UK MPs warn of rail funding ‘cliff edge’ without clearer pipeline
The UK Parliamentary Transport Select Committee has published a report urging an end to the rail sector’s familiar cycle of stop-start funding. “Rail investment pipelines: ending boom and bust” highlights how fluctuating investment creates damaging uncertainty for the supply chain, risks employers’ viability, and delays much‑needed improvements to the network. MPs argue that a steady pipeline […]
‘Storm train’ disrupts Portuguese cross-border rail to Spain
Portugal is facing heavy rain for two weeks already, and the rail infrastructure is under pressure. Strong winds, landslides and lack of preparation are testing even the least anxious train passengers. For one week, there was no cross-border link between Porto and Vigo, affecting the only international connection between Portugal and Spain and leaving travellers […]
Finland shifts VR’s subsidised train fleet to ‘neutral’ lessor in major liberalisation push
The asset purchase agreement locks in the transfer of the publicly funded fleet from VR to a neutral, non-operating owner from the beginning of March 2026. The deal, signed off this week, is a key building block for Finland’s planned competitive tendering of Public Service Obligation services from 2031: the rolling stock will sit with […]
Poland’s CPK effect: Why Europe’s ‘last big rail development market’ needs partners
Poland’s rail market is currently one of Europe’s most closely watched battlegrounds, with manufacturers shifting capacity east and the CPK high-speed rail project set to trigger a wave of mega-tenders for infrastructure and rolling stock. Polish rail expert Dr Jakub Majewski, with an inside ear across some of the country’s biggest rail programmes, tells RailTech […]
Dutch railways NS under fire for shifting IT services to American provider
U.S. dependence Criticism is coming from all sides following an announcement of Dutch state railway NS that it is changing its hosting provider of IT services from the Dutch telecom provider KPN to an American company. ‘This isn’t even a question of “no one else can do it”, because lots of parties are capable of […]
West London Orbital moves forward
Plans to introduce new passenger services over existing freight lines in West London are gathering momentum, as Transport for London advances proposals for the West London Orbital (WLO) – a scheme designed to deliver new orbital connectivity using largely existing rail infrastructure. The project would see London Overground-style services introduced on corridors that today are […]
Green light for controversial £1.2bn revamp of UK’s busiest station
The City of London has approved Network Rail’s £1.2 billion (€1.3bn) plan to overhaul London Liverpool Street, further clearing the way for a controversial redevelopment of the UK’s busiest railway station. The City of London Corporation’s planning committee voted on Tuesday to grant permission for the scheme, which centres on a substantial expansion of the […]
EU sets single rulebook for rail data sharing across Europe
As Brussels pushes ahead with plans to harmonise how infrastructure capacity is planned and managed across borders, the digital plumbing is now being locked into place. The European Commission has adopted a new telematics TSI that sets EU-wide rules for how rail data must be structured and shared. The European Commission has adopted a new […]
German closures hit Dutch cross-border rail, Eindhoven–Düsseldorf link slips again
Germany has closed two major rail arteries until July, forcing ICE and NightJet diversions and cutting a key regional service that links into the Dutch network; meanwhile, a long-planned direct Eindhoven–Düsseldorf train will not start this year as expected, with works around Venlo now running to at least 2030. Subscribe to gain access to all […]
Catalonia to reopen Rodalies next week, but 70 speed limits remain after fatal crash
Catalonia’s government says it plans to fully reopen Barcelona’s Rodalies commuter rail network next week, as it works through the operational fallout from a fatal accident on the network and a nationwide safety review. Catalonia says it will fully reopen Barcelona’s Rodalies commuter rail network next week, but passengers are being warned not to confuse […]