SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) announced on January 30 that it has selected Amadeus IT Group for a contract to deliver a new international distribution system with the aim of improving interfaces with other operators and simplifying cross-border rail travel.

SWITZERLAND’s second-largest railway BLS concluded its biggest-ever rolling stock order on January 15, when the company’s CEO Mr Bernard Guillelmon and Stadler CEO Mr Peter Spuhler signed a contract for 52 Flirt EMUs for regional and suburban services.

A new rail link between Arcisate on the Varese - Porto Ceresio line in northern Italy and Stabio, Switzerland, was officially inaugurated on December 22 by Italy’s minister of transport and infrastructure Mr Graziano Delrio.

SWITZERLAND’s Southeastern Railway (SOB) announced on December 21 that it has awarded Stadler a contract to supply 11 Flirt EMUs to operate Gotthard Panorama Line services from Basle and Zurich to Locarno and Lugarno via the original Gotthard line.

A new SFr 87m ($US 87.7m) tram link between the Swiss city of Basle and the French town of St Louis in Alsace was officially opened on December 9 after two years of construction, reviving a cross-border tram service which closed around 60 years ago.

A pre-feasibility study for a proposed railway between Malles and Bormio in northern Italy was presented on December 4 in Malles, in the Italian province of Bolzano.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) and Stadler have been testing a new digital train driver assistance system on the Bern - Olten high-speed line and, for the first time in Switzerland, a double-deck train has been automatically braked and accelerated with the train driver in attendance.

TX Logistik, a subsidiary of the FS rail freight unit Mercitalia, will provide traction for all of its operations in Switzerland on December 10, when the company’s newly-established Swiss subsidiary will launch its new Swiss Corridor service between Italy and northern Europe.

SWISS intermodal operator Hupac has signed a supply contract with CRRC for new 19-metre flat wagons, which will be developed by Hupac and manufactured by CRRC.