Today's Railways Europe
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The leading monthly magazine covering the European railway scene. Published on the fourth Monday of every month.
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DB Cargo UK has agreed to sell 25 Class 66 diesel locos to Romanian rail freight operator Grup Feroviar Român. The first loco, 66014, is due to leave the UK at the end of January and all 25 locos will be delivered to Romania by mid-2028.
Photo: DB Cargo
Photo: DB Cargo
January 19, 2026 at 10:40 AM
DB Cargo UK has agreed to sell 25 Class 66 diesel locos to Romanian rail freight operator Grup Feroviar Român. The first loco, 66014, is due to leave the UK at the end of January and all 25 locos will be delivered to Romania by mid-2028.
Photo: DB Cargo
Photo: DB Cargo
Irish Rail has placed a €173.9 million order with Alstom for 20 additional 5-car X'Trapolis EMUs to replace the ageing 1500 V DC 8100 Class EMUs on Dublin's DART suburban network.
An article on the expansion of the DART network will be published in the February 2026 issue of Today's Railways Europe.
An article on the expansion of the DART network will be published in the February 2026 issue of Today's Railways Europe.
December 22, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Irish Rail has placed a €173.9 million order with Alstom for 20 additional 5-car X'Trapolis EMUs to replace the ageing 1500 V DC 8100 Class EMUs on Dublin's DART suburban network.
An article on the expansion of the DART network will be published in the February 2026 issue of Today's Railways Europe.
An article on the expansion of the DART network will be published in the February 2026 issue of Today's Railways Europe.
The first of 22 Stadler FLIRT regional multiple units for CP has arrived in Portugal. Designated Class 2700, the fleet of 12 EDMUs and 10 EMUs are the first new trains to be delivered to CP for nearly two decades. The units are expected to enter passenger service from the second half of 2026.
December 19, 2025 at 9:21 PM
The first of 22 Stadler FLIRT regional multiple units for CP has arrived in Portugal. Designated Class 2700, the fleet of 12 EDMUs and 10 EMUs are the first new trains to be delivered to CP for nearly two decades. The units are expected to enter passenger service from the second half of 2026.
Czech open-access passenger operator Leo Express is to launch a new service linking Frankfurt (Main) Airport with Przemyśl on the Poland-Ukraine border on 25 June. The train will run via Leipzig, Dresden, Praha, Ostrava and Kraków.
December 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Czech open-access passenger operator Leo Express is to launch a new service linking Frankfurt (Main) Airport with Przemyśl on the Poland-Ukraine border on 25 June. The train will run via Leipzig, Dresden, Praha, Ostrava and Kraków.
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) Class RABe 501 Giruno trainsets took over Hamburg–Basel EuroCity services from 14 December, replacing loco-hauled trains formed of SBB stock and further reducing duties for DB Fernverkehr's Class 101 electric locos.
Photo: DB AG/Volker Emersleben
Photo: DB AG/Volker Emersleben
December 15, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) Class RABe 501 Giruno trainsets took over Hamburg–Basel EuroCity services from 14 December, replacing loco-hauled trains formed of SBB stock and further reducing duties for DB Fernverkehr's Class 101 electric locos.
Photo: DB AG/Volker Emersleben
Photo: DB AG/Volker Emersleben
Austria's Koralmbahn was inaugurated on 12 December, with public services on the 130 km high-speed line from Graz to Klagenfurt commencing on 14 December. The centrepiece of the €5.9 billion project is the 32.9 km Koralm Tunnel, Austria's longest railway tunnel.
December 15, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Austria's Koralmbahn was inaugurated on 12 December, with public services on the 130 km high-speed line from Graz to Klagenfurt commencing on 14 December. The centrepiece of the €5.9 billion project is the 32.9 km Koralm Tunnel, Austria's longest railway tunnel.
Dutch start-up GoVolta has launched ticket sales for its new open-access passenger services from Amsterdam to Berlin and Hamburg, which will begin operating in March 2026. The trains will be worked by a Vectron MS locomotive and formed of ex-SNCB Type I10 coaches.
