THE Indian state of Kerala plans to start work in April 2013 on the first phase of a Rs 1180bn ($US 21.3bn) project to build a 560km standard-gauge line with a maximum speed of 350km/h along the coast from Trivandrum north to Kasaragod by 2021.
RUSSIAN rolling stock manufacturer Transhmashholding (TMH) has purchased a 50% stake in Kazakhstan's Kurastyru Zauyty Locomotive plant from Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ), following a signing ceremony on June 15 overseen by Russian prime minister Mr Dimitry Medvedev and his Kazakh counterpart Mr Karim Masimov.
BRITISH infrastructure manager Network Rail reduced operating costs by £120m in 2011-12 while increasing revenues to £6bn, up from £5.71bn in 2010-11.
PARIS Transport Authority (RATP) has placed a €1bn order with Alstom and Bombardier for an additional 70 MI09 double-deck emus for RER Line A. Alstom is responsible for two thirds of contact and Bombardier the remaining one third.
FRENCH Rail Network (RFF) has signed a 25-year public-private partnership (PPP) contract with the OC'Via consortium to build and maintain France's first mixed-traffic high-speed line.
THE first of 31 Link II dmus being supplied by Pesa, Poland, to Czech Railways (CD) was unveiled at the Velim test track on June 28. The first four trains will enter service on regional services in the Czech Republic in September.
ITALIAN open-access operator Arenaways is to launch two overnight services between northern and southern Italy on July 10 using Talgo coaches. Tickets for the new services go on sale on July 2 and can be purchased online or at stations.
ETHIOPIAN Railway Corporation (ERC) has awarded a $US 1.7bn contract to Yapi Merkezi, Turkey, for the construction of the first phase of a 447km north-south line.
GERMAN Rail (DB) has ordered 38 additional Coradia Lint regional trains from Alstom in a deal worth €160m.
BRAZILIAN mining giant Vale has been granted environmental licenses for its huge $US 19.5bn project (called S11D) to develop a new iron-ore mine at Serra Sul to the south of its existing Carajás mine and associated rail and port links.
