LONG-distance passenger numbers in Germany grew by 10.6% in the first half of 2016 according to figures released by the German Government Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).

THE board of Wallonia Regional Transport (SWRT) has shortlisted three bidders for a concession to build and operate the first light rail line in Liège.

EUROSTAR has submitted an official notification to the Belgian rail regulator for its planned London - Amsterdam services, including details of the proposed timetable for the route.

NEWCASTLE-Upon-Tyne transport authority Nexus will launch a public consultation next month on plans to renew the Tyne and Wear Metro train fleet as it prepares a bid for funding from Britain’s Department for Transport (DfT).

THE University of Huddersfield Institute of Railway Research (IRR) is working with Siemens to develop a sensor system which could turn any rail vehicle into a track monitor to inspect the condition of rails and the track bed.

ISRAEL Railways has issued a call for tender for the construction of its first electric train depot which will be built between existing diesel train depots at Lod.

VIENNA councillor for infrastructure and public services Mrs Ulli Sima joined Wiener Linen CEO Mr Günter Steinbauer and Bombardier Austria CEO Mr Christian Diewald at Bombardier’s Donaustadt plant on October 12 to officially launch production of the new fleet of Flexity low-floor LRVs for the Austrian capital.

BRAZIL’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) has agreed to lend Reais 3.5bn ($US 1.1bn) to rail and port operator Rumo Logistics in order to fund part of its 2015-2018 investment programme.

The future of tram services on the 21.7km metre-gauge Thüringerwaldbahn from Gotha to Tabarz is in question after local bus operator Steinbrück offered to provide the same level of service for less than the €2.8m which Thüringerwaldbahn und Strassenbahn Gotha (TWSB) receives annually.