World-First: ETCS Level 2 Powers Up the Iconic Tornado Steam Locomotive

🚀 Hello, EU rail leaders call for swift action on an interoperable high-speed rail network to achieve Green Deal goals, with HSR potentially capturing 54% of long-distance travel by 2070.

SNCF Réseau is developing the MARS LGV autonomous inspection robot for enhanced efficiency and safety on France's high-speed lines.

Meanwhile, Italy has launched retrofitted biomethane-powered tourist trains that reduce CO₂ emissions by 20%, with biofuels offering up to an 80% reduction, supporting greener tourism.

TOP STORIES

EU Backs High-Speed Rail Expansion to Cut Emissions and Travel Time
European rail leaders are urging swift, coordinated EU action to build a fully interoperable high-speed rail (HSR) network, with goals including seamless ticketing, fair taxation, and widespread ERTMS deployment. The CER argues HSR could capture 54% of long-distance travel by 2070 if backed by strong political support and sustainable funding, combining public and private investment. Industry leaders say harmonised regulation and infrastructure upgrades are essential to meet climate goals and shift travellers away from cars and planes.

SNCF Réseau unveils robotic inspection system for France’s high-speed network
France’s SNCF Réseau, supported by BPI France, is developing an autonomous inspection robot called MARS LGV for high-speed rail lines, with a prototype due in 2027. Equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and remote control capabilities, the robot will monitor infrastructure and detect track obstacles. Expected to reduce inspection costs by 67%, it mirrors similar high-speed diagnostic tech currently being tested in Italy.

Italy Rolls Out First Biomethane-Powered Tourist Trains
Italy has launched two retrofitted ALn 668 railcars powered by liquefied biomethane on tourist lines, boosting their range to 600 km and reducing CO₂ emissions by 20%. The project, backed by FS, Hitachi Rail, and Snam, included full mechanical overhauls and engine conversions. With the ability to use biofuel, the railcars could cut emissions by up to 80%, offering a greener transport option on heritage routes.

Regional Highlights

Europe:

• 🇦🇹 Hybrid digital couplers from Knorr-Bremse and Voith passed initial compatibility tests on Siemens Vectron locomotives with Austria’s ÖBB support, ahead of Voith’s planned rollout of its DAC system on 23,000 locomotives and 450,000 freight cars by 2030 - despite ongoing concerns from some EU operators.

• 🇸🇰 A major Slovak freight car manufacturer will equip wagons from its Poprad plant with PJM’s WaggonTracker system, enabling real-time monitoring of brakes, load, and safety parameters, and supporting future digital automatic coupling integration across Europe.

• 🇷🇺. Siemens Mobility has sold its minority stake in Russia’s Ural Locomotives for USD 25.7 million to comply with EU sanctions, transferring full control to a Russian entity while remaining entangled in ongoing legal disputes over breached contracts.

• 🇵🇱 The European Investment Bank (EIB) proposes EUR 550 million for the modernisation of the Skierniewice–Łuków railway line in Poland, aiming to upgrade infrastructure, including a new double-track bridge over the Vistula River, improve speed and safety, and enhance capacity, with work scheduled from 2026 to 2029.

• 🇬🇧 HS2 is incorporating custom tunnel portal extensions at the Chiltern Tunnel to prevent sonic booms caused by high-speed trains, with the unique designs including ventilation portholes to gradually release displaced air, ensuring no audible noise despite speeds exceeding 140mph. The extensions, developed in collaboration with Arup, the University of Birmingham, and Dundee Tunnel Research, set a new international standard in sonic boom suppression.

• 🇮🇹 Adif has launched the next phase of the Italian Castejón–Pamplona high-speed rail line, focusing on electrification and track installation for the 60-kilometre section between Castejón and Campanas, with additional plans for a new substation and rail interchange to enhance connectivity and support both high-speed and conventional rail services.

• 🏔️ The first tunnel boring machine (TBM), 'Viviana,' has been launched for the Lyon–Turin Euralpine Tunnel, marking a key milestone in the construction of the world's longest rail tunnel, aimed at reducing road traffic in the Alps and boosting low-carbon rail freight.

• 🇮🇹 Major modernisation works on the Simplon axis between Domodossola and Milan in summer 2025 will disrupt international rail services, with closures and reduced EuroCity train frequencies, leading to longer travel times and replacement bus services.

• 🇪🇸 ALSA Rail has introduced its first dual-voltage EURO6000 locomotive, essential for freight operations in Asturias, with three more arriving by summer to ensure compatibility with the 25 kV electrified Pajares base tunnel and support plans for scenic tourist trains on the older route.

• 🇦🇹 Traktionssysteme Austria has signed a major service contract with GSP Beograd to overhaul and maintain its traction motors in Belgrade’s Urbos 3 trams throughout 2025, using its TSA PitStop programme to ensure operational reliability and quick turnaround times..

Aisa:

• 🇮🇳 Indian Railways produced 7,134 passenger units in FY2024 - up 9% from the previous year’s 6,541 - with Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory accounting for 3,007 units, including new Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat trains.

• 🇻🇳 Vietnam has announced plans to boost domestic rolling stock production by 2045, aiming to manufacture most train components locally - including high-speed and urban rail vehicles-while combining government investment, tax incentives, and foreign partnerships to meet growing national demand.

• 🇱🇰 Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two key rail projects in Anuradhapura, including the refurbishment of the Maho-Omanthai railway line and the start of a modernised signalling system from Maho to Anuradhapura..

North America:

• 🇺🇸 The Trump administration has withdrawn USD 63.9 million in federal funding for the proposed USD 40 billion Dallas–Houston high-speed rail project, calling it a misuse of taxpayer money and leaving its future uncertain.

• 🇺🇸 The U.S. House is considering the Freight Railcar Act, offering tax credits for buying new or upgrading existing freight cars to boost domestic manufacturing, improve safety, and cut emissions, with the potential to save 65,000 jobs and reduce fuel use and CO₂ over time.

Steam Locomotive Integrates Digital Signalling: A Historic Milestone

The integration of a European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 into the Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado steam locomotive marks a world-first trial, demonstrating that heritage vehicles can adopt cutting-edge digital technology. This successful testing, conducted on the Cambrian Line, highlights the adaptability of modern signalling systems even in complex environments, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Key Benefits:

• Increased safety with real-time data exchange.

• Higher efficiency through smoother, more reliable operations.

• Proving that modern technology can be integrated with historic rail stock.

Real-World Examples:

Real-World Impact: This development paves the way for further modernization of the UK’s rail network, offering a model for integrating digital systems into legacy infrastructure and setting a precedent for future innovation in rail transport.

Why It Matters: 

This breakthrough is a vital step in proving that tradition and innovation can coexist on the railways, supporting a more efficient, safer, and technologically advanced future for heritage and modern rail systems alike.

Statistics of the Week

• The U.S. Bay Area transit agencies saw a combined 3.24 million more trips in Q1 2025 vs. 2024, with Caltrain ridership up 50%, SMART up 38%, and BART up 6.5%, driven by fleet electrification and service improvements.

• Germany’s DB Cargo, facing a EUR 350 million loss in 2024 and operating 15% below freight targets, must return to profitability by the end of 2026 or risk EU-mandated restructuring - putting 5,000 jobs and key JVZ services at stake.

• Two Vande Bharat Express trains connected Katra and Srinagar in 3 hours - cutting current travel time by over 50% - as part of the completed 272-km USBRL project, which includes the world’s highest rail arch bridge and a 119-km tunnel.

• Chemins de fer de Provence and Stadler have signed a contract for eight hybrid multiple units to replace CP’s diesel fleet on the Nic--Digne-les-Bains line, aiming to cut CO₂ emissions by up to 77% with a battery-biodiesel drive system and begin passenger service in 2028.

Upcoming Events

• Train & Rail | May 6-8, 2025 | Stockholm, Sweden

• Africa Rail | May 13-14, 2025 | Johannesburg, South Africa

• TRACCS Rail Day | May 13-14, 2025 | Toronto, Canada

• RISSB Rail Safety Conference | May 13-14, 2025 | Sydney, Australia

• High Speed Rail Conference | May 13-15, 2025 | Washington, D.C., USA

• The Rise of IoT & Big Data in Rail | May 14-15, 2025 | Cologne, Germany

• Railway Supplier Summit | May 14-15, 2025 | Vienna, Austria

• Indonesia Rail Summit | May 15-16, 2025 | Jakarta, Indonesia

• Railway Operations & Rolling Stock Conference | May 21-22, 2025 | Oradea, Romania

• Women in Rail Awards | May 15, 2025 | London, UK

• IAF International Exhibition for Track Technology | May 20-22, 2025 | Münster, Germany

• Railway Interchange | May 20-22, 2025 | Indianapolis, USA

• Railway Interior Innovation Summit USA | May 20-22, 2025 | Orlando, USA

• Asia Pacific Rail | May 28-29, 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand

• Transport Logistic | June 2-5, 2025 | München, Germany

• EuroBrake | June 3-5, 2025 | Barcelona, Spain

Spotlight on Influential Voices

• Branko, a railway engineer and enthusiast based in Dubai, hosts Railgenics, a channel showcasing remarkable railway journeys and offering educational content about the railway industry, with a focus on unique railways, their landscapes, history, and more, aiming to explore and present railways from around the world.

• Tim, an avid traveller with 30 years of video recording experience, shares his trainjourney experiences.

• Kuga, a Japanese content creator based in Japan, shares interesting insights into Japanese life, including a portion focused on rail transportation.

Share your thoughts

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