World Railway News Updates..... 4th May 2012

International Railway Journal

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.

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. SPT appoints technical advisor for Glasgow Subway upgrade STRATHCLYDE Partnership for Transport (SPT) has appointed Systra to act as technical advisor for the turnkey contract to supply new trains, signalling and train control systems, and an upgraded control room as part of the £287.5m modernisation of the Glasgow Subway. www.railway-technology.com QR National plans to build train support facility in Hunter Valley of AustraliaAustralian rail transport company, QR National has unveiled plans to invest A$100m ($103m) to set up a modern train support facility at Hexham, near the Port of Newcastle.                            Ansaldo wins rail communication deal in AustraliaAnsaldo's subsidiary Ansaldo STS Australia has secured a €118m contract to the deliver satellite positioning-based train control and protection system for the 342km rail line, which is planned to be built as part of the Roy Hill iron ore mining project in Western Australia.                            Centro selects Balfour Beatty for Midland Metro extensionThe West Midlands transport authority Centro has selected Balfour Beatty to build an extension line of the metro network between Birmingham and Wolverhampton in the UK as part of £127m project.                            MotivePower wins order for ten locomotives in AustraliaMotivePower, a subsidiary of Wabtec, has won an order to build ten standard-gauge MP33C diesel locomotives from Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia (CFCLA Rail). www.progressiverailroading.com US Railroad news AAR: U.S. coal volume sagged to lowest year-over-year percentage drop last month CTA boosts price index component of CN's, CP's grain revenue cap SMART completes bond sale to fund new commuter-rail service LaHood makes another pitch for 'Buy America' Bartlett Grain to build KCSR-served facility in Illinois The Andersons acquires Iowa ethanol facility NARP presents Golden Spike Award to Sen. Inouye May 4: Updates from Veolia, Skanska Koch, Modjeski and Masters, RMI, TUV Rheinland and NRC