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Finland will donate ten operational former VR Dv12 diesel locomotives and spare parts to Ukrzaliznytsia. The agreement was signed in Kyiv on 22 October 2026, and the locomotives were due for decommissioning but remain operational. Ukraine says it has lost nearly 600 locomotives since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Maersk is launching a twice-weekly intermodal rail service between Haparanda on the Swedish-Finnish border and APM Terminals Gothenburg, with plans to increase frequency to six round trips per week. The electric rail link will move containerised freight from northern Sweden and Finland to Gothenburg for onward ocean connections, including Asia.

VIA Rail Canada completed the modernisation of its Toronto Maintenance Centre, funded by a US$310 million Government of Canada investment. The upgraded facility supports maintenance of VIA Rail’s new Corridor fleet of 32 bidirectional trainsets and existing equipment, with expanded bays, heavy-maintenance tools and a new vehicle monitoring system.

The Malaysian government has approved over RM250 million to support ECRL development in Kelantan, including RM30 million for a new bus terminal at Kota Bharu ECRL Station and more than RM200 million for preliminary works on a proposed extension to Rantau Panjang.

The article discusses the AI city concept presented at Huawei Connect 2026 in Shanghai, where governments use digital foundations, AI agents, and unified data platforms to improve city services. Examples from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Angola, and Saudi Arabia highlight proactive governance, emergency response, and automated public-service workflows.

VIA Rail has completed a C$310 million modernization of its Toronto Maintenance Centre, adding expanded heavy-maintenance facilities and a Vehicle Equipment Measurement System for early fault detection. The federally funded project supports VIA’s new Siemens Venture Corridor fleet and existing trains.

Kelantan says the ECRL station at Cherang Tuli, Pasir Puteh, will be supported by industrial, logistics and warehousing development, including a proposed dry port in Bandar Baru Tok Bali, to create jobs and local business opportunities.

Belgian freight operator Lineas has extended lease contracts with Ermewa for about 4,000 freight wagons across its European network. The renewal continues a sale-and-leaseback arrangement first agreed in 2021 and comes as Lineas works through financial restructuring after government rescue support.

Hitachi Rail opened its new Canadian headquarters in Scarborough, Toronto, to serve its signalling and systems business. The company is delivering the Ontario Line and Hazel McCallion Line, and modernizing TTC Line 2 signalling after a $400 million contract award in July.

Canada has shortened the timetable for Roberts Bank Terminal 2 at the Port of Vancouver to 2035, with a final investment decision expected by mid-2027. The project includes a widened causeway with road and railway infrastructure, while the federal government is also developing a broader rail strategy for the port.

Hitachi Rail marked the opening of the first operational section of Chennai Metro Phase II, a 15 km, 11-station elevated corridor powered by its CBTC signalling for GoA4 driverless operation. The wider Phase II signalling contract, awarded in 2023, covers 119 km of metro lines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Pune Metro Line 3 (23 km) and laid the foundation stone for Pune Metro Phase-II projects worth about ₹13,500 crore. The new phase covers four corridors: Lines 2A, 2B, 4 and 4A, aimed at expanding metro connectivity across Pune.

Transport for Wales has opened consultation on Swansea Bay Metro proposals, including a possible new Cockett station, a reopened platform at Swansea, and more frequent services between Swansea, Pembrey & Burry Port, and possibly Ammanford via Neath. Comments are open until 13 December 2026.

India approved a proposed 1,500-km North Bullet Train Corridor from Delhi to Guwahati, with stops including Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna and Siliguri. Detailed alignment, stations, schedule and financing are not yet set. The government said the programme will emphasize Make in India and lower fares than air travel.

Transport for Wales has proposed a Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro with new stations, extra services, a new platform at Swansea, track links and signalling-related enabling works. Phase A and Phase B plans are open for public feedback until 13 December 2026, with funding still to be secured.

Johor Baru has proposed the Skudai-Tampoi-Larkin-city centre and Tebrau-Pandan-city centre corridors as priority routes for the planned e-ART system. The article says the system should integrate with the RTS Link, KTM Komuter and buses, and may later expand to Pasir Gudang, Iskandar Puteri and Senai Airport.

Kelantan plans industrial and logistics development around the ECRL station in Cherang Tuli, Pasir Puteh, including processing industries, warehousing, a logistics hub and a proposed dry port in Bandar Baru Tok Bali. The state also wants supporting roads, distribution centres and last-mile logistics facilities.

Malaysia and Singapore held a joint emergency response exercise for the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link on 27–28 October 2026 at RTS Wadi Hana Depot. The drill tested firefighting, medical triage, casualty evacuation, and cross-border coordination by agencies from both countries ahead of passenger service start.

RailStock Finland has ordered 21 additional Stadler FLIRT electric multiple units, expanding a programme launched in 2022. The four-car trains will be built at Stadler’s Siedlce plant in Poland for Finland’s broad-gauge network and winter conditions, bringing the total fleet under the programme to 41 units.

Transport for London has launched Operation Vector, an intelligence-led enforcement initiative with British Transport Police to target persistent fare evaders across London. In the first month, officers stopped more than 467 people, issued 156 penalty fares and made 24 arrests. TfL aims to cut fare evasion below 1.5% by 2030/31.

UIC lists an Executive Board meeting on 3 Dec 2026, scheduled from 11:30 to 13:30.

UIC lists the Regional Assembly Europe Assistants (RAEA) meeting on 24 Nov 2026 from 13:00 to 15:00.

Hitachi Rail Spain and Hitachi Rail Turkey signed a contract to supply, install and commission signalling systems on Turkey’s Ankara-Istanbul line at T26 and Bilecik depot. The scope includes interlockings, the Traffic Control Centre, telecommunications expansion, and ETCS Level 1 and 2.

UIC Statistics Platform plenary meeting held on 19 Nov 2026 from 09:30 to 16:00.

Spain’s transport minister and Adif president resigned after a fatal high-speed collision on the Madrid–Seville line. The line remains closed while investigators examine LZB protection failures and control-centre actions. Spain plans additional safety measures, including second-controller validation, new software, more staff training, and future ERTMS Level 2 installation.