GERMAN Rail (DB) railfreight subsidiary DB Schenker Rail opened its new centralised European Operations Centre (EOC) in Frankfurt on June 2, bringing control of its operations in 15 countries under one roof.

VEOLIA Transport Germany has awarded German Rail (DB) subsidiary DB Vehicle Maintenance a six-year contract to carry out heavy maintenance on 78 DMUs, which are used on regional services across Germany.

GERMAN infrastructure manager DB Networks has taken delivery of the first of five new Multi Tasker heavy cranes from Kirow, Germany.

RHINE-RUHR Transport Authority (VRR) announced on April 11 that it has awarded German Rail (DB) subsidiary DB Regio NRW an interim contract to operate the future Rhine-Ruhr Express (RRX) network between December 2016 and December 2018.

GERMAN Rail's (DB) Ebit for 2013 fell by €472m, or 17.4% compared with 2012, to €2.2bn, despite sales remaining stable at €39.1bn compared with €39.3bn in 2012.

ETIHAD RAIL, the company responsible for developing and operating the railway network in the UAE, has signed a joint venture agreement with German Rail (DB) subsidiary DB Schenker Rail to operate and maintain the system.

ISRAEL's National Transport Infrastructure Company has awarded a Shekels 800m ($US 230m) contract for infrastructure works on three new lines to a consortium of Israeli companies Shikun & Binui and Leisco and German Rail (DB) subsidiary DB Bahnbau.

GERMAN Rail has signed a €146m contract with Bombardier for 29 class 442 Talent 2 suburban emus as part of a framework deal for up to 321 trains, which was agreed in 2007.

DB REGIO has placed a second order worth €30m for nine Link dmus from Polish supplier Pesa as part of a framework contract for up to 470 trains, which was signed in September 2012.

THE German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMVIT) has launched a programme of inspections on the German Rail (DB) network with the aim of establishing the true condition of the country's railway infrastructure assets.