Birmingham University spin-out Vanguard STS launched its HydroShunter locomotive on January 31 before convening a round table to assess the prospects of hydrogen traction gaining ground in rail applications. Nick Kingsley joined the discussion.

EUROPE: Virgin Group is seeking partners to invest in its planned launch of international high speed train services through the Channel Tunnel.

SWEDEN: The Halland region is to trial Fairtiq’s pay-as-you-go ticketing system based on swiping in and out on a mobile app.

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

UK: The Railtex rail industry trade fair which was to have been held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on May 13-15 2025 has been postponed.

UK: On display at the Transport Ticketing Global exhibition in London was Scheidt & Bachmann’s latest FareGo PG|50 ticket gate, which has been developed with total cost of ownership in mind.

EUROPE: Swiss Federal Railways is looking at ordering up to 40 high speed trainsets for use on international services to Italy and France, and ’potentially for other destinations such as Barcelona and London’.

FRANCE: SNCF Voyageurs and Alstom have unveiled the interior design of the TGV M high speed trainsets which are to enter service from 2026. Jérémie Anne reports from Paris.

GERMANY: Two waves of fraud have hit sellers of the Deutschlandticket monthly public transport pass, and the fightback against the criminals has been hindered by the lack of a central body with overall responsibility for the tickets.

ASIA: A rail and sea freight service from India to Kazakhstan has been developed by Kazakhstan’s KTZ Kedentransservice, Uzbekistan’s UTY subsidiary Uztemiryulkonteyner and Transport & Logistics Centre of Turkmenistan

INTERNATIONAL: The Rail-Mil Computers subsidiary of Poland’s Kombud Group and South Korean company STraffic have formed a strategic partnership to supply control systems for railways and metro lines.

TICKETING: Cubic Transportation Systems launched its FEnX station ticket gate at the Transport Ticketing Global trade fair in London, saying it had combined the latest technology with user-centric design to reduce fare evasion, enhance the passenger experience and optimise efficiency.

AUSTRIA: Open access operator Westbahn has awarded Stadler a contract to supply three Smile high speed trainsets to enable it to introduce Wien – Graz – Klagenfurt – Villach services from March 2026.

NORWAY: Infrastructure manager Bane Nor has successfully completed ‘the first 100 days of operation of ERTMS in Norway’, following the commissioning of the first series installation on the Roa – Gjøvik line in November 2024.

UK: The government’s rail reforms must provide more robust guarantees and stronger regulation so that freight operators have fair and economically viable access to the Great British Railways network and investors will be willing to look at the sector, politicians and industry representatives said at the Rail Freight Parliamentary Reception.

UK: The fleet of 10 two-car and 16 three-car Alstom Class 175 diesel multiple-units owned by Angel Trains and previously used by Transport for Wales until 2023 is to begin entering service with Great Western Railway in Devon and Cornwall later this year, with all expected to be operational from ...

UK: Cubic Transportation Systems and experts from Imperial College London are to conduct joint research into the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the public transport sector.

CZECH REPUBLIC: The Ministry of Transport has awarded Arriva Vlaky a KC3·03bn contract to operate long-distance passenger services on the Praha – Plzeň – Cheb and Praha – Plzeň – Klatovy/Železná Ruda routes for 15 years from the December 2028 timetable change.

UK: The Department for Transport is seeking suppliers to take part in trials of GPS-based pay-as-you-go ticketing in Yorkshire and the East Midlands later this year,

HUNGARY: ETCS Level 2 trackside equipment has been activated on the 25·2 km Százhalombatta – Pusztaszabolcs section of the 228 km Budapest – Pécs main line.