THE governor of the Brazilian state of São Paulo Mr Geraldo Alckmin announced on March 28 that the state will push ahead with plans to develop an inter-city passenger rail network after receiving assurances of federal support for the project.

AUSTRIAN-Hungarian operator Györ-Sopron-Ebenfurth Railway (GySEV) has awarded Siemens a contract to supply five Vectron electric locomotives, with an option for four additional units.

THE first two-car metro train being supplied by Hitachi Rail Italy for Miami MetroRail has left the new Medley Plant in Florida after completing tests.

FINLAND’s VR Group is planning to invest more than €100m in the modernisation of its ageing fleet of diesel locomotives.

VOSSLOH announced on March 23 that it achieved increased profitability in 2016 after it focused on higher-margin projects as well as efficiency and cost management enhancements.

FERROMEX owner Grupo México confirmed in a statement to the Mexican stock exchange on March 27 that it has reached an agreement to acquire a 100% stake in Florida East Coast Railway Holding Corporation (FEC).

A project to increase capacity on Singapore’s North-South Line (NSL) reached a milestone on March 28, when Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the line’s operator SMRT launched operational trials using the newly-installed Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system.

THE federal government of Nigeria has concluded plans to borrow $US 6.1bn from the Chinese Export-Import (Exim) Bank in order to complete all of its ongoing rail projects by the end of 2019.

CANADA's federal budget for 2017 was released on March 22 and highlights the government’s continued push toward public transit projects by allocating $C 25bn ($US 18.7bn) through various avenues.

THE first Budapest metro Line M3 train to be rebuilt by Metrowagonmash, Russia, returned to passenger service on March 20 following an inaugural run for officials and the media.