FINNISH open-access operator Fennia Rail has awarded CZ Loko, Czech Republic, a contract to supply three 1524mm-gauge six-axle type 774.7F diesel locomotives, which it will use to launch freight operations in Finland at the end of next year.

SAUDI transport minister Mr Jabara Al-Seraisry confirmed on November 24 that trial operation will begin "early next year" on the first completed section of the 450km Haramain high-speed line from Medina to Jeddah and Mecca.

THE Beijing municipal government, Beijing MTR Corporation, and the three shareholders of Beijing MTR signed a letter of intent during the Beijing Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium on November 26 to initiate a concession agreement for Part B of the Beijing metro Line 16 public-private partnership project.

SIEMENS and Tisséo, the operator of the VAL light metro in Toulouse, are to conduct a three-year study of the adhesion of rubber-tyred metro trains with a view to improving their safety.

A new fleet of Chinese-built suburban EMUs entered service on Buenos Aires' Mitre Line on November 25, replacing life-expired rolling stock with an average age of more than 50 years.

A CONSORTIUM led by CAF, Spain, has been chosen by Mexico's Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT) to supply trains and equipment for a new inter-urban passenger service linking Mexico City and Toluca.

BAY Area Rapid Transit (Bart) opened its $US 484m rail extension to Oakland International Airport on November 22, a 5.1km automated peoplemover (APM) link from Coliseum station which replaces a shuttle bus service.

BRITAIN's infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has issued the Wessex Route Plan, a blueprint for the future of passenger and freight services from London Waterloo to the south and the west of England over the next 30 years.

DELAYS in delivery of Stadler Flirt EMUs for the new Nordbahn service, which is due to commence on Schleswig-Holstein's central network from Hamburg to Itzehoe and Wrist on December 14, is putting the start of operations in doubt.

BUDAPEST Transport Company (BKV) has published a tender to rebuild 222 metro cars used on Line 3 with an option to rebuild a further 42 cars.