December 9, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Dutch start-up GoVolta has launched ticket sales for its new open-access passenger services from Amsterdam to Berlin and Hamburg, which will begin operating in March 2026. The trains will be worked by a Vectron MS locomotive and formed of ex-SNCB Type I10 coaches.
Bayern passenger rail authority BEG has unveiled a new standardised livery design for regional trains, which will be introduced gradually from the end of 2028. The livery will only be applied to new stock ordered as part of future tenders, starting with the new S-Bahn EMUs for München.
December 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Bayern passenger rail authority BEG has unveiled a new standardised livery design for regional trains, which will be introduced gradually from the end of 2028. The livery will only be applied to new stock ordered as part of future tenders, starting with the new S-Bahn EMUs for München.
Eurostar and DB have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore options for the joint operation of services between London and major German cities such as Köln and Frankfurt. The two companies say they aim to launch services in the early 2030s using Eurostar's new Celestia double-deck trains.
December 4, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Eurostar and DB have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore options for the joint operation of services between London and major German cities such as Köln and Frankfurt. The two companies say they aim to launch services in the early 2030s using Eurostar's new Celestia double-deck trains.
Slovakian state-owned passenger operator ZSSK has awarded a consortium of Škoda Group and ŽOS Trnava a framework contract worth up to €332 million to supply up to 36 battery-electric multiple units. ZSSK plans to order the first 16 trains at a cost of €144 million in 2026.
December 4, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Slovakian state-owned passenger operator ZSSK has awarded a consortium of Škoda Group and ŽOS Trnava a framework contract worth up to €332 million to supply up to 36 battery-electric multiple units. ZSSK plans to order the first 16 trains at a cost of €144 million in 2026.
Škoda has outshopped the first of 25 new Type 7Ev 4-car EMUs ordered by the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications in September 2024. The 160 km/h units are intended for use on inter-city routes and each set will seat more than 300 passengers.
November 24, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Škoda has outshopped the first of 25 new Type 7Ev 4-car EMUs ordered by the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications in September 2024. The 160 km/h units are intended for use on inter-city routes and each set will seat more than 300 passengers.
In the December 2025 issue of Today's Railways Europe OUT NOW: Double-deck trains for Eurostar, 60 years of Class M62 diesels in Hungary, the end of SNCF steam 50 years on, Harz narrow gauge future in doubt, plus 28 pages of news from across Europe. Subscribe today and save: bit.ly/3JV0XtD
November 24, 2025 at 1:19 PM
In the December 2025 issue of Today's Railways Europe OUT NOW: Double-deck trains for Eurostar, 60 years of Class M62 diesels in Hungary, the end of SNCF steam 50 years on, Harz narrow gauge future in doubt, plus 28 pages of news from across Europe. Subscribe today and save: bit.ly/3JV0XtD
More bad news for Channel Tunnel rail freight: DB Cargo's Ditton Junction (Liverpool) to Neuss (Germany) train, carrying aluminium for Novelis, ceased on 26 March, the traffic having been lost to road. The only remaining cross-Channel flows are now French mineral water and Toyota cars from the UK.
March 27, 2025 at 11:43 AM
More bad news for Channel Tunnel rail freight: DB Cargo's Ditton Junction (Liverpool) to Neuss (Germany) train, carrying aluminium for Novelis, ceased on 26 March, the traffic having been lost to road. The only remaining cross-Channel flows are now French mineral water and Toyota cars from the UK.
New open-access operator Gemini Trains has announced plans to launch cross-Channel services in competition with Eurostar. Initial services will be London - Paris/Brussels with further destinations under development.
March 24, 2025 at 9:45 AM
New open-access operator Gemini Trains has announced plans to launch cross-Channel services in competition with Eurostar. Initial services will be London - Paris/Brussels with further destinations under development.
Austrian operator WESTbahn has placed an order with Stadler for three 250 km/h SMILE trainsets. The 11-car multi-system units are due to be introduced on Wien - Graz - Klagenfurt - Villach services via the new Koralmbahn from March 2026.
March 12, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Austrian operator WESTbahn has placed an order with Stadler for three 250 km/h SMILE trainsets. The 11-car multi-system units are due to be introduced on Wien - Graz - Klagenfurt - Villach services via the new Koralmbahn from March 2026.
