PKP SA published on 21.03.2011 an invitation to negotiations concerning buying shares of Polish PKP Cargo – the second biggest rail freight carrier in the European Union. The investor will be able to buy 50% + 1 share of all shares.

State-owned Hungarian railways (MAV) recently completed a plan that stipulates EUR 16.4 billion in investments between the years 2011-2030 on renovation of track infrastructure and purchasing new rolling stock.

For 2011 HZ-Infrastruktura is planning to invest the amount of EUR 136m, which is 70 percent more comparing to the investments run in 2010.

Bulgarian Parliament has approved the first reading of EUR 71.5 million loan to state-owned Bulgarian railways (BDZ), to be granted by the Bulgarian Development Bank.

According to the report provided by the World Bank, Poland has implemented most provisions of the EU Railway Directives.

Czech Railways are planning to diminish the high noise level in the Regionova trains. These are relatively modern sets which were constructed on the basis of older units produced by Parsnova.

During the second meeting of Coordination Council specialists from various eastern European and middle East countries met to discuss problems concerning development of international freight transport in the Baltic Sea-Black Sea line.

Austrian Railways (OBB) announced that 94.2 percent of all of its services were less than five minutes late last year, up from 90.5 per cent in 2009. The company added 97.6 per cent of its trains went on time in the first two months of 2011.

The Russian Railways is starting implementation of Environmental Strategy 20115-2030 programme, which is aimed at reducing environmental impact of economic activity of railway company.

According to Slovakian transport minister Jan Figel, by June 2012 Slovakian government is planning to sell at least 66 percent of the shares in ZSSK Cargo. The information was announced on 16 March 2011.

The ministry of transport and infrastructure informed that the director of Moldovan railways was dismissed on 17 March 2011.

In 2010 Slovakian freight company, ZSSK Cargo transported during last year 38.6 milion tons of goods. This means that the cargo transport rate is growing in comparison to 2009.

VR Transpoint ordered over 300 wagons designed to transporting wood. Total value of the order is approximately EUR 28m. The wagons will be produced by Pieksämäki Workshop.

On 17 March 2011 the representatives of PESA Bydgoszcz SA signed a contract with CD for a delivery of 31 diesel multiple units.

American companies Greenbrier announced that it has received orders for 4.200 railcar platforms valued at EUR 233m.

Remar Paşcani SA, a part of the Grampet-GFR holding, along with other five companies received state aid for the investment projects aimed at ensuring a sustainable economic development.

The representatives of the German train drivers' union, which organized strikes recently, said on 16 March 2011 it had been made an offer by national operator Deutsche Bahn that was acceptable for negotiation.

Debut of Trade Fair for Public Transport & Interiors will be rescheduled for the dates from 19 to 21 June 2013 in Berlin.

Stockholm School of Economics in Riga together with Latvian think tank Meierovics Society for Progressive Change and Konrad Adenauer Foundation are organizing a policy conference on Rail Baltica transport corridor. The conference will take place on 24 March 2011 in Riga, Latvia

According to the report released by the World Bank, Polish railway infrastructure needs an annual rhythm of track renewal works of about 1,390 km to preserve the designed operations parameters on the existing 19,764 km of railway lines.