BRITAIN's Department for Transport (DfT) has issued an invitation for operators to qualify to bid for the InterCity East Coast franchise, which will be let for eight or nine years with a possible two-year extension at the DfT's discretion.
SERCO is to continue operating and maintaining the 75km Dubai metro network until at least September 2019 after signing a five-year contract extension with Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
NORWEGIAN State Railways (NSB) experienced a record increase in ridership in the first eight months of 2013, with passenger numbers rising 8.4% compared with the corresponding period in 2012.
FRENCH transport minister Mr Frédéric Cuvillier announced on October 23 that the government has finalised the route and implementation schedule for the extensions of TGV Sud-Europ Atlantique (TGV SEA) to Toulouse and the Spanish border.
SANTIAGO Metro has awarded a contract to a French consortium of ETF and Colas Rail to install and maintain track and catenary on two new metro lines in the Chilean capital.
DELHI Metro Rail Corporation has awarded Nippon Signal, Japan, a contract worth around $US 38m to supply Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) for Line 8, the city's first driverless metro line, which is currently under construction.
THE Bavarian Railway Authority (BEG) and Rhine-Main Transport (RMV) have awarded DB Regio a contract to operate regional services from Hanau to Kahl (Main) and Schöllkrippen for 12 years from December 2015.
HUNGARIAN State Railways (MÁV) is making progress with the upgrading of the railway network around Lake Balaton, a popular tourist destination in the west of the country.
ISRAEL's Ministry of Transport, Israel Railways, and the municipality of Jerusalem are reportedly developing plans for a 2.5km extension of the new Tel Aviv – Jerusalem direct line, which is due to open in 2018, to Jerusalem Old City.
THE government of the Brazilian state of Bahia has signed a Reais 4bn ($US 1.85bn) PPP contract with Brazilian infrastructure concessionaire CCR for the construction and operation of the second phase of the metro network in the state capital Salvador.
