Delays Come at a Cost: DB Paid EUR 156 Million in Compensation in 2025
Deutsche Bahn paid €156.1 million ($168 million) in passenger compensation in 2025, down from €197 million ($213 million) in 2024 but still nearly three times the 2019 level. The company processed about 6.2 million claims, triple 2019 filings, while long‑distance train punctuality remained poor, with only 59.4 % arriving within six minutes. Ongoing construction, network disruptions and the Deutschlandticket have cut long‑distance occupancy to 48 % and added roughly €300 million ($324 million) in extra infrastructure costs. Deutsche Bahn’s net loss is expected to widen to €2.3 billion ($2.5 billion) in 2025, driven by a €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) impairment in its long‑distance division.
New Italy-Sweden Freight Route Launched
FS Logistix, via its German arm TX Logistik, and Finland's Nurminen Logistics have launched a weekly 2,500‑km block‑train freight corridor between Castelguelfo, Italy and Frövi, Sweden. The service traverses Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, delivering containers of food, beverages,...
ERTMS to Be Activated on the Rome–Florence High-Speed Line
FS Italiane announced that the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) will be activated on the Rome–Florence high‑speed line in April 2026, completing the digital signalling upgrade for the corridor. To install the final Orvieto‑Settebagni block, night traffic will be...
Signalling Contract Awarded for Łódź High-Speed Tunnel
Polish construction firm Porr awarded Alstom a contract to design, deliver and integrate signalling systems for the Łódź high‑speed tunnel, a key component of the Port Polska “Y” railway line. The tunnel will stretch 4.6 km, feature a 14‑metre diameter, and support...
Alstom Modernises ScotRail’s Class 222 Fleet
Alstom and ScotRail have sealed a ten‑year, £250 million Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement covering 22 five‑car Class 222 trains. The deal includes an £80 million refurbishment programme that upgrades interiors, exteriors and onboard technology. Alstom will provide maintenance, spare‑parts logistics and...
Mitsubishi and Renfe Transform Villaverde Maintenance Facility
Renfe Ingeniería y Mantenimiento and Mitsubishi Electric Europe have signed a two‑year strategic collaboration to turn the Villaverde maintenance depot in Madrid into a European reference centre for train traction‑motor maintenance. The partnership will offer repair, overhaul and training services...
SJ Continues Operating Regional Services in Western Sweden
Swedish state rail operator SJ, via its subsidiary SJ Götalandståg, has secured the “Tåg 2027” contract to operate the Västtågen regional network in western Sweden for an additional 11 years, extending service through December 2037. The agreement maintains Alstom as the rolling‑stock maintenance partner,...
Hamburg–Berlin Line to Reopen From May
Deutsche Bahn will reopen the Hamburg–Berlin corridor in two phases, starting with the Hamburg‑Hagenow segment on 15 May and the full 278‑km line on 14 June. The staged launch follows a winter‑induced delay but restores regular timetables for long‑distance, regional and freight...
Budapest’s Combino Trams Celebrate 20 Years in Service
Budapest’s BKV celebrated the 20‑year anniversary of its Siemens Combino tram fleet, which entered service in July 2006 on the heavily trafficked lines 4 and 6. The 40‑vehicle fleet has moved more than two billion passengers and accumulated nearly 7 million service hours. At 54 meters...
Space Technology on the Rails: ESA and Tended Test a System for Railway Construction
The European Space Agency and British firm Tended are advancing the Virtual Worksite Marker Board (VWSMB) system, a digital solution that replaces physical railway work‑site signs with geofenced virtual boundaries. Pilot trials with Siemens Mobility and Network Rail have demonstrated...
Poland Prepares to Test an Autonomous Train
Poland’s state‑owned railway PKP has joined a consortium to develop and test an autonomous passenger train using Automatic Train Operation technology. The pilot will run on the WKD Line 48 between Podkowa Leśna and Milanówek, starting with a digital‑twin simulation followed by...
Ticket Sales for TGV INOUI, OUIGO, and INTERCITÉS Are Now Open
SNCF Voyageurs has opened ticket sales for its TGV INOUI, OUIGO and INTERCITÉS services, unveiling a slate of summer‑focused capacity upgrades. TGV INOUI adds 200,000 seats to Marseille and Nice and 60,000 seats to the Paris‑Annecy Alpine corridor, while expanding weekend routes from...
