THE Stadler Rail Group, Switzerland, is being forced to reduce its workforce for the first time as a result of a falling order book. This is the result of the debt crisis in Europe and the consequent increase in the value of the Swiss franc against the Euro.
THE European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to lend Warsaw Metro Zlotys 1bn ($US 313.5m) to support construction of the 6.7km central section of the new Line 2 which is currently being built between Ptocka and Szwedzka stations.
CZECH open-access operator Leo Express recorded a 25% increase in traffic in March on its services linking Prague, Ostrava and Bohumin. This contrasts with January which had weak growth.
SWEDEN's infrastructure manager Trafikverket says it has received applications from 27 passenger operators and 13 freight companies to run trains on the national network starting from the new timetable on December 15.
THE PCM Group, India, has acquired Rail.One, Germany, bringing to an end the latter's search for a strategic investor.
CRM-Vossloh Track Maintenance, a joint venture between Vossloh Rail Services and CRM, China, has secured a contract with the operator of the Beijing - Shanghai high-speed line to provide its High Speed Grinding (HSG) service.
ANSALDOBREDA and Chongqing Chuanyi Automation (SICC) have established a joint venture based in Chongqing, China, that will produce and develop electric traction systems, auxiliary services and train monitoring control systems for metro trains.
RUSSIAN car builder Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) and its partner Bombardier have today unveiled at the Hannover Fair models of a new metro train and a new LRV which they are developing jointly for Russia.
RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) has signed a memorandum of understanding for the supply of 350 four-axle electric locomotives with Siemens and its Russian joint venture partner Sinara.
SIEMENS has awarded Bombardier a €336m contract to supply bodyshells and bogies for a batch of 170 ICx high-speed coaches ordered by German Rail (DB) under a framework agreement with Siemens.