From Gaziantep to Brussels: Rail Power Plays Redefining the Network

🚀 Hello, UNIFE pushes for a EUR 3.8 billion investment in rail innovation to keep Europe at the forefront of rail technology, while HS2 introduces a groundbreaking tunnel design to mitigate sonic booms from 200 mph trains.

Turkey’s first national suburban train marks a new era of domestic production, enhancing regional connectivity.

Elon Musk’s Amtrak privatization proposal overlooks deeper structural issues, like freight monopolies, that hamper U.S. rail development.

TOP STORIES

UNIFE Pushes for EUR 3.8 billion Investment in European Rail R&I  
The UNIFE advocates for a EUR 3 billion investment in rail research to maintain Europe's technological leadership in the face of rising global competition. The funding will support the development of advanced technologies like FRMCS, DAC, and ERTMS, while improving passenger and freight services across the EU. The initiative also aims to strengthen European rail infrastructure, promote cross-border travel, and align with the EU's climate neutrality goals for 2050.

HS2 Tackles Sonic Boom Risk with Record-Breaking Tunnel Design
HS2 has completed 220-metre tunnel portal extensions at both ends of the 10-mile Chiltern Tunnel to prevent sonic booms caused by 200mph trains, using a bespoke design developed with Arup and academic partners. These tapered structures with ventilation portholes reduce micro-pressure waves, a phenomenon first studied on Japan’s Shinkansen. HS2 is the first UK rail project to adopt this solution, setting a new international benchmark for high-speed rail tunnel design.

Turkey’s First National Suburban Train Hits the Tracks 
Turkey has launched its first domestically produced suburban train, the E39000, for the Gaziray network in Gaziantep, marking a shift away from imports. The eight new train sets, each with a 1,000-passenger capacity, are part of a broader expansion of Gaziantep’s transport infrastructure, including high-speed rail links and airport upgrades. The trains are equipped with modern safety features and will be delivered throughout 2025, supporting improved urban mobility and regional connectivity.

Elon Musk Thinks He Can Save U.S. Rail 
Elon Musk’s call to privatise Amtrak and the forced resignation of its CEO overlook deeper structural issues - namely, freight rail monopolies that routinely delay passenger trains like the Crescent. These delays stem from corporate cost-cutting, monopolistic practices, and political sabotage, which especially affect routes outside the Northeast Corridor. Even on tracks it owns, Amtrak faces obstacles from global suppliers and political opposition, leaving American passenger rail hamstrung by systemic dysfunction rather than mere inefficiency.

Regional Highlights

Europe:

• 🇵🇱 PKP PLK has begun preparatory works on the final upgrade phase of the Warsaw–Lublin rail line between Warsaw Wawer and Otwock, aiming to complete the modernisation by 2028.

• 🇫🇷 Île-de-France Mobilités has ordered 96 additional RER Nouvelle Génération trains for the RER D line, investing EUR 2.1 billion to modernise services, with all units expected to be in operation by 2029 to improve capacity, comfort, and punctuality.

• 🇬🇧 Siemens Mobility has broken ground on a GBP 100 million rail technology facility in Chippenham, UK, set to open in 2026, focusing on advanced rail signalling and control systems, and expected to employ around 800 people.

• 🇬🇧 Network Rail has awarded GBP 1.1 billion in contracts to four suppliers for the provision of around 70 On Track Machines to maintain 20,000 miles of the UK’s railway network, with the contract running from April 2025 to 2033.

• 🇲🇩 Moldova and Romania are set to reopen the 1.8 km Falciu-Cantemir rail bridge by May 2025 after 15 years, with dual-gauge tracks to enhance freight flows, boost EU integration, and strengthen regional connectivity, backed by EU financing and Moldova's westward pivot.

• 🇫🇷 Alstom has announced a EUR 150 million investment to expand Avelia train production in France, including new assembly lines, advanced technologies, and facilities, which is expected to create 1,000 jobs and strengthen the company's industrial base to meet the growing demand for very high-speed trains.

• 🇪🇸 Kontron Transportation Spain has been awarded a EUR 20 million contract by Adif to deploy GSM-R coverage and provide maintenance services for the Medina del Campo–Orense conventional line, enhancing railway safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

• 🇩🇪 The German DB Cargo’s single wagonload freight service is facing potential shutdown after posting a EUR 350 million loss in 2024, with EU regulations requiring profitability by 2026 and a reduction of 5,000 jobs planned by 2029 to help meet financial targets.

• 💂 🥐 FS Group plans to launch a London-Paris high-speed train service by 2029 with an investment of EUR 1 billion, as part of its 2025-2029 strategic plan to enhance European rail competitiveness, while expanding its presence across key corridors and exploring further high-speed rail extensions.

• 🇵🇱 Poland has invested EUR 180 million into rail freight, funding 17 projects including intermodal terminals and zero-emission trains.

• 🇷🇴 Greenbrier is closing its Arad wagon factory due to rising costs and outdated infrastructure, leaving 800 employees jobless, while shifting focus and investment to its other Romanian sites in Caracal and Turnu Severin.

Aisa:

• 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia is set to extend its very-high-speed train supply contract with Talgo, potentially adding 20 new trains worth around EUR 800 million, which would significantly boost Talgo's portfolio.

