Russian Railways uses various geosynthetic materials to protect track subgrade formations. Gleb Soloviev, design engineer at Tensar, Russia, and Dr Alexey Kolos, from the Petersburg State University of Railway Transport, compare the performance of different materials in Russia's harsh climatic conditions.

Network Rail (NR) is currently revising its approach to track worker safety according to three specific principles. Stuart Browning, NR's programme manager control of work, Michelle Rogers, engagement manager at Oliver Wyman, and Albert Luggenhorst, associate at Oliver Wyman, outline this process and how it is helping to reduce incidents on the railway.

CHINA Railway Corporation (CRC) has awarded a contract worth around €70m to Vossloh Fastening Systems China for high-speed fastenings for installation on the final section of the Beijing - Harbin high-speed line which is currently under construction.

Attempts to standardise welding processes in Europe are failing to keep up with changes in track technology and the natural evolution of thermite welding techniques, posing problems for rail producers and welders. Dr-Ing Robert Gehrmann and Dr-Ing Jörg Keichel, of Elektro-Thermit, outline these challenges.

CANADIAN National (CN) announced on April 16 that it has launched a $C 500m ($US 410m) programme of infrastructure enhancements with the aim of accommodating rising freight traffic on feeder lines in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

EGYPTIAN National Railways (ENR) has awarded a $US 600m track upgrading contract to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).

POLISH infrastructure manager PKP has received two USP 2010 SWS-U universal ballast distributing and profiling machines from Plasser & Theurer, which offers increased hopper storage capacity compared with previous machines and will enhance PKP's track renewal and construction activities.

KENYA Railways has lifted a brief suspension on the construction of parts of the 609km single-track standard-gauge railway between the port city of Mombasa and Nairobi.

SAUDI Railways Organisation (SRO) has awarded a Riyals 160.2m ($US 42.7m) contract to China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) for the second phase of a project to upgrade the track on the freight line linking Riyadh, Harad and Dammam.

DESPITE recording a 1.8% increase in group sales in 2014 to €1.32bn, Vossloh reported a negative Ebit of €171.6m as the company's restructuring plan continues to impact its performance.