RAIL freight in the Netherlands continued to make a strong recovery in 2015, according to statistics published by the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) on June 21, which show overall volumes increased by 7% compared with 2014 to 42 million tonnes.

AFTER being out of action for over four years, Peru's only international railway, which connects the southern town of Tacna with Arica in northern Chile, restarted operations on June 1.

VR Transpoint has launched a collaboration with Innofreight, Austria, to develop a new type of freight wagon, named Finnowagon, for rail logistics in Finland, the aim being to create a more flexible service for rail logistics customers.

THE premier of the Australian state of New South Wales Mr Mike Baird announced on June 20 that the state government will commit $A 12bn ($US 8.9bn) towards the Sydney Metro project over the next four years, with both stages now fully-funded.

THE government of Cuba signed a €190m loan agreement with the Export Insurance Agency of Russia (Exiar) during last-week's St Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will be used by Cuban Union Railways (UFC) to finance the modernisation of its locomotive fleet.

THE Municipality of Naples announced on June 17 that it has selected CAF as preferred bidder for a contract worth around €98m to supply 10 six-car trains for metro Line 1.

STADLER Minsk has completed delivery of an order for five Kiss double-deck EMUs for Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), with the final two sets completing their journey to Baku this week.

MUNICH-based leasing company Mitsui Rail Capital Europe (MRCE) has awarded Siemens a contract to supply 10 additional Vectron MS electric locomotives, taking its Vectron fleet to 66 units.

THE United States Department of Transportation has awarded a Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (Tifia) loan of $US 874.6m to Purple Line Transit Partners for the $US 2bn Maryland Purple Line light rail public-private partnership (PPP) project.

THE prime minister of Canada, Mr Justin Trudeau, and the premier of British Columbia (BC), Ms Christy Clark, announced in Vancouver on June 16 the $C 900m ($US 697m) of additional funding will be made available for transport improvements in the province.