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.

EUROPE: Travelling planning app company Moovit has partnered with Distribution Technologies to offer its users the option to buy tickets for long-distance travel. Its rail, bus and ferry operators in 40 countries, including Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, RENFE, Trenitalia, Italo, RegioJet and Eurostar.

GERMANY: The introduction of freight trams in Berlin could be feasible, an interim report has found, and further studies will be undertaken once there is greater clarity on the legal requirements.

GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has awarded four long-term framework contracts which are designed to ensure the stable supply and deployment of digital signalling systems including interlockings, ETCS and control systems.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Track component manufacturer DT-Výhybkárna a strojírna has launched a three-year research project aimed at developing an ‘autonomous turnout’ which can monitor its own condition and predict any problems before they can cause a failure.

FRANCE: Passenger operator SNCF Voyageurs is to expand its use of Wabtec’s KinetiX automated inspection technology. This will add TreadView, WheelView and BrakeView lineside inspection systems to the existing axle maintenance and acoustic bearing monitoring used at 13 depots.