ITALIAN State Railways (FS) has pledged a number of measures to improve conditions for open-access high-speed operators, responding to the findings of an investigation by the Italian Competition Authority, which concluded that FS subsidiaries had deliberately attempted to exclude competitor NTV from the market.

FRENCH transport minister Mr Frédéric Cuvillier announced on October 23 that the government has finalised the route and implementation schedule for the extensions of TGV Sud-Europ Atlantique (TGV SEA) to Toulouse and the Spanish border.

ARRIVA has called on the Dutch government to allow private operators to help fill the void left by the withdrawal of Fyra high-speed services between the Netherlands and Belgium.

THE first feasibility studies into the construction of a high-speed line in Indonesia could begin next year after the government reached an agreement with Japan to develop proposals for a 150km link between Jakarta and Bandung.

AFTER signing the construction contract for the initial 47km Fresno – Madera section of the state's first high-speed line, California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has invited contractors to qualify to bid for the second construction phase of the Initial Operating Section (IOS) Stage 1.

THE European Commission (EC) has launched an investigation into the use of state aid from the Dutch government for the operation of services on the HSL South high-speed line.

NORWAY's infrastructure manager, Jernbaneverket, has pre-qualified nine joint ventures and three companies from Europe and Asia to bid for two contracts for the construction of a 20km tunnel on the new 250km/h Follo line.

IRJ at Nordic Rail: SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket says plans to build the country's first high-speed line between Stockholm and Gothenburg are taking shape, with development now well underway on the Stockholm - Linköping and Borås - Gothenburg sections.

THE Court of Justice in Amsterdam has rejected a second attempt by AnsaldoBreda to obtain information from the various reports on the performance of the V250 high-speed trains from both Netherlands Railways (NS) and Belgian National Railways (SNCB).

RAIL will remain Spain's top transport priority in 2014 according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport's draft budget published last week, accounting for 51% of the total planned investment of €8.98bn. Rail spending will increase by 21% from €3.78bn this year to €4.58bn in 2014.