NEW ZEALAND's national railway KiwiRail has reported an annual operating profit of $NZ 108.2m ($US 85.3m) for the financial year ending June 30, an increase of 3.1% compared with the previous financial year.

IN the run-up to Australia's federal election on 7 September 2013, both major political parties have given their backing to the eventual construction of the $A 5bn ($US 4.4bn) Inland Rail project, which will provide a new standard-gauge link between Melbourne and Brisbane.

THE Western Australian state government has committed to build both its planned Perth light rail and airport rail links despite considerable doubt about a federal government contribution.

THE government of the Australian state of Queensland has awarded a consortium led by Thiess Australia a $A 650m ($US 583m) contract to build the second phase of the $A 1.15bn Moreton Bay Rail Link.

NEW ZEALAND's national railway KiwiRail has taken delivery of three tampers and three ballast regulators, which were ordered in October 2011 at a cost of $NZ 12m ($US 9.6m).

LIQUIDATORS have been appointed to wind up Australian niche railfreight operator El Zorro Transport after the company incurred debts reported to be in excess of $A 10m ($US 9.2m).

NATIONAL Railway Equipment Company (NREC), United States, has won a contract to supply seven multi-engine N-ViroMotive locomotives to Pacific National, Australia, for shunting operations operation at the BlueScope steelworks at Port Kembla in New South Wales.

BROCKMAN Mining subsidiary Brockman Australia has entered into an exclusive three-year agreement with railfreight operator Aurizon, which will develop and operate the rail infrastructure for Brockman's Marillana and Ophthalmia iron-ore projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

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