ASIA: Messe Berlin Chief Operating Officer Dirk Hoffmann expects the inaugural InnoTrans Asia trade fair, due to take place in Singapore in September 2027, to be around 15% of the size of its parent event in Germany.

FRANCE: SNCF Réseau and Alstom have agreed to pause work to equip the western end of Paris RER Line E with the ATS+ traffic management tool.

There are welcome signs that the rail freight sector is starting to seize the opportunity to become a key element in the global logistics sector, argues our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.

UK: Merseyrail, Angel Trains and the Go-Ahead Group have signed up to support an initiative aimed at helping ex-prisoners find work in the transport sector.

RUSSIA: The 4·7 km straddle monorail operated as Moskva Line 13 has closed.

UK: Work has begun to be build the Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle rail research centre near Chesterfield.

AUSTRIA: Wabtec has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire train detection, lineside equipment control and axle counting system supplier Frauscher Sensor Technology Group from Delachaux and Frauscher CEO Michael Thiel.

CHINA: The annual flurry of June metro extensions has seen more than 100 route-km of new infrastructure commissioned in four cities.

SPAIN: An extension of Mallorca’s metre-gauge metro Line M1 from Universitat de les Illes Balears to the Parc Bit technology campus opened on July 2.

News from the world rail freight market.

EUROPE: London St Pancras Highspeed and Eurostar have signed a letter of intent to more than double international passenger capacity at London St Pancras station.

CAREERS: The second Eurailpress Career Boost digital event is to be held on September 17 2025.

Supported by the growing heritage businesses within the national railway FS Group, Italian premium hospitality company Arsenale has launched La Dolce Vita Orient Express, a luxury land cruise service offering one and two-night trips. Anthony Lambert was on the inaugural train.

UK: The Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation, which operated purpose-built rail research facilities including the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre, has entered administration.

Ab sofort ist die LokProgrammer Software 5.2.13 zum Download verfügbar. Diese beinhaltet die Firmware 5.12.178 für alle LokSound 5 und LokPilot 5 Decoder: Die Überstromschutzfunktion wurde überarbeitet, um beim Anfahren mehr "Kraft" zuzulassen. Weiterhin werden neue Decoder with die ESU Digital Innenraumbeleuchtung 2.0, der LokPilot 5 micro DCC Direct Atlas Legacy oder der Lenz LenS5 L Decoder unterstützt. Eine Anzeige der tatsächlich im Decoder berechneten Geschwindigkeitstabellen-Werte erlaubt eine präzisere Abstimmung der Fahreigenschaften.

HUNGARY: Austro-Hungarian cross-border railway GySEV has taken over the management of more than 750 route-km of secondary lines in Hungary from national infrastructure manager MÁV Pályamüködtetési.

EUROPE: Retrack Slovakia and Retrack Czech have filed for insolvency, with parent company VTG citing persistent challenges in the eastern European traction market.

UK: Network Rail and the Digital Reach Partners consortium of telecoms companies Neos Networks and Freshwave have signed the Project Reach public-private partnership deal which aims to enhance digital connectivity on the rail network.

This week’s news from the global railway supply chain.

UK: Transport for London has awarded EDF Renewables UK a 15-year power purchase agreement to provide solar energy to cover part of the London Underground’s electricity needs.