Regulation: Supporting safe market opening in South Africa
South Africa’s Railway Safety Regulator is working to support the 11 new operators expected to enter into the country’s freight market over the coming years, whilst addressing the potential safety risks, as CEO Brian Monakali explains to Benjámin Zelki. ‘One of the biggest challenges with market opening is going to be the new risks and […]
Rail suppliers reject EU claim that ‘limited competition’ is driving ETCS cost surge
European rail industry bodies UNIFE and UNISIG have pushed back against a European Commission-backed study into spiralling onboard ETCS costs, rejecting the idea that limited supplier competition is to blame, arguing instead that the real problem lies with market fragmentation. European rail supply association UNIFE and signalling standards group UNISIG have challenged the Commission-backed study […]
Long-delayed monorail and pressurised air propulsion peoplemover open in São Paulo
BRAZIL: Monorail Line 17 has opened offering a limited service in São Paulo, providing rail access to Congonhas Airport, and services have also started on Aeromovel peoplemover linking Guarulhos Airport railway station and the terminal buildings. The initial 6.7 km section of monorail Line 17-Gold in São Paulo was inaugurated on March 31, no less […]
Regulation: Contrasting rail reform visions in Argentina
Privatisation of freight railways and slashing passenger service costs are at the heart of the Argentine government’s transport policy, but much uncertainty remains about how far its rail reform agenda can be delivered. On March 1, Argentinian President Javier Milei delivered a polarising opening speech at the 144th session of the National Congress, marking what […]
EU clears Lisbon light rail contract after CRRC dropped from bid over Chinese subsidies
PORTUGAL: The European Commission has authorised Metropolitano de Lisboa to move ahead with awarding the contract for Lisbon’s Violet light rail line, but only after a Mota-Engil-led consortium replaced its original subcontractor, China’s CRRC, with an EU-based company following Brussels’ finding that the initial bid had been distorted by foreign subsidies. Brussels has now given […]
Incoming Alstom CEO warns of further fallout from delayed projects as shares fall
“This is not the way I was expecting to start my mandate,” Alstom CEO Martin Sion said, delivering a stark assessment of the company’s position after just two weeks in the role. Sion was speaking during an analysts’ call on April 16, held to present the group’s preliminary results for the 2025/26 financial year. In […]
HŽ Infrastruktura signs €279m deal to upgrade Zagreb – Rijeka TEN-T link
CROATIA: HŽ Infrastruktura has awarded Spanish contractor Cosma a €279m contract to rebuild, double-track and electrify the 44 km Hrvatski Leskovac – Karlovac section of the Zagreb – Rijeka line to boost freight and passenger capacity on the TEN-T core network route between the Port of Rijeka and Central Europe. The contract signed on 17 […]
Study finds that Oslo does not need another metro tunnel just yet
NORWAY: Implementing measures to maximise capacity and performance would enable Oslo’s T-banen metro to handle predicted ridership growth through to 2050 without the need to build another costly cross-city tunnel, a study has found.The Oslo city and Akershus local authorities commissioned the study from transport agency Ruter and metro operator Sporveien to support negotiations with […]
Tender for the Manufacture and Supply of Track Motor Vehicle with Cranes and Track Electric Vehicle with Cranes
Organisation: Israel Railways LtdLocation: IsraelDeadline: 23.59 IST 01 July 2026 Israel Railways Ltd. (“ISR”), in accordance with its obligations under the Israeli Mandatory Tender Laws and its implementing regulations and the International Agreement on Government Procurement, wishes to obtain proposals for Tender 42237- For the Manufacture and Supply of Track Motor Vehicle with Cranes and Track […]
Start-up secures funding to support comfort-focused night train network
EUROPE: Berlin-based night train start-up Nox Mobility has raised €2m in pre-seed funding to support its plan to create a pan-European overnight network focused on offering private rooms for solo travellers. Thomas Wintle explains how this latest night train venture fits into a challenging landscape for sleeping car services. The fresh round of funding for […]