THE government of the Australian state of Queensland announced on November 20 that it has selected the Bombardier NGR Consortium, comprising Bombardier Australia, John Laing, Itochu Corporation, and Uberior, as preferred bidder for a contract to supply and maintain a fleet of 75 six-car EMUs.

THE Queensland state government has announced that work will start in 2015 on a $A 5bn ($US 4.8bn) project to build a double-deck tunnel under the centre of Brisbane for use by buses and trains.

BHP Billiton has abandoned previously-announced plans for a 250km single-user standard-gauge railway linking its Bowen Basin coalfields in northern Queensland with expanded port facilities at Abbott Point.

HARSCO Rail's Australian subsidiary has shipped a new Mark VI production/switch tamper and ballast regulator unit to the port of Launceston, Tasmania, for use by Tasrail on the island's 1067mm-gauge network.

An electrified commuter rail network is set to begin operating in Auckland in May 2014. Richard Worrall profiles the project's three main elements and considers the impact on the area's public transport.

The Western Australian capital city of Perth is experiencing rapid population growth which is placing ever greater demand on its public transport infrastructure. Regional editor Mark Carter considers the current state of play for the city's rapid transit ambitions.

Australia's new federal government has already approved the Inland Rail project since it came to power in September as part of its commitment to invest in infrastructure. As David Briginshaw reports, this welcome news should help to allay some fears about the new government's intentions towards rail.

NEW South Wales (NSW) minister for transport Mrs Gladys Berejiklian announced on October 15 that the state government has begun the procurement process for two contracts covering the construction, operation and maintenance of Sydney's $A 1.6bn ($US 1.5bn) CBD and South East Light Rail line.

WHITEHAVEN Coal, Australia, has selected Leighton Contractors to build a 16km railway link from the $A 767m ($US 716.8m) Maules Creek Coal project in the Gunnedah Basin in New South Wales (NSW) to the Mungindi railway, which runs from the Main North Line at Werris Creek to Mungindi in northern NSW.

A report commissioned by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) shows that passenger journeys increased by 2% in 2011-12 while freight traffic grew even more strongly recording an rise 8.2% in tonnage.