DUTCH railfreight operator Herik Rail Cargo launched its first intermodal service from the port of Amsterdam to the Segrate terminal near Milan on March 3.

ITALIAN open-access operator GTS Rail has awarded two contracts to supply locomotives and wagons for use on intermodal services.

SWITZERLAND will provide €120m towards gauge enhancement works on the Luino Ranzo – Gallarate/Novara line in northern Italy under an agreement signed in Berne on January 28 by Swiss federal councilor for transport Mrs Doris Leuthard, and Italian transport minister Mr Maurizio Lupi.

DFDS Logistics has increased its intermodal freight services between Novara, Italy, and Daventry in central England from two to three trains per week after signing a two-year contract with SBB Cargo, which is providing traction for the train between Italy and France.

ALSTOM officially handed over three ETR 234 Coradia Meridian four-car emus to Turin Transport Group (GTT) in a ceremony at Turin Porta Susa station on January 21.

MILAN public transport company ATM has awarded Italian construction company Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti (CMC) a contract to reconstruct the Milan-Desio-Seregno suburban tram line, which was closed in October 2011.

ITALY's open access high-speed rail operator NTV carried 6.2 million passengers last year compared with more than 2 million between its launch on April 28 2012 and the end of 2012.

TRENITALIA signed a €139.6m contract with Pesa Bydgoszcz on December 12 for 40 ATR 220 Atribo regional dmus, which will be delivered from December 2014 onwards.

ITALIAN Rail Network (RFI) has awarded a consortium consisting of Alstom, Gemmo., M Pavani Segnalamento Ferroviario, Ricci and Politecnica a €120m contract to upgrade signalling and telecommunications networks on 200km of mixed traffic lines in Rome.

MILAN metro operator ATM has commissioned a new €11.5m centralised traffic control centre, which supervises the operation of all lines except the driverless Line 5.