Hitachi to Develop Portugal’s Second Translator Tech for ETCS Trains on Legacy Lines
Hitachi Rail has secured a contract from Infraestruturas de Portugal to build the country’s second Specific Transmission Module (STM), a translator that lets ETCS‑equipped trains run on legacy Convel signalling. About 69% of Portugal’s 2,500‑km network still uses Convel, so the STM is essential for the nation’s shift to the European Rail Traffic Management System. The new STM will be an external module, developed by teams in Portugal, Sweden and Italy, and offered under FRAND terms to broaden the supplier base. Deployment is slated for late 2026, supporting both passenger and freight operators.
More than 30 Trains Damaged in Denmark After Traction System Fault Upends Traffic
More than 30 trainsets were damaged in eastern Denmark after a fault in Banedanmark's traction power system caused overhead wires to sag and collide with pantographs. The incident halted traffic across much of Zealand, affecting at least 10,000 passengers with...
ERTMS Trackbot Starts Operations in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has launched its first real‑world deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Trackbot on the Northern Lines between Leeuwarden and Harlingen Haven. Developed by Strukton, AMT and No Man Trackwork with Hitachi support, the autonomous robot...
Trains Return to Flood-Hit Czech Rail Line After 18 Months
Czech Railways will restart service on the Lipová Lázně–Javorník line (Line 295) on 16 April 2026, ending an 18‑month suspension caused by severe September 2024 flooding. Infrastructure manager Správa železnic completed all repairs, allowing the first scheduled trains to run at 04:13 and 05:10....
Six Consortia Compete for Poland’s First High-Speed Rail Contract
Six consortia have applied to build Poland’s first high‑speed rail segment, a 13‑km stretch linking Kotowice to the planned Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) airport. The contract, part of the Warsaw‑Łódź line within a Y‑shaped network to Poznań and Wrocław, is...
The Netherlands Plans Parallel and Faster ERTMS Rollout to Combat Too Slow Pace
The Dutch rail authority warns that the nationwide ERTMS upgrade could slip to 2060‑2070, far beyond the original 2056 deadline. To avoid this, the programme directorate proposes a parallel, multi‑region rollout aiming for full implementation by 2040. The first tranche,...
ERTMS to Be Activated on Rome-Florence High-Speed Line After Weekend Closure
Italy’s Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) completed activation of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) on the Rome‑Florence high‑speed line after a weekend shutdown. The €147 million (≈$159 million) project, funded partly by EU NRRP money, used a concentrated intervention that cut...
Stadler Opens New Austrian Workshop to Support Westbahn High-Speed Fleet
Stadler has inaugurated a 4,600 sqm high‑speed train workshop just outside Vienna, officially opened on 10 April after operating since March. The facility currently maintains Westbahn’s Stadler KISS double‑deck EMUs and is positioned to service other operators’ rolling stock. Built with STRABAG...
RailTech.com and Railway Gazette International Join Forces
RailTech.com is merging with Railway Gazette International, creating an expanded Railway Gazette International brand within weeks. The integration will redirect the RailTech.com domain to railwaygazette.com, move its article archive, and convert all RailTech subscribers to Railway Gazette International subscriptions. A...
Portugal Gives More Management Freedom to CP, Budget Limitations Still in Place
Starting in 2027 Portugal’s state‑owned rail operator CP will enjoy greater management autonomy, allowing more flexible hiring and tool acquisition, but it will remain subject to strict financial rules. The change removes CP from the Public Administration Institutional Sector, easing...
Top Spanish Hyperloop Developer Zeleros Files for Bankruptcy
Zeleros, a leading Spanish hyperloop developer, entered voluntary insolvency after its €15 million ($16.3 million) fundraising fell short and long development cycles strained cash flow. A Valencia court approved liquidation while evaluating a binding offer from engineering group Amper to acquire Zeleros’...
Stadler Secures €32.5m Order for Rack Trains on Europe’s Highest Open-Air Railway
Swiss train builder Stadler won a follow‑up contract from the Gornergrat Railway to supply four additional Polaris rack‑and‑pinion multiple units. The deal, valued at roughly CHF30 million (about $33 million), expands a fleet renewal that began in 2019. Delivery is scheduled for...
Spain High-Speed Crash: Possible Rail Break Detected 22 Hours Before Accident, but No Alert Triggered
Spain’s high‑speed network suffered its deadliest crash in a decade when an Iryo train derailed near Adamuz, killing 46. A Civil Guard report reveals that Adif’s signalling system detected an electrical disturbance consistent with a rail break 21 hours and 57 minutes...
Poland Rules RegioJet ‘Violated Passengers’ Rights’ over Cancellations, Threatens Multi-Million-Euro Fine
Poland’s rail regulator UTK ruled that Czech operator RegioJet breached passenger rights by cancelling 23 scheduled services in December 2025, part of a broader disruption that saw over 1,000 trains scrapped during the holiday peak. The regulator can fine the...
Alstom Delivers Romania’s First Next-Gen Traxx Electric Locomotive
Alstom has delivered the first of a 16‑unit Traxx Passenger electric locomotive programme for Romania’s Railway Reform Authority, marking the start of a €150 million ($165 million) contract that includes 20 years of maintenance. The four‑axle unit, ARF002, arrived on 7 April at Bucharest’s...
