DENMARK's infrastructure manager Banedanmark has shortlisted six bidders for civil works contracts on the country's first high-speed line, which will link Copenhagen to Ringsted.

The first of Trenitalia's refurbished ETR 500 Red Arrow high-speed trains is now back in service following a comprehensive internal refit.

THE refurbishment of Trenitalia's fleet of ETR 500 Red Arrow high-speed trains has three main objectives: to maintain its market dominance, retain the 20% growth in traffic it achieved during the first 10 months of 2011, and prepare itself for head-to-head competition with NTV which launches its .Italo high-speed service this month.

To broaden the appeal of high-speed rail travel, Trenitalia is doing away with traditional first and second-class accommodation and replacing it with four levels of service - standard, premium, business and executive. Trenitalia says there is "no analogy for this revolutionary innovation in any other country." At the same time, standard-class fares are now 5% cheaper than those charged in the former second-class.

The new interiors have been designed by Giugiaro and are intended to offer 30% more space per passenger and for baggage, on-board wi-fi, 62 monitors throughout the train displaying information, ergonomically-designed seats, and LED lighting.

Each train has 272 standard-class reclining seats which are 55.5cm wide and spaced 106cm from the next seat. A catering trolley is dedicated to standard class from which passengers can purchase snacks and drinks.

The two centre coaches are dedicated to premium class. The 134 leather seats are fitted with glass panels to provide greater privacy. Premium-class passengers are offered a newspaper and welcome drink when they board the train.

Business class has 159 seats distributed in three and half coaches, and includes a quiet zone where mobile phones are prevented from ringing. Seating is arranged two-plus-one across the width of each coach, and the 65cm-wide seats have armrests, adjustable headrests, and recline to 115^o. Groups of seats are separated by glass panels. Business-class passengers have a dedicated reception area on station platforms and are offered fresh produce and refreshments on board.

Executive class offers passengers the greatest ticket flexibility and comfort, access to the Arrow Club business lounge, and a dedicated reception area on the platform. Seats are 69cm wide with 1m pitch and arranged one-plus-one across the coach. They can recline to 138^o and have extendable leg rests. At-seat catering features menus designed by the famous Italian chef Gianfranco Vissani.

The first of five architecturally-striking high-speed stations under construction in Italy was completed on November 28 2011 with the opening of Rome Tiburtina.

GERMAN Rail (DB) has decided to relinquish its 10% holding in Thalys which operates 300km/h services from Paris to Brussels, Cologne and Amsterdam.

CHINA Southern Rolling Stock (CSR) subsidiary CSR Qingdao Sifang has unveiled a new-high-speed test train which is designed to operate at speeds of up to 500km/h.

THE director of Brazil's National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) Mr Bernardo Figueiredo announced on January 18 that the tender for Phase 1 of the Rio de Janeiro - São Paulo - Campinas high-speed project, which involves selecting an operator and the technology for the new railway, has been delayed until October.

KOREA's national train operator, Korail, is fighting government plans to privatise the operation of a new high-speed service between Seoul Suseo and Busan and Mokpo when a new line opens in 2015 between the Suseo district of Seoul and Pyeongtaek on the existing high-speed line.