Public Transport in Prague – the Best of the City’s Services
Residents rate Prague’s public‑transport system among the city’s top services, with a 74 % satisfaction rate and an 8.18/10 quality score in a recent STEM/MARK survey. The Net Promoter Score of 35 reflects strong passenger loyalty, while speed, coverage and reliability...
Ridgewood Infrastructure Acquires California Rail Operator
Ridgewood Infrastructure announced a majority‑stake acquisition of Sierra Railroad Company, a California short‑line operator that offers freight, switching, storage and transloading services. The deal also includes Sierra’s purchase of Central Valley Ag Transport, adding an agricultural transshipment facility to its...
EUR 750 Million Contract for a New Railway Line in the Krakow Area
Polish railway infrastructure manager PKP PLK signed a EUR 750 million contract with a Budimex‑Ferrovial consortium to build a 20‑km double‑track line linking Krakow to Gdów. The project, part of the broader Podłęże–Piekiełko programme, includes new stations, fully accessible platforms, and 42 engineering...
The Czech Railway Industry, Competitive on International Markets
The Czech railway sector contributed roughly 2% of national GDP in 2025, generating €5.4 billion in turnover and employing about 23,700 people. Export activity was a key driver, with 52% of production – valued at CZK 68 billion (≈€2.8 billion) – shipped abroad, marking...
Contract to Improve the Operation of the Zaragoza Railway Network
Adif awarded a €41 million contract to modernise traffic‑management systems on the Zaragoza railway network, focusing on the Embid de la Ribera section of the Madrid‑Zaragoza‑Barcelona Iberian‑gauge line. The project upgrades electronic centralisation facilities, control, signalling and telecommunications across multiple stations,...
Maintenance of Railway Lines in the Czech Republic, Costs Reduced by 33%
Správa železnic, the Czech railway infrastructure manager, announced that recent tenders have cut maintenance costs by up to 33%, delivering more than €13.8 million in savings. The biggest reduction occurs on the Vsetín‑Horní Lidč line, where the bid fell from €23.4 million to...
New Mechanisms for Solidarity Lanes
On March 6, the European Commission, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine reconfirmed their commitment to the Solidarity Lanes that keep Ukraine’s export‑import lifelines open. The partners pledged to advance the Danube Action Plan 2.0, boosting safe navigation, port coordination and rapid response on...
Serbia Wants to Build over 1,200 Km of Railway by 2035
Serbia’s “Serbia 2030” strategy calls for building or modernizing 1,219 kilometres of railway by 2035, adding to 289 kilometres slated for completion by 2030. The plan mixes new lines—such as Pančevo‑Zrenjanin‑Subotica and Valjevo‑Vrbnica‑Montenegro border—with upgrades of existing corridors like Belgrade‑Niš. Projects...
The World’s Fastest Conventional Train Is Nearing Launch in China
China’s CRRC is close to launching the CR450, a conventional high‑speed train designed for 400 km/h commercial operation. The prototypes, completed in 2024, have logged roughly 300,000 km of testing on multiple lines and reached a peak speed of 453 km/h, with a...
Estonia Is Preparing a Single Platform for Public Transport Tickets
Estonia is launching MaaS X‑tee, a unified digital ticketing platform that will let passengers plan trips and buy tickets across trains, buses, trams, ferries, micromobility and car rentals from a single interface. The Estonian Government Chancellery and Transport Authority awarded Turnit...
Modernization of the Zilina Railway Junction Completed
Slovakia has finished a €318 million modernization of the Zilina railway junction, upgrading 14 km of east‑west and 2.3 km of north‑south tracks. The project replaced tracks, added barrier‑free underground passages, and equipped six platforms with escalators and elevators. It also introduced ETCS...
Rising Costs for Sweden’s East Link
Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) reports that the East Link (Ostlänken) rail project’s cost for the Norrköping segment has risen by more than EUR 187 million (SEK 2 billion) due to the originally planned elevated bridge solution. To rein in expenses, officials propose shifting the...
The First Škoda Trains for Bulgaria Will Arrive Soon
Škoda Transportation has shipped the first two RegioPanter electric multiple units to Bulgaria after completing dynamic and safety tests in the Czech Republic. The delivery initiates a fleet of 25 four‑car trains valued at over €500 million, with a 15‑year maintenance...
