CHINA's minister of railways Mr Sheng Guangzu says Yuan 400bn ($US 63.1bn) will be invested in railway infrastructure construction in 2012, which is 15% less than the Yuan 469bn spent this year, and a 42% reduction compared with the Yuan 700bn invested in 2010. Total fixed asset railway investment will be around Yuan 500bn next year.

UGANDA's minister for public works, Mr John Byabagambi, says negotiations are in progress with China for a joint project to rehabilitate the country's 1240km metre-gauge network.

MTU Detroit Diesel Australia (MTU) has signed an agreement with CSR Ziyang, China, for exclusive sales and after-sales distributor rights in the Australia-Pacific rail market.

CSR has announced that it will spend Yuan 5bn ($US 778.8m) to build a new manufacturing plant and repair facility in southwest China.

ALSTOM tested a new Co-Co Prima electric freight locomotive for China at the Velim test centre, Czech Republic, during November 2009.