GERMAN infrastructure manager DB Networks will launch a compensation scheme on December 9 for railfreight operators forced to divert their services due to engineering work.

WARSAW Tramways announced on November 22 that Pesa Bydgoszcz has submitted the best offer for a contract to supply a fleet of 45 bidirectional low-floor LRVs with a five-year warranty.

SAN FRANCISCO Bay Area Rapid Transit (Bart) has launched a review of system operations with a view towards introducing limited-stop services as well as the splitting and joining of trains on certain routes.

The Australian State of Victoria is to acquire an additional 40 VLocity dmu vehicles from Bombardier at a cost of more than $A 200m ($US 209m) to accommodate anticipated further growth in ridership on regional services.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has withdrawn its fleet of newly-refurbished NID inter-city double-deck sets following an incident on November 23 when one of the trains unexpectedly split in service.

THE Chinese city of Hangzhou launched commercial operations on its first metro line on November 24, when the governor of Zhejiang province Mr Xia Baolong officially inaugurated the 48km Line 1 in a ceremony at Wulin Square station.

SHANGHAI Shentong Metro Group has awarded Alstom and its local joint venture Shanghai Alstom Transport Electrical Equipment (Satee) a €37m contract to supply new traction equipment for trains operating on Shanghai Metro lines 3 and 4. The work is due to be completed by 2014.

MTR Corporation has awarded China Northern Rolling Stock subsidiary CNR Dalian a contract to supply 23 830kW diesel locomotives, which will be used on engineering trains and rescue duties on MTR's network in Hong Kong.

SHAREHOLDERS of Australia's largest railfreight operator QR National have voted by an overwhelming majority of 99.24% to change the name of the company to Aurizon Holdings Limited at the company's annual general meeting on November 21.

ZAMBIA Railways Limited (ZRL) has appointed a new CEO and launched a three-year programme of reforms and rehabilitation with the aim of reversing the decline of one of southern Africa's largest railways.