NSW Trainlink, which operates passenger rail services in the Australian state of New South Wales, has awarded a five-year contract to Perpetuum, Britain, to install a track and ride monitoring system on XPT power cars.

THE Australian federal and Victorian state governments have awarded the McConnell Dowell and Martinus Rail joint venture a contract for stages two, three and four of the Murray Basin rail freight network revitalisation project.

SIEMENS has acquired the MRX Technologies Group, Australia, in an effort to expand its predictive maintenance offering.

THE government of the Australian state of Queensland has given approval for work to begin on Brisbane’s $A 5.4bn ($US 4.07bn) Cross River Rail project, following a commitment in the state budget to fully fund construction and allocate $A 2.8bn in funding over the next four years.

TRANSPORT for New South Wales has released the first images of completed Alstom Citadis X05 low-floor LRVs for the Sydney CBD and South East light rail line.

AMERICAN engineering, procurement and construction company KBR announced on May 15 that it has been awarded a contract to remove two level crossings in Victoria, Australia, by the Victorian government, in an alliance with John Holland, Metro Trains, and the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LCRA).

THE Australian federal government has made its strongest commitment yet to the proposed Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail route with $A 8.4bn ($US 6.2bn) in equity funding for the national infrastructure manager Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) in the 2017-2018 national budget, which was unveiled on May 9.

THE Australian federal government published its 2017-2018 budget on May 9, committing up to $A 20bn ($US 14.7bn) in current and forward investment in rail projects that it says will cut congestion in cities, provide growth in regional areas and create new employment opportunities.

THE government of the Australian state of Victoria has announced that its forthcoming state budget for 2017-18 will include current and forward investment of $A 1.45bn ($US 1.1bn) for a Regional Rail Revival package of upgrades on every regional passenger line across Victoria.

NEW South Wales transport minister Mr Andrew Constance announced on April 18 that the new light rail line in the city of Newcastle will operate without catenary for much of its length to reduce the line’s visual impact.