Latest News from International Railway Journal and Progressive Railroading. 7th May 2012

Ansaldo STS wins Pilbara S&T contract ANSALDO STS Australia has been awarded a $A 151m ($US 154.7m) turnkey contract to provide signalling and telecommunications systems for the Roy Hill Iron Ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

LA Expo light rail line opens for business LOS Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Expo light-rail line officially opened to the public on April 28. Balfour Beatty preferred bidder for Midland Metro extension WEST Midlands transport authority Centro has selected Balfour Beatty as its preferred bidder for the contract to build the 1.8km Midland Metro light rail extension through Birmingham city centre. Uzbekistan Railways to order bi-mode Talgos? UZBEKISTAN Railways (UTY) has entered negotiations with Talgo for two variable-gauge bi-mode trains, according to a report by Trend News Agency, which quotes UTY management as saying that discussions on financing are also underway. Irish Rail purchases Mermec’s asset management system IRISH Rail (IE) has selected the Ramsys asset management tool supplied by Mermec, Italy, to manage its track maintenance and renewal work schedule. www.progressiverailroading.com US Railroad News Fare increase to take effect tomorrow on Capitol Corridor Caltrain board OKs regional pact for electrification USDOT signs off on Oklahoma DOT's TIGER III grant for track upgrades Three Class Is make jobseeker web site's list of top military employers Crosstex Energy to boost capacity at Louisiana crude oil transload facility Rogoff helps dedicate new Massachusetts intermodal center Chicago South Shore & South Bend appoints CMO, superintendent May 7: Updates from ARS, Lilee Systems, Koppers, Stella-Jones and CTLGroup