TRAIN services have been disrupted by a severe storm with winds gusting at up to 159km/h which swept across southern England in the early hours of October 28 before heading to the Netherlands en route to Denmark where it was expected to arrive later today.

BRITAIN's Department for Transport (DfT) has issued an invitation for operators to qualify to bid for the InterCity East Coast franchise, which will be let for eight or nine years with a possible two-year extension at the DfT's discretion.

PLASSER & Theurer exhibited a new Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic universal tamping machine at an open day held on October 23 at Plasser UK's maintenance depot in West London. The machine will be operated by SB Rail, Britain.

VIRGIN Trains has awarded Alstom a contract worth around €12m to upgrade its entire fleet of 56 class 390 Pendolino tilting emus, which are used on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, Manchester, and Glasgow.

BRITISH infrastructure manager Network Rail has signed contracts with three steel manufacturers to supply rails for five years with an option for a five-year extension.

THE FIRST of 20 Urbos LRVs being supplied by CAF to West Midlands transport authority Centro for the Midland Metro was formally unveiled by the leader of Birmingham City Council Sir Albert Bore at Wednesbury depot on October 16.

Following the completion of its early deployment project in Wales, Network Rail has begun preparing for the introduction of ERTMS on some of the busiest parts of the British network. Keith Barrow looks at how the programme is progressing.

TRANSPORT for Greater Manchester (TfGM) opened a 3.4km extension to the East Manchester Line of its Metrolink light rail network early. Services started running to Ashton-under-Lyne on October 9.

BRITAIN's Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded incumbent First Group a 23-month contract to continue operating the Great Western franchise, which encompasses services from London Paddington to south Wales and the south west of England, until September 2015.

KEOLIS has formed a joint venture with Eurostar International to bid for the Inter-City East Coast passenger rail franchise which covers the main linking London with Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Keolis will be the lead partner.