NEW ZEALAND's national railway KiwiRail has issued a request for proposals for the operation of the Napier - Gisborne line on the east coast of the North Island.

THE Australian government and the country's railway industry have launched the Rail Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (RMCRC), a collaboration between industry organisations, research universities and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

TASRAIL, which operates the 1067mm-gauge railway on the Australian island state of Tasmania, has invited bids by August 5 for a contract to renew sleepers and rails on parts of its 638km network.

PERTH's Forrestfield-Airport Link took an important step towards the start of construction on July 13, when Western Australia's Environmental Protection Authority recommended the $A 2.2bn ($US 2bn) project for conditional approval.

NEW South Wales (NSW) state minister for transport and infrastructure Mr Andrew Constance confirmed on July 9 that four suppliers have been shortlisted to bid for a contract to supply 65 eight-car inter-city EMUs.

SUNSHINE Coast, Australia, is to carry out further studies into the development of a light rail network after a public consultation revealed 87% of residents endorse the project.

ASCIANO, the parent company of one of Australia's largest railfreight operators Pacific National (PN), confirmed on July 1 that it has been approached by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management in a $A 8.8bn ($US 6.8bn) takeover bid.

THE New South Wales (NSW) state government has allocated funding for rail projects in its 2015-16 budget as part of its plan to increase infrastructure spending, with $A 38bn ($US 29.3bn) allocated over the next four years to roads and transport.

TRANSPORT for NSW, which operates the Sydney light rail network, is seeking a buyer for its fleet of six Variotram LRVs which are being replaced by new vehicles supplied by CAF, Spain.

THE final section of the Australian state of Victoria's $A 3.65bn ($US 2.8bn) Regional Rail Link was officially completed on June 14 paving the way for the introduction of new high-frequency timetable on June 21.