Alstom’s First Multilevel III Railcar Arrives in New Jersey
Alstom has delivered the first Multilevel III double‑decker railcar to NJ Transit, kicking off a major fleet renewal for one of the nation’s busiest commuter networks. The new car will undergo testing before up to 40 additional units join a total order of 374 vehicles slated for service later this year. Designed for locomotive‑free operation, the cars travel up to 110 mph—30 mph faster than the aging single‑level fleet—offering more seats, USB charging and digital signage. The program meets Buy America rules, with at least 70% of components sourced domestically.
Rail Baltica Enters a Key Phase in Kaunas
Lithuanian rail manager LTG Infra has launched design work on the Kaunas Node, a pivotal and technically demanding segment of the Rail Baltica corridor linking Poland to Latvia. The project must reconcile the European standard gauge (1,435 mm) with the legacy Baltic...
New Sections of the Franz-Josefs Line Enter the Modernization Phase
Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has begun a phased modernization of the historic Franz‑Josefs Line between Vienna and Gmünd, suspending service on key sections from April 2026. The first phase covers the northern stretch from České Velenice to Sigmundsherberg, followed by...
ORR: UK Rail Productivity Remains Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
The Office of Rail and Road’s latest report shows UK rail productivity rose 3% in 2024‑25, yet total costs remain 21% above 2014‑15 levels. Passenger operators improved 2% but face a 40% cost increase, with rolling‑stock leasing and maintenance costing...
CEF Funds for the Digitalisation of Rail Capacity in Portugal
Portugal’s rail infrastructure manager Infraestruturas de Portugal has secured €600,000 (≈$654,000) in European Connecting Europe Facility funding to digitise rail capacity management. The initiative will deliver the Infrastructure Register (RINF) and integrate it with a new technical cadastre, targeting full...
VIA Rail Is Modernizing 56 Sleeper Railcars
VIA Rail announced a $150 million program to modernize its entire fleet of Château and Manor sleeper railcars, covering 56 units over the next five years. The upgrades, performed by CAD Railway Industries, will refresh interiors and essential systems on the...
Europe Is Traveling More by Train, but Freight Remains on the Road
Eurostat data shows European passenger rail usage rebounded in 2024, reaching 8.3 billion domestic trips and 443 billion passenger‑kilometres—a 5.8% rise over 2023 and the first post‑pandemic level above 2019. Per‑capita travel averaged 958 km domestically, with Hungary, Austria and France leading. In...
GATX Introduces the ACTS Solution for Freight Railcars
GATX Rail Europe is rolling out the ACTS (Abroll Container Transport System) solution to modernize its freight railcar fleet and expand intermodal capabilities, especially for waste and industrial logistics. The modular wagons feature four rotating platforms that can handle 5.95‑meter...
The Israeli Startup Aiming to Become the “Tesla of Trains”
Israeli startup Voltify raised $30 million in seed funding to commercialize a system that converts diesel locomotives to battery‑electric power without traditional overhead lines. The solution pairs battery‑driven engines with on‑the‑go charging stations and renewable microgrids, aiming to slash rail operators’...
Turkiye, Jordan, and Syria Aim to Revive Rail Links
Turkey, Jordan and Syria signed a trilateral memorandum in Amman to revive rail links, focusing on the historic Hejaz Railway and a north‑south logistics corridor. The agreement seeks to harmonise transport regulations, lower transit fees and integrate Mediterranean, Red Sea...
Akiem Secures EUR 1.52 Billion Green Refinancing
French rolling‑stock specialist Akiem completed a €1.52 billion ($1.66 billion) green senior debt refinancing, converting all existing borrowings to sustainable financing. The deal combines 7‑ and 10‑year bank loans with 15‑ and 20‑year private placements, extending maturities to two decades. A €700 million...
Ukrainian Railway Industry Involved in the Production of Alstom Locomotives
Alstom has selected a slate of Ukrainian railway firms to supply critical components for its new Traxx electric freight locomotives, with deliveries slated to begin in early 2027. The contract, signed in November 2025, covers 55 locomotives to be delivered through...
