A project to increase capacity and reduce journey times on Italy's 950mm-gauge Bari – Matera line took an important step forward on February 18, when the president of Appulo Lucane Railway (FAL) Mr Matteo Colamussi, mayor of Bari Mr Antonio De Caro, and Puglia regional minister for mobility Mr Giovanni Giannini signed a €17m funding agreement for the construction of a second track on the 3km Bari Policlinico - Bari Sant Andrea section.

AT a meeting on February 17 Turin City Council approved the final design for the western extension of metro Line 1 from Fermi to Cascine Vica.

THE Sardinian city of Cagliari celebrated the opening of the latest section of its 950mm-gauge light rail network, a link from the city centre to University Hospital in Monserrato, on February 14.

TRENITALIA has announced plans to remove two of its train ferries from the Straits of Messina, which will result in the loss of its daytime inter-city services from the Sicilian cities of Palermo and Siracuse to Naples and Rome, and the overnight service to Milan.

THE launch of two new rolling stock fleets for the Italian region of Tuscany was marked at Florence Santa Maria Novella station on February 13, when trains of both types were formally presented to regional president Mr Enrico Rossi by Mr Orazio Iacono, Trenitalia's national director of regional transport.

ANSALDOBREDA has signed three contracts worth a total of €35.6m to provide fleet maintenance and component logistics services for two Italian operators.

THE European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a €950m loan agreement on February 2 with Italy's Ministry of Economics and Finance which will be used by infrastructure manager Italian Railway Network (RFI) to fund modernisation of conventional lines in northern and southern Italy.

ITALIAN open-access railfreight operator Nordcargo has been rebranded DB Schenker Rail Italia, bringing it into line with other DB Schenker Rail subsidiaries outside Germany.

ITALIAN Railway Network (RFI) has signed two contracts for civil works on new high-speed lines in northern Italy.

THE first of five ETR 452 Civity EMUs being supplied by CAF for the Bari suburban network was presented to Puglia regional councillor for mobility and transport Mr Giovanni Giannini, by the president of regional rail operator Ferrotramviaria Mrs Gloria Pasquini and by the company's general director Mr Massimo Nitti on December 19.