• 🇲🇾 Malaysia’s Perlis Inland Port aims to become a strategic land-based trade hub for Southeast Asia, offering a faster and more stable rail alternative to disrupted global shipping routes by linking regional rail networks to Europe and China.

• 🇲🇾 For the first time, Indian Railways has indigenously manufactured a 9,000 HP electric locomotive at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, marking a major milestone in its engineering capabilities and "Make in India" initiative.

• 🇰🇼 Kuwait has awarded an USD 8.1 million design consultancy contract to Turkey’s Proyapi for the first 111 km phase of its GCC rail link, marking the start of its contribution to the 2,177 km transnational railway connecting Gulf countries by 2030.

North America:

• 🇺🇸 A Minnesota state watchdog report criticised the USD 2.9 billion Southwest light-rail project for poor oversight, cost overruns, and lack of transparency, prompting bipartisan frustration but little action toward reforming the unelected Metropolitan Council overseeing it.

• 🇺🇸 Sierra Northern Railway has completed trials of its first four-axle hydrogen shunting locomotive, aiming to replace diesel units that each consume around 50,000 gallons annually, potentially cutting over 12 million gallons of diesel use and 16,000 tonnes of emissions per year across California’s short-line fleet.

• 🇺🇸 The U.S. Department of Transportation has cancelled a USD 63.9 million grant for the Texas High-Speed Rail project due to rising costs and increasing federal dependence, allowing Amtrak to redirect resources toward improving its existing services.

Automation Jorney

🤖 Trains in Europe Autonomous train technology is transforming European rail systems, with AŽD’s successful demonstration of Europe’s first autonomous train with passengers on the Kopidlno–Dolní Bousov line. The project, showcasing advanced AI and sensor technology, represents a significant milestone in open landscape rail operations. It aims to reduce human error, increase safety, and boost operational efficiency.

Key Benefits:

• Enhanced safety through autonomous systems and real-time data analysis.

• Reduced human intervention, lowering the risk of operational errors.

• Increased potential for integrating AI into conventional lines by 2030.

Real-World Examples:

• Czech Republic: AŽD's autonomous train operates in regular passenger service with AI-driven navigation and monitoring.

• Switzerland: Swiss Federal Railways plans to integrate similar autonomous technologies for increased service reliability.

Why It Matters: 

Autonomous trains hold the potential to revolutionize European rail transport by improving efficiency and safety while supporting sustainability efforts in the sector. This move signals the future of rail transport in Europe, aligning with broader goals of reducing carbon footprints and enhancing technological capabilities in conventional rail systems.

Statistics of the Week

• The US Norfolk Southern’s new RailGreen programme enables customers to cut freight emissions by up to 100%, building on rail’s existing 75% lower emissions compared to trucking and offsetting the remaining 25% through certified biofuel use, tracked via blockchain and third-party verified.

• By 2029, competition on the London–Paris rail route could slash ticket prices by up to 30% and help triple annual passenger numbers to 35 million, as new entrants like Italy’s Ferrovie dello Stato and Virgin challenge Eurostar’s 30-year monopoly with over EUR 1.7 billion in planned investments and fleet expansions.

• A Eurobarometer survey found that 73% of European citizens find booking multiple connecting trains easy, and 61% find booking multimodal journeys simple, with only 9% and 5% respectively citing difficulty due to not being able to buy all tickets in one place.

Upcoming Events

• 📍NT Expo | April 22–24, 2025 | São Paulo, Brazil 

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

• 📍Sydney Build Expo | May 7–8, 2025 | Sydney, Australia 

• 📍Africa Rail | May 13–14, 2025 | Johannesburg, South Africa

• 📍Railway Interior Innovation Summit USA | May 20–22, 2025 | Florida, USA

• 📍Railway Interchange | May 20–22, 2025 | Indianapolis, USA

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

• 🌐 Smart Transportation Conference & Exhibition | May 30, 2025 | Virtual

• 📍International Railway Summit | June 3–5, 2025 | Vienna, Austria

• 📍Global Stainless Steel Expo | June 4–6, 2025 | Mumbai, India

• 📍Rail Business Days | June 10–12, 2025 | Czech Republic

• 📍UITP Summit | June 15–18, 2025 | Hamburg, Germany 

• 📍Rail Safety Week | June 16–22, 2025 | UK 

• 📍Critical Communications World | June 17–19, 2025 | Dubai, UAE 

• 📍Rail Live UK | June 18–19, 2025 | Warwickshire, UK 

• 📍Eurasia Rail | June 18–20, 2025 | Istanbul, Turkey 

• 📍SIFER | June 24–26, 2025 | Lille, France 

• 📍APTA Rail Conference | June 29 – July 2, 2025 | San Francisco, USA

Spotlight on Influential Voices

• #️⃣ Philip Haigh is a freelance railway writer and former deputy editor at RAIL magazine, specialising in news, analysis, and commentary on the railway industry.

• #️⃣ Paul Clifton is a Transport Correspondent for BBC South, having covered the sector from 1993 to 2025, based in Wiltshire.

• #️⃣ Noel Dolphin is an advocate for electrification and public transport, dedicated to building a sustainable business and transport network.

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