GERMAN RAIL (DB) could be poised to take over British train and bus operator Arriva, just weeks after talks with French National Railways (SNCF) ended in failure. The Financial Times reported today that DB had approached Arriva in a bid that could value the company at around £1.2 billion.

DRILLING work has commenced on the 15.4km Ceneri base tunnel, which is on the south ramp of the Gotthard base tunnel and part of the same project. The formal start was marked by a first detonation at the midway point of Sigirino, where an access tunnel has already been excavated.

 

PASSENGER services to the World Heritage site at Machu Picchu in Peru are to resume in stages following repairs to flood-damaged tracks by Transandine Railway. PeruRail will reinstate its Vistadome service from Pisacucho to Aguas Calientes on March 29, three days earlier than planned, and in time for the reopening of the Inca Citadel at Machu Picchu on April 1.

BRITAIN'S Secretary of State for Transport Lord Andrew Adonis has unveiled plans for the first stage of a 539km high-speed network linking London with central and northern England.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) has exercised an option to for 31 Viaggio Light coaches from Siemens in a deal worth €47 million. The order, which comprises four driving trailers and 27 intermediate coaches, follows on from a contract for 87 vehicles signed in 2006 with options for up to 585 additional coaches.

EUROTUNNEL ended 2009 in the black, despite the loss of revenue caused by the partial closure of the Channel Tunnel for the first five weeks of the year and the suspension of Eurostar services in December.

BRITAIN'S Department for Transport has approved two further extensions of Manchester's Metrolink light rail network, at a total cost of £170 million. The 3.9km extension from Droylsden to Ashton-under-Lyne and the 4.5km line from Chorlton St Werburgh's Road to East Didsbury are being funded through the Greater Manchester Transport Fund, a £1.5 billion investment programme covering 15 transport projects across the city.

DANISH State Railways is to expand its international business further with the announcement that it will buy half of the shares in regional operator Vias from Frankfurt Transport Company (VGF). The acquisition will allow DSB to bid for German regional contracts in conjunction with Rurtalbahn, which owns the remaining 50% of Vias.

AUSTRALIAN receivers KordaMentha have begun looking for a buyer to take over the 2244km transcontinental railway from Tarcoola to Darwin, which has been in limbo since concessionaire FreightLink went into administration in 2008.

BOMBARDIER has secured a Euros 39 million contract from Spanish rail infrastructure manager Adif to deliver its Interflo 200 mainline signalling system for the 90km Albacete - La Encina section of the under construction Madrid - Valencia/Alicante line.