ITALIAN civil engineering company, Condotte, has appointed Pöyry, Finland, to carry out rock and tunnel engineering for construction of a section of the Follo Line in Norway.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has agreed the second phase of a cooperation protocol with Indian Railways (IR) signed in April 2015 for a pilot project to upgrade two stations.

DESPITE the expansion of the number of private rail operators in Europe, state funding still makes up 88% of rolling stock procurement.

SINGPAORE Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded contracts with a total value of around $S 948m ($US 663m) to construct three underground stations on the East Coast section of the Thomson East Coast Line (TEL).

ETIHAD Rail confirmed on January 26 that it has suspended tendering for the construction of the second phase of the UAE's national railway network in a move which is likely to deal a significant blow to the GCC Railway project.

MTR Corporation MTR Nordic announced on January 25 that it will take full control of the company responsible for maintaining Stockholm's metro train fleet after reaching an agreement with Mantena, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Norwegian State Railways (NSB) to acquire its 50% stake in Tunnelbaneteknik Stockholm (TBT).

SPANISH national train operator Renfe has shortlisted six manufacturers for a framework contract to supply and maintain a new fleet of high-speed trains.

THE slowdown in China's economic growth has translated into a significant year-on-year decline in rail freight volumes, according to official data released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on January 26.

ALGIERS Metro Company (EMA) has awarded a consortium of Colas Rail and Algerian partner Kou GC has two contracts with a total value of €168m for work on two extensions of the Algiers metro network.