FRENCH infrastructure manager SNCF Network has launched a €1bn innovation partnership called Argos to develop a new generation of computer-controlled interlockings, with Alstom, Ansaldo STS, Siemens and Thales taking part.

HE first Pop regional EMU for Trenitalia was unveiled at Alstom’s Savigliano plant in northern Italy on June 26.

WARSAW Metro has selected a consortium of Škoda Transportation and Škoda Vagonka as preferred bidders to supply 74 driving cars and 148 intermediate cars formed into 37 seven-car sets, with an option for eight additional trains - the metro’s largest-ever order for new rolling stock.

FRANKFURT Transport (VGF) has signed a contract worth around €100m with Alstom for the supply of 38 Citadis trams with special adaptations for the German market, including an option for 15 additional vehicles.

ITALY’s Puglia region signed a concession agreement with Trenitalia in Bari on June 13 to operate regional rail services. This is Italy’s first 15-year regional rail concession.

ILE-de France Mobility, which is responsible for public transport in the Paris region, has unveiled the design for its fleet of RER New Generation (NG) trains which form part of its ambitious plans to replace or renovate more than 700 trains between 2016 and 2021.

COMPLETION of the planned merger between Siemens’ Mobility division and Alstom could be delayed until from the end of 2018 until some time during the first half of 2019 due to the time needed to prepare for regulatory approval from competition authorities in several countries.

NORWAY’s infrastructure manager Bane Nor has awarded contracts worth a total of NKr 1.8bn ($US 222m) to Alstom to equip the country’s entire mainline train fleet of 467 trains of 55 different types with ERTMS and maintain it for up to 25 years.

THE ranking of the world’s largest railway equipment suppliers is set to change when the agreed merger between GE Transportation and Wabtec comes into force, according to analysis by IRJ.

SCI Verkehr says in its latest Multiple Units - Global Market Trends study that the world market for regional and suburban multiple unit trains is currently worth more than €9bn and is growing at around 9% per year, while the €8bn aftersales market has an annual growth rate of 4%.