THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), an office of the president of the Philippines, has given the go-ahead to Japan to conduct a full feasibility study of a proposed 12.6km elevated monorail line in Manila.
TRANSNET Freight Rail, South Africa, is set to sign an agreement with Botswana in the next month to enable it carry the country's first coal exports on the line from Morupule Colliery near Palapye to Durban.
EXPRESSIONS of interest from between three and five bidders are being sought by Transport Scotland for a new 15-year franchise to operate overnight sleeper services between Scottish cities and London.
TESTING has begun in Barcelona of the first Alstom Metropolis train for Panama metro Line 1, which is due to open next year.
SAMSUNG C&T, a subsidiary of South Korean industrial conglomerate Samsung, has been awarded a $A 5.59bn ($US 5.82bn) contract to construct iron-ore processing facilities together with rail and port infrastructure to serve the Roy Hill mine project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
BARCELONA metro operator Barcelona Metropolitan Transport (TMB) has been granted Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) status by Spain's Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which will allow it to carry out railway safety assessments across the EU and beyond.
ZARAGOZA celebrated the opening of the final phase of a 6.9km extension of the city's first light rail line last week after four years of work and an investment of €400m.
DESPITE a slowdown in economic growth, Brazil's freight railways invested nearly Reais 4.9bn ($US 2.4bn) in new infrastructure and equipment last year, a 6.6% increase over 2011, according to figures released by the National Association of Rail Transport (ANTF) on April 3.
FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) says it has already sold more than 200,000 tickets for its new low-cost TGV service called Ouigo which began operating on April 2. Ticket sales started on February 19 exclusively through a dedicated website.
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.