SIEMENS has acquired the MRX Technologies Group, Australia, in an effort to expand its predictive maintenance offering.

THE government of the Australian state of Queensland has given approval for work to begin on Brisbane’s $A 5.4bn ($US 4.07bn) Cross River Rail project, following a commitment in the state budget to fully fund construction and allocate $A 2.8bn in funding over the next four years.

NEW Zealand’s national railway, KiwiRail, and the Australian Centre for Rail Innovation (ACRI) Level Crossing Working Group are finalising the reports on two projects analysing the effects of new active warning signs for road traffic at passive level crossings.

THE Australian federal government published its 2017-18 budget on May 9, committing up to $A 20bn ($US 14.7bn) in current and forward investment in rail projects that it says will cut congestion in cities, provide growth in regional areas and create new employment opportunities.

THE New Zealand government has revealed that it will invest $NZ 450m ($US 318m) in KiwiRail, $NZ 436m in Auckland city’s rail link, and $NZ 98.4m in Wellington’s commuter rail network as part of its 2017 budget.

TRANSPORT for New South Wales has released the first images of completed Alstom Citadis X05 low-floor LRVs for the Sydney CBD and South East light rail line.

CHINA Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) has placed an order with Rolls-Royce to supply 15 MTU series 4000 engines for the 15 DL class freight locomotives that it will supply for New Zealand rail operator, Kiwi Rail.

AMERICAN engineering, procurement and construction company KBR announced on May 15 that it has been awarded a contract to remove two level crossings in Victoria, Australia, by the Victorian government, in an alliance with John Holland, Metro Trains, and the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LCRA).

AS part of its 2017-18 federal budget the Australian federal government has allocated $A 10bn ($US 7.4bn) through its National Rail Programme, which has been designed to support rail projects in major cities and provide improved connections between urban and regional areas.

THE Australian federal government has made its strongest commitment yet to the proposed Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail route with $A 8.4bn ($US 6.2bn) in equity funding for the national infrastructure manager Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) in the 2017-2018 national budget, which was unveiled on May 9.