IRJ at UIC ERTMS world conference Brussels. The path towards an interoperable version of ETCS Level 3 suitable for use in Europe still appears to be some way off.

STRATHCLYDE Partnership for Transport (SPT), which operates the Glasgow Subway, has awarded a £200m contract to a consortium of Stadler Bussnang and Ansaldo STS for the supply of 17 driverless trains and signalling.

THE state government of New South Wales (NSW) has announced a $A 275m ($US 203.5m) investment in the Sydney Trains Operations Centre, a centralised train control centre for the Sydney Trains suburban rail network.

IRJ at the UIC ERTMS world conference Brussels. The application of automatic train operation (ATO) in conjunction with ETCS Level 2 is being pioneered on a new line project in Mexico, well ahead of its adoption in Europe.

IRISH Rail (IE) has issued a tender for the supply of a new National Train Control Centre (NTCC), which will replace the existing Centralised Traffic Control Centre (CTCC) located at Connolly Station in Dublin, which dates from the 1970s.

BRITAIN's infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has issued a request to participate in a tender worth between £35m and £55m for the design, supply, delivery, commissioning and support and maintenance of an integrated ETCS Level 2 and traffic management system (TMS).

IRJ at UIC ERTMS World Conference Brussels. Ms Amelia Areias, policy officer, single European area, with the EC's Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG Move), told delegates there are four key principles for ERTMS.

IRJ at ERTMS World Conference Brussels. Mr Reinhard Bamberger, CEO of the rail freight task force representing 30 operators, called for ERTMS to be much simpler and more affordable.

IRJ at ERTMS World Conference. Mr Luc Lallemand, CEO of Infrabel, Belgium's infrastructure manager, called for a temporary freeze of current ETCS development so that railways can focus on deployment.

SPAIN's track authority Adif has awarded a €61m contract to Thales to maintain signalling and train control equipment on the Madrid - Cordoba -Seville, La Sagra - Toledo and Cordoba - Malaga high-speed lines.