Amtrak has slackened its regulations to allow passengers to carry firearms on a limited number of trains. The new law follows restrictions similar to those imposed for air travel. Firearms must be stored in checked bags and placed in a locked and hardened container.

The condition of two Japanese holidaymakers who were critically injured when a tourist train derailed in the Alps is reported to be improving. One Japanese woman was killed and about 42 people injured when several carriages of the Glacier Express travelling between the ski resorts of Zermatt and St Moritz overturned.

Plans to build another 300 km rail link to serve the Pilbara iron ore mining region in Western Australia were approved by the state government on June 24.

Four new market realities: permanent change is becoming the order of the day in planning

Deutsche Bahn is to buy UK train and bus operator Arriva for £1.59bn in a deal that will create one of Europe’s largest transport groups. The move comes as part of the German group’s plans to expand beyond its domestic market, as well as a shift towards consolidation within European transport.

SNCF, the French state-owned rail operator, is in talks with Arriva, the UK transport operator, over moves to create a pan-European transport group with revenues of about €6 billion. The talks come against the background of liberalisation of Europe’s railway operations following new competition rules introduced on January 1.