OVERNIGHT testing of LRVs on the Canberra Metro light rail line has been ramped up with a view to achieving the scheduled opening at the end of 2018.

US regional and shortline railway operator Watco is set to expand its Australian operations after signing a contract with grain marketer and handler GrainCorp to operate its trains in the state of Queensland.

THE New Zealand government has signalled its intention to increase investment in rail projects and reduce highway spending in its 10-year government policy statement (GPS) on land transport released on June 28, the first published by the new Labour-led government.

THE Australian and Victorian governments have provided an update on the construction timeframes for the $A 1.75bn ($US 1.3bn) jointly-funded Regional Rail Revival programme, which will upgrade predominantly passenger rail lines across the state of Victoria.

REHABILITATION of the Napier - Wairoa section of the mothballed Napier - Gisborne line on New Zealand’s North Island started on June 1.

AUSTRALIAN mining company Fortescue Metals has given the go-ahead to a $A 1.69bn ($US 1.29bn) project to develop a new iron-ore mine at Eliwana and extend its existing 160km heavy-haul freight rail network to serve it.

MINING company Rio Tinto has been granted accreditation by Australia’s Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) for the autonomous operation of trains serving the group’s Pilbara iron-ore mines in Western Australia.

THE Australian federal government has committed substantial funding to rail related projects in its 2017-2018 budget, which was announced on May 8, although closer examination reveals that a significant amount of this funding will be provided as government equity, thereby appearing ‘off budget.’

NEW Zealand’s transport minister, Mr Phil Twyford, and finance minister, Mr Grant Robertson, announced on May 9 that the cabinet has agreed to launch a procurement process for a two-line light rail network in Auckland after a sovereign wealth fund offered to evaluate the potential for private sector investment in the project.

THE government of the Australian state of Victoria says its 2018-19 budget will pave the way for its next big tranche of transport projects, although much of the funding has previously been announced or provision already made in forward estimates.