🚏Next Stop: Geofencing

Improved safety with alerts for high-risk zones

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RailPulse Tech
March 27, 2025

🚀 Hello, The EU's new Defence Plan highlights rail's importance in military mobility, backed by EUR 150 billion for infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, Europe's rail sector is progressing toward seamless digital ticketing by 2025, improving cross-border travel and passenger rights.

The UIC Sustainability Action Week 2025 focused on decarbonization and inclusive mobility, showcasing initiatives from Renfe and Trenitalia to support sustainability goals in rail.

These developments aim to enhance defense readiness, improve travel experiences, and accelerate sustainable practices across the industry.

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🎖️ Europe’s Defence Plan Puts Rail in the Spotlight 
The EU’s new White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 highlights military mobility as a key priority, emphasizing the critical role of rail in supporting defence readiness. It identifies 500 urgent infrastructure projects, including rail tunnel widening and bridge reinforcement, to enable rapid movement of troops and equipment. Backed by EUR 150 billion under the SAFE Regulation, the plan calls for coordinated investment to enhance defence capabilities and readiness across Europe, addressing critical gaps and strengthening the defence industrial base.

🎟️ European Rail Moves Closer to Seamless Ticketing 
The European rail sector is making steady progress towards seamless digital ticketing, with the CER Ticketing Roadmap guiding improvements aimed at enhancing cross-border passenger experiences by 2025 and 2030. Key developments include wider adoption of the Online Sales & Distribution Model (OSDM) and initiatives like Lithuania’s LTG Link joining the Agreement on Journey Continuation (AJC) to bolster passenger rights. While timelines are largely on track, CER members continue to collaborate with the European Commission to ensure alignment with EU regulations and future multimodal travel integration.

🌻 UIC Sustainability Action Week Sets the Course for 2025 and Beyond
The UIC Sustainability Action Week 2025 gathered over 400 participants from 47 organizations to discuss rail’s role in advancing global sustainability. Key themes included decarbonization, inclusive mobility, and the integration of sustainability into business strategies, with leaders emphasizing rail’s potential to drive the energy transition and support climate goals. The event highlighted successful initiatives, such as Renfe’s sustainability master plan and Trenitalia’s passenger engagement strategies, while stressing the importance of transparency, innovation, and collaboration to accelerate sustainable development in the railway sector.

Regional Highlights

Europe:

  • 🇦🇹 ÖBB Rail Cargo Group has partnered with Pallet Control Tower to digitalize and expand the EUR pallet exchange system globally, improving transparency, efficiency, and compliance with EU regulations.

  • 🇸🇮 Alstom will supply 30 Traxx Universal multisystem electric locomotives to Slovenian Railways – Freight Transport (SŽ-Tovorni promet), supporting freight operations across Central and Eastern Europe.

  • 🇪🇺 EU-Rail has selected five new associated members, including organizations from Spain, Austria, Portugal, and Slovenia, to enhance the European rail sector’s research and innovation capabilities, focusing on climate resilience, AI-driven maintenance, and advanced communication systems to create a more sustainable and competitive railway system.

  • 🇩🇪 Bavaria plans to introduce a fleet of battery-powered tilting trains in the Allgäu and Northeast Bavaria regions, eliminating the need for hydrogen infrastructure and simplifying operational costs, with the new fleet set to replace diesel trains in the early 2030s, supported by necessary infrastructure upgrades.

  • 🇬🇧 Rail Partners, established in 2021 to improve UK railways through public-private partnerships, ceased operations on March 21, 2025, following the government's decision to nationalize train services, leaving unresolved questions about the future of railway performance, cost management, and decentralization under the new framework.

  • 🇷🇴 Romania's Oradea tram-train project is set to begin with EUR 250m in tenders for the 32 km network, incorporating new and existing tram and rail alignments, including electrification and two new branches, with services linking the city to nearby areas, supported by EU financing.

  • 🇧🇬 Bulgaria has awarded Alstom a EUR 448 million contract to supply 35 Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) as part of its railway modernization, with a focus on improving passenger transport and ensuring long-term sustainability, along with 15 years of fleet maintenance.

  • 🇪🇺 Oana Gherghinescu has been appointed as the future Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), as decided by the Agency's Management Board during its 68th meeting on 19 March 2025.

