JAPAN's minister of transport Mr Yuichiro Hata has approved the construction of three extensions to the Shinkansen high-speed network. The project will cost an estimated Yen 3.04 trillion ($US 38.1bn) and will be mainly funded by national and municipal governments.
MANCHESTER is set to complete the renewal of its tram fleet by 2014 after Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) approved the acquisition of a further 20 M5000 vehicles from Bombardier and Vossloh Kiepe.
RIFT Valley Railways (RVR), the consortium operating Kenya and Uganda's railways, has announced a $US 62m investment plan to buy new wagons and to rehabilitate its existing fleet.
ANSALDO STS has signed a strategic agreement with CNR Dalian, China to license its TramWave catenary-free light rail electrification system to a joint venture of CNR Dalian and General Resources Company, allowing the technology to be sold in China.
DANISH infrastructure manager Banedanmark has selected Alstom to deliver its Atlas ERTMS onboard signalling solution to train operators across the Danish network.
WABTEC has confirmed the acquisition of Tec Tran Corp, United States, a manufacturer of hydraulic braking systems and related components for LRVs.
BRITAIN's prime minister Mr David Cameron has announced plans today to invest an additional £4.2bn to upgrade key sections of the rail network in England and Wales between 2014 and 2019 on top of the £5.2bn already committed for projects currently underway such as Crossrail and Thameslink.
TWO ETCS balises were ceremonially installed at Airolo on the Gotthard line on Friday 13, marking the start of a five-and-a-half year programme to install balises at 11,000 locations covering the entire Swiss mainline network.
AUSTRIAN Federal Railways (ÖBB) CEO Mr Christian Kern recently announced that ÖBB results for the first six months of 2012 are better than expected. If the economic situation remains stable he expects ÖBB to return to profit in 2012, a year earlier than previously predicted.
CASABLANCA transport authority Casa Transport has awarded the contract to operate and maintain the city's first light rail line to a consortium of RATP Dev, Caisse de Dépôt et Gestion du Maroc, and Transinvest.