UK: VolkerFitzpatrick has started to construct the first phase of the Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Interchange on behalf of owner SEGRO.

Saudi Arabia Railways’ updated business strategy running to 2035 includes an 8 000 km expansion of the network, becoming financially self-sustaining and partnering with leading technology suppliers, CEO Dr Bashar bin Khalid Al Malik tells Railway Gazette International.

GERMANY: BeNEX has completed the acquisition of 100% of Abellio Deutschland from Dutch state passenger train operator NS, which has ended its activities wholly outside the Netherlands in order to focus on its core business within its home country.

UK: Keltbray Infrastructure Services Ltd has acquired Linbrooke Services’ rail business, which provides design-and-build signalling, telecoms and power services as a Network Rail approved tier-one principal contractor.

SENEGAL: The first trainset has been delivered for Phase II of the Dakar Train Express Régional, which will extend the 36 km Dakar - Diamniadio line by 19 km to Blaise Diagne airport.

PORTUGAL: The LusoLav consortium led by Mota-Engil has been selected to build the initial 71 km Porto – Oiã section of the Lisboa – Porto high speed corridor.

FRANCE: On October 10 the Paris criminal court announced its verdict on the fatal high speed derailment of a TGV test train on November 14 2015 near Eckwersheim at the eastern end of LGV Est-Européenne.

MOROCCO: National railway ONCF has commissioned a consortium of Spain’s Ineco and local partner CID to undertake feasibility studies for a passenger rail service connecting central Tanger with the football stadium and the airport, and a line from Tanger to Tétouan.

INDIA: Integral Coach Factory in Chennai has awarded BEML an Rs8·67bn contract to design, manufacture and commission two 280 km/h high speed trainsets.

CHINA: A wagon made of a lightweight carbon fibre composite material has been developed by CRRC Qiqihar, China Energy Railway Equipment Co and the National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy.

UK: Freightliner has launched a container service which it says has been made possible by a Network Rail scheme to attract freight to rail by waiving track access charges for the first six months of a new flow.

USA: Amtrak is now supplying departure times, trip durations and fares for display on Google Search results pages when a user indicates they are considering rail travel between two of the operator’s destinations. Once they select a train, they can click through to Amtrak.com to complete the booking without needing ...

IRELAND: The Stadler Class 99 electro-diesel locomotive for UK operator GB Railfreight was receiving close scrutiny from Iarnród Éireann at InnoTrans in Berlin, with the Irish national operator confirming to Railway Gazette International that it had discussed with the manufacturer how the type might be adapted for operation in Ireland.

POLAND: The government is backing high speed rail project promoter Centralny Port Komunikacyjny to build the Y-shaped high speed rail network linking Warszawa and the planned CPK air hub to Łódź and then Wrocław and Poznań with funding coming from the national budget.

INNOTRANS: The first international Railway Influencer Festival and award ceremony was held on the final day of InnoTrans 2024, bringing together 31 transport content creators and guests from 41 companies.

UK: Survey Solutions has entered the rail sector with the acquisition of JWG Survey & Engineering. It is Survey Solutions’ first acquisition since a 2023 management buyout backed by private equity firm WestBridge, and further acquisitions are expected in the coming months.

ITALY: Private operator Arenaways has confirmed to Railway Gazette International that it is in talks with one public and one private investor over the sale of stakes in the company.

UK: Rail services have begun using Belfast’s Grand Central station, an integrated transport hub built to replace the previous Great Victoria Street rail and Europa bus stations.

UK: Representatives of the planned Global Centre for Rail Excellence test facility in South Wales have agreed that securing funding is challenging but reiterated their hope that it can be secured soon.