Netherlands Railways (NS) has unveiled a mock-up of its future Civity Duo high-capacity partially double-deck EMU, 60 of which have been ordered from CAF. The first units are due to enter service in 2029.
March 5, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Netherlands Railways (NS) has unveiled a mock-up of its future Civity Duo high-capacity partially double-deck EMU, 60 of which have been ordered from CAF. The first units are due to enter service in 2029.
In the March 2025 issue of Today's Railways Europe OUT NOW: Big changes for Brussels - Amsterdam services, farewell Fret SNCF, Osijek: a Croatian rail centre, and 29 pages of news from 28 countries. Subscribe and save: bit.ly/3D9cRcB
February 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In the March 2025 issue of Today's Railways Europe OUT NOW: Big changes for Brussels - Amsterdam services, farewell Fret SNCF, Osijek: a Croatian rail centre, and 29 pages of news from 28 countries. Subscribe and save: bit.ly/3D9cRcB
Norwegian state-owned rolling stock company Norske Tog says the introduction of the new Class 79 long-distance multiple units will be delayed from July 2027 until 2028. The delay is due to flood damage at the premises of Constellium, one of Stadler's suppliers for the project.
February 11, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Norwegian state-owned rolling stock company Norske Tog says the introduction of the new Class 79 long-distance multiple units will be delayed from July 2027 until 2028. The delay is due to flood damage at the premises of Constellium, one of Stadler's suppliers for the project.
ÖBB has ordered 30 additional Mireo EMUs from Siemens. The order, which comprises 25 3-car and five 4-car car sets, will take ÖBB's Mireo fleet to 100 units.
February 11, 2025 at 9:31 AM
ÖBB has ordered 30 additional Mireo EMUs from Siemens. The order, which comprises 25 3-car and five 4-car car sets, will take ÖBB's Mireo fleet to 100 units.
Eurostar services between Amsterdam and London resume today with three daily services on weekdays and Sundays and two on Saturdays. The new UK Terminal at Amsterdam Centraal also opens today. Eurostar plans to gradually ramp up capacity on the route to five daily services by 2026.
Photo: Q. Vosman
Photo: Q. Vosman
February 10, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Eurostar services between Amsterdam and London resume today with three daily services on weekdays and Sundays and two on Saturdays. The new UK Terminal at Amsterdam Centraal also opens today. Eurostar plans to gradually ramp up capacity on the route to five daily services by 2026.
Photo: Q. Vosman
Photo: Q. Vosman
ÖBB has released images of the first Class 4706 (Stadler KISS) double-deck EMU for Railjet services. 14 of these 200 km/h 6-car units will enter service on the Vienna–Salzburg route from 2026. Photo: ÖBB
February 7, 2025 at 11:05 AM
ÖBB has released images of the first Class 4706 (Stadler KISS) double-deck EMU for Railjet services. 14 of these 200 km/h 6-car units will enter service on the Vienna–Salzburg route from 2026. Photo: ÖBB
Trenitalia has announced its Paris - Milan service will resume from 1 April with two daily train pairs. A new Paris - Marseille service will also begin operating from 15 June with four daily train pairs. Ticket sales will open in mid March.
January 21, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Trenitalia has announced its Paris - Milan service will resume from 1 April with two daily train pairs. A new Paris - Marseille service will also begin operating from 15 June with four daily train pairs. Ticket sales will open in mid March.
Coming up in the February 2025 issue of Today's Railways Europe ON SALE MONDAY 27 JANUARY: Finland's Class Sr1 electrics, rail freight in Latvia, rebuilding Switzerland's Bulle - Broc line and 30 pages of news from across Europe. Subscribe and save: bit.ly/3D9cRcB
January 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Coming up in the February 2025 issue of Today's Railways Europe ON SALE MONDAY 27 JANUARY: Finland's Class Sr1 electrics, rail freight in Latvia, rebuilding Switzerland's Bulle - Broc line and 30 pages of news from across Europe. Subscribe and save: bit.ly/3D9cRcB