Rolls-Royce Signs Major Contract for the Maintenance of Alpha Trains’ Diesel Trains
Rolls‑Royce Power Systems has signed a long‑term framework with rail‑leasing firm Alpha Trains to perform roughly 700 overhauls of mtu PowerPack diesel traction systems across the Coradia Lint, Talent and Desiro fleets operating throughout Europe. The agreement covers the remaining service life of these diesel multiple units, emphasizing high availability, predictable work planning and more manageable operating costs. Rolls‑Royce will apply its new ECM 4 maintenance certification, with ECM 2 expected by the end of 2026, to standardise reconditioning processes. Alpha Trains aims to treat its multi‑operator fleet as a single asset, improving cost transparency for customers.
ETF Criticises AccelerateEU Plan
The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) slammed the EU Commission’s AccelerateEU plan, saying it offers timid, market‑driven fixes to the energy‑price shock while ignoring the need for direct public investment in rail and urban transit. The Commission proposes temporary support,...
From Concept to Track: PJM’s End-to-End Rail Vehicle Development and Certification as Well as Leading Digital Rail Freight Solutions
PJM Group has broadened its ISO/IEC 17025‑accredited laboratory to include pantograph testing, making it Austria's sole provider in that area, and launched EMC Rail Services as a seventh testing discipline. The company also unveiled INFRATRACK, a dedicated test track built on...
The Basque Country Will Open a New Commuter Rail Line
The Basque Government will launch the C5 commuter rail line linking Karrantza and Aranguren, adding six new stations and serving over 12,000 residents. The service will run five trains each way on weekdays and one on weekends, raising total weekly...
Study: 7 Out of 10 Young People Believe They Could Get Out of the Way of a Train in Time
A Network Rail‑commissioned study reveals that 70% of UK adults aged 18‑34 believe they can evade an oncoming train at a level crossing, despite 98% lacking basic knowledge of a train’s stopping distance. The research also shows high rates of...
The Railway Project Between Oman and the United Arab Emirates Is 40% Complete
Hafeet Rail, a joint venture of Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment, announced that the 238‑kilometre railway linking Oman and the United Arab Emirates is 40% complete. Construction is underway at key nodes such as Al Ain, Al Buraimi, Sohar and...
Tender for Signalling on Madrid’s C-5 Commuter Line
Adif announced a €32 million (≈ $35 million) tender to replace signaling equipment on Madrid’s 20.7‑km C‑5 commuter line, covering 11 stations between Embajadores and Móstoles‑El Soto. The upgrade will install LED signals, fiber‑optic cables, new track circuits and the Asfa Digital traffic‑management system,...
Czechs Seek Supplier for 33 New Trains
České dráhy has issued a framework tender for up to 33 new multiple‑unit trains—20 battery‑powered and 13 electric—to support the Hradec Králové regional rail contract starting December 2031. The tender requires the two train types to be compatible for coupled operation, enabling...
Analysis: Booking International Trains in the EU Remains a Nightmare
A new Transport & Environment report finds that 20% of EU international rail routes cannot be booked in a single transaction, and only 53% are fully bookable on both major operators’ platforms. Success rates fall sharply on longer journeys, with...
Romania Signs First Hydrogen Train Contract
Romania’s Railway Reform Authority has signed a €229.3 million (≈$250 million) contract with Siemens Mobility to supply 12 Mireo Plus H hydrogen trainsets, including a 15‑year maintenance package. The first unit is slated for delivery in 2028, with passenger service expected to begin in...
InnoTrans Asia Announces Its Debut in Singapore in 2027
InnoTrans Asia will launch its first edition in Singapore from September 7‑9, 2027, positioning itself as the premier mobility trade fair for the Asia‑Pacific region. Roughly 30% of the exhibition floor is already allocated, with firms from 30 countries confirming participation. The...
Siemens Mobility Wins a CBTC Contract for the Fulton–Liberty Lines in New York
Siemens Mobility, partnered with L.K. Comstock, secured a $390 million contract from the MTA to install its Trainguard MT communications‑based train control (CBTC) system on New York’s Fulton–Liberty lines. The upgrade will modernize 23 stations and 65 km of track, replacing century‑old signaling...
