SOUTHEASTERN Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Septa) will begin provisional revenue service operations with Positive Train Control (PTC) from next week after receiving authorisation from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

THE mayor of Berlin Mr Michael Müller and Berlin senator for transport Mr Andreas Geisel confirmed on April 8 that the city is looking at options for the extension of U-Bahn line U8 from its current northern terminus at Wittenau to serve the Märkisches Viertal residential area in the district of Reinickendorf.

SAN FRANCISCO Bay Area Rapid Transit (Bart) has awarded Mermec, Italy, a contract to supply a self-propelled track recording and inspection vehicle to monitor infrastructure on its 167km network.

AUSTRALIAN prime minister Mr Malcolm Turnbull announced on April 8 that the federal government will commit $A 220m ($US 168m) towards the Murray River Basin Rail Project, which seeks to enhance freight reliability and capacity in northern Victoria.

THE Dutch government is planning to bring Prorail under direct control of the Ministry of Infrastructure and end the infrastructure manager's current status as an independent (albeit state-owned) company operating under private law, according to draft ministry policy papers which have been leaked to the Dutch media.

TATA Steel UK has signed a deal to sell for a nominal consideration its Long Products Europe business, which includes the manufacture of rails at mills in Britain and France, to Greybull Capital, a family investment concern.

CANADIAN Pacific (CP) announced on April 11 that it has abandoned its bid to merge with Norfolk Southern (NS), including the withdrawal of a resolution asking NS shareholders to vote in favour of good-faith negotiations between the two railways.

WITH 450 days to go before the launch of commercial services, SNCF Voyages CEO Mrs Barbara Dalibard announced the timetable for TGV services on the Bretagne-Pays-de-la-Loire high-speed line on April 8.

THURINGIA's state Ministry of Infrastructure and Agriculture and South Thuringia Railway (STB), a 50:50 joint venture between Erfurt Railway (EB) and Hessen State Railways (HLB) signed an 11-year concession agreement in Erfurt on April 6 for the operation of South Thuringia Diesel Network.

ALSTOM, Algiers Metro Company (EMA), Ferrovial, and Algerian National Railways (SNTF) signed a framework agreement in Algiers on April 10 to expand their Cital joint venture to assemble Alstom Coradia Polyvalent regional and inter-city multiple units at its Annaba plant in eastern Algeria.