• Freight traffic on the metre-gauge Belgrano network in Argentina is expected to reach 850 000 tonnes in 2007, according to Eduardo Lamaison who heads emergency operating company SOE (RG 9.06 p490). Less than 500 000 tonnes were carried in 2006, since when SOE has increased the operational locomotive fleet from seven to 27 and launched a programme to repair track on 360 route-km.
  • The first EMUs being supplied by CAF have commenced dynamic trials on the route between Buenavista and Cuautitlán in Mexico City, where commuter services are expected to begin during the first quarter of 2008. Each four-car trainset accommodates a total of 1 414 passengers, of which 230 are seated; door width is 1 300 mm.
  • The Aquitaine region of France is proposing to wholly fund a €30m package of works to re-open to freight and passenger traffic the 25 km Oloron-Sainte-Marie - Bedous section of the Pau - Canfranc - Zaragoza route. President Alain Rousset has suggested that the region may let a freight concession for the route to an operator other than SNCF.
  • Serbian Railways is to be restructured as a holding company for separate infrastructure and operating divisions during 2008, ZS Director General Milanko Sarancic told a CER conference in Beograd last month.
  • Construction of the Lagos - Kano standard-gauge railway in Nigeria will start this month for completion in four years, according to China Civil Engineering Construction Corp Chief Engineer Jing Wenchang. The 1 315 km double-track route will follow the existing line, while a new single-track loop from Minna will serve Abuja. Passenger trains are to run at 105 km/h on single-track sections and 150 km/h elsewhere.
  • After visiting Germany in September, Rwandan Prime Minister Bernard Makuza said Railion would assist with the construction of a route to provide the country with its first railway to access the Indian Ocean through Tanzania. About 400 km of new construction is needed to link the capital Kigali to Isaka on Tanzania's Kigoma - Mwanza line.

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