Train Accident in Indonesia
On April 27 a commuter train at Bekasi Timur Station was rear‑ended by the Argo Bromo Anggrek intercity service, killing 14 passengers and injuring 84. The collision halted the Jakarta‑Surabaya corridor, prompting an eight‑to‑twelve‑hour rescue effort that evacuated roughly 240 long‑distance passengers. President...
Budapest’s Rail Transport Enters a New Phase of Development
Budapest’s public‑transport authority BKK logged over one billion passenger trips in 2025 and operates a tram fleet exceeding 600 vehicles. The city is rolling out a multi‑phase expansion, starting with a 3.5‑km tram line on Budafoki út to serve 18,000 new...
Czech Railways Introduces a New Service on the Baltic Express Route
Czech Railways (ČD) is adding a dedicated couchette car to its Baltic Express night trains between Prague and Gdynia for the summer season, boosting capacity by roughly 50 seats. The new carriage runs on EC 460 and EC 461 from 26 June to...
ÖBB Launches the “United by Music, Moved by ÖBB” Campaign
ÖBB has launched the “United by Music, Moved by ÖBB” campaign, aligning itself with the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. The rail operator introduced a “Loyalty Points Bet,” rewarding members with bonus points equal to Austria’s final score. A...
Laude Smart Intermodal Expand Into Lithuania
Laude Smart Intermodal has partnered with Lithuanian rail operator LTG Cargo to launch intermodal services via the Šeštokai terminal, linking Poland and Lithuania on European‑gauge lines. The collaboration leverages LTG Cargo’s licences in Latvia and Estonia, strengthening the North‑West rail...
USD 2 Billion to Improve Rail Transport in the U.S.
The Trump administration, via the U.S. Department of Transportation, announced more than $2 billion in federal funding to upgrade America’s rail network. The money will be awarded competitively to projects that cut congestion, boost passenger ridership, modernize freight corridors, and enhance...
JR Central Is Banking on the Shinkansen to Attract Foreign Tourists
JR Central unveiled the “Golden Route with the Shinkansen” campaign in late March 2026, targeting foreign tourists with a revamped Tokyo‑Osaka corridor. The initiative highlights 12 prefectures along the Tokaido Shinkansen, pairing iconic sites with lesser‑known attractions. A dedicated website,...
Poland Launches New Tender for a Section of the Warsaw–Łódź High-Speed Rail Line
Poland’s state‑run Port Polska has issued a new tender for the 14.3‑kilometre stretch of the Warsaw–Łódź high‑speed rail line linking the new central airport hub to the Bolimów hub. The competitive‑dialogue process, with expressions of interest due by June 12, will...
Spain’s Mediterranean Corridor: EUR 3 Billion in 2024–2026
Spain’s Mediterranean Corridor has secured roughly $3.1 billion in new investment between January 2024 and March 2026, accelerating construction, adaptation and modernization of rail sections, stations and port accesses. The network now has 870 km under construction, raising the overall work share from 45%...
A New Contract for TER Rail Services in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
France’s Nouvelle‑Aquitaine region awarded SNCF Voyageurs a 10‑year contract to operate TER services in Poitou‑Charentes, covering six lines that serve about 14,000 passengers daily. The €965 million (~$1.05 billion) deal, effective December 2027, creates a dedicated subsidiary, SNCF Voyageurs Terre Atlantique, and adds 22 extra weekday trains...
SNCB Introduces Platform Positioning Markers for Faster Boarding
Belgian rail operator SNCB is rolling out platform positioning markers that divide platforms into labeled zones and indicate where each train car will stop. The system, first piloted at Brussels‑Central, is now live at Hal and Brussels Airport and will...
Porterbrook Puts New Covered Freight Railcars Into Service
Porterbrook has placed 77 converted covered freight railcars into service for Heavy Haul Rail Limited, completing a 14‑month contract that began in December 2024. The wagons, originally HHA tipper coal cars, were retrofitted at WH Davis in Nottinghamshire using a lighter,...
Velvet Has Unveiled Its First TGV, with Which It Aims to Compete with SNCF
Velvet, a new French private rail operator, unveiled its first Avelia Horizon high‑speed trainset, part of a €850 million ($930 million) order for 12 trainsets backed by roughly €1 billion ($1.09 billion) in funding. The company plans to add about 10 million seats per year...
