BRITISH open-access operator Direct Rail Services (DRS) has published a prior information notice in the Official Journal of the European Union for a contract to supply 10 new mixed-traffic diesel-electric locomotives.

SPAIN’s infrastructure manager Adif has started tunnelling for a 4.5km rail link to serve both terminals at Barcelona Airport replacing the existing single-track branch line which only serves Terminal 2 on the north side of the airport.

CZECH Railways (CD) has placed an order with Škoda Transportation for nine additional class 650 RegioPanter EMUs, which will be used in the Plzen region.

BELARUSIAN Railways (BC) electric locomotives have begun operating into Lithuania following the completion of electrification on the Maladzečna - Kena line, the final section of the Minsk - Vilnius route to be energised.

BANGKOK Expressway and Metro together with C H Karnchang have awarded a contract to a consortium of Siemens and ST Electronics, Thailand, to supply trains and equip and maintain two extensions of the Blue Line.

THE Canadian government has appointed a negotiator and says it is willing to explore interim funding options or the potential sale of the Hudson Bay Railway to Churchill in order to reopen the line as soon as possible following major flood damage.

LIVERPOOL City Region transport authority Merseytravel has agreed to contribute £765,000 towards the development of plans for a new line to Skelmersdale, the second-largest town in northwest England without a rail connection.

BRAZIL will launch public consultation on September 29 for Ferrogrão, a 1142km railway linking the grain-producing region of the mid-west with the Tapajós River, a major tributary of the Amazon.

DANISH infrastructure manager Banedanmark says a DKr 55m ($US 8.8m) grant funding programme to help rail freight operators fund the installation of onboard ETCS equipment on their locomotives will come into effect on October 1.

HUNGARIAN national train operator MÁV-Start is planning to scale back international services from December due to mounting losses in the sector.