BOLIVIA’s Andean Railway (FCA) has awarded a contract to Stadler for three metre-gauge South American Light (Sali) locomotives for operation in Bolivia and neighbouring South American countries.

THE Argentine government has announced that it will not renew the contract held by operator Ferrovías for the 54km metre-gauge Belgrano North commuter line from Retiro Belgrano station to Villa Rosa despite Ferrovías’ application for a contract extension.

Regional editor Ian Thomson-Newman reports from the Rail LatAm conference held in Santiago in November, on the latest developments in Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

BRAZIL’s Ministry of Cities has authorised the Federal District government to proceed with a Reais 333.4m ($US 103m) project to upgrade and extend Brasilia’s metro network.

GE Transportation has commissioned a moving assembly line for locomotives at its Contagem plant in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, which according to the manufacturer will reduce lead times by around 20%.

PROPOSALS for two separate projects to improve passenger and freight links between the Chilean capital Santiago and nearby cities on the Pacific coast were unveiled in early January.

THE Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro has started construction of Line 3 of the Porto Maravilha light rail network, which is being developed by Rio’s Port Urban Development Company (CDURP).

FOLLOWING several years of struggle, Brazil’s difficult economic situation finally appears to be coming to a head, bringing much-needed relief to the country’s embattled railway industry. After all, demand for freight wagons and locomotives is linked to the performance of the rail freight business. But with the recovery now underway, and with the renewal of freight concessions starting, more money is likely to be available to invest in new equipment.

THE Viamobilidade consortium, led by CCR Group, won an auction on January 19 for the 20-year concession for São Paulo metro Line 5-Lilac and monorail Line 17-Gold.

ARGENTINA’s Ministry of Transport published a resolution in the Official Gazette of the Republic on December 29 confirming its intention to award CRRC Qingdao Sifang a $US 316.5m contract to supply 200 EMU cars for the Buenos Aires suburban network.