UNIFE Supports the Rollout of ERTMS Through the Adoption of Measures
UNIFE’s Director General Enno Wiebe urged EU rail stakeholders to adopt concrete measures that simplify authorisation, harmonise technical requirements and accelerate the phase‑out of legacy systems, aiming to unblock the rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). The call...
PolRegio Is Counting on CPK Trains for the Warsaw–Łódź Route
PolRegio has deepened its partnership with Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) to launch passenger services on the new high‑speed rail line linking Warsaw, the upcoming CPK airport, and Łódź, with extensions to Wrocław and Poznań. The collaboration includes access to up...
Russian Federal Passenger Company Signs USD 5 Billion Contract
Russia's Federal Passenger Company (FPC) has inked a $5.1 bn agreement with Tver Carriage Works (TVZ) to supply 2,700 passenger railcars by 2030, including 449 single‑deck coaches. TVZ will deliver 480 cars in 2026, leveraging recent plant upgrades. The contract deepens...
The EIB Is Providing EUR 300 Million for the Extension of the FGC Line 8 in Barcelona
The European Investment Bank has signed a €300 million (≈$330 million) loan with the Catalan government to fund the extension of FGC’s Line 8 in Barcelona. The project adds a 4‑kilometre underground tunnel between Plaça d’Espanya and Gràcia, creating new stations at Hospital...
Dutch Train Drivers Are Being Equipped with Body Cameras
Dutch rail operator NS is rolling out body‑worn cameras for all train drivers by the end of 2026, following a 2024 pilot that showed increased staff safety and calmer passenger interactions. Drivers can activate the cameras when a situation escalates,...
Vossloh to Supply Equipment for a New Railway Line in Tanzania
Vossloh has secured a roughly €30 million (about $33 million) contract to provide switches and fastening systems for Tanzania’s new standard‑gauge railway. The deal covers Sections 3 (Makutupora–Tabora, 294 km) and 4 (Tabora–Isaka, 130 km), totaling 424 km of track. Vossloh will deliver around 130 switch sets...
EIB May Finance New Tram Line in Tours
The European Investment Bank is weighing a €170 million (≈$184 million) loan to fund Tours’ second tram line, a project with an eligible cost of €539 million (≈$582 million). The 12.5‑km T2 line will feature 21 modern stations, two park‑and‑ride hubs, and 19 new...
Ukrzaliznytsia Is Launching Six More Children’s Railcars This Spring
Ukrzaliznytsia is adding six refurbished children’s railcars this spring, expanding the first three already operating on Lviv‑Odesa and Kharkiv‑Ivano‑Frankivsk routes. Developed with Visa, the cars feature safety‑focused amenities, themed "Ukrainian Fairy‑Tale Forest" interiors, and interactive financial‑education games. Tickets are sold...
Vietnam’s First High-Speed Rail Line, a Strategic Project for the Country’s Mobility
Vietnam is building its first high‑speed rail line, a 120‑km corridor linking Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, slated for completion by the end of 2028. The line, designed for speeds up to 350 km/h, will slash travel time from over two hours...
Leo Express Has Unveiled the Vectron Locomotive for Its New Routes to Slovakia
Leo Express has unveiled three Siemens Vectron multi‑system locomotives, leased from Railpool, to power its new international services between Prague‑Bratislava and Prague‑Prešov. The locomotives will haul 13‑car Talgo trainsets that seat 350 passengers and can run up to 200 km/h. The...
Poland Completes Installation of GSM-R on the Central Railway Line
Poland’s railway manager PKP PLK has finished installing the GSM‑R digital radio system on the Central Railway Line (CMK), erecting the last tower in Secemin and completing 35 communication sites. The network, built by a Nokia‑led consortium, will be commissioned and...
Seoul Metro Is Asking the Government for Hundreds of Millions of EUR to Cover Losses Caused by Free Rides
Seoul Metro has formally asked South Korea’s central government for roughly $358 million to offset losses from its legally mandated free‑ride program for seniors, veterans and other groups. The operator says the scheme generated about $482 million in losses last year, representing...
