FRANCE's minister of transport, Mr Frédéric Cuvilier, has approved the staging of three public inquires in October related to the so-called Grand Southwest Railway Project (GPSO).

BARCELONA Metropolitan Transport (TMB) is installing new energy-saving technologies at Passeig de Grácia station on Metro Line 3 as part of the European Union-funded SEAM4US project, which is developing systems to reduce non-traction energy consumption at metro stations by at least 5%.

BASQUE metre-gauge operator EuskoTren has awarded CAF a €150m contract to supply 28 three-car EMUs, which will be used on Bilbao metro Line 3 and will also replace some of the oldest trains in its current fleet.

THE Spanish Government last week confirmed details of its plans for the initial opening of the long distance passenger rail market, announcing that a single company will be allowed to compete against Renfe on a single group of lines for at least seven years. After this period, only those specific lines will be fully-opened to competition.

SPAIN's infrastructure manager, Adif, has awarded a €339m contract to a consortium led by Alstom and including Bombardier and Indra to install ETCS Level 2 signalling on two high-speed lines under construction in northwest Spain.

THE Catalonian autonomous government has confirmed its intention to open a second section of its ambitious Barcelona Line 9/Line 10 metro project in the first half of 2016, connecting the south of the city with the two terminals at El Prat Airport.

SPAIN's Transport Ministry yesterday published the final investigation report into the Santiago de Compostela accident on July 24 2013, when a train derailed while travelling at 180km/h on an 80km/h curve killing 79 people.

SPANISH infrastructure manager Adif this week confirmed that high-speed trains have finally been authorised to use ERTMS in commercial operation on the 165km Albacete – Alicante high-speed line, which was opened in June 2013.

MASSACHUSETTS Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has approved the purchase of 24 light rail vehicles from CAF, Spain, for the Green Line.

SPAIN's high-speed rail infrastructure manager Adif-AV this week opened the tendering process for a €313.8m contract to install, commission and maintain signalling on the Madrid-Portugal high-speed line.