LIBYA: General contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Corp has awarded Vossloh contracts to supply rail fastenings and turnouts for 1 300 km of the future rail network in the west of Libya. The two contracts have a total value of €115m and deliveries will run to 2012.

China has become a major main contractor for large rail projects in the third world, but it's not all for the export of domestic products. Again the two links upthread are relevant.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

RUSSIA: Sapsan services were extended from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod with a ceremonial launch on July 30. 'Now this city, with its population of over a million, will be linked to Moscow and St Petersburg by a high speed, reliable, and comfortable means of transport', said RZD President Vladimir Yakunin at the city's Moskovsky station.

Sapsan services have carried over 880 000 passengers since the launch of the Moscow - St Petersburg route on December 17, with average occupancy almost 86%, according to RZD.

Seat occupancy is fabulous, but the total numbers also reflect that the service is not too frequent.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}