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.
UIC lists its 109 General Assembly on 4 December 2026, scheduled from 11:30 to 16:30.
The Polar Express train ride will return to South Devon Railway from 27 November to 23 December, with themed journeys, characters, entertainment, and visits to Father Christmas. Tickets are expected to sell quickly.
UIC lists a Regional Chair Meeting on 3 Dec 2026 from 09:30 to 10:30. No further agenda or location details are provided in the text.
Transport for Greater Manchester will start redeveloping Bury Interchange later this month in two phases. The first phase includes a new footbridge, lift access to Metrolink platforms, platform resurfacing, canopy replacement, and upgrades to lighting, signage, CCTV, passenger information displays and ticketing facilities.
Avanti West Coast has released tickets through the new year and is advising customers to book Christmas travel early for the best fares. Peak restrictions will be lifted from 18 December to 3 January. Planned engineering work on the West Coast Main Line includes a five-day closure of Birmingham New Street.
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.
Alstom says the new-generation TGV, known in France as TGV M, has entered commercial service. It is the first train based on Alstom's Avelia Horizon very high-speed platform and builds on the company's long history in high-speed rail.
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.
ČD has launched a tender to sell six Taurus locomotives, offered individually or as a package with spare parts. The three-system units were built in 2007–2011, reach 230 km/h, and are approved for several Central European countries; two have ETCS, while two have Polish SHP equipment.
UIC Africa Region training session on security of major events, with case studies from SNCF, FS, RPF, SENTER and ONCF on managing crowds for Olympics, religious processions, the Africa Nations Cup and World Cup 2030.
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.
GWR and Transport for Wales will run extra trains and reservation-only services to Cardiff Central for Wales’ Autumn Rugby Internationals on 7, 14 and 21 November, with queueing and revenue checks in place due to expected crowding.
Chiltern Railways said it will run over 90% of services on 12 November despite RMT industrial action, with some Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa services reduced or suspended. The operator also said all East West Rail services will have two staff on board.
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.
Hitachi Rail signed a contract to supply railway signalling systems for the T26 tunnel and Bilecik depot on Turkey’s Ankara–Istanbul line.
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.
GMRC has invited bids for the ₹197.14 crore development and construction of the Gyaspur Depot for the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project in Gujarat. The package covers depot infrastructure, an Operations Control Centre, and associated electrical and mechanical works. Bid submission closes on 20 November 2026.
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 reported that GCU Joint Committee members and rail freight experts met in Mainz on 29 October 2026 for a workshop on the future of the GCU, focusing on contract application, governance, organisation and digitalisation. The work will continue into concrete next steps.
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.
Danish State Railways awarded ELL a EUR 26.35 million lease contract for up to 12 Siemens Vectron AC locomotives for regional and long-distance passenger services. The contract includes maintenance, spare parts and availability support, with initial entry into service expected from December 2026.
Network Rail has advised passengers to plan ahead for heavy festive travel in Birmingham. Christmas markets and events are expected to increase use of Birmingham stations, with staff available at New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill, while some services to New Street will be suspended from 24 to 28 December 2026.
Pune Metro Line 3, a 23.2-km PPP corridor linking Hinjawadi and Shivajinagar, opened on 3 November as the first metro project under India’s 2017 New Metro Rail Policy. Siemens supplied systems integration, CBTC, electrification and depot equipment; Alstom supplied 22 three-car trainsets.
Amtrak has launched its Winter Wanderlust sale, offering up to 30% off fares on U.S. routes for travel between 1 December 2026 and 14 March 2027. The sale runs until 12 November and applies to Coach and Acela Business Class bookings.