GB Railfreight has appointed Jude Winstanley as CEO from 2 November 2026. John Smith will stay on in an advisory role on UK rail reform. The company says it continues investing in locomotives, maintenance facilities and depots, including Class 99 bi-mode locomotives.
UIC says the ERPC main group meeting in Rome will bring together procurement leaders from across the European rail sector.
TRC Synergy said its subsidiary is part of a consortium awarded a RM2.69 billion contract for Penang LRT Mutiara Line Civil Main Contract 2. The 5.5km package includes a 3.05km sea bridge linking Macallum on Penang Island to Penang Sentral in Seberang Perai.
Network Rail will replace a substandard railway bridge over Agbrigg Road in Wakefield for £5m over the Christmas period. The work will require a line closure between Doncaster and Leeds and road closures near Sandal and Agbrigg station.
ZSSK plans to invest €43.9 million in six battery-electric shunting locomotives for Bratislava and Žilina, with delivery planned by end-2030. Slovakia’s finance ministry recommends battery traction over diesel on lifecycle-cost grounds, ahead of ETCS-only operation on key corridors from 2031.
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.
Network Rail will spend £1.75m to renew 1,300 metres of track, sleepers and ballast on a bridge between Rishton and Accrington in East Lancashire. The East Lancashire line will close on 22, 28 and 29 November, with rail replacement buses operating during the work.
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.
Alstom announced the first ETCS Level 2 passenger service in Romania, using a Traxx Passenger electric locomotive and ETCS Level 2 trackside infrastructure between Buftea and Brazi on the Bucharest–Budapest line. The service began after the locomotives entered passenger operation in September 2026.
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.
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.
ÖBB and SBB have extended their partnership to 2036 to continue daytime long-distance and joint night train services between Austria and Switzerland, including routes linking Vienna, Zurich, Innsbruck, Salzburg and other European cities. The companies say cross-border passenger numbers have grown over the past decade.
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.
An analysis says investors should focus on Alstom’s free cash flow recovery rather than its order book when judging turnaround potential.
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.
Wensleydale Railway in Yorkshire received free track design support from TECS Ltd, which surveyed Leeming Bar yard and Bedale station curve and offered to complete design work for a yard reconfiguration and track relay.
TRC Synergy said its subsidiary has a 30% interest in a joint venture awarded the RM2.69 billion Penang LRT CMC2 package. The five-year contract covers design and construction of a 5.5km sea-crossing viaduct, a navigation span, an elevated station and related works for the Mutiara Line.
Montenegro’s transport ministry has opened a World Bank-financed tender for the design, supply and installation of safety equipment at 22 railway level crossings.
Network Rail completed drainage renewal and related maintenance on the East Coast Main Line in North Yorkshire after two weekend possessions. The programme included 300 metres of drainage at Chapman’s Bridge near Shipton, work on track, power lines and points, vegetation management, and a new bridge at Church Fenton for overhead line preparation.
CRRC Dalian and Temoinsa won an order in Chile for four CDA3 diesel locomotives. The locomotives have a maximum speed of 120 km/h, are intended for routine infrastructure maintenance, and will replace ageing equipment. First delivery is expected in about 18 months.
Siemens completed its acquisition of MERMEC’s signaling, electrification, telecommunication, diagnostics and analytics businesses. The acquired perimeter includes about 1,700 employees and €430 million in fiscal 2025 revenue, with signaling contributing about 60% of revenue. Siemens said the businesses serve customers in more than 70 countries.
Leighton Buzzard Railway in Bedfordshire has announced a lineup of 2027 heritage railway events, including a Chaloner 150th birthday celebration, Easter activities, themed family days, a beer festival, and Christmas events. Full details will be posted on its website.
SYSTRA, as part of the RMTC joint venture led by Parsons, has been awarded PMCM consultancy for the Riyadh Metro Red Line extension in Saudi Arabia. The project will add 5.4 km, eight stations, mostly underground tunnels, and connect Diriyah to the wider network.
Financial Times article on Alstom says the French rail company is facing a series of disruptions and knock-on problems. The provided text is only a partial excerpt.
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.