Australia: Victoria’s Department of Infrastructure has called tenders for consultants to study likely patronage of a rail link to Melbourne Tullamarine airport, using either the Broadmeadows or Albion suburban lines.
Australia Southern has awarded contracts worth A$6m to EDI Rail for refurbishment of eight locos and 26 fixed pairs of rail-carrying wagons, to be used on construction of the Alice Springs - Darwin route. Refurbishment will be carried out at Port Augusta. Construction consortium ADrail has ordered a NTC tracklaying machine from Harsco Track Technologies.
China: On June 25 Alcatel Transport Automation confirmed that it had been awarded a US$20m contract by Kowloon - Canton Railway Corp to install SelTrac MB moving-block communications-based train control on the Ma On Shan branch currently being built. Alcatel will be responsible for the design, supply and commissioning of the system, plus maintenance for five years.
Egypt: Interinfra has been selected to negotiate for an estimated Eú400m contract to extend Cairo metro Line 2.
Germany: Angel Trains International has purchased six Desiro VT642 two-car DMUs for lease for six years to Connex Regiobahn. The Vivendi subsidiary already operates the NordWestBahn and has expressed interest in taking over some of DB’s InterRegio routes.
DB Cargo has placed a DM69m order for 800 Eanos-x wagons for scrap metal traffic, to be delivered by 2003.
Great Britain: As part of a £12m investment programme Heathrow Express has ordered five more trailer cars from CAF at a cost of £6·5m, to enter service next year. Existing EMUs are to be refurbished and ticket machines replaced.
On June 29 Blue Circle signed a £1·4m contract with Babcock Rail for 22Mega 3 piggyback wagons, to be used for bulk and bagged cement traffic.
Midland Main Line has selected HSBC as preferred lessor for a fleet of non-tilting 200 km/h DMUs to enter service from 2004. A manufacturer has yet to be selected for the 100 cars worth £150m.
Hungary: 136 MÁV coaches are to be refurbished by Dunakeszi Vehicle Maintenance, in a €38m deal financed by an EBRD loan.
The Public Procurement Committee has approved the purchase by GySEV and MÁV of 15 Siemens locos for HF12bn.
Iran: RAI has called tenders for the supply of 300 ballast wagons.
Latvia: Rigas Vagonbuves Rupnica has won a 200000 lat contract to repair six LDZ carriages.
Malaysia: UE Construction has been awarded a 450m ringgit contract to construct bridges for the Rawang - Ipoh double tracking and electrification project.
InfoVision Systems of Britain has won a contract to supply infrastructure and rolling stock technical manuals to Express Rail Link Maintenance Support.
Norway: On June 29 Westinghouse Rail Systems signed a contract to supply Westrace, Westled and Westcad signalling and train control equipment to the Oslo T-bane ring project.
Spain: Prointec and Sener Ingeniería y Sistemas have been awarded a Pts420·8m contract to undertake preliminary studies for a high speed line between Madrid and C
