SWEDEN's Environment Ministry gave its approval on June 26 for the Västlänken suburban rail tunnel beneath Gothenburg, allowing infrastructure manager Trafikverket to develop detailed plans for the SKr 20bn ($US 2.99bn) project.
A genset locomotive is to be developed for Russia and neighbouring CIS countries following an agreement between Russia's Yakutia Railways and Molinari Rail, Switzerland.
THE NEW CEO of Netherlands Railways (NS) Mr Timo Huges, has informed the Dutch secretary of state for infrastructure Mrs Wilma Mansveld that NS will not acquire any new inter-city rolling stock before 2021.
PLANS for further extensions of the U-Bahn and tram networks in the Austrian capital were officially announced by Vienna city council on June 27.
FOLLOWING a competitive tender, Macedonian Railways (MZ) signed a €25m contract with representatives of CSR Zhuzhou, China, in the Macedonian capital Skopje on June 24 for six regional trains.
THE French city of Grenoble celebrated the opening of the initial 4.8km section of light rail Line E on June 28 with a music festival and two days of free travel across the network.
VOSSLOH's new management team has announced a major restructuring of the company to improve its long-term profitability, but with additional costs of up to €250m Vossloh says it expects to lose between €150m and €180m this year.
UKRAINIAN Railways (UZ) introduced the first of two prototype EKr1 'Tarpan' long-distance EMUs on the Kiev Darnytsia – Lviv route on June 24.
JUST two years after launching its Vienna – Linz – Salzburg services, Austrian open-access operator Westbahn reached break-even last year according to the company's annual results, which were revealed on June 26.
BRITAIN's Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded a 15-year contract to operate the Essex Thameside franchise to the current operator of the route National Express.