Argentina: The federal government has awarded Martínez y de la Fuente SA a contract worth 28·3m pesos to build a new broad-gauge connection to the Port of Buenos Aires, which by using the existing metre-gauge route should enable 300 000 containers a year to be handled. Under the second phase of the project, tenders are to be called within a budget of 31m pesos to build a new intermodal terminal within the port, capable of accommodating trains up to 600 m long.
China: The Ministry of Railways has awarded HLS Systems International a US$19·9m contract to install and maintain ATP equipment on 200 km/h trains.
France: Tender documentation inviting bids for the PPP concession to build, maintain and operate the 300 km Tours - Bordeaux high speed line (RG 12.07 p745) was delivered to the three shortlisted consortia by RFF on February 14.
India: Simplex Infrastructures has won a Rs4·1bn contract to build a 10·7 km viaduct for the Versova - Andheri - Ghatkopar elevated metro line now under construction in Mumbai (p127).
Ireland: The government is to proceed with the planned 5·2 km Interconnector rail tunnel under central Dublin using a PPP model rather than as a project of state transport holding group Córas Iompair Éireann (RG 6.06 p310).
Israel: ISR has awarded Harsco Track Technologies a multi-year rail-grinding contract. Equipment will arrive from the USA next month.
Lithuania: On February 8 LG awarded DB International a €7·1m contract to provide technical assistance for the modernisation of the Vilnius - Kaunas line. Planned 160 km/h running will cut journey times to 50 min. A second agreement with DB International worth 3·7m litas covers double-tracking of the Kyviskes - Valciunai and Vaidotai - Paneriai lines, enabling more freight trains to bypass Vilnius. Work is due to start in 2009.
Poland: PKP PLK has awarded a consortium of Arcadis and Koltech a €4·4m contract to supervise a €300m upgrade of the 65 km Warszawa - Nasielsk section of the route from the capital to Gdynia. Passenger train speeds will be raised to 200 km/h, freight to 120 km/h. Halcrow has a €11m contract covering the section between Ilawa and Malbork.
Spain: The Ministry of Development has called tenders for electrification at 25 kV 50 Hz of a 75·6 km section of line from Padrón to A Coruña forming part of the 155·6 km Vigo - A Coruña high speed corridor.
Transport infrastructure funding body Seitt is to provide €792m for railway projects under an agreement with the Ministry of Development, including €340m for projects on the Barcelona suburban network. A total of €292m is to be provided for the first phase of civil works for a high speed line between Zamora and Lubián.
Deneo Energía e Infraestructuras has been awarded a €22·13m contract to upgrade the traction power supply on Line 4 of the Barcelona metro. To be completed with 29 months, work includes remodelling substations at Maragall, Verdaguer and Verneda.
The Andalucía regional government has called tenders for the construction of the first section of Line 1 of the Málaga light metro, the 3·05 km Doctor Dominguez - Asperones surface section with five stops. A budget of €21m has been set for the contract which includes civils, track and paving works.
Sri Lanka: Chevron Lubricants Lanka is to pay for a Rs7m modernisation of Kandy station from its social responsibility fund.
Switzerland: Zürich transport authority ZVV has allocated SFr2m towards the cost of capacity improvements on the city's S-Bahn network.
USA: Mid Region Council of Governments has awarded a joint venture of Twin Mountain Construction and Herzog Contracting a $17·5m contract to upgrade 7 km of Santa Fe Southern track for a $250m extension of the Rail Runner Express commuter service to Albuquerque.
