THALES Spain has signed a Euros 109m turnkey contract to modernise and renew signalling systems on the Cairo-Alexandria line, in a project which will double capacity and raise the maximum line speed from 140km/h to 160km/h.

IRJ at the 60th UITP Congress Geneva: Alstom has developed a modular light metro system called Axonis which is designed to be quick to build and economic to construct and operate.

PRETORIA-based RRL Grindrod has sold two and leased four ex-Queensland Rail (QR) General Electric type C22-MMi locomotives to Democratic Republic of Congo National Railways (SNCC).

IRJ at the 60th UITP World Congress Geneva: Vinci, France, together with CAF, Spain, have launched Nextram, a light rail package which could be 30-40% cheaper than conventional systems for cities with a population of between 150,000 and 200,000 which up to now could only afford a bus solution.

ALGERIAN transport minister Mr Amar Tou officially inaugurated the first light rail line in the city of Oran on May 1 in the presence Mr Abelmalek Boudiaf, the Wali of Oran.

TRANSNET Engineering, South Africa, is developing a prototype 1067mm-gauge shunting and short trip diesel locomotive designed for African operators, which it hopes will boost locomotive sales outside the domestic market.

TRANSNET Freight Rail, South Africa, is set to sign an agreement with Botswana in the next month to enable it carry the country's first coal exports on the line from Morupule Colliery near Palapye to Durban.

MOROCCAN National Railways (ONCF) has awarded a consortium of Ansaldo STS and Cofely Ineo, France, a €120m contract to design and supply signalling, train control, and telecommunications systems for the 183km Tangiers – Kénitra high-speed line.

THE China Development Bank has agreed to lend Transnet, South Africa, approximately $US 5bn to support its planned railway infrastructure rehabilitation programme which is worth over Rand 300bn ($US 33.82bn) over the next seven years.

PASSENGER Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has awarded a Bombardier-led consortium a Rand 1.1bn ($US 122m) contract to carry out resignalling of MetroRail KwaZulu Natal commuter lines in the Durban area.