THE government of the Australian state of Victoria has announced the introduction on February 8 of what it describes as a temporary, stable timetable for V/Line regional passenger services which have been crippled by excessive wheel wear on VLocity DMUs and a level crossing malfunction.

LIGHT Rail could make a return to New York City under plans announced by mayor Mr Bill de Blasio on February 4.

UNION Pacific (UP), Unites States, plans to invest $US 3.75bn in 2016 which it says is around $US 550m less than it invested in 2015, representing a reduction of almost 15%.

PROPOSALS to construct a metre-gauge line linking Switzerland's Zentralbahn (ZB) and the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway (MGB) via a tunnel beneath the Grimsel Pass were unveiled in Berne on February 4.

NORWAY's Ministry of Transport and Communications launched the first competitive tenders on February 4 for operation of passenger services on the national network, a key component of plans to liberalise the sector, which were unveiled by the government last year.

JAPAN's Nishi-Nippon Railway has awarded Kawasaki Heavy Industries a contract to supply 18 1067mm-gauge EMUs for the 75km Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line in Fukuoka prefecture.

ISRAEL's transport minister Mr Israel Katz approved on February 3 what is claimed to be the country's largest railway budget which calls for an investment of Shekels 28.3bn ($US 7.24bn) until 2020.

SWEDISH national train operator SJ will restore X2000 services between Stockholm and Copenhagen from March 1 after reaching an agreement with Danish infrastructure manager Banedanmark on security arrangements at Copenhagen Central.

BRITAIN's Department for Transport confirmed on February 4 that two bidders have been shortlisted for the contract to operate the South Western franchise from June 2017.

FRENCH transport minister Mr Alain Vidalies has approved the preliminary route and station locations for the 150km Montpellier - Perpignan high-speed line, paving the way for a public inquiry into the project, which is expected to begin at the end of this year.