Brazil: CVRD has ordered a 96-stone rail grinder from Harsco Track Technologies for the 1 600 mm gauge Carajás iron ore line. The deal includes two years of training and support after delivery early next year.
China: On May 21 the Ministry of Railways and Harsco Track Technologies signed two contracts totalling more than US$350m, for the supply of 'more than 40' rail grinding machines in 2007-11.
The Ministry of Railways and China Railway Signalling & Communication Corp have selected Nokia Siemens Networks to provide an ETCS Level 2-compatible GSM-R network by the end of 2009 for the 968 km dedicated passenger line being built between Wuhan and Guangzhou.
Union Switch & Signal and Zhejiang Zheda Insigma Group have signed a 10-year partnership agreement for the supply of metro signalling in China. The Ansaldo STS subsidiary will undertake US$10m of work on a contract won by Insigma to supply signalling for the 28 km Shenyang Line 1.
Europe: SBB's Biel worshops are equipping five Eurotunnel DE 64 locomotives with catalytic converters developed by Hug Engineering which are capable of reducing harmful emissions from diesel engines by 99%.
TZV Gredelj has won a contract from Hungarian Railways worth more then €2·7m for the modernisation of five passenger vehicles. The Zagreb company has also signed a €5m deal to refurbish eight HZ diesel locos which will be supplied to Mittal Steel's mill at Zenica in Bosnia.
Germany: Last month DB awarded Telent a contact for the upgrading and integration of its telecoms infrastructure in Bad Vilbel.
Poland: H Cegielski has won a 117m z?oty contract to refurbish 72 coaches for PKP Intercity, including 10 sleeping cars. The Poznan-based company is also modernising 18 electric locos under a 36m z?oty contract awarded in March.
Portugal: High speed planning body RAVE has awarded Swiss firm SMA & Partner AG a framework contract covering the operational planning of two proposed standard gauge 300 km/h lines (RG 3.05 p121). The cost of the two routes from Lisboa to the Spanish border and north to Porto is put at €8·2bn, with opening dates of 2013 and 2015.
Romania: CFR has awarded Ansaldo STS a k76m contract to supply signalling equipment for the Câmpina - Predeal section of the Bucharesti - Brasov line. A consortium of Spie Rail and local firm ISAF will undertake infrastructure modernisation at a cost of €13·3m.
Spain: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg is to supply 60 complete front-end modules for the second batch of 30 Class 102 Talgo 350 high speed trains.
Seitt is to call tenders for a contract worth up to €82·7m to rebuild the 16 km Las Cabezas de San Juan - Lebrija section of the Sevilla - Cádiz route with double track for subsequent conversion to high speed operation. Work to be completed within 36 months includes 5·9 km of new alignment and a new station at Lebrija as well as tracklaying, electrification and signalling.