  • 🇺🇦 On 23 March 2025, Ukrzaliznytsia experienced a large-scale cyberattack that disrupted its systems; however, thanks to backup protocols, train services remained on schedule, and the company is currently restoring all systems while conducting thorough testing for vulnerabilities.

  • 🇬🇧 The UK government has rejected plans for a GBP 750 million freight rail hub in Hinckley, Leicestershire, citing concerns over infrastructure capacity, road safety risks, and the potential impact on local communities, despite the project's promise of creating over 8,000 jobs.

Aisa:

  • 🇮🇱 Team 3 Group, comprising Alstom, Electra Group, and Minarv Group, won the tender to construct and operate Israel's Nofit Light Rail, a major project connecting Haifa, Nof HaGalil, and Nazareth, with construction set to begin in 2025 and completion expected in four years, transforming northern Israel's transportation and boosting regional economic growth.

  • 🇲🇾 Malaysia is developing a RM 492 million inland port in Perlis to enhance trade with China and Thailand, integrating it with key rail links to strengthen regional connectivity.

  • The Asian Development Bank's 2025 report highlights the importance of regional integration, particularly in trade and transport, with progress in foreign direct investment and infrastructure corridors, including railways.

North America:

  • 🇺🇸 Florida Fort Lauderdale’s mayor criticized the county’s two-year deadline for building a commuter rail tunnel, calling it unrealistic, and argued that the county has not imposed similar deadlines for the bridge option, while expressing concerns about the impact of both options on the city’s infrastructure.

  • 🇺🇸 County Line Rail has acquired the 40-mile Sabine River & Northern short line in Texas, which connects three Class I railroads, and plans to revitalize it with upgrades to alleviate rail congestion, offering services such as railcar storage, transloading, and Class I access.

  • 🇺🇸 Starting in 2026, the Texas Rocky Mountaineer luxury train will be renamed Canyon Spirit and will expand its route to operate between Denver and Salt Lake City, offering a three-day excursion with overnight stays in Glenwood Springs and Moab.

The Growing Role of Geofencing in Railways

Geofencing technology is increasingly enhancing rail operations by setting virtual boundaries around key locations like stations and maintenance zones. By using GPS and sensor data, geofencing can automate processes, providing real-time updates on train locations, reducing delays, and improving safety.

Key Benefits:

  • Improved safety with alerts for high-risk zones.

  • Increased efficiency through real-time monitoring.

  • Better passenger experience with location-based notifications.

Real-World Examples:

  • Germany: Deutsche Bahn utilizes geofencing to monitor trains and predict delays.

  • France: SNCF has implemented geofencing in maintenance zones to optimize operations.

Why It Matters: 

As the rail sector digitalizes, geofencing is becoming a key tool for creating safer, more efficient systems and enhancing the overall passenger experience.

Statistics of the Week

  • Renfe spends approximately EUR 25 million annually on graffiti removal across Spain’s rail network, cleaning 90,000 square meters of vandalized surfaces, with significant operational impacts and environmental considerations.

  • In 2024, Deutsche Bahn reported operational losses of EUR 330 million, but improved its net result by nearly EUR 1 billion compared to 2023; it also paid EUR 197 million in compensation for delays, following 6.9 million passenger complaints, up from EUR 132.8 million in 2023 and 5.6 million complaints.

  • The Horadiz-Aghband railway, part of the Zangezur Corridor, spans 110.4 km (140.6 km including side tracks) and includes 534 engineering structures. As of the latest report, 83% of the design work and 62% of construction are complete, with 65.6 km of rails installed. The railway is expected to generate USD 3-3.5 billion annually in transit fees if 10-15% of cargo passes through, significantly enhancing Azerbaijan’s economy and regional trade.

Upcoming Events

Spotlight on Influential Voices

  • The Talyllyn Railway, located in Tywyn, Wales, is the world’s first preserved railway and part of the UNESCO-listed Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales, offering a unique historic experience since its founding in 1951.

  • Virtual Railfan, Inc. offers 24/7 HD live streaming of train locations worldwide on YouTube and their website, bringing real-time rail experiences to viewers.

  • Justin, a Eurostar Train Manager, is passionate about ale and photography, sharing occasional tweets when his duties allow.

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