EUROPE'S largest railfreight market experienced falling volumes in the first half of this year, according to figures published by Germany's federal statistics agency Destatis, which show 181.1 million tonnes of freight were carried on the German network between January and June, a 1.1% year-on-year decline.
BAVARIAN Railway (BEG) has issued a tender for contracts to operate regional passenger train services on the Allgäu diesel network which encompasses several non-electrified lines in western Bavaria.
NS Financial Services, the leasing subsidiary of Netherlands Railways (NS), has officially cancelled its contract for 16 V250 high-speed trains from AnsaldoBreda, following the lead of Belgian National Railways (SNCB) which cancelled its contract for three of the trains on May 31.
SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket has selected Strukton Rail, Netherlands, in a SKr 207m ($US 32m) contract to fit out the City Line, a 6km new railway line in Stockholm city centre.
MR Marc Descheemaecker, CEO of Belgian National Railways (SNCB), is to step down from his position to become the new CEO of Brussels Airport. He will be replaced by Mr Frank van Massenhove, the head of the Belgian Federal Public Service for Social Security.
THE municipality of Rotterdam and Rotterdam's public transport authority, Rotterdam City Region, have agreed to retain Rotterdam Electric Tram (RET) as the operator of metro, tram, bus and boat services in the Rotterdam area until 2026.
CZECH open-access operator RegioJet has announced it intends to seek Koruna 270m ($US 14m) in damages from Czech Railways (CD), which it accuses of engaging in anticompetitive practices on the Prague – Ostrava route.
NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) recorded a net loss of €76m in the first half of this year compared with a profit of €147m in the first half of 2012.
BELGIAN National Railways (SNCB) has begun preparing a claim for damages against AnsaldoBreda following the cancellation of its order for three V250 high-speed trains.
SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket has awarded Dutch rail construction and maintenance company Strukton Rail a contract worth around €80m to maintain 680km of track on the northern part of the Southern Main Line from Malmö to Katrineholm near Stockholm.