TURKEY: State-owned rolling stock manufacturer Türasaş has developed a wagon to enable the Turkish Armed Forces to transport military vehicles including Altai main battle tanks.

RUSSIA: An agreement has been signed for the supply of 41 trainsets with a design speed of 400 km/h and operating speed of 360 km/h for use on the proposed Moskva – Tver – Veliky Novgorod – St Petersburg high speed line.

UK: Invitations to negotiate have been issued to five potential manufacturers of new trains which will enable TransPennine Express to move away from largely diesel operation as its core Leeds – Manchester route is electrified.

EUROPE: Leasing company Alpha Trains has awarded Siemens Mobility a framework contract covering up to 70 Vectron locomotives of various configurations including Multi-System and Dual Mode, with a firm order for 35 to be delivered from the end of 2026.

CHINA: Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Beijing Jiaotong University and MTR Academy are to launch a Belt & Road Advanced Professional Development Programme in Railway Transport. This will combine the teaching and research capabilities of the two universities with MTR Corp’s practical experience.

UK: Avanti West Coast is using posters and signage to make station facilities such as lifts, stairs and handrails ‘speak directly to customers’ as part of a ‘Take care. Get there’ safety campaign.

NORTH AMERICA: Knorr-Bremse has completed its $690m acquisition of the conventional rail signalling business of Alstom Signaling North America, with 800 employees in six locations becoming employees of KB Signaling, a standalone business.

UK: Grand Central has announced plans to acquire ‘new, state-of-the-art’ bi-mode trainsets as it seeks to extend its track access rights until 2038.

GERMANY: A financing and implementation agreement has been signed to enable the reopening of the Homburg – Zweibrücken line with the December 2028 timetable change

POLAND: Wrocław-based rail freight operator Captrain Polska has ordered three Alstom Traxx3 Universal multi-system electric locomotives which will be approved for use in Poland, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria.

AUSTRALIA: The development of local rolling stock manufacturing skills forms a central part of a A$7·1m Manufacturing Centre of Excellence training facility which is to be developed in Maryborough in Queensland.

News from the world rail freight market.

UK: GB Railfreight has opened a £2·5m facility at Tonbridge in Kent which will be used to maintain Class 73, 69 and 66 locomotives.

USA: Genessee & Wyoming is to use scanning and data capture hardware from Cordel Group and Rift software from TÜV Rheinland Group company D/Gauge for clearance assessment in its Upper Midwest and Great Lake divisions.

AUSTRALIA: Singapore-based ST Engineering’s Urban Solutions business is to provide an enhanced version of its AGIL passenger information system for the 65 six-car electric multiple-units that Downer is to supply under the Queensland Train Manufacturing Programme.

AUSTRALIA: Singapore-based ST Engineering’s Urban Solutions business is to provide an enhanced version of its AGIL passenger information system for the 65 six-car electric multiple-units that Downer is to supply under the Queensland Train Manufacturing Programme.

SPAIN: Ganz-Mavag Europe has withdrawn its bid to buy 100% of Talgo after the acquisition was blocked by the Spanish government. It said ‘depending on the evolution of the circumstances’ it may consider resubmitting a bid.

USA: Pinsly Railroad Co has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Hondo Railway in Texas, subject to regulatory approval.

POLAND: Regional operator Koleje Dolnośląskie and Pesa Bydgoszcz signed a 438·4m złoty contract on August 29 for the supply of 10 five-car Elf electric multiple-units with an option for 10 more.

UK: TransPennine Express is ‘making moves in the right direction but we’re under no illusion there’s still much more we need to do‘, the operator’s Managing Director Chris Jackson tells Rail Business UK.