EUROSTAR moved an important step closer to the launch of its Siemens e320 Velaro (class 374) high-speed trains on October 16, when the French Railway Safety Board (EPSF) granted an authorisation to place into service (APS) enabling the fleet to operate commercially in France.

ALSTOM says that the company is now entirely focussed on rail transport following the conclusion of the sale of its energy divisions to General Electric (GE) under a deal worth €12.4bn.

THE first intermodal terminal for direct loading of lorry semitrailers between rail and ferry in France was inaugurated at the Port of Calais on October 23.

THE Société du Grand Paris, which is responsible for developing the French capital's €22.6bn 205km orbital express metro network, has awarded a second project management contract worth more than €12m to Arcadis.

NICE Côte dAzur Metropolitan Council has awarded Alstom a €91m contract to supply 19 Citadis X05 low-floor LRVs for the city's second light rail line.

A €455m financing plan for the first phase of Paris's Tram Express South tram-train line was approved by the board of Ile-de-France Transport Authority, bringing the project a step closer to construction, which is due to start in the first half of next year.

FRENCH National Railways has exercised a €56.5m option with Bombardier on behalf of the region of Midi Pyrénées for eight additional Regio 2N double-deck EMUs.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) began dynamic testing on the second phase of TGV Est on September 28, when a 10-car TGV Duplex set ran at speeds of up to 160km/h over the 106km extension from Baudrecourt to Vendenheim.

Current prospects for the global rail track system market are mixed according to the latest study by German consultancy SCI Verkehr. CEO Maria Leenen and senior consultant Karl Strang profile the results.