UIC held a webinar on 3 November 2026 on rail’s role in suicide prevention, covering effective interventions, means restriction, staff training, data sharing and new technologies such as fencing, lighting, CCTV and real-time track intrusion alerts.
Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society and Vintage Trains Charitable Trust have formed a partnership to mark the society’s 75th anniversary. The collaboration was highlighted by twinning two Birmingham-built carriages during a heritage steam special. The Talyllyn Railway also received a £3.7m National Lottery Heritage Fund grant in January for engineering facility upgrades.
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.
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.
KORAIL won the 2026 UIC Sustainability Impact Awards’ Modal Shift category for its “Love Regional Rail Travel” initiative, which promotes rail tourism with local partners and a 50% fare discount. The programme launched in August 2024 and had about 470,000 passengers by July 2026.
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.
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 and UIRR will present the 2026 Combined Transport report, covering freight market shifts, infrastructure constraints and evolving European policies.
EAO will host a webinar on 12 November 2026 to review product innovations shown at InnoTrans 2026, including a third-generation Series 56 push button, a Universal Sound Module, charging solutions, Seat Reservation System updates, touchless operation and LED indicator strips.
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.
Network Rail will replace the 160-year-old Selhurst railway bridge in London over the Christmas period. The old bridge will be removed using self-propelled modular transporters, and Selhurst Road will be closed from 12 December to 10 January while the station remains open.
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 M, based on its Avelia Horizon platform, has entered commercial service in France on SNCF’s Paris–Marseille route. The train offers higher capacity, lower energy use and predictive maintenance features, and is the first operational reference for the platform.
Ares has agreed to acquire Infinity Transportation, a US railcar leasing business with about 50,000 railcars leased to more than 350 customers across the US, Canada and Mexico, for about $2.9 billion. Completion is expected in Q1 2027, subject to approvals.
The Northampton and Lamport Railway will run its Winter Warmer event on 3 January 2027, with two steam locomotives in service and Bagnall No. 2 making its last operating day before leaving the railway.
Azerbaijan Railways signed a contract with CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive to buy four new passenger trains.
Severn Valley Railway says its Halloween services sold out and Christmas steam specials are booking quickly. The heritage railway is offering Elf Express and Santa Steam experiences with live entertainment, storytelling and children’s gifts.
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.
Siemens Mobility launched Tech Experience Launchpad, a UK work-experience programme for 11–16-year-olds that will offer more than 3,300 opportunities a year and 10,000 over three years. The initiative coincided with the opening of Siemens’s £100 million Rail Technology Centre in Chippenham and supports UK rail skills development.
Network Rail has appointed Hawkins\Brown, working with 5th Studio, to lead a masterplan for Oxford station. The plan will assess new entrances, improved onward travel links and capacity upgrades as passenger numbers rise, driven partly by East West Rail and other service increases.