THE Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has selected Telstra in a 10-year contract to provide continuing telecommunications services through its NextG network to support ARTC's National Train Communications System (NTCS) for the 8500km Australian freight railway network.
DEDICATED Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFFCIL) has awarded two civil works contracts worth Rs 43.3bn ($US 660m) for sections of the second phase of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) between Delhi and Mumbai to the Express Freight Consortium, which is led by Mitsui & Co, Japan.
THE first locomotive produced by First Locomotive Company, the joint venture of Zavod Metallokonstrukcii and Bombardier, was unveiled at a ceremony held at the joint venture's Engels plant in Saratov region, Russia, on August 19.
AUSTRALIA's largest railfreight operator, Aurizon has reported a 139% increase in statutory net profit after tax to $A 604m ($US 443.8m) for the 2015 financial year despite traffic remaining relatively flat.
THE board of Australian logistics group Asciano has recommended that shareholders accept a bid from Brookfield Infrastructure Partners for 100% of the company, which includes Pacific National, Australia's second largest railfreight operator.
THE premier of the Australian state of Victoria Mr Daniel Andrews and minister for public transport Mrs Jacinta Allan announced on August 17 that the state government will back the full implementation of the Murray River Basin Rail Project, which is intended to increase freight safety, reliability and capacity in northern Victoria.
CZECH railfreight operator CD Cargo announced on August 14 it is launching a tender worth an estimated Koruna 550m ($US 22.7m) for a contract to supply five ETCS Level 2-equipped multi-system electric locomotives, with an option for three additional units.
The first of three six-axle type 774.7F locomotives being supplied by CZ Loko, Czech Republic, to Finnish open-access operator Fennia Rail was delivered to the Velim test track in the Czech Republic for testing in late July.
THE Mongolian cabinet gave its approval on August 10 for the country's investment agency to proceed with the implementation of a concession agreement to build and operate the 547km Erdenet - Ovoot line, which will connect new coal mining developments in northern Mongolia to the rail network and eventually form part of a new China - Russia link.
FREIGHT traffic on Austria's rail network reached record levels last year while passenger numbers also saw a slight increase, according to figures released as part of rail regulator Schienen-Control's annual report.