THE Indian government has approved plans by the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) for new metro networks in Varanasi and Kanpur which should enable construction to start by the end of this year. The UP government allocated Rs 500m ($US 7.4m) to each city in its latest budget.

DENMARK's largest rail freight operator DB Cargo Scandinavia (DBCS) has warned it could be forced to pull out of the market because of the cost of equipping its locomotives with ETCS.

SHANGHAI Shentong Metro Group has awarded a €46m contract to Alstom to modernise 68 metro cars operating on Line 5 of the Shanghai metro and to supply traction equipment for 198 new cars.

THE Norwegian government has approved the financial plan for infrastructure manager Jernbaneverket's national ERTMS rollout as part of its 2016 budget, which was announced on May 11.

ARGENTINA's Ministry of Transport is to invest Pesos 1.64bn ($US 115.5m) during the next four years to upgrade the 54km metre-gauge Belgrano North commuter rail line linking Buenos Aires Retiro with Vila Rosa.

MALAYSIA's Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT) has awarded two systems and two civil works contracts worth Ringgits 4.2bn ($US 1bn) related to the construction of Line 2 in Kuala Lumpur.

ALSTOM achieved a 12% increase in sales during its financial year which ended on March 31 rising from €6.16bn in 2014-15 to €6.88bn in 2015-16, while adjusted Ebit rose by 23% from €298m to €366m.

THE European Union moved an important step closer to harmonised safety approvals for railway equipment and operators on April 28, when the European Parliament approved the European Council's common position on the technical pillar of the Fourth Railway Package.

BRITISH infrastructure manager Network Rail NR has awarded Alstom a £79m contract to resignal the 58km London Paddington - Reading section of the Great Western Main Line.

GLOBAL mining company Rio Tinto said in its first-quarter operation review published on April 19 that its AutoHaul project to convert its Tom Price heavy-haul railway in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to driverless operation is taking longer than expected.