GERMANY's railfreight operators failed to capitalise on growth in the overall freight transport market last year as strikes held back volumes, according to preliminary annual figures released on February 13 by the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis).
FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) reported revenues of €27.24bn in 2014, despite the continued difficult economic environment in France, which included a 7-10% increase on domestic passenger travel VAT rates and a 5% rise in track access fees.
SCOTTISH cabinet secretary for infrastructure Mr Keith Brown joined contractors at Tweedbank station on February 12 to attach the final rail clip on the Borders Railway, marking the completion of tracklaying on the 48km line from Newcraighall, south of Edinburgh.
SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket announced on February 12 that tracklaying has been completed in the 8.7km Hallandsås tunnel, Sweden's longest railway tunnel, and the SKr 10.5bn ($US 1.25bn) project is on course for its official opening on December 13.
SPANISH rolling stock manufacturer Talgo has selected JP Morgan, Santander, and Nomura as banking advisors to evaluate the possibility of launching an initial public offering on the Madrid stock exchange, which is provisionally valued at €400-500m.
PASSENGER numbers on the German rail network reached their highest recorded level in 2014, according to annual figures published on February 12 by the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
LEIPZIG has become the third German city to order Tramino low-floor LRVs from Polish manufacturer Solaris.
THE board of Ile-de-France transport authority Stif has approved a €1.5bn investment in new rolling stock for the Paris region, including 72 metro trains and 29 suburban EMUs, which will be 100%-funded by the authority.
VIVARAIL, Britain, has awarded Strukton Rail a contract to supply traction and onboard equipment for the type D78 metro trains it recently purchased from London Underground and which it plans to convert to DMUs for heavy rail operation.
THE Danish government has approved an amendment to the law permitting the construction of Copenhagen's Cityringen circle metro line to allow the construction of the Sydhavn branch line.