BRITAIN's infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has issued the Wessex Route Plan, a blueprint for the future of passenger and freight services from London Waterloo to the south and the west of England over the next 30 years.

DELAYS in delivery of Stadler Flirt EMUs for the new Nordbahn service, which is due to commence on Schleswig-Holstein's central network from Hamburg to Itzehoe and Wrist on December 14, is putting the start of operations in doubt.

BUDAPEST Transport Company (BKV) has published a tender to rebuild 222 metro cars used on Line 3 with an option to rebuild a further 42 cars.

TANZANIA Railways (TRL) has negotiated at $US 130m loan with Tanzania Investment Bank for the installation of a global positioning system (GPS) and acquisition of new locomotives.

THE government of the Brazilian state of Bahia has authorised a Reais 800m ($US 314m) financial package for the 5.5km extension of Salvador metro Line 1 from Pirajá and Águas Claras/Cajazeiras.

SAN DIEGO Association of Governments Board of Directors (Sandag) has unanimously approved the final environmental impact report for the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project, which will extend the city's light rail network north from Old Town along the Interstate 5 corridor to La Jolla and University City.

METROLINX, the regional transport authority for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton region, has awarded Alstom a contract worth more than $US 250m to resignal the 6.4km Union Station Rail Corridor (USRC).

FRENCH transport minister Mr Alain Vidalies announced on November 20 that the government will form a commission of politicians and industry experts to develop proposals for the future development of the country's loss-making network of conventional Intercity services.

BNSF announced on November 20 that it has set its 2015 capital budget for maintenance and investment at $US 6bn, around $US 400m higher than initial projections.

THE German federal government has approved a draft amendment of the federal railway act by transport minister Mr Alexander Dobrindt which is intended to pave the way for major changes in the authorisation and commissioning of new rolling stock.