Australia: QR has begun a A$550m upgrade of its Goonyella coal network to increase the annual capa-city of the Jilalan yard from 92 million to 130 million tonnes by 2010.
Bulgaria: Sofia Metro has appointed Systra to supervise the construction of Line 2 in partnership with local firms Infra Project and Metro Consult. Commissioning of the 10 km north-south line with five stations is scheduled for 2012. Systra will undertake the project through its recently-established Bulgarian office.
Canada: On June 2 Epcor Technologies began work on a two-year contract worth C$6m to erect the overhead electrification for a 7·6 km extension of the Edmonton light rail network's South Line from Health Sciences to Century Park.
China: CNR Shenyang Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co has won a US$26·2m contract to build bridges for the Harbin - Dalian passenger-dedicated line (RG 10.07 p595).
Croatia: Italian firm Salcef Costruzioni has been awarded a €41·7m contract for track and civils upgrading on the Vinkovci - Tovarnik section of the main line to Serbia.
Czech Republic: On June 15 infrastructure manager SZDC launched an KC170m modernisation of Ceská Kubice station on the German border. The 22 km line from Domazlice to Furth im Wald in Germany will gain a remote electronic interlocking fully compatible with German standards.
India: The Ministry of Railways has approved Rs2·3bn plans for the construction of a 88 km link between Sonipat and Jind by late 2011.
Malaysia: Ircon signed the contract for the 100 km Seremban - ?Gemas double-tracking project in May. Work is expected to take 48 months and cost around US$1bn. A joint venture of IJM and Norwest will undertake part of the work.
Pakistan: PR has signed an agreement with two private companies for the establishment of a Rs2·2bn dry port at Prem Nagar, 48 km south of Lahore.
Saudi Arabia: Owing to what RZD President Vladimir Yakunin described as a 'a problem in international relations', a US$800m contract for RZD to build the 520 km Al Zabirah - King Khalid Airport section of the north-south rail link has been cancelled by the Saudi authorities.
South Africa: A new R200m link from the Richards Bay coal line to Umlabu colliery is to be electrified at the expense of South African Coal Mining Holdings.
Spain: Within a budget of €28·5m, tenders are to be called for civil works to accommodate high speed services on the 5 km between Onzonilla and León station. Work is expected to take 20 months to complete.
The Valencia regional government has awarded a contract worth €32m to double-track a 2 km section of light rail Line 1 in Alacant, between La Sangueta and Isleta. This includes 1·5 km in tunnel.
Sweden: On May 29 Banverket announced a further contract with a consortium of Bombardier and Balfour Beatty Rail for the roll-out of ERTMS. Expected to be worth SKr189m in the first year, it covers a pilot installation of Bombardier's Interflo 450 ETCS Level 2 trackside equipment on the Ådalsbanan line.
Consultancy Sweco has been awarded a €1·2m contract to undertake detailed planning of the Agnesberg - Marieholm section of a double-track railway to be built between Göteborg and Trollhättan; the consultancy has previously won contracts for two other sections of the line.
UK: Network Rail has awarded Westinghouse Rail Systems the contract to design, install and commission signalling and telecoms for the £300m Airdrie - Bathgate line reopening.
USA: HNTB and Pistorino & Alam have been awarded the engineering and supervision contract for the $300m Miami Intermodal Center - Earlington Heights Metrorail extension. The 3·7 km elevated line from Earlington Heights will provide a direct service to a transport hub at the airport from late 2011.
