TRANSPORT for London (TfL) has selected Keolis Amey Docklands, a joint venture of Keolis (70%) and Amey (30%), to operate the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) automated metro network until April 2021 with an option for a two year extension.

LATVIAN passenger operator Pasazieru Vilciens (PV), has selected Stadler for a 15-year hire-purchase contract to supply 25 1520mm-gauge EMUs.

GERMANY's Federal Railway Authority (EBA) has issued an Authorisation to Place into Service for the multi-system variant of Siemens' Vectron electric locomotive.

BASQUE metre-gauge operator EuskoTren has awarded CAF a €150m contract to supply 28 three-car EMUs, which will be used on Bilbao metro Line 3 and will also replace some of the oldest trains in its current fleet.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) has awarded Harsco a SFr 100m ($US 113m) contract to supply 59 catenary maintenance and renewal vehicles, which will replace older units and expand the fleet to meet future maintenance requirements.

POMERANIAN Metropolitan Railway (PKM) has awarded Pesa Bydgoszcz a €27.5m contract to supply three two-car and seven three-car DMUs for the 17km line linking Gdansk and Gdynia with Lech Walesa Airport, which is due to open next year.

SWEDEN's Environment Ministry gave its approval on June 26 for the Västlänken suburban rail tunnel beneath Gothenburg, allowing infrastructure manager Trafikverket to develop detailed plans for the SKr 20bn ($US 2.99bn) project.

A genset locomotive is to be developed for Russia and neighbouring CIS countries following an agreement between Russia's Yakutia Railways and Molinari Rail, Switzerland.

THE NEW CEO of Netherlands Railways (NS) Mr Timo Huges, has informed the Dutch secretary of state for infrastructure Mrs Wilma Mansveld that NS will not acquire any new inter-city rolling stock before 2021.

PLANS for further extensions of the U-Bahn and tram networks in the Austrian capital were officially announced by Vienna city council on June 27.