Argentina: Indra has supplied a Tetra digital radio network for the Sarmiento, Mitre, San Martín, Belgrano Sur and Roca suburban lines serving Buenos Aires under a US$214m contract awarded by Sofse in 2014.
Agreements to fund the purchase of Nippon Signal Automatic Train Stop equipment for the Buenos Aires commuter network (RG 9.16 p26) were signed during a visit to Japan by President Mauricio Macri. A US$495m loan agreed by JBIC, Deutsche Bank and the government of Argentina is to fund 85% of the cost. According to Finance Minister Luis Caputo, this is the first agreement with an export credit agency to be signed by the government in more than 20 years (p8).
The government has signed a MoU with China Machinery Engineering Corp and China Development Bank to increase by $16bn the $247bn modernisation programme which CMEC is undertaking on the Belgrano freight network. The funding would be allocated to projects including work to upgrade 92 bridges, provide a bypass around Santa Fe and improve access to the port of Rosario.
Brazil: Odebrecht Transport has appointed Hill International to provide independent assessment of construction projects including São Paulo metro Line 6.
France: SNCF Réseau has appointed Assytem and Louis Berger to supervise work on the 8 km extension of Paris RER Line E from Haussmann-Saint-Lazare to Nanterre-La Folie.
Grand Avignon council has selected a consortium led by NGE Group subsidiary TSO and including Alstom, Guintoli, EHTP and Agilis as civils contractor for the city’s planned tramway. Works are scheduled to be completed in January 2019 and will include the construction of 5·4 route-km of track, 10 stops and a depot.
India: Nippon Signal is to supply signalling and train control for the two-line Ahmedabad metro project.
Netherlands: ProRail has awarded VolkerRail a contract to undertake day-to-day track maintenance in the Amsterdam area for five years from October 1. VolkerRail said the performance-based contract offered the freedom to use its own methods to meet ProRail’s requirements.
Poland: A consortium of Intop and PRB TOR is to modernise the 7 km Bielsko-Biaa Lipnik – Wilkowice Bystra line under a 81m złoty contract.
PKP PLK has awarded Trakcja PRKiI a 165m złoty 31-month contract to modernise 90 km of line in Pomorskie voivodship including the line to Ustka. Speeds will be raised to 100 km/h for passenger trains and 80 km/h for freight.
Torpol has been selected for a 139m złoty contract to undertake track and signalling renewals on the 38 km Grabowno Wielkie – Cieszków route, and also for a 155m zloty contract to modernise Warszawa Wschodnia Towarowa station and build a new Warszawa Stalowa station.
PKP PLK has awarded PNiUIK a 237m złoty contract to modernise the Skawina – Sucha Beskidzka line, replacing 35 km of track and repairing 100 bridges and culverts.
Romania: CFR SA has awarded a consortium of Astaldi, FCC, Salcef and Thales a 3·5bn lei contract to modernise 78 km of the Arad – Deva main line between Bârzava and Ilteu (p48). This includes installation of ETCS, construction of two new bridges, modernisation of 64 minor bridges, excavation of a 600 m tunnel and refurbishment of 11 stations. The Railworks consortium of Alstom, Aktor and Arcada is preferred bidder for a 1·5bn lei contract covering the 22 km from Ilteu to Gurasada.
Sweden: Trafikverket has selected a consortium of NCC and OHL for a SKr2bn contract to quadruple a section of the busy Lund – Malmö route by the end of 2023, with 5 km to be placed in a cutting to reduce noise. A SKr1bn option would cover the section between Flackarp and Lund by the end of 2024.
Thailand: The BSR joint venture of BTS Group Holding (75%), Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction (15%) and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding (10%) has been awarded PPP contracts to build the Pink and Yellow monorail lines in Bangkok.
Ukraine: China Railway International Group and China Pacific Construction Group are to carry out studies and cost estimates for a fourth metro line in Kyiv, and would act as contractor if the proposed 16 km project goes ahead.
UK: Atkins has been awarded a £9m contract for resignalling between Truro and St Erth by December 2018.
USA: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has approved a $98m contract for Barletta Heavy Division to modify the Wellington Maintenance Facility to accommodate the Orange Line trains that CRRC is supplying.
