ÖBB and SBB extended their passenger rail cooperation to 2036, covering more than 30 daily direct services and six night train routes from Zürich. Passenger numbers on the joint services have grown strongly over the past decade, alongside ÖBB’s rollout of new Siemens-built Nightjet trains.
Holmatro says it has developed and supplied rerailing hydraulic systems for trains, metros and trams over the past decade, with deployments in countries including the Netherlands, Australia, the United States, Spain, China and Thailand. It highlights lighter aluminum components, remote control, and safety features for faster recovery after derailments.
The Vale of Rheidol Railway has completed its acquisition of the Brecon Mountain Railway in Wales. The two heritage narrow-gauge railways will keep their separate identities and locomotive fleets, while sharing engineering knowledge, maintenance, restoration work and facilities at Aberystwyth.
Severn Valley Railway will host Class 55 Deltic D9015 Tulyar from 13 to 16 May 2027 during its Spring Diesel Festival, marking 40 years since the line’s first diesel gala. The locomotive returned to passenger service in 2026 after a 30-year restoration.
The Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway in Middlesex will run Santa Specials on 12-13 and 19-20 December, with tickets booked in advance. The article also notes the railway won a 2023 HRA Infrastructure Award for a new coach shed and maintenance facility.
Kenya Railways has begun vehicle transport on the Standard Gauge Railway between Mombasa and Nairobi, moving 21 cars on its first service. The operation uses adapted vehicle wagons alongside container trains and is being developed with Autobarn East Africa for about 700 vehicles a month.
Stadler has started construction of a new commissioning facility in Weinfelden, Switzerland, to relieve capacity constraints at its Erlen site. The EUR 44 million project includes indoor and outdoor test tracks, final assembly areas and technical space. Operations are expected to begin in the first half of 2028.
Bachmann Europe announced its winter 2026 model railway releases, led by an OO-scale exclusive of LNER A2 No. 60532 Blue Peter in Express Blue. The range also includes new N and OO scale locomotives, wagons, coaches, buildings and accessories.
Jupiter Wagons said it won about EUR 138 million in new business in India for 2,583 freight wagons for Indian Railways and 405 ACT2 automobile carriers for GATX India and Chetak International. The Ministry of Railways also issued a separate tender for 5,800 BOBRN wagons, with no award yet announced.
The article argues that rail emergency exit systems should still function without connectivity or power, citing EU interoperability rules and the IEC RAMS framework. It says physically independent mechanisms can complement digitally enabled systems in trains.
Sydney Metro Southwest has opened passenger services, completing Sydney’s 66 km metro line with 31 stations. Alstom supplied Metropolis trains, Urbalis CBTC signalling and maintenance services for the extension, and also maintains the fleet at Metro Trains Sydney’s Tallawong depot.
Siemens Mobility and Lufthansa Technik Defense have proposed a medical evacuation train for more than 150 patients, including intensive-care cases. The concept uses Vectouro coaches and a Vectron X locomotive, with a dual-mode option under consideration, for cross-border use on Europe’s standard-gauge network.
A commentary says Alstom shares fell sharply after two profit warnings, with the company still weighed down by delayed projects, cost overruns and integration issues after the Bombardier Transportation deal. It says another warning cannot be ruled out as the new CEO prepares a future strategy update in 2027.
Poland’s rail freight market grew 2.7% in the first nine months of 2026 to 164.99 million tonnes, with tonne-kilometres up 6.7%. Intermodal traffic rose strongly, while mining-related freight fell. PKP Cargo remained the largest operator, and freight punctuality weakened in Q2.
Eurostar appointed Christophe Fanichet, former CEO of SNCF Voyageurs, as its new CEO. He will oversee a EUR 2 billion fleet investment programme, including up to 50 Alstom double-decker high-speed trains under the Celestia programme, with first service expected in May 2031.
The article argues that rotary vane compressors outperform rotary screw compressors in rail use because vane units self-adjust, maintain efficiency, and better tolerate vibration, temperature swings and contamination. It claims screw compressors lose efficiency and need more frequent bearing overhauls.
UIC has released IRS 30345, a new non-binding standard for procuring new rolling stock with harmonised environmental specifications. It replaces UIC Leaflet 345 and sets guidance on energy use, emissions, noise, air quality, and circularity, including raising component recyclability targets from 85% to 95%.
Paul Middleton returns with a new five-episode Steam Train Diaries series on More4 from 12 November. The programme visits several heritage railways, including North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where bridge repairs are under way and locomotive Omaha is being converted from coal to oil.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said a train not in service hit the buffers at London Liverpool Street on 15 October 2026 at about 7 mph, derailing the first three carriages and damaging the train and buffer stop. A safety digest will follow.
The Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society has formally taken ownership of steam locomotive 35025 Brocklebank Line. The group is assessing required restoration work, available parts and storage plans, with major components still needed for a future mainline return.
Wabtec has reached 1,000 locomotives built at its Contagem plant in Brazil. Vale ordered 50 Evolution Series locomotives in 2025, and Wabtec also signed a USD 254 million deal with MRS Logística in September 2026 for locomotives, spare parts and maintenance through 2032. Some units are exported to Australia and Uruguay.
Freightliner has introduced a new logo after CMA CGM completed its acquisition of the UK intermodal business on 29 January 2026. The deal covered rail and road operations, inland terminals and the Freightliner brand, while heavy haul, Rotterdam Rail Feeding, and operations in Poland and Germany were excluded.
Freightliner renamed locomotive 90040 as The Railway Mission at a ceremony in Crewe. It is the first locomotive to carry Freightliner’s refreshed branding after the CMA CGM takeover, and Freightliner also donated £1,000 to Railway Mission.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority approved Siemens’ contract to supply three AP220 high-speed trainsets, spare parts and 10 years of maintenance. The deal is worth USD 772.1 million, with options for up to 19 more trainsets. Initial manufacture and testing will be in Germany, with California testing planned from 2030.
Alstom cut its 2026/27 outlook after production delays and technical issues on the Coradia Max platform and other German projects. First-half adjusted EBIT margin was about -4%, free cash flow was negative EUR 1.25 billion, and full-year rail vehicle production guidance was reduced to about 4,000.