During Global Transport Forum's signalling and train control conference in Vienna in March Mr Jos Holtzer, with Netherlands Railways passenger rolling stock and energy division, questioned whether GSM-R in its current guise is able to support ETCS reliably. David Briginshaw was there to hear Holtzer's radical comments and proposals.

THE EUROPEAN Commission has cleared Siemens' $US 2.8bn acquisition of Invensys Rail following an investigation into the potential effects of the takeover on the railway signalling market, which concluded the transaction would not adversely affect competition.

DELHI Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has awarded Bombardier a contract worth around Rs 2.5bn ($US 47m) to supply its Cityflo 350 integrated train control and signalling system for two metro extensions in the Indian capital.

PREQUALIFICATION bids are invited by Quito Metro by May 27 for phase 2 of a $US 1.5bn project to build the first metro line in the Ecuadorian capital. Construction is underway of the 22.5km, 15-station line following the award in November 2012 of a contract for phase 1 to Acciona Infrastructure, Spain.

POLISH infrastructure manager PKP PLP has selected a consortium of Thales and Trakce, Czech Republic, in a €76m contract to upgrade train management systems including signalling and supervision on the 100km Warsaw Okecie - Radom line.

MOROCCAN National Railways (ONCF) has awarded a consortium of Ansaldo STS and Cofely Ineo, France, a €120m contract to design and supply signalling, train control, and telecommunications systems for the 183km Tangiers – Kénitra high-speed line.

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.

MITSUBISHI Heavy Industries (MHI) has started construction of what it describes as Japan's first comprehensive railway system verification facility.

PASSENGER Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has awarded a Bombardier-led consortium a Rand 1.1bn ($US 122m) contract to carry out resignalling of MetroRail KwaZulu Natal commuter lines in the Durban area.