Rail infrastructure news
Government accelerates environmental licensing of major projects
BRAZIL: The Ministry of Transport has issued a directive to Infra SA to accelerate the licensing process for strategic rail projects. Signed by the National Secretariat for Rail Transport and the Secretariat of Sustainability, this provides for the federal government to take over the environmental licensing process.
European Commission approves Dutch ETCS grants to promote modal shift
NETHERLANDS: The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules a €41m Dutch scheme to promote the shift of freight from road to rail by providing direct grants for the installation of upgraded versions of ETCS onboard equipment.
Brazilian government to assess flood-hit Malha Sul network
BRAZIL: The federal government has established a working party to review options for rehabilitation of the Malha Sul network currently operated by Rumo Logística, whose concession awarded in 1997 is due to expire in 2027.
FIOL-FICO integration proposed
BRAZIL: Formal consultation on a proposal to alter the planned route of the third stage of the Ferrovia de Integração Oeste-Leste project so that it connects directly with the Ferrovia de Integraçao Centro-Oeste scheme is to start at the end of January 2025.
Siemens awarded Spanish signalling and communications enhancement contract
SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF has awarded Siemens Rail Automation a €21·6m contract to renew the safety and communications systems at Grisén station, northwest of Zaragoza on the Madrid to Barcelona conventional line. This is the junction for a short branch serving an Opel car factory.
Ontario Northlander station contract awarded
CANADA: The project to relaunch Northlander passenger services between Toronto and a future Timmins-Porcupine station is advancing, with the province of Ontario awarding a contract for station works and releasing images of the what future trains will look like.
Mexico to invest 157bn pesos in railway expansion in 2025
Transnordestina funding deal agreed
New Schwarzenberský Bridge allows higher speeds and train weights
Autonomous track geometry measurement supports iron ore railway
First phase of Brazil’s FICO railway nearly one-third complete
DB Cargo UK opens ETCS training centre
Egyptian National Railways orders ‘state-of-the-art’ track maintenance fleet
Costain wins HS2 tunnel and lineside M&E contract
Marrakech high speed line contracts awarded
More milestones reached on Austria’s trans-Alpine route modernisation
Taiwan high speed rail depot expansion contract
Work starts on Hunan inter-city maglev
Ministry backs EF118 rail scheme in Rio state
Sanya – Ledong tourist railway inaugurated
Key Inland Rail link in New South Wales approved
President launches construction of Ugandan standard gauge railway
Second Melbourne loop tunnelling contract awarded
Ghana’s Tema – Mpakadan railway commissioned