THE University of Huddersfield's Institute of Railway Research (IRR) has been tasked with investigating innovative switches and crossings as well as new types of track system as part of the €18m In²Rail track and infrastructure programme, which is one of the three "lighthouse" projects within Europe's Shift²Rail project.

SWEDEN's National Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) announced on May 18 that rail operators will be given an extra year to ensure that rail vehicles are equipped with GSM-R filters to prevent interference from 4G public mobile networks.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket has selected Strukton Rail to modernise and remodel Tomteboda station, just north of Stockholm main station.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket announced on March 20 that all locomotives, multiple units and driving trailers operating on the country's railway network must be fitted with GSM-R filters by July 1 to prevent interference from 4G public mobile networks.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket has awarded Siemens a contract worth around €17m to supply a Sitras SFC Plus static frequency converter to feed power from the 50Hz public grid into the railway's 16.7Hz traction power network.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket says it intends to begin developing plans for the construction of a second track on the eastern section of the Kiruna – Narvik (Norway) heavy-haul line in the Arctic Circle.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket has completed a project to reactivate the cross-border section of the Meråker Line from Trondheim, Norway to Storlien in Sweden which has been closed for more than a year due to movements in an embankment on the Swedish side of the border.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) is to test the Erex IT energy management and billing system on 50 of its freight locomotives developed by the Eress consortium of five European infrastructure managers and one railway.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket announced on February 12 that tracklaying has been completed in the 8.7km Hallandsås tunnel, Sweden's longest railway tunnel, and the SKr 10.5bn ($US 1.25bn) project is on course for its official opening on December 13.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket has awarded Strukton Rail a five-year contract worth around €50m to maintain railways in the Malmö area.