VIETNAM: The Ministry of Transport has put forward proposals for rail reforms which aim to better meet local needs when planning transport infrastructure for 2030, and looking further ahead to 2050. Planning has also restarted for a much-discussed north-south 350 km/h high speed line.

BULGARIA: The Ministry of Transport & Communications has signed a contract for Škoda Group to supply 20 four-car 160 km/h electric-multiple units for use on long distance services from Sofia to Burgas, Varna and Ruse.

UK: Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh has given the go-ahead for the creation of a Shadow Great British Railways, ahead of the future primary legislation which will be needed to create Great British Railways as an arm’s length body overseeing both train services and infrastructure.

UK: ScotRail is to procure trains to replace the ageing High Speed Train fleet used on routes between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness, the Scottish government announced on September 3.

UK: The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill received its third reading in the House of Commons on September 3, as the first major piece of legislation to pass through the Commons under the recently-elected Labour government.

EUROPE: CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co and a local partner are to build a rolling stock manufacturing plant in Hungary from which to supply vehicles for the European market.

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.