NIPPON Sharyo's new DMU for North America is to be powered by Cummins QSK 19-R engines which are certified to meet Tier 4 Final ultra-low emissions standards which come into effect on January 1 2015.

GENERAL Electric (GE) is reportedly in negotiations with Alstom over a $US 13bn takeover of the French company, and is said to have the support of Alstom's majority shareholder Bouygues, which holds a 29% stake.

DALLAS Area Rapid Transit (Dart) operated its first test run on the 8km light rail Orange Line extension to Dallas Forth Worth International Airport on April 16.

MUNICIPAL authorities in San Diego, California, and the neighbouring city of Tijuana in the Mexican state of Baja California have revived plans for a light rail line spanning the US-Mexican border.

WESTPORT Innovations, Canada, has delivered the first of four liquefied natural gas (LNG) tenders ordered by Canadian National (CN) to Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), United States, which is developing a pilot low-pressure LNG:diesel dual-fuel locomotive for the Class 1 railway.

THE governor of Illinois Mr Pat Quinn has announced plans to invest in commuter rail, long-distance passenger and freight projects in the US state as part of a $US 8.6bn six-year capital construction programme, which will be funded from federal, state, and local sources.

THE United States Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a record of decision on March 20 approving plans for the 25.8km Maryland Purple Line LRT, which will serve the northern suburbs of Washington DC.

AMTRAK submitted its budget request to Congress for 2015 financial year on March 18 with a warning to the federal government that failure to step up investment in the United States' passenger rail infrastructure could put the system at risk.

THE Illinois Department of Transportation (Idot) has formally awarded a $US 228m contract to Siemens and Cummins to supply 32 diesel-electric locomotives for use on Amtrak services in the states of Illinois, California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington.

THE expansion of Positive Train Control and upgrading of a key section of the Washington DC – New York – Boston Northeast Corridor (NEC) for 257km/h operation are among the highlights of Amtrak's 2014 infrastructure programme, which was announced on March 10.