LISBON commuter rail operator Fertagus has awarded a contract to Emef, Portugal, for part of the heavy maintenance of its fleet of 18 UQE3500-series trains starting at the Entroncamento workshop from September.

A full-size mock-up of the forthcoming Alstom Metropolis train for Guadalajara metro Line 3 was unveiled in the city’s northern district of Zapopan on August 9 by Mr Rodolfo Guadalajara Gutiérrez, managing director of metro operator Siteur, and the governor of the Mexican state of Jalisco Mr Aristóteles Sandoval Díaz.

TRELLEBORG, Sweden, announced the acquisition of Schwab Vibration Control, a manufacturer of vibration control components and system solutions, on August 10.

BRITAIN’s Department for Transport (DfT) announced on August 10 that Abellio has been selected as preferred bidder for the new East Anglia franchise, which begins in October, in a deal which includes more frequent and faster services and wholesale renewal of the train fleet within four years.

SCHLESWIG-Holstein transport authority NAH.SH invites bids by September 9 for a contract to supply and maintain a fleet of multiple units which will initially be used on mainly non-electrified lines.

GOLDSCHMIDT Thermit Group announced on August 9 that it has acquired Swedish road-rail vehicle company SRS Sjölanders for an undisclosed sum.

METROPOLITAN Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (Marta) has issued requests for information by August 30 for a fleet of new trains and for the life-extension of two-thirds of its existing fleet.

CHINA Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has signed a Taka 276.5bn ($US 3.5bn) contract on August 8 with the Bangladeshi government to build a new east-west railway via the 6.2km road-rail Padma Bridge.

THE Infrastructure Committee of the Philippines National Economic Development Authority (Neda) has approved the adoption of standard gauge for all future railway projects in the country.

TRANSPORT for New South Wales (TfNSW) has appointed Downer EDI as managing contractor for the Newcastle light rail project.