WORKERS laid the final section of track on August 14 on a new Yuan 4.5bn ($US 706m) line in southwest China which will eventually provide a second standard-gauge connection to Vietnam.
GERMAN RAIL (DB) subsidiary DB Regio has exercised an option worth €108m for an additional 32 class 146 electric locomotives from Bombardier.
THE credibility of KiwiRail's $NZ 4.5bn ($US 3.6bn) plan to turn the state-owned railway into a profitable business has taken a major hit after the New Zealand government minister for state-owned enterprises, Mr Tony Ryall cast doubt on KiwiRail's ability to generate the necessary revenue.
BRITAIN's Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded First Group the contract to operate the flagship InterCity West Coast franchise for 13 years and four months from December 9, ousting the Virgin/Stagecoach joint venture which has run the franchise since 1997.
GYÖR-Sopron-Ebenfurth Railway (GySEV) has announced plans to electrify two lines in a move that will close an important gap in the electrified network in western Hungary.
THE founder of Italian open access operator Arenaways Mr Giuseppe Arena has publically apologised for delays to the launch of the company's Trenohotel overnight service, citing unexpected technical and logistical problems.
DUTCH regional transport company Syntus has become a 100% subsidiary of Keolis after the French company completed the acquisition of Netherlands Railways' (NS) 50% share.
SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) has placed a €200m order with Alstom for an additional eight ETR 610 Pendolino tilting emus. The order is an option from a contract for seven trains signed in March 2004 by Alstom and Cisalpino, the now defunct joint venture between Trenitalia and SBB.
ROMANIA's Ministry of Transport has appointed a consortium of PwC, David & Baias and George Butunoiu to recruit directors general and non-executive directors for 10 state-owned transport companies, four of which are in the rail sector.
THE Argentine province of Salta has reintroduced regional services on the Belgrano Cargas metre-gauge line between the provincial capital Salta and General Güemes, 45km to the east.
