TESTS of on-board functionality of ETCS Baseline 3, conducted on an operational line fitted with Baseline 2 ETCS in Switzerland during the second half of April, have successfully demonstrated the backward compatibility of the two versions of software, says Siemens.

GE Transportation and PowerTrunk, a subsidiary of Teltronic, Spain, have signed an agreement to provide North of Colombia Railways (Fenoco) with an Incremental Train Control System (ITCS) over a digital Tetra radio network.

SPANISH infrastructure manager Adif this week confirmed that high-speed trains have finally been authorised to use ERTMS in commercial operation on the 165km Albacete – Alicante high-speed line, which was opened in June 2013.

NORWEGIAN infrastructure manager Jernbaneverket has awarded Windhoff, Germany, a contract to supply 11 self-propelled track and catenary maintenance vehicles.

SPAIN's high-speed rail infrastructure manager Adif-AV this week opened the tendering process for a €313.8m contract to install, commission and maintain signalling on the Madrid-Portugal high-speed line.

RIO Tinto is to start tests of driverless heavy-haul iron ore trains on the Tom Price railway in the Pilbara region of Western Australia this month as it moves towards completion of its AutoHaul automation project.

SINGAPORE's Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded contracts worth a total of $S 1.15bn ($US 915.8m) for the Thomson and Eastern Region metro projects, including a $S 159m contract to GE Transportation for a fully automated and driverless communications-based train control (CBTC) system.

THE board of Adif, Spain's infrastructure manager, has placed a €54m contract with Siemens Rail Automation and Thales to equip the Pajares bypass with Spain's Asfa ATP system, ERTMS and associated signalling and telecommunications equipment.

SPAIN's infrastructure manager Adif has awarded a €410m contract to Alstom to install ERTMS Level 2 signalling on 310km of high-speed line in northern Spain and to maintain the equipment for 20 years.