THE German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württenberg have launched a joint tender through Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) for two concessions to operate diesel regional services in the Allgäu area.

MTR Corporation, Hong Kong, has awarded a SFr 85m ($US 13.4m) contract to Stadler, Switzerland, for six 200km/h trains for a new open-access express service to be launched in Sweden.

THE winners of the first European Rail Awards were announced at a ceremony in London on November 12 attended by around 600 delegates.

BRAZILIAN railfreight operator MRS Logistics has announced third quarter volumes increased 17.6% year-on-year to a record 42.9 million tonnes, largely thanks to increasing iron-ore traffic.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has appointed a joint venture of Newrest and Elior to revitalise catering on its TGV services and has set up a new catering business unit.

THE Greek government has secured a €1m grant from the European Union (EU) TEN-T Programme to help fund a series of studies into the construction of a new 43km single-track line from Toxotes Xanthi on the existing Thessaloniki – Alexandroupoli line to the Aegean port of Kavala.

THE supervisory board of Czech Railways (CD) has approved the purchase up to 80 long-distance coaches from Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) in a deal worth up to CKr 413m ($US 20.5m).

SAUDI Railways Organisation (SRO) has invited bids from consultants to study options for a high-speed line between the capital Riyadh and the Gulf port of Dammam.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) has launched the procurement process for its first electric trains by issuing a request for information (RFI) from potential suppliers of locomotives and multiple units.

BHP Billiton has abandoned previously-announced plans for a 250km single-user standard-gauge railway linking its Bowen Basin coalfields in northern Queensland with expanded port facilities at Abbott Point.