IRJ at the 1520 rail business forum: RUSSIAN leasing company Brunswick Rail has signed a partnership agreement in Sochi with Novokuznetsk Car-Building Enterprise (NCBE) to design and manufacture gondola freight wagons.

AUSTRALIAN locomotive manufacturer UGL has won four contracts to supply and maintain 38 diesel-electric locomotives to four railfreight operators. The total value of the four contracts is $A 190m ($US 198m).

IRJ at Strategic Partnership 1520: RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) plans to build a dedicated high-speed line from Moscow to St Petersburg in time for the 2018 soccer World Cup have been postponed.

IRJ at Strategic Partnership 1520: RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) expects to issue a feasibility study for the proposed 1520mm-gauge line to Vienna by the end of this year.

A CONSORTIUM of CR Almeida, Santa Bárbara Construções, CAF Brasil, MagnaEngenharia and Astep Engenharia had been selected as preferred bidder for the contract to build the first light rail line in the Brazilian city of Cuiaba.

TURKISH State Railways (TCDD) plans to invite tenders within the next 40 days for its first 300km/h trains. It is negotiating a €180m loan from the Islamic Development Bank in order to procure a batch of seven trains.

TRANSNET CEO Mr Brian Molefe has warned the South African government of several risks that could hamper the group's Rand 300bn investment programme, which forms the core of the government's infrastructure development plan.

RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) has begun testing the first of 38 Siemens Desiro Rus emus ordered by Russian Railways for expanded rail services in the Sochi region during the Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in 2014.

PARIS Transport Authority subsidiary RATP Dev has formed a joint venture with Algiers Metro (EMA) and Algiers Public Transport (ETUSA) to operate and maintain light rail lines in Algerian cities.

A GROUNDBREAKING ceremony will be held in Phoenix today to mark the start of construction on Phoenix Valley Metro’s 5km Central Mesa extension.