Turkiye Has Modernized 60 Railway Stations in One Year
Turkey’s state railway operator TCDD renovated 60 stations in the past year, blending historic preservation with modern upgrades. The projects included seismic reinforcement at 16 sites and accessibility improvements at seven stations. Overall rail infrastructure has expanded to 13,919 km,...
New Boa Metro Trains Enter Service in Lille
Alstom’s new Boa metro trains have entered passenger service on Lille’s automated Line 1, with the first five 52‑metre, rubber‑tyred units boosting capacity from 160 to 313 passengers per train. The trains will operate in mixed formation alongside existing VAL 208 units,...
Torpol Wins Contract to Rebuild Warsaw East Station
Polish rail manager PKP PLK awarded Torpol the €946.4 million contract to rebuild Warsaw East station and Warszawa Stadion stop. Torpol’s €700 million bid was selected from six offers, with EU co‑financing expected under the FEnIKS programme. The project includes seven new platforms, a...
Griffin Locomotive Approval Process Begins in Germany
Polish rolling‑stock maker Newag has launched the German approval process for its Griffin E4MSUa‑002 locomotive, following electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests in Switzerland and the Czech Republic. The multi‑system electric locomotive is being prepared for certification to operate on Germany and Austria’s...
Amtrak: New Strategy for Replacing Rolling Stock
Amtrak announced a revised rolling‑stock strategy that will standardize all long‑distance trains on single‑level cars, abandoning the earlier double‑deck proposal. The new procurement will invite competitive bids, aiming to deliver the first new passenger cars in the early 2030s while...
The First TGV INOUI Trainset Set to Have Its Service Life Extended
French rail operator SNCF Voyageurs has launched the O2D programme, modernising the first TGV INOUI trainset and targeting 104 high‑speed trainsets for life‑extension. The €600 million investment aims to stretch operating life from 34 to up to 50 years, adding roughly 15 % more...
Newag Hybrid Multiple Unit for PKP Intercity
Polish manufacturer Newag unveiled its first hybrid multiple‑unit for PKP Intercity, a train that combines electric and diesel power to operate on both electrified and non‑electrified lines. The units can reach 160 km/h on electrified tracks and 120 km/h on non‑electrified routes, with...
Streem and Ermewa Shape Their Corporate Direction
Streem has appointed Peter Reinshagen to spearhead sector‑related initiatives and broader development in European rail freight, leveraging his experience as Ermewa’s Managing Director. Within Ermewa, Deputy Managing Director Cyrille Guyon steps up as Managing Director, providing continuity after a decade...
DB Cargo UK Tests Class 93 Tri-Mode Locomotive on Intermodal Service
DB Cargo UK tested the Stadler‑built Class 93 tri‑mode locomotive on an intermodal service between Seaforth and Mossend, hauling up to 1,500 tons. The trial, run with Rail Operations Group, Network Rail and ASLEF, showcased electric, diesel, hybrid and battery‑only operation on...
Stadler and Critical Software Launch Stadler Digital Labs
Stadler and Critical Software have created a joint venture, Stadler Digital Labs, with a 51%/49% ownership split. The new company will develop railway‑specific software, cybersecurity solutions, and digital products from offices in Coimbra and Lisbon. It launches with roughly 100...
RATP Dev Signs Contract to Operate the Caen Rail Network
RATP Dev has secured a 10½‑year contract to operate the Caen metropolitan rail network, starting July 2027. The deal covers ten key routes, representing about 20% of the region’s TER traffic, and follows an 18‑month pre‑operation phase aimed at a smooth...
ERTMS Deployment in EU Member States Remains Very Slow
The European Coordinator for ERTMS released its third work plan, confirming that deployment across EU Member States remains markedly behind schedule. In 2024 only 12,400 km – about 10% of the TEN‑T network and 17% of the core network – were...
France Launches Tender for 300 Double-Deck EMUs
SNCF Voyageurs and Île‑de‑France Mobilités have issued a joint tender for more than 300 Z2N NG double‑deck EMUs under a framework worth over €8 billion. The 23‑year agreement, running to December 2052, includes a firm order for 52 trains valued at €1.5 billion and optional tranches...
Sweden Awards Contracts for the Ostlänken High-Speed Line
Sweden’s transport authority Trafikverket has awarded two design‑and‑build contracts for the Ostlänken high‑speed railway, covering 60 km of the 160 km line between Järna and Skavsta. Hochtief Infrastructure will construct the Vagnhärad section while Bouygues Travaux Publics will handle the Skavsta segment,...
