THE managing director of Qatar Rail, Eng Abdulla Abdulaziz Al Subaie, confirmed that the first phase of Qatar's main line rail project will be launched this year.

CAF and Saudi Railway Company (SAR) will soon start testing the next generation of push-pull trains for Saudi Arabia's North-South line.

PRIVATE equity firm Allegro Funds has acquired luxury train company Great Southern Rail from Serco for a figure 'below $A20m' ($US15m).

LONDON Underground (LU) has confirmed it will take over implementation of the Croxley Rail link after an agreement was reached with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) over funding.

BRAZILIAN intermodal operator Brado Logistics is planning a Reais 150m ($US 46.8m) investment to expand its operations to Brazil's north-south railway corridor, which is owned by Vale.

SIEMENS's convergence creators division has opened a new test and integration centre for railway telecommunications in Zagreb, Croatia.

GE Transportation (GE) has secured a contract from AEnergia to supply 100 C30ACi locomotives to Angolan National Railways (INCFA) to boost railfreight services in the country.

SWISS freight operator BLS Cargo has confirmed an order for 15 new Siemens Vectron locomotives for use on the Rhine-Alpine corridor between Rotterdam and Melzo in northern Italy.

LEIPZIG City Transport (LVB) has awarded Solaris a framework contract for the supply of up to 41 Tramino LRVs for the city's 1458mm-gauge light rail network.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) increased its group net profit by 56.6% in 2014 to SFr 373m ($US 259.6m) with growth in all sectors.