THE French government has adopted four key measures designed to reform the operation of the national rail network to prepare France for new European Union legislation on open access, to streamline operations, to obtain better value for money, and to boost exports.

VEOLIA has today announced its intention to sell its transport business as part of a plan to dispose of up to Euros 5bn worth of assets in the next two years. The French company is under pressure to stem a slump in its share price in the wake of two successive profit warnings.

FRENCH President Mr Nicholas Sarkozy today joined Mr Jean-Paul Huchon, president of Ile-de-France Transport Authority (Stif) and Mr Pierre Mongin, director general of Paris Transport Authority (RATP) to mark the launch of the MI09 emus into passenger service on Paris RER Line A.

FRANCE's minister for ecology, sustainable development, transport and housing Mrs Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, French National Railways (SNCF) president Mr Guillaume Pepy, and Mr Hubert du Mesnil, president of French Rail Network (RFF) today officially inaugurated two new stations on the 140km Rhine-Rhône high-speed line, ahead of the launch of commercial services over the route on Sunday.