UK: Egis has acquired railway electrification design and engineering consultancy Overhead Line Engineering Ltd, saying the Derby-based company’s deep technical knowledge and hands-on experience ‘in an industry where specialist expertise is scarce’ would be a valuable addition to the group.

USA: Keolis Commuter Services has issued a request for proposals for the supply of seven battery-electric multiple-units for use on Boston’s Fairmount Line from 2028. It is also seeking proposals to finance the order under a leasing agreement.

EUROPE: Leasing company Northrail’s parent RIVE Private Investment has awarded Siemens Mobility a framework contract for the supply of Vectron locomotives. A firm order has been placed for an initial 15 to be delivered in 2026-27, and this includes an eight-year comprehensive full-service agreement.

UK: A new design of seat cushion incorporating small metal springs instead of foam is to be fitted in the first class area of a Great Western Railway Class 166 diesel multiple-unit this month, with roll-out across the rest of the class planned.

EUROPE: High speed line concessionaire London St Pancras Highspeed and Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel have announced a ‘landmark’ partnership which aims to grow high speed rail services between the UK and continental Europe.

ASIA: Agreement has been reached to start construction of a railway to fill the gap between the Mongolian and Chinese railheads at the Gashuun Sukhait border crossing.

CANADA: The Cadence consortium has been selected to co-design and build, finance, operate and maintain a 300 km/h high speed railway between Toronto and Québec City, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced.

FRANCE: The government has called for expressions of interest in contracts to supply locomotives and coaches to renew the national night train fleet.

UK: ‘Operations are central to everything in rail, and we believe that if CIRO succeeds, the railway is better for it’, said Phil Sherratt, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators as it publicly launched its refreshed mission and values in mid-February.

EUROPE: A new approach to the roll-out of ERTMS is urgently needed, according to the European Rail Freight Association.

EUROPE: A new approach to the roll-out of ERTMS is urgently needed, according to the European Rail Freight Association.

This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.

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.