URUGUAYAN State Railways (AFE) has appointed Alta Rail Technology, Brazil, to oversee the design and implementation of a new national advanced train control system, which will replace the legacy system with cellular and satellite-based technology.

THE first two of 37 five-car trains being supplied by CAF for the expansion of the Santiago metro network was unloaded at the Chilean port of Valparaíso on April 6 following its long sea voyage from Bilbao.

THE mayor of Bogota Mr Enrique Peñalosa announced on April 4 that tendering will begin next year for the construction of the first metro line in the Colombian capital, although the specification for the project has been scaled back from previous proposals.

THE governor of São Paulo state Mr Geraldo Alckmin inaugurated Hyundai Rotem's new Brazilian rolling stock assembly plant at Araraquara on March 30.

MEXICO's Federal Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT) has awarded a consortium of Spanish and Mexican companies a Pesos 942m ($US 54.7m) contract to construct train maintenance facilities for the 57.7km Mexico City - Toluca interurban passenger line, which is due to open next year.

THE government of the Federal District of Mexico City is planning to launch tenders on March 24 for a contract to supply 15 new rubber-tyred trains for metro Line 1.

BRAZILIAN Urban Trains Company (CBTU) has unveiled proposals to expand the 56.2km diesel-operated light network in Natal, the state capital of Rio Grande do Norte, with the addition of a third line.

THE Cuban Ministry of Finance has confirmed funding for 240 new passenger coaches per year in a bid to upgrade the country's railways.

ROLLS-ROYCE is to supply 100 2200kW MTU Series 4000 diesel engines for freight locomotives in Argentina in a €30m+ deal with China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC).

UNITED States railway investment company Iowa Pacific Holdings has sold its shareholding in Andean Railways Corporation for an undisclosed sum.