Chief Executive of Swiss Federal Railways Vincent Ducrot is keenly aware of the need to keep passenger and freight customers satisfied. Toma Bačić asked how his strategy would achieve that objective.

BELGIUM: An onboard Automatic Train Protection system being developed for international freight operator Lineas by Škoda Group affiliate The Signalling Company has been certified for operation using Belgium’s TBL1+ Class B train control technology.

EGYPT: The first passenger service in more than 50 years ran on the 100 km line linking Al Ismailia on the Suez canal with Bir-al-Abd in the north of the Sinai Peninsula on October 7.

Given the scale of the task, the government should resist the temptation to push through hasty reform of the UK rail sector, argues Dominic Booth, Chief Executive of Transport UK Group.

EUROPE: A study is to be undertaken into the potential reopening of the line from Savski Marof and Kumrovec in Croatia to Imeno in Slovenia, which closed in 2000.

KAZAKHSTAN: Wabtec has finalised a US$405m agreement to supply Evolution Series ES44ACi (TE33A) diesel locomotives to national railway KTZ, which is upgrading its ageing fleet to meet growing demand.

Paris metro operator RATP believes it can use the experience it has gained in managing the migration of train control equipment used on Line 14 from one GoA4 platform to another to help upgrade other automated metros. Jérémie Anne reports.

SOUTH KOREA: Korea Railroad Research Institute is installing a private 5G-R 5G-based railway telecoms network on a 600 m section of line in the Osong test centre, the company has told Railway Gazette International.

UK: The High Speed Rail Group has published its Driving Investment in Rail Infrastructure report, outlining what it says is needed to develop a comprehensive long-term rail infrastructure strategy that actively engages with the investment community and explores a broad range of funding options, including private investment.

USA: The Surface Transportation Board has approved applications from CSX and Canadian Pacific Kansas City to create a new direct interchange in Alabama by acquiring lines operated by G&W’s Meridian & Bigbee Railroad, eliminating the need for it to serve as an intermediary carrier.

UK: Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haig has announced measures which aim to ensure the costs of the High Speed 2 programme ‘are brought under control’, including an independent review of governance.

SNCF Réseau is committed to installation of the digital NExTEO train control system to increase train throughput on the busiest sections of the heavily used Paris RER network. Jérémie Anne reports.

IRELAND: National railway Iarnród Éireann has purchased what it describes as ‘the world’s first fully automatic ballast regulator’ from System7 for use across its 1 600 mm gauge network.

PHILIPPINES: East Japan Railway and Paris transport operator RATP’s international business are to co-operate to bid for the contract to operate and maintain the future North-South Commuter Rail line in the Manila region.

News from the world rail freight market.

INNOTRANS: As part of Railway Gazette International’s commitment to providing comprehensive coverage of the InnoTrans trade fair, here we provide a summary of contracts, partnerships and agreements confirmed at the show.

ITALY: Stadler has begun delivering the first of the 950 mm gauge electric multiple-units ordered by regional operator EAV for suburban services on the 169 km Circumvesuviana railway network south and east of Napoli.

AUSTRIA: New entrant to the European full-service locomotive leasing market Green Mobility Partners has awarded Siemens Mobility a framework contract covering the supply and support of up to 50 locomotives.

UK: Chiltern Railways has unveiled the first of its 28 Class 168 diesel multiple-units to be refurbished under a £12m programme.

SWITZERLAND: Montreux-Berner Oberland-Bahn has awarded Stadler a contract to supply six custom-made locomotives.