THE Dutch province of Limburg has awarded Arriva a 15-year concession to operate regional rail and bus services after the discovery of irregularities in the tendering process led to the disqualification of the preferred bidder, Netherlands Railways (NS) subsidiary Abellio.

DUTCH secretary of state for infrastructure Mrs Wilma Mansveld announced on May 27 that the Dutch government will allocate €88m towards the construction of a new line from Utrecht Central to Leidsche Rijn, a major new housing development west of the city.

MITSUBISHI Electric Corporation announced on May 27 that it has been awarded a contract by CAF, Spain to supply traction equipment for the fleet of 118 New Generation Sprinter (SNG) EMUs ordered by Netherlands Railways (NS) last December.

THE Dutch province of Overijssel and infrastructure manager Prorail have awarded Volker Rail, Netherlands, a contract to electrify the 40km Zwolle – Wierden line.

A cross-party Dutch parliamentary committee, set up in December 2013 to investigate the V250 Fyra high-speed train fiasco, will start public hearings on May 18 which will continue until June 12.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has intervened in the management of its subsidiaries Qbuzz and Abellio after uncovering what it describes as "serious irregularities" during an internal compliance investigation into tendering for a major regional rail and bus concession in the Dutch province of Limburg.

THE first dynamic tests on Amsterdam's 9.8km North-South Line were made on April 21 using an M4 train from the Ring Line propelled by a shunting tractor. The tests took place at the northern end of the line between Noord and Noorderpark stations.

NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has finalised a €280m contract with Stadler for the supply of 58 160km/h Flirt EMUs.

DUTCH Minister of Finance, Mr Jeroen Dijsselbloem, has informed the Dutch Parliament that Netherlands Railways (NS) will stop ordering trains through its Irish leasing subsidiary NS Financial Services Company which will be wound down.