THE first services have operated over the $A 291m ($US 260m) Seaford extension in South Australia, coinciding with the introduction of the first electric suburban services on the Adelaide Metro network.

GREATER Wellington Regional Council has sold 34 redundant class EM emus built by Ganz-Mavag, Hungary, in 1982, to an unnamed buyer in South Africa, which will refurbish the trains for re-use in Africa.

ANNOUNCING financial and operating results for the first half of its 2013-2014 financial year, Australian rail and port operator Asciano, the parent company of the PN Coal and PN Rail freight businesses, says it will undertake a major restructuring and reintegration of these two divisions from July 1.

NEW South Wales minister for transport Mrs Gladys Berejiklian announced on February 14 that three bidders have been shortlisted for the main contract to design, finance, build, operate, and maintain Sydney's $A 1.6bn ($US 1.5bn) CBD and South East Light Rail line.

SYDNEY suburban rail operator Sydney Trains has awarded DeltaRail, Britain, a contract to supply an automated wheel and brake monitoring system, which will be deployed at various locations around the network as part of its asset condition monitoring strategy.

AUSTRALIAN rolling stock supplier Bradken could face a fine of up to $A 850,000 ($US 756,000) for overseeing the import of two diesel locomotives from CSR Ziyang, China, that were subsequently found to be contaminated with asbestos.

THE latest SCI Rail Business Index regarding the current and expected business environment, based on a survey of top managers from around 100 representative companies from the global rail industry, reveals a cautiously optimistic outlook for 2014.

GOLDLINQ, the consortium building the first light rail line in Gold Coast, Australia, confirmed on December 20 that it had laid the final section of track on the 13km link between Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach.

AUSTRALIA's deputy prime minister and minister for infrastructure and regional redevelopment Mr Warren Truss launched a report entitled Opportunities for greater passenger rolling stock procurement efficiency during his federal government address at the AusRail Plus congress in Sydney today.

AUSTRALIA's former deputy prime minister Mr John Anderson has officially launched the Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation (ACRI) at the World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR) which opens today in Sydney.