REGULATORY pressures on Europe's largest railfreight market could drive up operating costs by as much as 20% over the next five years, according to a study by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV).

DANISH infrastructure manager Banedanmark announced on May 18 that following the evaluation of four bids it has entered final negotiations with a joint venture of Siemens and Danish infrastructure contractor Per Aarsleff for a contract to implement the first phase of its national electrification programme.

THE board of Luxtram, the public company responsible for developing the first modern light rail line in Luxembourg, confirmed on May 18 that it has selected CAF as preferred bidder for a contract to supply 21 low-floor LRVs for the project in a deal worth €83m.

TRAIN services on Israel's coastal main line between Haifa and Nahariya will be disrupted for six months to enable the construction of a new junction which will connect the new Valley Line with the coastal main line at Haifa Lev Hamifratz, where a new station will be built.

AUCKLAND Transport celebrated a milestone in the $NZ 1.6bn ($US 1.2bn) modernisation of the city's suburban rail network on May 16, when electric services operated on all lines for the first time.

GERMAN federal minister for transport and digital infrastructure Mr Alexander Dobrindt attended a groundbreaking ceremony in the Bavarian town of Freilassing on May 11 to officially launch construction of a third track on the line to Salzburg.

VIRGINIA Beach City Council has approved a $US 20m budget to fund development work over the next year on the planned extension of Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) light rail line from the neighbouring city of Norfolk.

THE government of Panama announced on May 14 that it has selected Consorcio Linea 2, a consortium of Constructora Norberto Odebrecht, Brazil, and FCC Construcciones, Spain, to build the second metro line in Panama City.

JAPAN's Railway Technology Research Institute (RTRI) is claiming a world first after successfully completing trials with superconducting wire in the overhead electrification system of an operational passenger line. 

TORRENTIAL rains in the Andean foothills in Chile´s Atacama region might put an end to rail transport on the 155km line from the copper smelter at Potrerillos, 2880m above sea level, down to the wharf on the coast at Barquito.