THE Shift²Rail joint technology initiative published its first call for proposals on December 17, making an initial tranche of €170m in grant funding available for railway research projects in Europe.

INNSBRUCK Transport (IVB) has awarded Bombardier a contract to supply 20 Flexity 2 low-floor LRVs as part of the expansion of the Austrian city's metre-gauge tram network.

TWO Swiss metre-gauge railways - Wynental & Suhrentalbahn (WSB) and Montreux Bernese Overland (MOB) - have issued calls for tender for the supply of new trains.

ALSTOM confirmed on December 15 that it has signed a €160m contract with Hessen State Railways (HLB) to supply 30 Coradia Continental EMUs for the Südhessen-Untermain regional network in central Germany.

GERMAN Rail (DB) finally started passenger operation of its new IC2 double-deck push-pull inter-city trains with the launch of the 2016 timetable on December 13.

STADLER Rail and Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) announced on December 10 that Stadler's US subsidiary will establish a temporary manufacturing and assembly facility in the state as part of the first phase of a 15-year plan to expand the company's presence in the North American market.

METRO Jeddah invites companies to pre-qualify for tenders to supply trains and equip and fit out the Saudi city's new metro for which civil works prequalification started in July.

CANADIAN National Railway (CN) has awarded a 10-year contract to Amsted Rail to supply it with 1 million wheels.

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.