Analysis of the national budget for 2025 underscores Turkey’s commitment to expanding its rail network, which is expected to grow by 8500 route-km in the next 30 years. David O’Byrne investigates.

UK: The Rail Delivery Group has awarded Tracsis a multi-year contract to provide a Tap Converter system which will support the roll-out of pay-as-you-go National Rail travel in urban areas across the country. Tracsis said this will be a major step towards modernising rail ticketing.

TICKETING: Easier has developed a ticket gate with an overhead camera which counts passengers and identifies fare evasion attempts, with AI training to help it improve accuracy.

KAZAKHSTAN: Chinese manufacturer CRRC has handed over a diesel hybrid shunting locomotive built for national railway KTZ.

INTERNATIONAL: Australia’s Transport for New South Wales and British infrastructure manager Network Rail have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding to co-operate to develop rail technology, improve reliability and drive sustainability.

EUROPE: The International Union of Railways has awarded Hit Rail a five-year contract to supply a Real Time Mobility Data Exchange service.

GERMANY: DB Regio has awarded Škoda Group a contract to overhaul five double-deck push-pull trainsets which operate Nürnberg – Ingolstadt – München regional services using the high speed line, with an option for a sixth.

News from the world rail freight market.

SLOVAKIA: Electric services on the 21·5 km single-track Haniska pri Košiciach – Moldava nad Bodvou (mesto) section of the Košice – Zvolen line began on February 17.

KYRGYZSTAN: A public-private partnership agreement has been signed for the construction of a railway from Karakol to Makmal.

NETHERLANDS: National passenger operator NS has unveiled a mock-up of its future Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie electric multiple-units.

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

UK: Following a successful pilot last year, the Railway Industry Association has launched a training service to support the industry, including RIA members, in developing and refining skills and knowledge.

BELGIUM: National passenger train operator SNCB has selected CAF as preferred bidder to supply the future AM30 electric and battery-electric multiple-units.

UK: Arriva TrainCare’s Crewe depot has completed work on the first of 29 Class 170 diesel multiple-units operated by CrossCountry which are to be refurbished by 2028.

EUROPE: Railpool has completed the upgrade of all of its locomotives used in Scandinavia to ETCS Baseline 3.4.

FINLAND: National operator VR is to return to traffic four Alstom Sm6 trainsets that were used on the Helsinki – St Petersburg Allegro service until it ceased operating following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Amid geopolitical turbulence, governments in Europe and beyond will need to ramp up their defence spending urgently, potentially squeezing the funding avilable for rail and wider civilian infrastructure. However, a push for more efficiency offers opportunities too, believes our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.

UK: The High Speed Rail Group has called for ‘new, affordable and realistic plan’ for HS2 including the completion of a London Euston to Crewe ‘core’.

JAPAN: East Japan Railway has issued the first images of its E10 Shinkansen high speed trainset.