A €1bn ($1.12bn) contract to build a major section of the Brenner Railway Tunnel in Italy has been awarded to an Astaldi-led joint venture that also comprises Ghella, Oberosler, COGEIS and PAC.  

The scope of the project is expected to take seven years to complete. It includes underground works of the most important stretch of the Italian section, from Mezzaselva (Fortezza) to Italy's border with Austria.

It also includes construction of an exploration tunnel and two main line tunnels, involving digging of an approximately 69km-long tunnel using both traditional and mechanised excavation methods.

"The Brenner tunnel comprises an investment of €8.8bn."

Said to become the world’s longest underground railway, the Brenner tunnel comprises an investment of €8.8bn ($9.89bn), which is being funded by the European Union (EU), Italy and Austria.

Škoda Transportation has signed a €26m ($29.2m) deal to deliver 14 modern ForCity trams to the city of Eskisehir in Turkey. This is a follow-up order to the previous delivery of 72 similar vehicles to the Turkish city of Konya.  

The 30m-long trams will be delivered in 19 months. Vehicles are unidirectional, fit a gauge of 1,000mm, air-conditioned and accommodate up to 276 passengers. They will feature four no-stair double-doors and two single-doors.