NORWEGIAN open-access rail freight operator Cargolink ceased operations on February 11 after the company's board decided to file for insolvency.

PARIS Transport Authority (RATP) has awarded a five-year 24/7 contract to Ansaldo STS to maintain the signalling on 17 metro and light rail lines in the French capital.

IN the first deployment of its type in France, telecoms operator Orange has completed the rollout of a public LTE network on the Paris - Lyon high-speed line, providing continuous onboard 4G coverage on TGV services at speeds of up to 300km/h.

TORONTO and Hamilton transit authority Metrolinx outlined the four options being considered for the core of the Toronto Regional Express Rail (RER) network at a board meeting on February 10.

ALSTOM has acquired an additional 25% stake in the Kazakh EKZ joint venture locomotive manufacturer from Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) to become the main shareholder with a 50% holding.

ANSALDO STS and Linbrooke Services, Britain, have been awarded a £34.5m contract by Britain's infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) to resignal and upgrade a 56km section of the Leeds/Doncaster - Hull line between Gilberdyke and Ferriby.

METRANS, the open-access railfreight subsidiary of Hamburg Ports and Logistics (HHLA), has awarded Alstom a contract to supply two Prima H3 hybrid shunting locomotives.

A prototype low-floor tram developed by Pragoimex, Czech Republic, began trial operation with passengers on the Prague tram network on February 1, when the vehicle entered service with the city's public transport operator DPP.

A full-size interior mock-up of the forthcoming Hitachi class 385 EMU for ScotRail was unveiled at Edinburgh Waverley station on February 10 by Scotland's minister for transport and islands Mr Derek Mackay, ScotRail managing director Mr Phil Verster, and Hitachi Rail Europe managing director Mrs Karen Boswell.

THE first major contract for the €3.7bn western extension of Paris RER Line E was awarded on February 10, when French National Railways (SNCF) president Mr Guillaume Pepy and Siemens president Mr Joe Kaeser signed a €186m contract for the rollout of CBTC on the core section of the east-west line.