THE European Commission (EC) has approved the takeover of British transport operator Arriva by German Rail (DB) after an investigation concluded the deal would have no negative impact on competition. The Euros 1.9 billion transaction, which will be completed on August 27, is the largest acquisition ever made by DB and creates one of Europe's leading transport groups.

WARREN Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway says the acquisition of US Class 1 railway BNSF helped to boost earnings by 52% in the first half of this year, compared with the same period in 2009.

FREIGHT traffic in Russia has risen consistently in the first seven months of 2010 according to the latest figures from Russian Railways (RZD), which show volumes reached 688.1 million tonnes between January and July, an 11.3% increase over the same period last year.

GREATER Manchester Passenger Executive (GMPTE) has appointed the MPact-Thales consortium to design and build and maintain the Phase 3B extensions of the Metrolink light rail network.

A DECADE after plans for a high-speed line from Sydney to Canberra were abandoned, Australia's transport and infrastructure minister Mr Anthony Albanese has announced the Labor government will commission an new feasibility study if it is re-elected in national elections on August 21.

TRENITALIA has confirmed a consortium of Bombardier and AnsaldoBreda is the preferred bidder to supply a fleet of 50 high-speed trains in a deal worth around Euros 1.2 billion.

THE MAYOR of London Mr Boris Johnson officially launched London's first air-conditioned Underground train today, with the entry into commercial service of Bombardier S-Stock trains on the Metropolitan Line.

PLANS to build a new underground central station and connecting lines in Stuttgart have suffered a setback after it emerged the total cost of the project has increased by Euros 865 million.

At the end of this year Australia will see its largest privatisation since the mid-1990s, when Queensland Rail (QR) will float its freight business, QR National, on the Sydney stock exchange. QR CEO Lance Hockridge explains to Keith Barrow why the sale is vital to the future of the company.

FOR the first time, the leading US trade associations are joining forces to stage a combined exhibition called Railway Interchange 2011. This will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center on September 18-21 2011. The event will occupy nearly 28,000m2 indoors, plus 2.5km of track at Canadian Pacific's Humboldt Yard to display rolling stock and equipment. A bus shuttle will link the two sites.