ALSTOM has received approval for its Coradia Lint 41 EMUs to operate in Poland. With certification already granted in the Czech Republic, the trains can be operated on cross-border services between these two countries and Germany.

ARGENTINA's Ministry of Transport is to invest Pesos 1.64bn ($US 115.5m) during the next four years to upgrade the 54km metre-gauge Belgrano North commuter rail line linking Buenos Aires Retiro with Vila Rosa.

DR Hong Soon-man, a former vice mayor of Incheon, has been named president and CEO of Korail, Korea's state-owned rail operator.

SWISS Southeast Railway (SOB) has awarded a SFr 170m ($US 175m) contract to Stadler to supply Flirt EMUs for operation on its scenic Voralpen Express route from St Gallen to Lucerne from December 2019.

MALAYSIA's Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT) has awarded two systems and two civil works contracts worth Ringgits 4.2bn ($US 1bn) related to the construction of Line 2 in Kuala Lumpur.

BRITAIN's Rail Accident Investigation Branch (Raib) says 2015 was the eighth year in a row that there were no passenger fatalities resulting from train accidents, and that Britain's railways remain among the safest in Europe.

LOCOMOTIVE leasing company Railpool, Germany, has awarded a contract to Siemens for five additional Vectron ac multi-system locomotives, with an option for a further 10 units.

ACCORDING to Spain's minister of public works, Mrs Ana Pastor, Saudi Arabia has granted the Spanish-Saudi Al-Shoula consortium an extra 14 months to complete the Haramain high-speed project.

ROCKY Mountaineer which operates tour trains in western Canada and Washington state has awarded a contract to Stadler to build 10 double-deck passenger coaches for delivery in 2018.

BRITAIN's Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved applications by Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) and First Group to operate additional long-distance passenger services on the East Coast Main Line, but rejected an application from Great North Eastern Railway (GNER).