Algeria: SNTF is negotiating a US$30m agreement with General Motors EMD for refurbishment and ongoing maintenance of its ageing diesel loco fleet.
Australia: Queensland Rail is to install track, electrification and signalling on the 8·5 km Brisbane airport line as sub-contractor to Transfield Construction.
A consortium led by Maunsell McIntyre is to carry out an A$750000 pre-feasibility study of the proposed Melbourne - Brisbane freight railway for promoter Australian Transport & Energy Corridor.
Brazil: Vitória à Minas Railway (EFVM) is commissioning 15 General Electric Dash 9 diesels and passing a similar number of older locomotives to sister railway Centro-Atlântica.
Canada: Alcatel Transport Automation is to supply Seltrac moving block controls for Vancouver SkyTrain Line 2. The US$30m contract from Bombardier includes upgrading the Line 1 equipment to allow operation of Mk II cars.
Czech Republic: Skoda Traction Motori is to supply 150 water-cooled asynchronous traction motors to Kiepe Elektrik for new Graz trams.
Estonia: Thormählen Schweisstechnik of Germany has completed a DM1·5m two-year rail welding contract for EVR. Using a mobile flash-butt welder based on the Schlatter system, the company worked on the line from Tallinn to the Russian border at Narva.
Great Britain: Jarvis is to maintain infrastructure in eastern and northeastern England for five years under a £250m contract from Railtrack. In a separate deal, Jarvis and Alstom Signalling will renew track and signalling for the Sunderland metro extension.
Amec Spie Rail Systems has won a £120m contract for design, supply and commissioning of track and electrification on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
Romania: March 3 is the deadline for submission of bids for modernisation work on the 65 km Bucuresti - Ploesti section of CFR’s Bucuresti - Brasov main line (RG 1.00 p7). Four consortia have been shortlisted: Mowlem of Great Britain; Spie Enertrans and Eichholz of Germany with ISAF; Leonard Weiss of Germany with SC Tunele and SCCF Brasov; and Ilbau, Siemens, Swieteleskí and CCCF.
Spain: GIF has awarded a consortium of Carlos Ferrater, José María Valero, Proyectos Civiles y Tecnológicos, Rhein Consult and Spiekermann a Pts6·2bn contract for design and construction management of the new Zaragoza Delicias station on the Madrid - Barcelona high speed line.
Ukraine: Siemens Vekehrstechnik is to supply three-phase traction equipment based on the DB Class 152 design for 21 DS3 electric locos being supplied to UZ by NPO DEWZ at a cost of DM98m. A prototype now in development will be followed by a series of 20 by 2006.
USA: The North American Joint Positive Train Control programme issued a Request For Proposals on February 7 for installation of PTC equipment on 193 km of Union Pacific line between Mazonia and Springfield, Illinois.
Millennium Rail Inc is building 135 refrigerated tank wagons for Tropicana Products’ block fruit juice trains running between Florida and distribution centres in New Jersey and Ohio.
Vietnam: French consultant Systra is to provide technical advice on restoration of four tunnels in the Hai Van pass in central Vietnam, working in conjunction with the local Railway Investment & Construction Consulting Co. The Fr5·6m cost will be funded by France.
