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March 13, 2025
🚀 Hello, China and Kazakhstan have opened a new rail corridor to Europe, bypassing Russia and cutting transit times to 40 days.
Meanwhile, Czech Railways is investing in solar power plants across key depots by 2026. In Poland, EUR 2.5 billion has been allocated to modernize 800 km of rail lines, including projects to improve regional connectivity and freight capacity.
TOP STORIES
🚚 China and Kazakhstan Open New Rail Gateway to Europe
Kazakhstan have launched a new Middle Corridor freight rail route to Europe, bypassing Russia and reducing transit times to 40 days. This shift is part of broader efforts to decrease reliance on Russian routes, undermining Moscow’s transit revenues and geopolitical influence. Additionally, Uzbekistan has introduced a new India-to-Kazakhstan freight corridor via Iran and Turkmenistan, offering exporters faster, more cost-effective alternatives in the region’s evolving logistics landscape.
☀️ Czech Railways Launches Solar Projects Across Key Depots
Czech Railways plans to install rooftop and ground-based photovoltaic power plants at several depots, including in Havlíčkův Brod, Česká Třebová, Děčín, and Prague's Michle district, with operations expected to start in 2026. The company is evaluating 32 locations for potential solar projects, including battery storage in Valašské Meziříčí. Additionally, Czech Railways is finalizing documentation for a rooftop installation at the Prague South Depot, aiming for a 201.5 kWp capacity, to help reduce electricity costs for its service buildings.
🚀 Poland Fast-Tracks Rail Modernisation with EUR 2.5 Billion Boost
Poland’s Ministry of Infrastructure has announced a EUR 2.5 billion investment from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to modernise 800 km of railway lines, focusing on improving travel times, increasing capacity, and eliminating bottlenecks. This is part of a broader EUR 8 billion EU-funded rail infrastructure programme running through 2027, which includes major projects like the Podłęże - Piekiełko line to enhance regional connectivity and freight capacity, especially ahead of the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) development. Completion is expected by 2030.
Regional Highlights
Europe:
🇪🇸 Spain’s Adif has awarded two contracts totaling EUR 32.2 million to upgrade the Zaragoza-Teruel-Sagunto railway line, including extending track 2 at Cella station to 750 meters and infrastructure improvements on the Sagunto-Bifurcación Teruel section, as part of a EUR 500 million Master Plan to enhance freight capacity, efficiency, and sustainability along this key 315-kilometre corridor.
🇺🇦 The European Investment Bank (EIB), under the EU’s EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility, will provide at least EUR 2 billion between 2024 and 2027 to support Ukraine’s recovery, focusing on energy infrastructure, rail and transport connectivity, and municipal services, with an aim to mobilise EUR 40 billion in total investments through the Ukraine Investment Framework.
🇪🇪 Estonia has signed a EUR 67.6 million construction contract with AS TREV-2 Grupp for a 14 km section of Rail Baltica from Kärpla to Selja, marking a new phase of the project, with works set to be completed by 2028 and incorporating environmental features like wildlife bridges and viaducts.
💣 A World War II bomb found near Paris's Gare du Nord on 7 March 2025 disrupted Eurostar and local train services, stranding thousands of passengers, with no confirmed timeline for resumption as bomb disposal teams work to neutralise the device.
🥘 Spain’s Renfe has added a new direct AVE train service between Madrid and Barcelona, cutting travel time to 2.5 hours, and now offers 52 high-speed services on Fridays, including 19 direct trains.
🇳🇱 In the Netherlands, NS has unveiled a mock-up of its future Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie electric multiple units, designed to replace older DDZ trains by 2029.
🇬🇧 The UK government is accelerating infrastructure projects like roads, railways, and tramlines through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, streamlining processes, reducing bureaucracy, and aiming to complete 150 major projects during this parliament, while also introducing reforms to speed up land negotiations and planning decisions.
Aisa:
🇪🇹 Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC) and South Korea's Korail have signed an MoU to enhance cooperation, aiming to improve the efficiency and reliability of Ethiopia’s railway services through a joint working group and shared expertise.
🌏 The first-ever India-Kazakhstan container train, launched on March 4, 2025, travels through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, reducing delivery times and enhancing trade efficiency between the countries, with an estimated journey time of 25-30 days.
🍚 The Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project has been delayed by 350 days due to rental buildings obstructing construction, with a new completion deadline set for March 10, 2026, while the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) confirms no additional costs for contractors.
🗾 East Japan Railways will develop the new E10 bullet train series for the Tohoku Shinkansen Line, set to debut in 2030, with features such as a top speed of 320 kph, shorter stopping distance, and enhanced amenities for business passengers, while also launching its Hakobyun cargo service in April 2023 to alleviate truck driver shortages and reduce CO2 emissions.
North America:
🍁 VIA Rail Canada has launched a 24-month paid Locomotive Engineer Apprenticeship Program, while Transdev’s Maintenance Apprenticeship Program trains young adults in automotive service excellence, combining mentorship and classroom learning.
🗽 New York’s MTA has added two new R211 open-gangway trains on the G Line
🏢 The MBTA will launch South Coast Rail service in Massachusetts on March 24, offering 32 weekday trips and 26 weekend trips between South Station and East Taunton.
The Big Trend
The Growing Role of Cloud Architecture in Railways
Cloud architecture is reshaping railway operations by providing scalable, efficient, and secure infrastructure. It enables real-time data processing through edge computing, improving connectivity and overall operational efficiency.
Key Benefits
Fast resource allocation and application deployment.
Reliable infrastructure with geo-redundancy and active-active functionality.
Simplified data sharing across platforms.
Real-World Examples:
Huawei’s Railway Cloud: Facilitates smooth migration of legacy systems to an agile cloud model, boosting operational efficiency.
Why It Matters:
Embracing cloud technology is crucial for future-proofing rail systems, enhancing responsiveness, and supporting sustainable growth.
Statistics of the Week
In 2024, Germany’s Deutsche Bahn received 6.9 million passenger complaints - up 23% from 5.6 million in 2023 - paying EUR 132.8 million in compensation, with 37.5% of long-distance trains delayed and 80% of disruptions blamed on outdated infrastructure.
In 2024, Austria’s ÖBB set a new passenger record with 511 million travelers, up 3.4% from 494 million in 2023, driven by a 10% increase in local and regional travel, while long-distance services saw over 20% growth since 2019, and night train demand rose with over 1.5 million passengers.
Siemens Mobility's Goole Rail Village has installed 1,700 solar panels generating 1 MW of clean energy, contributing to a target of reducing emissions by 55% by 2025 and 90% by 2030, with additional investments including GBP 2 million for air-source heat pumps expected to cut carbon output by 980 tonnes annually..
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RailTech Belgium | March 26-27, 2025 | Brussels, Belgium
Hannover Messe | March 31 - April 4, 2025 | Hannover, Germany
Rail Infrastructure Asset Management Summit (RIAMS 2025) | April 9-10, 2025 | London, UK
Spotlight on Influential Voices
Scenic Rail Britain showcases the UK’s most scenic rail routes, inviting followers to explore picturesque destinations across the country.
w_wd873 is a Japanese train enthusiast who loves traveling on the Sunrise train.
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