BRUNEL Project Cargo, Britain, a provider of complex freight and logistics services, is set to offer an inaugural China - London direct intermodal rail freight service from January 1.

THE Latin American Association of Mehn Networks & Subways (Alamys) announced on December 9 that its principal member, Santiago Metro, won a tender from the Colombian Ministry of Transport to assist with the project to develop the first metro line in Bogota.

WABTEC announced on December 20 that it has acquired engineered freight car components supplier Workhorse Rail, United States.

ALSTOM and Colas Rail have secured a contract to provide power supply equipment for Nice light rail Line T2, which is due to open in 2018.

ABELLIO, Greater Anglia launched the first of its "Renatus" refurbished class 321 EMUs on December 16.

SMBC Rail Services, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitusi Banking Corporation, has agreed to acquire American Railcar Leasing, the sixth largest wagon leasing company in the United States with a fleet of 34,300.

MOLDOVAN Railways (CFM) has issued an international invitation to tender for a contract to supply 12-15 locomotives and rehabilitate maintenance facilities.

INDIA’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave the go-ahead on December 21 for a Rs 12.5bn ($US 216m) project to construct a second track on the Rajpura - Bhatinda line in southern Punjab.

HEFEI became the latest Chinese city to open a metro line on December 26 with the inauguration of the north – south Line 1.

PORTERBROOK Leasing, Britain, is planning to rollout a new wheel slide protection (WSP) system across its class 15X Sprinter DMU fleets comprising 250 trains following successful tests with a class 156 DMU during the last few months.