THE 5.6km extension of the Sydney's light rail network to Dulwich Hill was formally opened on March 27 by New South Wales state premier Mr Barry O'Farrell and minister for transport Mrs Gladys Berejiklian.

THE government of the Australian state of New South Wales launched a tender on March 24 for a contract to reopen the so-called Cowra Lines, which link Blayney on the Sydney – Dubbo line with Demondrille on the Sydney – Melbourne line.

CSR Qishuyan Locomotive Company, China, has completed a batch of five SDA2 diesel locomotives, which will be used by Pacific National (PN), Australia, on the 1067mm-gauge heavy-haul coal network in central Queensland.

AUSTRALIA's federal government and the state of Queensland have agreed to investigate the possibility of incorporating the residual Queensland Rail (QR) narrow gauge regional rail network into the national network.

THE first services have operated over the $A 291m ($US 260m) Seaford extension in South Australia, coinciding with the introduction of the first electric suburban services on the Adelaide Metro network.

ANNOUNCING financial and operating results for the first half of its 2013-2014 financial year, Australian rail and port operator Asciano, the parent company of the PN Coal and PN Rail freight businesses, says it will undertake a major restructuring and reintegration of these two divisions from July 1.

NEW South Wales minister for transport Mrs Gladys Berejiklian announced on February 14 that three bidders have been shortlisted for the main contract to design, finance, build, operate, and maintain Sydney's $A 1.6bn ($US 1.5bn) CBD and South East Light Rail line.

SYDNEY suburban rail operator Sydney Trains has awarded DeltaRail, Britain, a contract to supply an automated wheel and brake monitoring system, which will be deployed at various locations around the network as part of its asset condition monitoring strategy.

AUSTRALIAN rolling stock supplier Bradken could face a fine of up to $A 850,000 ($US 756,000) for overseeing the import of two diesel locomotives from CSR Ziyang, China, that were subsequently found to be contaminated with asbestos.

GOLDLINQ, the consortium building the first light rail line in Gold Coast, Australia, confirmed on December 20 that it had laid the final section of track on the 13km link between Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach.