EUROPE

Autonomous freight trains are successfully running the first phase of their tests on the critical Betuwe Line between the Port of Rotterdam and the German border. This large-scale initiative aims to test automated remote-controlled systems (ATO) that will modernise freight trains in Europe and create an efficiency revolution in rail 🚄

DB ESG, part of Deutsche Bahn (DB) Systemtechnik, has taken a significant step forward in strengthening its presence in the UK rail sector. The company has opened its new Rail Technology Centre in Derby, a 1,670-square-metre (18,000-square-foot) site that serves as a key hub for research, testing and application of 🚄

Railway modelling enthusiasts will gather on 8 and 9 November 2025 at La Ferté-sous-Jouarrein the Seine-et-Marne region, about 60 kilometres east of Paris. Organised by the Les Hameaux Fertois association, in partnership with AMFI (Amicale des Modélistes Ferroviaires Indépendants), this 3rd modelling fair is set to be an unmissable event 🚄

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky issued a message of thanks to the railway logistics workers who helped the country to survive even under war conditions. Zelenski appreciated the efforts of railway workers, underlining their vital role in keeping the country connected. Fast Recovery and Uninterrupted Transport Despite Attacks Zelensky noted 🚄

In the port city of Naples, a new series of CAF trains has entered service on Line 11 (assumed to be the Circumflegrea line, no Line 11 information provided), operated by the local transport authority Ente Autonomo Volturno (EAV). This is an important step in modernising the city’s railway line 🚄

An Avanti West Coast train derailed near Shap in Cumbria, severely disrupting mainline rail services in the area. Emergency crews were forced to close the main line between Penrith and Oxenholme immediately after a train from Glasgow to London Euston derailed. Train Derailment Causes Suspension of Services and Evacuation of 🚄

Lithuanian railway company LTG Link has unveiled the first of 15 new generation trains it will procure from Swiss manufacturer Stadler as part of a modernisation drive aimed at significantly improving the travel experience in the country and promoting sustainable transport. LTG Link and Stadler signed an agreement worth a 🚄

Siemens Mobility, in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn (DB), has taken an important step in the railway sector by developing the Mireo electric train for automated operation. This innovation aims at autonomous operation of the train through the implementation of ETCS (European Train Control System), ATO (Automatic Train Operation) and advanced 🚄

Swiss company Aebi Schmidt is on the agenda with its new railway ballast compaction and snow removal machine Schmidt Beilhack HB 1100S, developed in cooperation with Austrian company PJM. the tough tests, which started in Norway in autumn 2024, evaluate the vehicle’s performance in difficult conditions on the Flåm Railway 🚄

Rail passenger transport in the European Union (EU) gained significant momentum in 2024, increasing by 5.8 per cent. According to Eurostat, total passenger transport performance reached 443 billion passenger-kilometres (pkm), the highest level recorded since the data collection period in 2004. Germany at the Top in Number of Passengers When 🚄

On the night of 30 October to 31 October, Russia launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and missile strikes in Sumy and Kharkiv regions of Ukraine, targeting critical railway infrastructure. As a result of the attacks, more than ten Ukrainian civilians, including four children, were injured and train services were disrupted. 🚄