RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) launched an enhanced peak commuter service on the Moscow - Khimki - Kryukovo - Tver line on October 1 using its new ES2G Lastochka EMUs, which have been supplied by the Ural Locomotives joint venture between Siemens and Sinara.

FOLLOWING an international tender, Rhine-Main Transport Authority (RMV) announced on October 12 that it has selected Hessen State Railways (HLB) as preferred bidder for a contract to operate the Südhessen-Untermain regional network for 15 years from December 2018.

LEASING company Mitsui Rail Capital Europe (MRCE) has ordered an additional 21 Vectron locomotives from Siemens taking its fleet of Vectrons to 56.

LODZ Agglomeration Railway (LKA) has announced plans to expand its network and increase capacity on existing routes by lengthening its fleet of Stadler trains.

OMAN Rail, which is developing the country's 2135km railway network, has received bids from eight groups led by international rail operators for the operations and maintenance (O&M) contract for phase 1 of the network.

SIEMENS confirmed on September 29 that Denver and Minneapolis have exercised options on existing contracts for additional LRVs.

CROATIAN prime minister Mr Zoran Milanovic and minister of maritime affairs, transport and infrastructure Mr Sinisa Hajdaš Dončić officially launched Croatian Railways (HŽ) new fleet of EMUs for Zagreb suburban services on October 6.

NICE Côte dAzur Metropolitan Council has awarded Alstom a €91m contract to supply 19 Citadis X05 low-floor LRVs for the city's second light rail line.

RAILSERVE, United States, has despatched six Dual-Leaf genset locomotives from Houston to Libreville, Gabon, for use by Transgabonaise Exploitation Company (Setrag) as part of a project to modernise its railfreight operations.

THE Swiss Federal Office of Transport has granted a permit to Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) to construct the new Bözberg railway tunnel.