SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket has awarded Strukton Rail two five-year contracts to maintain track, signalling, and electrification on lines in central Stockholm.

REGULAR operation of 730m-long freight trains began in Sweden on April 28 following the completion of a multi-annual project by infrastructure manager Trafikverket to lengthen loops and double-track sections to accommodate longer trains.

MÄLARDALSTRAFIK (Mälab), a joint venture of local transport authorities in the Swedish counties of Örebro, Stockholm, Sörmland and Västmanland, has exercised an option in its existing contract with SJ to extend its operation of Mälartåg regional services for a further four years.

IRJ at SmartRail Europe, Amsterdam: Denmark's largest rail freight operator DB Cargo Scandinavia (DBCS) has warned it could be forced to pull out of the market because of the cost of equipping its locomotives with ETCS.

SWEDISH national passenger operator SJ signed a contract worth more than SKr 1bn ($US 120m) with Knorr Bremse subsidiary Swedtrac on April 14 for the interior refurbishment of its fleet of 36 X2000 tilting inter-city trains.

SWEDEN's national infrastructure manager, Trafikverket has awarded a SKr 400m ($US 48.7m) turnkey contract to Skanska to quadruple the track on a 3km section of the Mälarbanan north of Stockholm to increase capacity for commuter services.

MTR Corporation, Hong Kong, achieved a 3.8% increase in revenues last year as the company continued to expand its international operations, particularly in Europe.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket has awarded Strukton Rail a contract to renew 80km of track on the 40km line between Boden and Bastuträsk in northern Sweden.

SYSTRA announced on March 3 that it has acquired Swedish railway signalling business Dalco Elteknik for an undisclosed sum.

With 4G and 3G mobile networks potentially causing severe interference to safety-critical GSM-R, Sweden's railway sector is currently engaged in an intensive programme to combat the problem by a self-imposed deadline of July 1. Kevin Smith reports on the project's progress.