Billed as the world's largest track technology event, this month's IAF exhibition in Münster, Germany, will play host to more than 200 exhibitors from 21 countries. David Briginshaw gives a taste of what visitors can expect to see.

An onboard track monitoring system developed by Ensco, United States, is helping to eliminate the use of track geometry recording vehicles and on-track inspectors, potentially saving time and money. Jeff Stevens, deputy division manager at Ensco, profiles the system.

Tests of a new continuous rail turnout concept, which was recently commissioned on a BNSF line in Texas, has the potential to reduce maintenance costs and improve safety, as David Davis, senior scientist and Rafael Jimenez, senior engineer at Transportation Technology Centre Inc, United States, explain.

PREQUALIFICATION bids are invited by Quito Metro by May 27 for phase 2 of a $US 1.5bn project to build the first metro line in the Ecuadorian capital. Construction is underway of the 22.5km, 15-station line following the award in November 2012 of a contract for phase 1 to Acciona Infrastructure, Spain.

Britain's infrastructure manager Network Rail is in the midst of a huge investment programme to modernise the railway and expand capacity, while at the same time trying to reduce costs. David Briginshaw talks exclusively to Network Rail's CEO Sir David Higgins about the challenges the organisation faces.

THE PCM Group, India, has acquired Rail.One, Germany, bringing to an end the latter's search for a strategic investor.

CRM-Vossloh Track Maintenance, a joint venture between Vossloh Rail Services and CRM, China, has secured a contract with the operator of the Beijing - Shanghai high-speed line to provide its High Speed Grinding (HSG) service.

ATC, a joint venture of Alstom, Costain, and TSO, has been selected as preferred bidder for a contract to fit out 21km of tunnels for London's new Crossrail east-west link, the final major construction contract to be awarded for the core section of the route.

THE Brazilian subsidiary of VAE is putting the finishing touches to its new turnout plant at Bacabeira, in Maranhão state, which is due to begin production in May.

SPANISH infrastructure manager Adif and Alstom have signed an agreement to develop a new dual-gauge signalling system for 1668mm-gauge and 1435mm-gauge trains operating on the same tracks.