transport sector ties €100bn CEF push to military mobility gaps
The EU rail sector, backed by dozens of major European transport associations, is once again calling for the EU to boost CEF to €100bn under the bloc’s next long-term budget, tying the demand directly to what it describes as a “vulnerable” transport network insufficiently adapted to dual-use needs and exposed to “natural and man-made disruptions”. […]
ÖBB unveils images of Siemens Railjet M for Alpine InterRegio routes
ÖBB has unveiled the first images of its future Railjet M fleet, a new Siemens-built electric multiple-unit that will operate Alpine InterRegio services from 2028. The 31 trainsets were ordered in January 2024 as part of the first call-off under a framework agreement won by Siemens Mobility in summer 2023. That initial order, covering 70 […]
Australia’s first high-speed rail enters development phase, construction to start ‘by 2029’
Australia’s first high-speed rail link is taking a major step forward, with the Albanese Government announcing the start of a two-year development phase for a Newcastle-to-Sydney route, a project that could slash travel times to just one hour between the two cities. The $659.6 million (€395m) phase, launched on 24 February, will finalise detailed designs, […]
A new EU ERTMS workplan, a new ‘warning sound’: these are the conclusions
European ERTMS coordinator Matthias Ruete is ‘sounding a warning as to the realities on the ground’ in his new workplan, published on February 23. It has been a well-known fact in the industry for years that ERTMS rollout is too slow, so what are the main conclusions and recommendations in this new report? Subscribe to […]
Latvia prepares for battery trains: LDz launches tender for charging infrastructure design
Latvian Railways (LDz) has opened a tender for the first step in developing charging infrastructure for the new battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) on order, which are set for operation in 2029. The tender follows Latvia’s December 2025 decision to award Škoda Group a €160 million contract for up to 16 BEMUs, with nine trains confirmed […]
Paris launches tender for up to 300 double-decker EMUs
Paris’ transport authority Île-de-France Mobilités and SNCF Voyageurs have launched a tender for up to 300 new double-deck commuter trains for one of the capital’s main RER lines, under a framework worth up to a massive €8 billion, starting with a firm 52-train order capped at €1.5 billion. Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) and SNCF Voyageurs have […]
Italy braces for nationwide rail strike in final weekend of February
Italy is bracing for a 24-hour national rail strike from Friday night into Saturday, capping a week of transport disruption that begins with an aviation walkout on Thursday. Italy’s rail network is set for a full day of disruption at the end of February, with a 24-hour national strike planned from 21:00 on Friday 27 […]
Poland widens GSM-R digital comms as it gears up for ERTMS
Polish infrastructure manager PKP PLK started running the GSM-R rail communication system on eleven railway line sections of Poland’s network yesterday (22 February), pushing forward digital rail radio coverage across the national system. Subscribe to gain access to all news Already have a subscription? Log in. Choose your subscription Considering a corporate subscription? Contact us […]
Scotland piles on with electrification and minimum fares
The Scottish government has announced the start of electrification work on the Borders Railway, between Edinburgh and Tweedbank. Wiring up the 35-mile (56km) route is something campaigners said should have happened more than ten years ago, when the line first opened. However, infrastructure agency Network Rail has now begun piling preparatory work, with the work […]
Polluter pays but rail does not gain: new report urges policy shift for ETS
European railways are calling for a major shift in how the EU spends the revenues from carbon pricing. A new report by the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) argues that proceeds from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) should flow more into rail. While the European carbon market generated €43.6 billion in […]