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.
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.
Schneider National will shift its primary eastern US intermodal rail service from CSX to Norfolk Southern under an agreement announced on 29 October 2026. Freight is expected to move in November 2026, and Norfolk Southern says it has been preparing terminal capacity and track adjustments for the added traffic.
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.
India’s Railway Board granted conditional clearance for a 16-car Vande Bharat Chair Car trainset built by RCF Kapurthala with Alstom propulsion, allowing operation up to 160 km/h subject to technical conditions. The Board raised issues on displays, protection, cabling, equipment mounting and traction motor rating.
UIC will hold the 5th Global FRMCS Conference on 24–25 November 2026 in Paris. The event will cover FRMCS technical developments, V3p specifications, large-scale testing under FP2 MORANE 2, and global deployment challenges for next-generation railway communications.
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.
UIC will hold an online New Technologies Working Group Meeting on 24 Nov 2026 from 14:00 to 17:00.
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.
Robin Hood Line Community Partnership published its 2025 annual report, covering community engagement, rail safety education, station adoption, active travel, and local projects on the Nottinghamshire line. It also noted an award-winning Fusion Learning initiative and various community events and school visits.
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.
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.
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.
Hitachi Rail opened a new C$30 million, 125,000-square-foot headquarters and center of excellence for signalling and systems in Toronto, Canada. The facility is intended to support the company’s signalling and systems work in the Canadian market.
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.
TRC Synergy’s JV CCCC-TRC-UFUK accepted a RM2.69 billion contract from MRT Mutiara Sdn Bhd for Penang LRT Mutiara Line Package CMC2. The five-year scope covers a sea crossing viaduct with navigation spans, an elevated station, and associated works from Macallum to Penang Sentral.
At InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, SOGECLAIR TRAINING & SIMULATION presented Oksygen® and LITE, simulation tools for driver and operator training. The platforms use real infrastructure data, digital twins, 2D/3D modelling and portable hardware to support training, assessment and operational readiness.
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.
UIC lists ICHSC plenary sessions as a work meeting at SNCF Group HQ in Saint-Denis on 1–2 Dec 2026.
UIC’s Global Level Crossing Network met in London on 28 October 2026 to share research and measures on level crossing safety, including youth risk perception, pedestrian fatalities, enforcement using drones, and human-factors assessment on low-frequency lines. UIC said a consolidated IRS on level crossing safety will be published by early 2027.
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.
UIC has released IRS 30345, a new non-binding standard for procuring new rolling stock with harmonised environmental specifications. It replaces UIC Leaflet 345 and sets guidance on energy use, emissions, noise, air quality, and circularity, including raising component recyclability targets from 85% to 95%.
UIC and UIRR will present the 2026 Combined Transport report, covering freight market shifts, infrastructure constraints and evolving European policies.
Great Northern will increase off-peak services between Moorgate and Hertford North to four trains per hour from 14 December, creating a 15-minute turn-up-and-go frequency at most stations on the route.
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.