THE busy Gotthard line through Switzerland reopens today after a break of four weeks caused by a rock fall at Gurtnellen. Freight trains will be able to run to their normal schedule from this evening, followed by passenger services from tomorrow.

The fitting out of France's newest high-speed line - TGV Rhine-Rhône which opened in December 2011 - was entrusted to a private group of contractors rather than a subsidiary of French National Railways (SNCF). This case study examines the benefits of doing so.

Norway's government will announce a revised 10-year transport plan and details of several new infrastructure projects in 2013. Kevin Smith spoke with Harald Nikolaisen, Jernbaneverket's director of construction and investments, about what the infrastructure manager has suggested these plans include.

ETHIOPIAN Railway Corporation (ERC) has awarded a $US 1.7bn contract to Yapi Merkezi, Turkey, for the construction of the first phase of a 447km north-south line.

KIWIRAIL has begun the technical and legal process to revalue its assets to better reflect the revenue they generate. Under the revaluation KiwiRail's assets are likely to be revalued at approximately $NZ 1.1-1.3bn ($US 867m-1.02bn), significantly lower than their current book value of approximately $NZ 7.8bn.

NETWORK Rail (NR) has approved the Comparon EPS modular polystyrene platform system developed by MegaTech Projects for use on the British mainline network.

IN a surprise move, Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has announced it will take the majority of its asset maintenance activities in-house when contracts with two alliance partners, Transfield Services and Downer Rail, expire in December 2012.

IRJ at Strategic Partnership 1520: RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) expects to issue a feasibility study for the proposed 1520mm-gauge line to Vienna by the end of this year.

A TWO-STAGE 18-month trial has been completed on Manchester Metrolink aimed at reducing LRV wheel flange and track wear, as well as the associated noise, using an Intelligent Wheel Flange Lubrication (iWFL) system developed by Rowe Hankins, Britain.

TWO Japanese-Indian consortia - Sojitz-L&T and Mitsui, Ircon and Leighton - have prequalified for civil works on a 640km section of the 1499km western dedicated freight corridor which will eventually connect Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal in Mumbai with Tughlakabad/ Dadri freight terminal in Delhi.