GREATER Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) is to order an additional 35 FP class Matangi two-car emus from Hyundai-Rotem for Metlink suburban services, instead of refurbishing the fleet of 44 EM class emus built by Ganz Mavag, Hungary, in 1982.
SPAIN's state-owned train operator Renfe has announced that its train leasing subsidiary, which will be established over the next few months, will be allocated a fleet of 26 high-speed trains for lease to new operators entering the soon-to-be-liberalised high-speed market.
ISRAEL Railways has ordered a third batch of 72 double-deck coaches from Bombardier in a $US 158m deal which takes its total fleet of double-deck coaches to 222.
FRENCH construction companies Travail Sud Ouest (TSO) and Eurovia Travaux Ferroviares (ETF) have selected Vossloh to deliver points and rail fastenings for the 340km South Europe Atlantic High-Speed Line between Tours and Bordeaux.
LOWER Saxony Transport Authority (LNVG) and Westphalia-Lippe Transport have awarded Westfalenbahn the concesssion to operate Germany's Emlsand regional network for 15 years from December 2015.
TRENORD, the 50:50 joint venture between Trenitalia and North Milan Railways (FNM) launched its premium non-stop Lombardia Express service on September 17, substantially reducing journey times between Milan and major towns in Lombardia.
THE Spanish Competition Commission (CNC) has attacked the Spanish government over its rail industry liberalisation programme, criticising what it sees as the slow pace and the short reach of the latest reforms and calling for the complete abolition of state-owned train operator Renfe.
CONSTRUCTION officially commenced on September 21 on the latest phase of the light rail network in Utrecht. The €321m Uithof Line will serve what is currently the busiest bus corridor in the Netherlands, linking Utrecht Central station and city centre with the Uithof university campus on the eastern side of the city.
THE Mauritian Ministry of Public Infrastructure has appointed Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE), Aurecon, and Singapore Mass Transit Corporation (SMRT) to provide technical advisory services for the proposed light rail line between the island's capital Port Louis and Curepipe.
GERMAN Rail (DB) wagon producer DB Waggonbau Niesky has developed a new range of bogies for freight wagons which aim to reduce noise and lower long-term maintenance costs.
