Low-price long-distance buses are proving stern competition to rail operations across Germany to the extent that Veolia's InterConnex service was withdrawn in December. Christian Schreyer, Veolia Verkehr's CEO, outlined his views on the situation to Kevin Smith.
THE Hungarian government has acquired a 64.9% stake in the carriage works at Dunakeszi near Budapest from Bombardier in a deal worth Forints 2.1bn ($US 7.8m).
BLS, Switzerland, announced on January 6 that it has reached an agreement with German Rail (DB) subsidiary DB Schweiz Holding, part of DB Schenker Rail, to buy back its 45% stake in BLS Cargo for an undisclosed sum.
THE ALYSJ consortium, which is responsible for Doha's $US 4.2bn Gold Line metro project, has secured funding worth more than $US 1bn from Qatar's Barwa Bank along with First Gulf Bank and Qatar International Islamic Bank.
ISRAEL Railways has filed a draft prospect with the Israeli Securities Authority for a bond issue worth Shekels 1bn ($US 260m) during 2015, the first step in a plan to issue bonds worth up to Shekels 2bn over the next two years.
TERMS for the merger of China's two largest rolling stock manufacturers, CSR and CNR, have been agreed during board meetings held by the two companies during the last two days.
THE Russian government will allocate Russian Railways (RZD) Roubles 6bn ($US 108.3m) from the 2015 federal budget for the 770km Moscow - Kazan high-speed project.
PASSENGER Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has announced further drastic cuts to its mainline train timetable even as it pushes ahead with a €250m deal to buy 70 new locomotives from Vossloh.
TOLL Group, Australia, announced on December 22 that it has divested its 55% share in the Toll Royal Railway concession to its joint venture partner, Royal Group, Cambodia.
GREATER Wellington Regional Council has finalised the short-list for its new suburban railway contract, which covers operations on the three primary north-south corridors into the city centre, and is based on a new performance-based partnering contract model.