ESTONIAN passenger operator Elektriraudtee unveiled in Tallinn today the first two of a fleet of 160km/h Flirt trains from Stadler.

LIGHT Rail services on the Manchester Metrolink network will be extended from Oldham Mumps via Derker to Shaw & Compton on December 16.

SIX CEOs from some of Europe's leading capital city public transport operators gathered in Rome today and signed a declaration calling for European governments to invest in public transport as a means of kick starting the European economy.

A joint tender by Hungarian operators MAV-Start and GySEV for 48 emus has attracted interest from eight train builders.

THE German state of Bavaria, through its transport authority Bavarian Railways (BEG), has called for bids for the operation of passenger rail services on the Weissenhorn – Senden – Ulm line under a three-year concession.

BRITISH West Coast Main Line operator Virgin Trains has extended its contract with Bombardier until March 2016 to maintain its fleet of Super Voyager diesel trains. The contract is worth about £106m.

TENDERS have been invited by PKP Intercity, Poland, to conduct what is termed a Level 4 revision to 271 passenger coaches of 23 types. The closing date for bids is January 15.

IRELAND's Railway Procurement Agency has extended two maintenance contracts with Alstom relating to the Luas light rail network in Dublin in a deal worth €53m.

SPAIN's national train operator Renfe is ready to launch commercial services on the country's newest high-speed line next month.

QUEEN Beatrix of the Netherlands officially inaugurated the 50km Hanze Line at Lelystad station today. The queen then boarded the royal train for Zwolle stopping en route at Dronten and Kampen South.