THE government of the Indian state of Maharashtra has given Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) approval to proceed with construction of two further sections of the Mumbai metro network.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) has placed two orders with a combined value of SFr 265m ($US 274m) for 47 locomotives and 35 track maintenance vehicles as part of a programme to modernise its infrastructure maintenance fleet, which has an average age of more than 40 years.

THE Norwegian government has allocated Norwegian State Railways (NSB) NKr 1.55bn ($US 190m) towards the acquisition of 26 additional Stadler Flirt EMUs as part its 2016 state budget, which was unveiled on October 7.

AGT Food and Ingredients, Canada, announced on October 5 that its Alliance Pulse Processors subsidiary has reached a $C 57m ($US 43.7m) agreement to acquire Mobil Capital Holdings and its subsidiaries, including shortline operator Mobil Grain.

IRJ at Railway Interchange: Plasser American unveiled its new GRM2X self-propelled fully-automated tamping trailer at the outdoor exhibition area in Minneapolis.

IRJ at Railway Interchange: Frauscher is expanding its product range by offering a sensor with an open analogue interface alongside its wheel detection systems.

THE government of the Dutch province of Limburg has decided that it will not launch a new tender for 15-year concession to operate train and bus services in the region and Arriva will take over the operation of the network as planned at the end of next year.

PANAMANIAN president Mr Juan Carlos Varela officially launched construction on Panama City's second metro line on October 5, when a groundbreaking ceremony was held in the district of Las Mañanitas at the eastern extremity of the line.

A ceremony was held on October 6 to mark the completion of a £44m project by British infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) to upgrade Manchester Victoria station.

UKRAINIAN prime minister Mr Arseniy Yatsenyuk officially launched a new regional express service on the 267km Lvov - Ivano-Frankivsk - Chernivtsi route on October 6, which uses Ukrainian Railways' (UZ) prototype DPKr2 DMU.