Portland Purchases Battery-Powered Urbos Trams
Portland Transportation Bureau selected CAF USA to supply 15 battery‑powered Urbos trams for the Portland Streetcar system. The new vehicles will enable wireless, overhead‑wire‑free operation on the NS line extension to Montgomery Park, marking the network’s first battery‑run service. They replace...
Czechia Signs EUR 405 Million Contract for Hradec Králové Station Modernisation
Czech infrastructure manager Správa železnic awarded a EUR 405 million ($441 million) contract to OHLA ŽS, Subterra and Elektrizace železnic Praha to modernise Hradec Králové station. The EU Cohesion Fund will contribute up to EUR 354.5 million (about $386 million), with the State Fund covering the balance. slated for...
The Jundiz Intermodal Terminal Enters the Concession Process
Spain’s railway infrastructure manager Adif has opened a tender for a six‑year concession to operate the Jundiz Intermodal terminal in Vitoria‑Gasteiz. The winning operator must invest roughly $1.4 million and will manage a 55,000 m² loading area, including mixed‑gauge tracks that accommodate...
Alstom Retains Contract for Automated Train System at the World’s Busiest Airport
Alstom secured a five‑year extension to operate and maintain the Plane Train automated people‑mover at Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest hub. The deal, valued at roughly €140 million (about $153 million), continues a partnership dating back to 1980. In 2025...
SNCF Plans to Use AI and Data Analytics for the New TGV INOUI
SNCF Voyageurs convened a two‑day datathon with 70 data specialists and engineering students to prototype AI‑driven features for the upcoming TGV INOUI high‑speed service. Teams focused on predictive maintenance, energy‑efficiency tools and a self‑check‑in passenger system, delivering prototypes such as a...
Birmingham Has Opened a New Tram Extension
The West Midlands Metro opened a 1.7‑km tram extension on April 5, adding Albert Street and Millennium Point stations as the first phase of Birmingham’s Eastside project. The new line links key destinations—including Moor Street railway station, the Clayton Hotel, Birmingham...
Sweden Launches a Tender for 20 Norrtåg Regional Trains
Sweden has opened a tender for 20 new Norrtåg regional trains, marking the largest rolling‑stock investment in the operator’s history. The project, funded through the joint venture AB Transitio, carries a maximum budget of roughly $340 million (3.8 billion SEK). Delivery is targeted...
LTG Cargo Joins the List of NATO Suppliers
LTG Cargo, Lithuania’s leading rail freight operator, has been awarded a NATO NCAGE code, allowing it to bid directly on Alliance procurement contracts. The company reported a 70% rise in military train shipments over four years, moving 180 trains in...
COMSA Secures a Major Railway Contract in Croatia, Previously Awarded to STRABAG
Spanish construction group COMSA Corporación has been awarded a €278.8 million (≈ $307 million) contract by Croatia’s HŽ Infrastruktura to modernize, double‑track and electrify the 44‑km Hrvatski Leskovac–Karlovac railway segment. The upgrade will introduce new bridges, viaducts, station refurbishments and signalling systems, allowing...
Rolling Highways in Spain – A Solution for Modern Freight Transport
In February 2019 Spain introduced its first standard‑gauge rolling highway, a rail‑road hybrid service designed to shift long‑haul freight from trucks to trains. The initiative is part of a broader $9.2 billion rail‑freight modernization plan that includes new terminals, gauge upgrades...
Stadler Withdraws Its Appeal Against the SBB Contract Awarded to Siemens
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has made the award of its double‑decker train contract to Siemens Mobility legally final after Stadler withdrew its appeal. The contract covers 116 trains, with an option for 84 more, and SBB projects savings of hundreds...
Alstom Acquires Cummins’ Hydrogen Technology Division
Alstom announced the acquisition of Cummins' hydrogen fuel‑cell division, bringing the engineering, product development and support capabilities for rail applications in‑house. The deal consolidates Alstom's control over the full hydrogen system value chain, from design through maintenance, and is expected...
Paris Wants to Introduce Contactless Bank Card Payments
Île‑de‑France Mobilités is weighing an open‑payment system that would let riders tap a bank card directly on the Paris metro and RER, with a decision expected in May. The region already piloted contactless card payments on buses, aiming for full...
