THE ISRAELI government has reached an agreement over controversial plans to cut the budget for new infrastructure projects, which have been put forward as part of proposals intended to reduce the country's Shekels 39bn ($US 10.8bn) budget deficit.
NEW JERSEY Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) has launched a three-month smartphone ticketing pilot on the Pascack Valley commuter rail line, which will be used to evaluate the technology before a wider rollout across the NJ Transit rail network.
HITACHI Rail Europe announced at the Railtex exhibition in London on May 1 that it has selected Nomad Digital to supply onboard servers for all 92 Super Express trains being supplied for Britain's Intercity Express Programme (IEP).
ITALIAN State Railways (FSI) has announced plans for a €1.5bn bond issue to fund major investment projects.
PRESIDENT Barack Obama has nominated Mr Anthony Foxx, the current mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, as the next US secretary of transportation, subject to approval by the US Senate.
BRAZILIAN rail freight operator MRS Logistics signed an agreement with Rio de Janeiro state governor Mr Sergio Cabral on April 25 authorising the construction of an intermodal terminal in Queimados, 25km northwest of the city of Rio de Janeiro.
RIO Tinto has awarded Wabtec, United States, a $US 15m contract to provide electronically-controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes as well as associated equipment and software for its freight cars and locomotives operated in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
POLISH infrastructure manager PKP PLK has awarded Kapsch CarrierCom a €9.2m contract to design and install GSM-R equipment on the 148km Legnica – Wroclaw – Opole section of Line E30.
FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has reached an agreement to buy a 25% stake in Spanish open-access freight operator Comsa Rail Transport (CRT) for an undisclosed sum.
UKRAINIAN Railways (UZ) is to step up the operation of 160km/h long-distance services by extending the use of new train fleets with the start of the summer timetable on May 26.
