AVES One announced on August 22 that it will acquire ERR Rail Rent Vermietungs and 33.3% of the shares in parent company European Rail Rent (ERR).

THE board of Danish State Railways (DSB) has approved a proposal to acquire 26 electric locomotives to replace the fleet of class ME diesel locomotives built by Henschel in 1981-85.

CANADIAN mining company KWG Resources announced on August 22 that it has signed a framework strategic cooperation agreement with China Railway First Survey and Design Institute Group (FSDI) to carry out a bankable feasibility study for a multi-user railway linking mines in northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire region to a junction with Canadian National’s (CN) Winnipeg - Nakina - Sudbury main line at Exton.

THE split up of Australian logistics and transport specialist Asciano, parent company of major rail freight operator Pacific National (PN), was initiated on August 19 following shareholder approval and signing off by the relevant regulatory authorities.

AMTRAK, the US long-distance passenger train operator, has appointed Mr Wick Moorman to succeed Mr Joe Boardman as president and CEO with effect from September 1.

CZECH Railways (ČD) announced on August 22 that it is introducing two open coach types on its Prague – Ústi nad Labem – Dĕčín – Berlin – Hamburg – Kiel route.

LONDON Underground (LU) launched 24 hour weekend operation on its Central and Victoria lines on August 19 when more than 50,000 passengers took advantage of the Night Tube service.

THE first two class 45-000 six-axle diesel locomotives for Transnet Freight Rail, South Africa, were officially handed over by CRRC Coropration vice president Mr Sun Yongcai, at a ceremony in Durban on August 11.

INDIAN Railways (IR) is exploring options to extricate itself from a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) precondition that binds it to acquire rolling stock and systems equipment from Japanese companies, after talks with a Kawasaki-led consortium over the acquisition of 200 freight locomotives broke down.