report for 2016 which was released on February 28.

A project to introduce a new common design of train on the Tokyo metro and Tobu Railway reached a milestone at the end of February when Tobu Railway received its first 70000 series EMU from Kinki Sharyo.

AUSTRALIA’s Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) will take over full jurisdiction for railway safety in Queensland on June 30 following the passing of legislation by the state government on February 28 for it to cede responsibility to ONRSR.

OMAHA City Council has received a final financial assessment of the proposed Omaha Urban Circulator, which is estimated to cost $US 156m and scheduled to open in 2022.

BRITAIN’s Department for Transport (DfT) announced on March 1 that it has shortlisted three bidders for a contract to operate the East Midlands franchise from next year.

FRENCH president Mr François Hollande attended an inauguration ceremony at Villognon in the southwestern department of Charente on February 28 to mark the official completion of infrastructure on the Sud Europe Atlantique high-speed line from Tours to Bordeaux.

THE first of seven additional GE Transportation class 70 PowerHaul locomotives for British open-access rail freight operator Colas Rail was unloaded at the port of Seaforth, Liverpool, on February 25 after completing its voyage across the Atlantic.