A lack of electrification on German cross-border rail routes is making it difficult for rail to compete with heavy goods vehicles (HGV) for a bigger market share of international freight movements through the country, the Berlin-based Pro-Rail Alliance (APS) says.

SWEDEN’s deputy prime minister and climate minister Mrs Isabella Lövin and infrastructure minister Mr Tomas Eneroth unveiled the 2018-2029 National Plan for the Transport System on June 1, outlining how the government will spend SKr 712.5bn ($US 81.4bn) on the country’s road, rail, aviation and port infrastructure over the next decade.

THE Rail Baltica joint venture company of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, RB Rail, invites bids by July 4 for a study into the procurement and deployment strategy for the development of a single concept for the energy system for the entire project.

MODERNISATION of the Preston - Blackpool North line reached a milestone on May 14 when a Virgin Trains class 390 Pendolino EMU became the first electric train to operate under its own power over the 27km route.

INFRASTRUCTURE Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a request for qualification (RFQ) to design-build, finance, operate and maintain the GO Rail expansion project, a key element of the region’s $C 21.3bn ($US 16.6bn) Go Expansion (RER) rail network upgrade programme.

A report released on March 29 by Britain’s National Audit Office has concluded that the Department for Transport’s (DfT) cancellation of three major electrification projects in July 2017 was motivated solely by cost, countering secretary of state for transport, Mr Chris Grayling’s, claims at the time that bi-mode trains could offer similar benefits to passengers.

POWERLINES Group, Austria, has acquired the 50% stake held by Carillion in the Carillion-Powerlines joint venture, increasing its holding to 100% of the company, which is working with Network Rail on the Midland Main Line and Edinburgh - Shotts - Glasgow electrification projects.

GERMANY’s Federal minister for transport and digital infrastructure, Mr Andreas Scheuer, attended a groundbreaking ceremony at Memmingen on March 23 to mark the official launch of electrification works on the Munich - Lindau line.

THE transport minister of Rwanda, Mr Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye and his Tanzanian counterpart, Mr Makame Mbarawa, agreed on March 9 to electrify the planned 407km standard-gauge line linking Isaka in Tanzania with the Rwandan capital Kigali.

SPAIN’s infrastructure manager Adif expected to receive bids on February 19 for a €34.3m contract to electrify the final Salamanca - Fuentes de Oñoro section of the main line which connects Medina del Campo with the Portuguese border.