To cope with increasing demand for rail transport in Korea, Korean Rail Network Authority is engaging in a programme of new railway construction and improvements to existing infrastructure that will enhance services provided by national operator Korail and its new private subsidiary Suseo High Speed Railway Corporation. Kevin Smith profiles the projects.

MTR Corporation's acting CEO Mr Lincoln Leong, who started his new role on August 18, has pledged to sharpen the company's focus on serving Hong Kong by introducing extra services and to deliver its new projects in a "safe and timely manner."

CHINA Railway Group launched tenders through its procurement subsidiary China Rail Investment Corporation on August 22 for two contracts to supply a total of 232 high-speed trains.

The Australian federal government has revealed that plans for a high-speed rail link along Australia's east coast are still on the drawing board following a number of high-level meetings with Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and French rail companies.

GERMAN Rail (DB) has confirmed that catenary will be energised on the Erfurt – Leipzig/Halle high-speed line (VDE8) on August 25 in readiness for the start of test operation on the 123km route at the end of this month or early next month.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) could be poised to acquire a stake in Thalys, the operator of high-speed services between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, and Essen, according to reports in the Dutch media.

THE United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) has authorised California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) to begin construction on the Fresno – Bakersfield section of the state's high-speed network.

THE steering committee of NTV approved the company's 2013 financial results at the end of July, showing the Italian open-access high-speed operator made a loss of €77m during its first full year of operation.

PROPOSALS to invest £10-15bn to enhance transport links in northern England have been announced today by the cities of Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle.

INTERNATIONAL high-speed operator Thalys enjoyed continued revenue growth in the first half of this year with increasing ridership on its core routes from Paris to Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne and the successful launch of Amsterdam – Lille services in April.