The Santo Domingo Metro Receives Its First Metropolis Trains
Alstom has delivered the first two of eight three‑car Metropolis trains to the Santo Domingo Metro, marking a key milestone for the Line 2 extension project. The trains were manufactured in Barcelona and will undergo final inspections and testing before entering...
PKP Intercity Receives the First Modernised Combo Multi-Purpose Railcars
PKP Intercity has taken delivery of the first six of 50 modernised Combo multi‑purpose railcars built by H. Cegielski. The €351 million (≈ $90 million) project, co‑financed by EU funds through Poland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, adds new bogies, Wi‑Fi, USB, bicycle spaces...
Passenger Train Derails in Russia: 24 Injured
A passenger train traveling from Chelyabinsk to Moscow derailed near the Briandino station in Russia’s Ulyanovsk region on April 3, 2026. The eight‑car train was carrying about 415 passengers; 24 people, including four children, suffered injuries but no deaths were...
RB Rail Launches New Tender for the Electrification of Rail Baltica
RB Rail AS has opened a new procurement process for design‑consultancy services covering the energy subsystem of the Rail Baltica high‑speed line in Latvia and Lithuania. The tender is split into two separate lots, allowing firms to bid on either country...
AIP Acquires Shares in Cross London Trains
AIP Management is acquiring an additional stake in Cross London Trains (XLT), with the deal expected to close in the first half of 2026, expanding its footprint in the UK rail sector. XLT owns 115 Siemens Desiro City Class 700 electric...
A Nationwide Rail Overhaul Set to Reshape Travel Across Poland
Poland has launched the Integrated Railway Network (ZSK) under the Port Polska programme, targeting a nationwide high‑speed rail system that caps travel between Warsaw and major cities at 100 minutes. A 480‑km "Y" line connecting Warsaw, Łódź, Poznań and Wrocław...
EU Sends New Equipment for Ukraine’s Railways
On April 2, 2026, the European Union announced a new support package for Ukraine’s state railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, delivering over 50 pieces of equipment to restore and maintain war‑damaged rail infrastructure. So far, 23 items—including vehicles and generators—have arrived via...
MÁV Paid Compensation for Fictitious Delays Following the Switch to Daylight Saving Time
Hungary’s state railway MÁV experienced a daylight‑saving‑time glitch that falsely displayed hour‑long delays on its Vonatinfó platform. The error automatically triggered compensation payouts to passengers whose trains were actually on time, while some genuinely delayed travelers initially missed refunds. MÁV...
Adif Moves Forward with the “Y” High-Speed Rail Line Project
Adif has issued a €484,700 (≈$528,000) design tender for the 45‑km Bizkaia segment of the Basque Country’s “Y” high‑speed rail line, linking Elorrio to Bilbao’s access route and the Bergara hub. The firm is simultaneously advancing design work on the...
REPORT: European Railways Increasingly Vulnerable to Extreme Weather
A new European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) report finds that 70% of infrastructure managers have observed a rise in extreme‑weather impacts, with annual delays equivalent to one to three full years of rail service. Floods, storms and landslides are...
EUR 400 Million Rail Modernisation Contract in Romania
Romanian rail operator CFR SA awarded a EUR 410 million (≈ $447 million) contract to modernise the Craiova‑Filiași line, part of the Orient/East‑Mediterranean Corridor. The 38‑km Lot 1 project, led by the Alstom‑Terna TrackWorks consortium, includes electrification, ERTMS Level 2 signalling, and upgraded stations. The 177‑month programme...
Lithuania Cuts Train Ticket Prices in Half Due to Rising Fuel Costs
Lithuania’s state‑run railway LTG Link will slash domestic ticket prices by 50 % from April 1 to May 31, a move aimed at cushioning commuters from soaring fuel costs linked to Middle‑East tensions. The discount, which can be stacked with existing student and senior...
The New CEO of Alstom Takes up Its Role
Martin Sion officially assumed the role of CEO at Alstom on April 1 2026, succeeding Henri Poupart‑Lafarge after a decade of leadership. During Poupart‑Lafarge’s tenure, Alstom’s revenue rose from roughly €6 billion ($6.5 billion) to €18.5 billion ($20.2 billion) and integrated Bombardier Transportation, cementing its position as...
