Paul Comfort recently returned from a 10 day tour of public transport in Australia where he was a guest speaker at AusRail, the Australasian Railway Association’s annual conference and met with numerous national rail leaders. From that trip he brings this report.

As passenger expectations continue to evolve in today’s fast-paced, digital-first world, rail operators face increasing pressure to deliver seamless, personalised, and dependable journeys. But how can the industry adapt to keep up with these rising demands?

S-Bahn Hamburg GmbH has signed a contract with Siemens Mobility to deliver advanced train control systems (“On-board units”) for 87 existing trains.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has published its annual report covering the period 1 January to 31 December 2024.

Although a firm start date for repairs to the landslip at the Severn Valley Railway’s Mor Brook bridge remains unknown, huge progress has been made in recent weeks. The railway has also shared details of how the work will be undertaken.

Network Rail has appointed Henry Boot Construction, part of Henry Boot, to build a new sustainable Maintenance Delivery Unit (MDU) in Barnetby, North Lincolnshire.

TransPennine Express’s managing director, Chris Jackson, has been appointed a patron of a charity which provides vital support to those working in the public transport industry.

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has published its response to the Government consultation on rail reform, “A railway fit for Britain’s future”.