STADLER has announced two separate orders for new rolling stock from two Swiss railways, including South East Railway (SOB), which is exercising a SFr 213 million ($US 203.5 million) option for an additional 14 Flirt trains from a contract agreed in 2005.

EUROTUNNEL says it has taken an important step towards implementing a series of new fire-fighting stations in the Channel Tunnel. It says full-scale tests carried out in Spain of a water-mist system designed to contain and limit a fire or even halt its propagation have been very positive.

THE Spanish prime minister, Mr José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has launched a public-private partnership infrastructure investment plan for the next two years worth Euros 17 billion, equivalent to about 1.7% of Spain's GDP. About 70% of the funding will go to high-speed, suburban and freight rail projects, with the rest destined for road schemes. The objective of the special infrastructure plan (PEI) is to boost economic activity and employment.

GE TRANSPORTATION says it will sign a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan's Joint Stock Company Locomotiv and Joint Stock Company Kurastyru Zauty (JSC KZ) for the supply of 150 diesel shunting locomotives.

ALSTOM has delivered the first Prima BB 475400 diesel locomotive to French National Railways (SNCF) as part of a 2004 framework Euros 836 million contract for 400 diesel-electric locomotives which is scheduled to run until 2015.

DESPITE the difficult economic conditions Indian Railways (IR) achieved an 8% increase in revenue during the 2009-10 financial year, according to figures released today by the Ministry of Railways, which show IR's total income reached Rs 866.44 billion ($US 19.57 billion).

ANSALDOBREDA has secured a Euros 33 million contract to revamp Milan Transport's (ATM) ageing fleet of Jumbo Trams which have been in operation since the 1970s.

RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) has signed an agreement with its counterparts in Slovakia, Austria and Ukraine that will pave the way for the extension of the 1524mm-gauge network to Austria. Under the terms of the deal, which was signed during Russian President Mr Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Slovakia this week, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants will be appointed as the main contractor for the 432km link between the existing 1524mm-gauge railhead at Košice in eastern Slovakia and Vienna.

CHINA'S Ministry of Railways has reported a ridership increase of 9.3% year-on-year to 417.8 million passengers in the first quarter of 2010. Usage peaked during the 40-day spring festival season when an estimated 204 million passengers took the train. Freight traffic was also up at 899.9 million tonnes during the first three months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 18%.

DYNAMIC testing of the first Alstom Citadis LRV delivered to Rabat-Salé's new light rail system, Morocco's first modern network, began on March 30.