Ukraine and Bulgaria Plan to Launch a Passenger Train Service
Ukraine and Bulgaria, together with Romania, will launch a summer 2026 passenger train linking Kyiv, Bucharest and Sofia. The 24‑hour service follows a route through Vinnytsia, Mohyliv‑Podilskyi, Ungheni and Iași, reviving the historic Bulgaria Express corridor that ended in 2014....
The First Modernization of a Prague Metro Station Has Been Completed
DPP announced the completion of the first modernization of a Prague metro station, Českomoravská on Line B. The year‑and‑a‑half project overhauled both underground and above‑ground areas, replacing escalators, ventilation, about 120 km of cables and installing 1,600 LED fixtures. A new design...
Procedure for the First Archaeological Contract for the Dublin Metro
Transport Infrastructure Ireland has qualified five archaeological firms to bid on the first contract for Dublin’s MetroLink, covering the northern stretch from Estuary to Fosterstown. The qualification system remains open, allowing additional firms to join as the project progresses. Archaeological...
Metrans Acquires 50% of the Afluent Arad South Terminal
Swiss logistics firm Metrans has signed a binding agreement to acquire a 50% stake in the Afluent Arad South intermodal terminal in western Romania. The facility spans 3.5 hectares, can be expanded to 82 hectares, and currently stores 750 TEU....
Slovenia’s Success: The Divača–Koper Double-Track Line
On March 11, 2026 a Flirt test train successfully traversed Slovenia’s new 27.7‑km Divača–Koper double‑track line, proving the route’s operational readiness. The line, 75 % of which runs through tunnels—including a 6.7‑km longest tunnel—replaces the single‑track bottleneck and cuts the Divača‑Koper...
SWR Marks 30 Years of Legoland with a Special Arterio Train
South Western Railway introduced a specially‑branded Arterio train, dubbed the “Legoland Locomotive,” at London Waterloo to celebrate Legoland Windsor’s 30‑year anniversary. The train, part of Alstom’s Aventra family, will run to Windsor & Eton Riverside, linking families to the theme park...
Alstom to Deliver Belgrade’s First Metro Line
Alstom has secured a €915 million (≈$1 billion) contract to deliver Belgrade’s first fully automated metro line, Line 1, spanning 15 kilometres with 15 stations, 11 of which are underground. The turnkey deal includes 32 driverless Metropolis three‑car trains, Urbalis CBTC signalling, power supply,...
How Milan Used the Olympic Games to Accelerate Investment in Transportation
Milan leveraged the 2026 Winter Olympics as a mobility stress test, accelerating public‑transport investments to ease road congestion and integrate northern Italian provinces into the European rail network. The city transformed the Porta Romana rail yard into an Olympic Village...
Hanoi to Stop Trains on the Famous Street Where Tourists Stand Just a Few Centimeters From the Tracks
Hanoi’s municipal government will reroute most passenger trains to terminate at Hanoi Station from the south and Gia Lam Station from the north, while freight services will be diverted to a new terminal at Ha Dong by July 2026. The plan, approved by...
Women in Rail Award 2026: Women Make up only 23% of the Workforce in the Rail Sector
The European Commission and key rail organisations have opened nominations for the 2026 Women in Rail Award, highlighting that women comprise only about 23 % of the European rail workforce. The award, presented at InnoTrans 2026, aims to accelerate gender diversity through...
SBB and SNCF Voyageurs Extend Partnership for TGV Lyria
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and SNCF Voyageurs have renewed their commercial pact for the TGV Lyria high‑speed service, extending the agreement through 2032 and covering the 2023‑2027 period. The cross‑border line now transports 5.7 million passengers annually, operating 17 daily round‑trips with...
Hitachi Rail to Build a Premium Dining Railcar in Japan
Hitachi Rail will build Seibu Railway’s new premium dining car, the Fine Dining Train “vies,” slated for service in March 2028. The design draws on Hitachi’s Laview express train platform, leveraging large windows, spacious interiors, and advanced control systems. The project...