ITALY's rail regulator (URSF) has ruled in favour of Italian Rail Network (RFI) in a dispute with open-access high-speed operator NTV over the recent erection of a fence at Rome Ostiense which prevents NTV passengers walking directly from NTV's lounge to their train on the adjacent platform 15.
THE SPANISH government is expected to vote at the end of this month on draft legislation that could bring sweeping liberalisation of the rail market within a year together with the privatisation of Renfe.
PASSAZHIRSKIE Perevozki, the passenger operations subsidiary of Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ), has awarded a €989.4m contract to Talgo, Spain, to maintain 1044 passenger coaches for 15 years.
THE International Union of Railways (UIC) has nominated Mr Vladimir Yakunin, president of Russian Railways (RZD) as its next chairman. The appointment will be ratified at the UIC's next general assembly in Paris in December. Yakunin will then serve as UIC chairman for two years.
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.