EGYPTIAN National Railways (ENR) has awarded a $US 600m track upgrading contract to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).

CNR Beijing, China, has delivered 18 six-axle CKD8C1 diesel-electric locomotives to Democratic Republic of Congo National Railways (SNCC).

KENYA Railways has lifted a brief suspension on the construction of parts of the 609km single-track standard-gauge railway between the port city of Mombasa and Nairobi.

ALGERIAN National Railways (SNTF) has signed a joint venture agreement with Kapsch CarrierCom to form a joint-venture company with the aim of improving railway telecommunications knowledge in Algeria.

GE Transportation (GE) has secured a contract from AEnergia to supply 100 C30ACi locomotives to Angolan National Railways (INCFA) to boost railfreight services in the country.

THE president of Benin Mr Boni Yayi and his Nigerien counterpart Mr Mahamadou Issoufou formally launched upgrading of the 437km Cotonou - Parakou line in a ceremony at Cotonou Central station on March 19, marking the start of work on a $US 1.6bn project to link the capital cities of the two countries by rail.

THE Kenyan government has told a High Court hearing that Rift Valley Railways (RVR), which has a concession to operate the metre gauge Kenya-Uganda Railway, must continue to pay a road maintenance levy for highway maintenance even though it is a purely railway operation.

TANZANIA-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) has announced measures to reduce waste and enhance efficiency following an agreement between the president of Tanzania Mr Jakaya Kikwete and his Zambian counterpart Mr Edgar Lungu to revive the 1860km 1067mm-gauge railway.

GHANA Railway Corporation plans to launch a suburban rail service in the twin cities of Sekondi-Takoradi in the fourth quarter of this year.

RABAT Municipal Council voted unanimously on February 25 to approve the first extension to the two-line light rail network in the Moroccan capital since the opening of the initial 19km phase of the Rabat-Salé Tramway in 2011.