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NORTHERN Ireland Railways operator Translink has taken the first step towards completing the renewal of its train fleet by issuing an invitation to tender for the purchase of 20 dmus. The trains will allow Translink to withdraw its remaining class 80 and class 450 dmus and expand services on its busiest routes. Translink expects to sign a contract with its chosen supplier by March next year and the trains will be delivered in 2011-2012.

The French cabinet has adopted the so-called Grenelle Environment bill. This has three main objectives to be achieved by 2020: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20%, improve energy efficiency by 20%, and increase the proportion of energy produced from renewable sources by 20%. For rail transport, this means building 2000km of high-speed lines by 2020 and expanding public transport in the main cities to encourage more people to travel by rail. A further 2500km of new lines are planned beyond 2020. The bill will now go before the French parliament in the autumn. The 2009 Finance Act will include measures and taxes to complement the environmental initiatives.

THE Russian capital’s third airport rail link will be officially opened on June 10 by Mr Sergey Ivanov, deputy chairman of the Russian government, Mr Igor Levitin, minister of transport, Mr Boris Gromov, governor of the Moscow Region, and Mr Vladimir Yakunin, president of Russian Railways (RZD). Rail services between Moscow Savyolovsky station and Sheremetyevo Airport will start on June 11. Trains will take about 35 minutes compared with between 55 and 65 minutes for current rail and bus service.