THE states of California, Illinois and Maryland have placed orders for 34 Siemens Charger diesel-electric locomotives to boost passenger services in their states under an option included in a framework contract for 222 units signed in 2014.

Denmark's bold decision to renew its entire signalling infrastructure raised eyebrows across the signalling community when details of its plans first emerged nearly 10 years ago. With work on the major contracts now well underway, Kevin Smith visited Banedanmark in Copenhagen to find out how the project is progressing.

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.

THE HAGUE Tramways (HTM) launched its new fleet of Siemens Avenio LRVs on the morning of November 2, when the first of the low-floor vehicles entered passenger service on Line 2 between Kraayenstein and Leidschendam North.

SIEMENS has fabricated the first bodyshell at its Krefeld plant in Germany for the fleet of 30 five-car class 707 Desiro City suburban EMUs ordered last year by rolling stock leasing company Angel Trains on behalf of British train operator South West Trains (SWT).

BRITAIN's rail minister Ms Claire Perry opened the new £7m National Training Academy for Rail in Northampton on October 20.

SIEMENS announced on October 20 that it is investing around €30m in a new assembly plant for light rail vehicles in Turkey.

A NEW control centre for the Gauteng area has been commissioned by Siemens for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and will start to control trains in January.