A €169m contract for 26 single and double-deck multiple units was signed in Ljubljana on April 17 by Slovenian Railways (SŽ) general director, Mr Dušan Mes, and Stadler Rail chairman, Mr Peter Spuhler.

THE governor of the Brazilian state of São Paulo Mr Márcio França announced on April 17 that work will resume shortly on the 4.5km extension of Paulista Metropolitan Trains Company (CPTM) Line 9 (Emerald Line) from Grajaú to Varginha, which has been halted since the end of 2016 due to delays in the transfer of federal funds.

THE first set of CAF Mk5A coaches for British operator TransPennine Express (TPE) was unveiled to the media at the Velim test centre in the Czech Republic on April 12.

GROWTH in the business market and a further rise in travellers from the United States have helped Eurostar to achieve record first-quarter ridership, according to the latest figures from the international high-speed operator.

VIA Rail Canada issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) on April 16 for a contract to supply 32 new trains to replace the current fleet on its flagship Quebec City - Windsor corridor.

GREATER Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and Metrolinx have agreed to work together on a study looking at a potential rail connection between the Regional Transit and Passenger Centre at Toronto Pearson International Airport and the Kitchener rail corridor.

SIEMENS announced on April 17 that the first painted bodyshell for the new fleet of G1 trains for Nuremberg U-Bahn Line U1 has been completed at its Simmering plant in Vienna.

THE French prime minister, Mr Edouard Philippe announced during a visit to the Bonneuil-sur-Marne freight terminal in southern Paris on April 16 that French National Railways’ (SNCF) loss-making rail freight unit Fret SNCF will be recapitalised and spun off as a separate legal entity, albeit with SNCF retaining 100% of the capital.

TRENORD, the joint venture between North Milan Railways (FNM) and Trenitalia which operates regional services in the Italian region of Lombardy has unveiled plans to refurbish 33% of its rolling stock fleet at a cost of €415m.

BRITAIN’s infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has awarded a £115m track maintenance contract to Balfour Beatty covering NR’s Anglia and South East routes.