SINGAPORE: The second phase of the Singapore Rail Test Centre been completed, offering facilities for train commissioning and the comprehensive testing of signalling, telecoms, power, control and other systems under realistic local conditions.

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

UK: Training and assessment services provider The Rail Academy has acquired an 80% controlling stake in Rail Recruiter from Business Daily Group, with the aim of establishing a comprehensive one-stop-shop for recruitment and training.

EUROPE: Through services between Paris and Milano restarted on March 31, after 19 months of work to repair the damage caused by a major landslide near Maurienne in August 2023.

PANAMA: AP Moller-Maersk’s APM Terminals division has bought the Panama Canal Railway Co from a 50:50 joint venture of Canadian Pacific Kansas City and crane manufacturer Lanco Group/Mi-Jack.

TURKEY: The E39000 ‘national suburban trainset’ is unveiled by state-owned manufacturer Türasaş at its Sakarya factory.

UK: Arriva Group has ordered nine electric-diesel-battery hybrid trains to replace its open access operator Grand Central’s entire fleet.

UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board includes a focus on digital transformation to help the industry embrace new technologies in its Annual Business Plan for 2025-26.

POLAND: Locally owned regional train operator Koleje Mazowieckie has placed two orders for electric and diesel multiple-units to modernise its fleet.

UK: Industry association Logistics UK has warned that the role of rail freight in driving economic growth must not be overlooked, after the Prime Minister announced funding for ongoing transport projects in northern England.

UKRAINE: National railway Ukrzaliznytsia has awarded Bulgarian company Express Service a €6m contract to supply 10 battery-powered shunters and spare parts.

USA: Union Pacific has entered into an agreement for Jaguar Transport Holdings’ newly-formed Kansas City West Bottoms Railroad to provide short line services on around 6 km of track in the Central Industrial District of Kansas City, Missouri.

TAIWAN: Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp and the Hitachi Toshiba Supreme Consortium have signed an agreement for the detailed interior design of the 12 Series N700S high speed trainsets, which were ordered in May 2023 at a cost of NT$28bn.

UK: A report has found that additional capacity could be provided at Temple Mills depot in London to support plans for new cross-Channel passenger services. However incumbent operator Eurostar says the options would not provide sufficient capacity to support even one operator’s plans without significant investment.

SLOVAKIA: National passenger operator ZSSK has called two tenders for the supply of battery-electric and inter-city trainsets.

News from the world rail freight market.

UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board has developed a Runaway Risk Tool to identify locations where the track conditions or gradient could cause rail vehicles to move away from worksites, and which sections of track would be vulnerable if they did.

ITALY: The Autonomous Province of South Tirol has approved a framework agreement with national infrastructure manager RFI covering the use of the area’s rail infrastructure until 2035.

Hitachi Energy has supplied its latest transformers to Indian Railways as part of the national electrification programme, leading to lower carbon emissions and railway operating costs.

BRAZIL: Mining company Vale has ordered 50 Wabtec Evolution Series diesel locomotives to modernise operations and lower carbon emissions on its Vitória a Minas and Carajás railways.