In order to compete effectively in a 21st century economy and society, railway infrastructure managers must be ready to embrace new innovations and technologies to reinvent the service on offer, argues Infrabel CEO Luc Lallemand.

BRUSSELS Transport (Stib) has awarded a consultancy contract to a consortium of Systra, Geste and Tractebel to assist with the introduction of communications-based train control (CBTC) on metro lines 1 and 5.

THE Belgian city of Liége moved an important step closer to the start of construction on its light rail network on February 10, when the Eurostat, the European Union’s supervisory body for public accounting standards, informed Wallonia Regional Transport (SRWT) that it has approved the PPP concession structure for the project.

BOMBARDIER announced on June 20 that it will provide six Traxx MS multi-system electric locomotives to Captrain Germany for cross-border freight transport in Europe, mainly in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

BELGIAN light rail operator De Lijn has selected CAF as preferred bidder for a contract to supply 146 low-floor LRVs for Antwerp, Ghent and the West Flanders coastal line.

THE board of Wallonia Regional Transport (SWRT) has shortlisted three bidders for a concession to build and operate the first light rail line in Liège.

EUROSTAR has submitted an official notification to the Belgian rail regulator for its planned London - Amsterdam services, including details of the proposed timetable for the route.

A total of 57.9 billion urban public transport journeys were made in the European Union (EU) in 2014 according to a study released by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) on June 20, its highest level since 2000.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has exercised a second and final option with Bombardier for eight additional class 186 Traxx multi-system electric locomotives, taking its fleet to 45 units.

FAIVELEY Transport has been awarded contracts by Bombardier worth in excess of €60m to supply components for 355 M7 double-decker coaches being supplied by the Bombardier-Alstom consortium to Belgian National Railways (SNCB).