AB Transit has awarded a contract to Bombardier for the delivery of 11 three-car Contessa emus valued at approximately Euros 96 million ($US 137 million) to serve Swedish region Öresund. The trains will be leased by Swedish operators Lanstrafiken Kronoberg, Kalmar Lans Trafik and Hallandstrafiken and will be jointly managed by local transport authorities in Öresund and Trafikstyrelsen in Denmark. The deal includes an option for five additional trains.

A Euros 20 million sub-contract for communications-based train control (CBTC) has been awarded to Siemens by Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (NRIET) which is responsible for overall integration of the signalling on the new Line 1 in the Chinese city of Suzhou. The 26km line is due to open in mid-2012.

EUROSTAR resumed a restricted service on Tuesday after three days of cancelled operations between London and Paris/Brussels threatened to ruin Christmas for thousands of travellers. Passengers, however, are still advised to avoid travelling on journeys not considered essential as Eurostar attempts to clear the backlog of customers who could not complete their journeys over the weekend as extreme wintry weather in northern France caused trains to malfunction.

With Swiss rail transport facing some difficult challenges over the next 20 years, regional editor Anitra Green reports from Suissetraffic 2009 where the country’s leading transport figures gathered to discuss the future of the nation’s transport network.

 

EUROSTAR cancelled all London-Paris/Brussels passenger services for the third consecutive day Monday as tests continue on modified trainsets the operator hopes will be better suited to running in the severe winter weather that has hit northern France. But with further snow in today's forecast, Eurostar has not confirmed whether services will resume tomorrow. An announcement is expected by 18:00 GMT.

TRANSNET Freight Rail, South Africa, has selected GE to supply a fleet of 100 C30ACi diesel locomotives. GE says the 2.46MW locomotives will be the first in sub-Saharan Africa to feature ac traction.

CHANGCHUN Bombardier Railway Vehicles (CRBC) has been awarded a Yuan 1.99 billion ($US 291 million) contract to supply 246 Movia metro cars for Shanghai Metro Line 12. The contract comprises 41 six-car trains, spare parts and staff training.

QUEENSLAND RAIL (QR) has secured a $A 2 billion ($US 1.8 billion) long-term contract from mining giant Xstrata to transport coal from mines in the Collinsville/Newlands area to Abbot Point export terminal. The contract, which will commence at the end of this year or early next year, covers operations from Newlands, Collinsville, Oaky Creek, and Rolleston mines.

PAKISTAN Railways (PR) has signed a $US 244 million loan agreement with Exim Bank, China that will allow it to purchase new locomotives and coaches from Chinese suppliers. Under the loan agreement, PR will receive $US 110 million to buy 75 diesel locomotives from Dong Fang Electrical Corporation and $US 134 million for 205 coaches which will be procured through China Machinery Import and Export Corporation.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has awarded a Euros 350 million contract to Corus Rail to supply rails for four years initially, with an option to extend the contract by another two years.