VTG has acquired the remaining shares of Retrack Slovakia from Rail Services Slovakia, becoming the sole owner of the traction service provider.

State-owned passenger operator Argentinian Trains has signed a contract addendum worth $US 130m with CRRC Sifang for spare parts for EMUs that it supplied for commuter networks in Buenos Aires.

Troubled northwestern German passenger operator Eurobahn is due to temporarily move into public ownership after a sale by current owner Team Treuhand was agreed on January 30.

The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) has awarded a $US 1.8bn contract for the Manhattan Tunnel Project, a key part of the Hudson River Tunnel Project to construct a new rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey.

Siemens has unveiled a full-size mock-up of a coach from the fleet of trains that will run on the under-construction Western Sydney Airport metro line.

DB Vehicle Maintenance and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials Research have announced a partnership to establish a test centre in Bremen, Germany, for converting internal combustion engines to run on hydrogen.

Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) is considering the results of a preliminary market consultation on the purchase of up to 285 inter-city coaches.

Banedanmark is to conduct track renewal work on Skjern - Holstebro line to accommodate a higher axleload for new battery trains. Work is also underway to electrify the line between between Skalborg and Aalborg Airport.

Utah Transit Authority has finalised plans for a new Trax light rail line connecting Salt Lake City International Airport with the University of Utah’s Research Park.

Serbia has launched the second phase of its railway modernisation programme, backed by $US 130m in funding from the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD).

Renfe is to form subsidiaries in France and Mexico as it seeks to gain a firmer foothold in each country’s railway market and advance its internationalisation strategy.

JR East has announced details of a new programme to train international workers to fill under-staffed roles on the railway.

Munich city council has confirmed that despite financial cutbacks, funding for the city’s three current light rail projects is secure.

Traxtion has secured a contract with Lobito Atlantic Railway to lease two shunting locomotives for use at the port of Lobito in Angola.

Thailand's government formally approved the construction of the 357km second phase of Thailand’s first high-speed rail line on February 4.

SŽ has presented the results of a feasibility study into the redevelopment of Prague main station. The preferred option will significantly reconfigure rail infrastructure in the centre of the Czech capital

Western Australia’s government has announced its intention to return rail freight operations and infrastructure in the state to public ownership.

South Africa has ratified the Luxembourg Protocol, which aims to improve the speed and ease of procuring privately financed rolling stock.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (Marta) has unveiled its new Stadler-built metro fleet.

Tanzania and Burundi have signed a $US 2.15bn agreement with two Chinese firms to construct a 282km standard-gauge railway between the two countries.