East German Railway Company (Odeg) took over operation of Berlin Wannsee - Jüterbog and Brandenburg - Rathenow regional services south of Berlin from German Rail (DB) in December.
ETHIOPIAN Railway Corporation has awarded a contract worth around $US 1.2bn to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to build the second phase of a 657km standard-gauge electrified line between the capital Addis Ababa and the Djibouti border to replace the existing metre-gauge railway.
Having received 44 SD70ACe locomotives at the start of 2011, Ferromex, Mexico, ended the year with the delivery of a further batch of 38 units from EMD, taking its total SD70ACe fleet to almost 100.
RAIL services between Thailand and Cambodia could finally be restored in 2013 after the governments of the two countries reached a new agreement to rebuild the missing 48km section between Poipet and Sisophon.
A JOINT venture of Ganz, Hungary, and Škoda Transportation has been selected as preferred supplier for a contract to supply 31 low-floor LRVs to Miskolc in a deal worth around $US 104m, which includes an option for a further 10 vehicles worth $US 9.17m.
SOUTH Africa's Department of Transport has established a steering committee to oversee the development of the country's four proposed high-speed lines, together with an investor unit which will market the public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
THE Portuguese government has published a strategic transport plan aimed at reducing the cost of train services as part of its austerity programme.
EAST Japan Railway (JR East) is to acquire a controlling interest in Japanese train manufacturer Tokyu Car Corporation, in a deal worth Yen 6.5bn ($US 85.4m) which will take effect on April 2 2012.
HUNGARIAN State Railways (MÁV) CEO Mr Ferenc Szarvas announced last month that new managers have been appointed to its passenger, traction, and maintenance subsidiaries as the railway prepares to initiate an efficiency programme.
NORWEGIAN track authority Jernbaneverket has awarded Skanska, Sweden, a NKr 1.36bn ($US 245.6m) contract for the remaining civil works on the 13.4km Holm - Nykirke section of the Vestfold line upgrade project.