Everything we read, routed to your cluster

CPKC signed a five-year agreement to increase steelmaking coal shipments from British Columbia to Vancouver export terminals. CN expanded its Vaughan, Ontario fuel terminal to handle more than 15,000 railcars a year. Audi chose a Norfolk Southern-served site in Georgia for a EUR 3.6 billion factory.

Opinion piece argues that ECRL’s high cost, loan burden and limited ridership or cargo capacity make its financial return doubtful, and says its value should be judged by wider economic spillovers rather than operating profits.

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.

A coal train derailed near Otira on New Zealand’s Midland Line, damaging the track and rolling stock and prompting a TAIC investigation. TranzAlpine passenger services are cut back to Arthur’s Pass with bus connections to Greymouth until an estimated Nov. 20.

Ports & Rail Week 2026 will be held on 24-25 November 2026 in Durban, South Africa. The event will focus on port and rail infrastructure, intermodal connectivity, green transport, digitalization, AI, automation, PPPs, and safety in African transport corridors.

EBRD will fund €50 million for rehabilitation of Montenegro’s 39 km Golubovci–Bar railway section, including track, stations, bridges, signalling, telecommunications and power upgrades. Separately, ŽPCG and Stadler are progressing discussions on the design of three new electric multiple units.

East Midlands Railway says the Derwent Valley Line between Derby and Matlock will close from 14 to 22 November 2026 for £3m of Network Rail upgrade works, mainly track renewals at Whatstandwell, Cromford and Matlock Bath. Over 3,500 sleepers and 6,400 tonnes of ballast will be installed.

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.

Train services between Peterborough and London King’s Cross will be disrupted on 28–29 November due to digital signalling installation work on the East Coast Main Line. The work includes diagnostic system and software updates, track renewal, step-free access works, canopy work, and overhead line equipment upgrades.

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.

Indian Railways reported higher coal and overall freight loading in October, CONCOR ordered 12 rakes of container wagons from Golden Rock Workshop, DP World expanded double-stack services from JNPA, and the Rowghat iron ore line was commissioned. A new East-West dedicated freight corridor is under study.

VIA Rail will provide free train travel for young patients and families to six children’s hospitals in Ontario and Quebec under a three-year partnership with Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations. The program builds on a similar London, Ontario collaboration launched in April 2026.

UK Railtours will run December trips in East Anglia, London and Kent using paired Class 37 locomotives. Swietelsky and Europhoenix will provide traction, RailAdventure will operate the locomotives, and Eastern Rail Services will provide Mark 2 coaches. Tickets are available through the UK Railtours website.

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.

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.

Singapore will revamp its Rail Academy from November, partnering five educational institutions and consolidating training from LTA, SMRT and SBS Transit into a common curriculum. The scheme will create clearer pathways for rail workers to earn formal diplomas, degrees and new sector certifications, with WSQ certification starting in early 2027.

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.

A collision near Urda on Spain’s Madrid–Seville high-speed line is under investigation after an LZB control failure and an alleged decision to let one train resume normal running. The line remains closed while Renfe runs replacement services.

Anthony Loke said the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is projected to generate RM418 million in operating revenue from passenger and cargo services by 2029.

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.

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.

MCMC is testing internet coverage along the 378km Phase 1 East Coast Rail Link route from Gombak to Kota Baru, including 16 stations and tunnels, ahead of the Dec 12 launch. Maxis, appointed by MRL as the 4G infrastructure provider, has presented its implementation plan.

Renfe has awarded Siemens a contract for 30 seven-car Velaro Novo high-speed trains. The trains will run up to 350 km/h, seat 520 passengers each, and be delivered over 62 months, with the first five due within 40 months.

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.

Amtrak says Thanksgiving travel will set another record and will add Northeast Regional cars from November 20 to 30, plus two extra Washington–New York round trips on November 24–25 and 28–29. It also says 15 NextGen Acela trains are now in service and Amtrak Cascades is using Airo trains on four daily trips.