CSR has announced that it will spend Yuan 5bn ($US 778.8m) to build a new manufacturing plant and repair facility in southwest China.

THE Pakistan government will inject Rs 4bn ($US 46m) into Pakistan Railways (PR) in an attempt to revive its railfreight business, which has almost ceased to operate with only one scheduled freight train a day.

THE first 6.7km section of the Bangalore metro was officially opened today by India's minister for urban development Mr S K Nath and the chief minister Karnataka state Mr S Gowd.

INDIA's Ministry of Railways has approved plans for a Rs 14.12bn ($US 289m) line from Nerul in Navi Mumbai to Uran, with a short branch to Belapur.

COMMERCIAL operation of JR East's Advanced Train Administration and Communications System (Atacs), started on the Senseki Line commuter route in Sendai on October 10.

The first Vossloh Euro 4000 locomotive for Israel Railways arrived in the country from Spain last month.

OFFICIALS from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as well as representatives of JR East and JR Central, visited India's railways minister Mr Dinesh Trivedi last month, with the intention of promoting Japanese high-speed rail technology.

EAST Japan Railway (JR East) is to acquire a controlling interest in Japanese train manufacturer Tokyu Car Corporation, in a deal worth Yen 6.5bn ($US 85.4m) which will take effect on April 2 2012.

THE first two contracts for India's two new dedicated freight corridors have been awarded, Mr K H Muniyappa, minister of state at the Ministry of Railways confirmed in a written address to the Indian parliament.

ALSTOM tested a new Co-Co Prima electric freight locomotive for China at the Velim test centre, Czech Republic, during November 2009.