The state government of Western Australia has shortlisted three consortia for a $A 1.6bn project to build 246 new EMU cars required for the expanded Perth Metronet suburban rail network and to replace older trains on the existing Transperth network.

KNORR-Bremse announced on August 29 it has sold driver training simulator developer Sydac to Oktal, a subsidiary of the French Sogeclair group for an undisclosed sum.

METRO Trains Melbourne began serving the suburb of Mernda on August 26 with the start of commercial operations on the 8km extension from South Morang.

NEW Zealand’s national railway KiwiRail has announced an operating surplus of $NZ 49m ($US 32.6m) for the 2017-18 financial year, despite a $NZ 45m impact from the Kaikoura earthquake, which struck in November 2016 and closed the Main North Line between Christchurch and Picton.

AUSTRALIAN freight operator Aurizon has reported a 6% increase in underlying earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) to $A 941m ($US 658.2m) for the 2017-18 financial year, up from $A 884m the previous year, which the company says reflects increased coal volumes and business transformation outcomes achieved during the year.

HIGH-SPEED testing of Alstom Metropolis trains has begun on the first phase of the Sydney metro network, with trains regularly reaching speeds of 100km/h during daylight test runs.

VOSSLOH announced on August 3 that it had signed a contract with international engineering enterprise Laing O’Rourke for the acquisition of Australian concrete sleeper manufacturer Austrak, with closing expected in the third quarter of 2018 subject to regulatory approval.