WORK will start on August 22 on upgrading the cross-border rail link between Heerlen, Netherlands and Aachen, Germany.

BELGIAN infrastructure manager Infrabel has finally signed a €510m contract for the rollout of ETCS Level 2 across 36% of Belgium's mainline network, almost a year after selecting a consortium of Siemens and Cofely Fabricom, Belgium, as preferred bidder.

BELGIAN public transport operator De Lijn has exercised an option worth €97m with Bombardier for 40 additional Flexity 2 low-floor LRVs, which will be used on the metre-gauge tram networks in Antwerp and Ghent.

BELGIAN National Railways (SNCB) marked the launch of a €147m project to refurbish its fleet of 44 AM75 EMUs on May 21, when CEO Mr Jo Cornu unveiled the first modernised train at the company's workshops in Mechelen.

A cross-party Dutch parliamentary committee, set up in December 2013 to investigate the V250 Fyra high-speed train fiasco, will start public hearings on May 18 which will continue until June 12.

THE European Union's TEN-T programme will provide more than €15m to support the deployment of the European Train Control System (ETCS) on rolling stock in three member states: Belgium, Denmark and Luxembourg. All the projects will be completed by the end of the year.

BELGIAN Railways (SNCB) freight business SNCB Logistics will be 66.6% owned by independent European private equity group Argos Soditic following an investment of €70m structured as a capital increase in the company.

THE LAST of 220 Bombardier Flexity Outlook low-floor LRVs for Brussels Transport Authority (Stib) was officially handed over on March 17 in the presence of Brussels regional mobility minister Mr Pascal Smet Stib CEO Mr Brieuc de Meeûs.