Australia: The state of Victoria has allocated A$272m to add a further eight trains to a planned order for 10 six-car passenger sets for which tenders were called in July. Delivery is planned for late 2009.

Bulgaria: On October 20 Mayor of Sofia Boyko Borissov said that the European Investment Bank is to provide €100m to fund a recycling facility and meet part of the cost of the €200m metro Line 2 which will run 4 km from Central station to the National Palace of Culture.

Chile: EFE has raised US$10·8m by selling its 19·83% stake in freight operator Fepasa. Proceeds will help fund EFE's 2008 budget.

France: The provisional €1·7bn investment plan for 2008-12 adopted by the greater Bordeaux authority includes €122m for Phase 2 of the tram network (RG 4.07 p188).

Montenegro: EBRD is lending €15m to implement an emergency rail infrastructure rehabilitation programme and to improve efficiency on the Krusevo to Mojkovac section of the line between the Serbian border and the port of Bar. The rehabilitation will include four major bridges, several viaducts and four tunnels.

UK: The Department for Transport has announced four grants for freight infrastructure. £80m is allocated for gauge enhancement to permit 9?ft 6?in containers to be carried on conventional wagons between Peterborough and Nuneaton, £43m for similar work on the Southampton - Nuneaton corridor, £8m to improve access to the port of Immingham and £1·7m to improve access to Liverpool docks. £72m will be provided for the projects from other sources.

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