RIDERSHIP on Israel Railways (IR) services increased for the third successive year in 2014, according to figures released by the railway on February 1, which show passenger numbers rose by 7.5% year-on-year to 48.5 million.

THE A1 high-speed rail link between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem moved one step forward on February 5, with the announcement that Electra Bögl JV group has been awarded the Shekels 755m ($US 195m) contract to design, build, and maintain the track and systems of the A1's tunnels and bridges.

KUWAIT's Municipal Council approved construction of the Kuwaiti section of the Gulf States Railway at an extraordinary meeting on January 22.

A feasibility study into the construction of a second causeway between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which will include the first rail link to Bahrain, will be completed in the first quarter of this year.

The reliable operation of diesel locomotives in desert conditions demands specific adaptations to cope with extreme temperatures, low humidity, and sand ingress. David Babinec, locomotive model line manager for EMD explains the development of motive power for some of the toughest environments on earth.

TENDERING for the civil works contract for the first phase of Oman's national railway network will conclude with the submission of bids on January 18, and a winning bidder is due to be announced by the middle of the year.

DELEGATES at this week's Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Rail and Metro conference, hosted by the Oman Ministry and Transport and Communications and the GCC Council, have agreed to prepare a detailed study for the creation of a development fund to promote sustainability in the GCC railway sector.

TICKETING supplier Indra has signed a € 266m contract to provide all ticketing and access control infrastructure for the new public transport network currently under construction in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

ETIHAD Rail, which is developing the railway network in the United Arab Emirates, says it is close to proceeding with construction of the long-awaited second phase of its network.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) has reported a profit of Shekels 143.8m ($US 36.4m) for the first three quarters of 2014 compared with losses for the previous five years.