DESPITE a slowdown in economic growth, Brazil's freight railways invested nearly Reais 4.9bn ($US 2.4bn) in new infrastructure and equipment last year, a 6.6% increase over 2011, according to figures released by the National Association of Rail Transport (ANTF) on April 3.

PRESIDENT Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic attended a ceremony in the capital Santo Domingo on April 1 to mark the opening of the city's second metro line.

THE Brazilian subsidiary of VAE is putting the finishing touches to its new turnout plant at Bacabeira, in Maranhão state, which is due to begin production in May.

BRAZIL's Logistics and Planning Company (EPL) has announced it will issue tender documents in May for the contract to build the Central-West Integration Railway (Fico).

BRAZILIAN mining giant Vale announced on March 11 that it has suspended a project to develop one of the largest potassium mines in the world in Argentina's Neuquén province, which included the construction of an 83km railway.

SOARING traffic has encouraged Chilean State Railways (EFE) to dust off plans for a new suburban service in Santiago, and extensions to the commuter rail lines in Concepción and Valparaíso.

BRAZILIAN president Dilma Roussef approved funding of Reais 800m ($US 404m) on March 6 for the planning and construction of a 15km a light rail line in São José dos Campos northeast of São Paulo.

THE Brazilian government expects to release draft plans soon for 12 concessions to construct around 10,000km of new lines during the next five years. This will allow public hearings to be held regarding each project.

THE Argentine government has decided to make its takeover of Belgrano Cargas permanent in an effort to revive the fortunes of the flagging railway, which has seen once-healthy freight volumes plummet in recent years.