RAILFREIGHT capacity on lines into the port of Hamburg will be increased significantly on December 13 following the completion of infrastructure upgrades which will enable maximum train lengths to be increased from 740m to 835m.

POLISH rolling stock manufacturer Newag confirmed on December 10 that it has been awarded a five-year framework contract by Italian regional operator South East Railways (FSE) for up to 15 standard-gauge EMUs, with an initial €20.2m order for five trains.

EVRAZ ZSMK has been granted a Technical Specification for Interoperability (TSI) certificate for its new type 54 E1 rails.

AUSTRALIAN railfreight operator Aurizon has signed an agreement with NSW Ports to operate the Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre (ILC) in Western Sydney and lease the land at the site, enabling the company to accelerate growth plans for its intermodal freight business.

THE United Arab Emirates Federal Transport Authority (FTA) granted Etihad Rail final safety authorisation on December 10 for the 264km Shah - Habshan - Ruwais line, clearing the way for the start of commercial operations on the first phase of the country's national railway network.

INDIAN Railways (IR) has issued a call for domestic tenders for the supply of a fleet of 14,777 freight wagons of six different types.

TRENITALIA has placed a €190m order with Hitachi Rail Italy (formerly AnsaldoBreda) for 136 additional Vivalto push-pull double-deck regional coaches.

IN a surprise announcement by Bombardier, Mr Laurent Troger has been appointed president of Bombardier Transportation with immediate effect succeeding Dr Lutz Bertling, who is stepping down to pursue other career opportunities.

SIEMENS Mobility Austria CEO Mr Arnulf Wolfram officially handed over the first of 101 Cityjet EMUs for Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) to the company's head of local and regional transport Mr Klaus Garstenauer and project manager Mr Thomas Grasl in a ceremony at Vienna Main Station on December 4.

GERMAN chancellor Mrs Angela Merkel and minister for transport and digital infrastructure Mr Alexander Dobrindt joined German Rail (DB) CEO Dr Rüdiger Grube Thuringia state minister-president Mr Bodo Ramelow and his Saxon counterpart Mr Stanislaw Tillich to inaugurate the 123km €2.74bn Erfurt - Leipzig/Halle high-speed line (VDE 8.2) on December 9.