Alexandra Atiya

President Barack Obama had requested $1bn in fiscal year 2011 high-speed rail funds, but Congress allocated no federal money to high-speed rail projects in the stopgap budget bill.

The C$16 billion pension and Forum Equity Partners have won a 30-year concession to build South West Detention Centre in Ontario. The project is backed by availability payments from the provincial government.

The Mexican infrastructure group has submitted the only bid for a contract to build and operate hundreds of kilometres of roads in Mexico. The project cost is estimated to be $1.2bn.

The two developers are equal partners in the project, which involves upgrading 58 kilometres of highways in Germany. The government will provide some initial financing, and the two groups expect to recover their investment through a share of truck tolls.

CalSTRS’ investment committee unanimously approved a policy change that allows the $140bn California pension to allocate more capital to private infrastructure investments.

The £270m infrastructure fund managed by UK developer John Laing has acquired stakes in two private finance initiative projects for £9m.

The internet technology giant is investing in a 390-megawatt solar energy project in California that is being developed by CalSTRS-backed BrightSource Energy. The deal comes on the heels of a €3.5m solar investment in Germany.

The deal marks a direct investment for the Swiss fund-of-funds manager, which invested in a 71-megawatt solar power plant in northern Italy alongside energy-focused private equity firm First Reserve.

Australian transport and logistics company Qube now has A$175m in cash and equivalents to pursue acquisitions, following Carlyle’s previously announced A$116.5m investment in the company.

The tender for the $20 billion project to construct a bullet train between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro has been postponed again. Bids will now be due on 11 July.