AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) has finalised the details of a project to quadruple the Linz - Wels section of the Vienna – Salzburg line.

ABB announced on February 5 that it has been awarded a contract worth around $US 50m to supply transformers and associated traction equipment to Bombardier for a new fleet of electric locomotives ordered by Transnet, South Africa.

ZAMBIA's new president Mr Edgar Lungu has pledged to prioritise construction of the new 590km line in the northwest of the country that will link with Angola's Benguela Railway.

ARGENTINA's Interior and Transport Ministry has concluded contracts for the resignalling of Buenos Aires' Sarmiento and Mitre suburban lines, together with the electrification of the final section of the 60km Buenos Aires Constitutión – La Plata Line.

BOMBARDIER announced on February 5 that its Traxx F140 AC3 Last Mile locomotive has received authorisation from the Swiss Federal Transport Office (BAV) for unrestricted commercial operation in Switzerland.

SWEDISH regional transport operator Skånetrafiken has awarded Alstom a SKr 1.5bn ($US 180m) contract to supply 25 additional class X61 Coradia Nordic EMUs, taking its total fleet of these trains to 99 sets.

WABTEC announced on February 4 that it has acquired US signalling contractor Railroad Controls from its parent company RCL Services Group for an undisclosed sum.

THE total value of rail equipment exported from China surged by 22.6% to Yuan 26.77bn ($US 4.38bn) last year, according to statistics released this week by the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

THE majority shareholder of Mexico's largest railfreight operator Ferromex says it is considering selling a stake in its rail business.

ROMANIAN rolling stock manufacturer Softronic and LAC Holding, Hungary, have signed an agreement to establish a locomotive assembly plant in Hungary.