Rail Business UK looks at the details of the government’s rail reform plans, which would restructure the industry and establish Great British Railways as a new body bringing together infrastructure and operations in the biggest shake-up of the sector since privatisation.

Rail Business UK provides a round-up of responses to the start of consultation on the government’s rail reform bill

NETHERLANDS: The European Commission has said the Netherlands failed to correctly apply EU rules on competitive tendering when it directly awarded state-owned incumbent NS a contract to operate passenger train services on the designated core rail network in 2025-33.

UK: A free Demystifying Rail Freight workshop being organised by Logistics UK and the Great British Railways Transition Team aims to provide organisations with practical insights into how they can incorporate rail into their overall freight strategy.

SOUTH KOREA: Woojin Industrial Systems begun production of a new design of electric multiple-unit for use by Korea Railroad Corp.

SPAIN: A Basque consortium has reached a commercial agreement for the acquisition of approximately 29·7% of the share capital of Talgo from largest shareholder Pegaso Transportation International.

UK: The first viaduct section on HS2’s triangular junction outside Birmingham has been unveiled. Chris Howe reports from the site in Warwickshire.

AUSTRIA: National operator ÖBB has released preview photos of its first double-deck Railjet trainset.

News from the world rail freight market.

UK: Network Rail has begun the process of appointing a programme partner to support the delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. The 96 month framework contract has a potential value of around £100m.

ITALY: National operator Trenitalia has sent first of nine ETR1000 trainsets to Alstom’s Vado Ligure site where it will be modified for use on services to Germany.

SPAIN: Alstom Spain, the Alstom Foundation and training provider Fundación Juan XXIII have launched the second edition of the Inclusive Trains project. This aims to improve the employability of people with intellectual disabilities through training and internships in real environments in the railway sector.

UK: High speed line infrastructure concessionaire HS1 Ltd has rebranded as St Pancras Highspeed.

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

AFRICA: A contract has been awarded for construction of an electrified standard gauge railway from Tanzania into Burundi, giving the land-locked east African country rail access for the first time.

NETHERLANDS: A larger and more modern terminal for UK-bound Eurostar passengers has opened at Amsterdam Centraal station.

Tim Mulligan is heading up a newly created rolling stock programme office at New York MTA, tasked with widening and deepening the relationship between the authority and its supply chain. He explained the plans to Nick Kingsley.

EUROPE: CargoBeamer has raised up to €65m in a combination of equity and debt financing from Orion Infrastructure Capital to support the growth of its activities which enable the transport of non-craneable semi-trailers by rail.

THAILAND: The second phase of a high speed line that will connect Bangkok with the existing line between Laos and China was approved by the Thai cabinet on February 4.

INNOTRANS: More than 85% of the exhibition space at InnoTrans 2026 has already been booked, according to organiser Messe Berlin.