GERMAN Rail (DB) is to reopen the Hannover – Berlin high-speed line on November 4, several weeks earlier than expected.
NORWEGIAN infrastructure manager Jernbaneverket says it is ready to launch pilot operation of ERTMS in the southeast of the country in the next stage of preparations for the national rollout of the system.
THE president of Russian Railways (RZD), Mr Vladimir Yakunin, says he wants to get back into the business of running its freight trains and that splitting up the fleet between the new companies which were spun off from RZD was a mistake.
SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) recorded a 27.8% drop in year-on-year profit to SFr 100.8m ($US 108.4m) in the first half of 2013 despite reporting revenues of SFr 4.05bn, a 2% increase. SBB says the fall was mainly due to an increase of SFr 97m in train path prices, and higher expenditure - SFr 70m - on maintenance activities.
THE European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide a further €235m loan to Polish infrastructure manager PKP PLK to finance the upgrading of the 92.5km Warsaw – Radom line.
FRENCH Rail Network (RFF) has submitted a six-year €15bn plan to modernise the railway network to the deputy minister of transport, Mr Frédéric Cuvillier.
BELGIAN railfreight operator SNCB Logistics has equipped more than 200 of its drivers with tablet computers as part of an effort to improve two-way real-time communications with train crews and create a 'paperless' driver's cab.
ANSALDOBREDA has reacted to Netherlands Railways (NS) decision to cancel its order for 16 V250 high-speed trains by arguing that the operator failed to correctly implement a recovery plan for introduction of the fleet.
STOCKHOLM Traffic Management (TF) has awarded Ballast Nedam, Netherlands, a contract to supply a de-icing system, which will be used to keep the Stockholm Local Transport (SL) suburban train fleet ice-free during the winter.
SINARA Group unveiled a new prototype LNG turbine locomotive at the Expo 1520 exhibition in Shcherbinka, Russia, last week which was developed in partnership with the Russian Railways Research Institute (VNIIZHT).