Netherlands’ Solution to the Housing Crisis: Neighborhoods Along the Railroad Tracks
The Netherlands faces a shortfall of roughly 400,000 homes – about 5% of its housing stock – as household growth outpaces the annual construction target of 100,000 units. ProRail, the national rail infrastructure manager, is championing the development of new...
China Launches New Rail Route to Europe
China’s first Wuhan‑Baku freight train launched on the Middle Corridor, slashing transit time to roughly 18 days versus the 22‑day norm on traditional routes. The multimodal link combines rail with a Caspian Sea crossing, positioning Wuhan as a pivotal logistics...
PJM Swiss Brings Together the Group’s Full Range of Expertise for the Swiss Market
Austrian rail‑systems specialist PJM has launched PJM Swiss, a subsidiary headquartered in Thalwil, to deliver the group’s full suite of rail‑vehicle services to the Swiss market. Managing Director Martin Benkler and Senior Rail Specialist Lorenz Kochan combine 38 years of industry experience...
The Fiscal Analysis of Rail Baltica Demonstrates the Project’s Financial Viability
A high‑level fiscal analysis by RB Rail shows that every euro invested in Rail Baltica’s construction generates roughly 19‑21 cents in tax revenue for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The study models three funding scenarios—conservative, mixed (most likely) and optimistic—illustrating how national budget contributions...
High-Speed CRRC EMUs Unveiled in Ningbo
CRRC and Ningbo Rail Transit have unveiled new Type A electric multiple units for Lines 10 and 12, capable of 160 km/h—double the speed of existing services. The lightweight, aerodynamic trains cut weight by 4.28 tons and reduce energy consumption by roughly 15 %. Designed for...
Portugal Grants Greater Autonomy to the Railway Company CP
Portugal has re‑classified state railway CP as a market entity, granting it greater financial and managerial autonomy. The change removes CP from the central government budget, allowing the operator to fund investments from its own revenues and easing the country’s...
Vossloh to Supply Smart Switches for Belgian High-Speed Line to France
Vossloh has secured a roughly $18.5 million contract to supply high‑speed switches for Belgium’s HSL 1 line, linking Brussels to the French border. The deal includes an eight‑year delivery phase and a separate 20‑year maintenance agreement that leverages sensor‑based predictive maintenance. The...
How a Regional Operator in Denmark Has Trained a Record Number of Train
Denmark's regional rail operator Lokaltog announced an accelerated recruitment drive, planning to train a record 40 new train drivers in 2026. The push follows service frequency upgrades on nine lines and the upcoming introduction of 24 battery‑powered multiple units, with...
EUR 66 Million for Signalling on the Córdoba–Bobadilla Conventional Line
Spain’s rail infrastructure manager Adif has signed a €65.8 million (≈$71.7 million) contract to modernise signalling on the Valchillón‑Torres Cabrera‑Fuente de Piedra segment of the Córdoba‑Bobadilla line. The work will install a single‑track automatic block system linked to a centralized traffic control (CTC) platform and...
Moscow Opens Second Diametric Tram Line
Moscow opened its second diametric tram line, T2, linking Chertanovskaya metro station with Novogireevo. The 79‑station corridor serves more than two million residents across 13 districts and connects to 31 metro stations, the Central Ring Railway, the MCD and four...
Czechs Put Siemens and Škoda Multi-System Locomotives up for Sale
Czech national railway operator České dráhy announced the sale of its surplus multi‑system locomotives, including six Siemens 1216 (Taurus) units and several Škoda‑built Class 380 units. The 1216 series, built between 2007‑2011, delivers 6 MW at 230 km/h and is certified for operation in...
ÖBB Rail Connections to Vienna International Airport Support Regional Development
ÖBB’s rail network to Vienna International Airport carried about 10.5 million passengers in 2025, a 70% rise since 2014 and now accounts for 40% of airport travelers. The service generates roughly $17 million in annual economic value and cuts CO₂ emissions by...
CER: Railways Can Reduce Europe’s Energy Dependence
The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) released an analysis linking rail expansion to Europe’s push for energy independence. It quantifies current savings—144,000 barrels of oil per day for freight and 220,000 barrels for passengers—along with €4.5 bn ($5 bn)...