Rail News
14 October 2025. Australia. Long-awaited Mariyung trains start on the Blue Mountains Line
The first intercity Mariyung train has taken to the tracks on the Blue Mountains line, bringing new reliability, safety, and comfort to traveler’s from Lithgow to Sydney. Bound for Central Station, the first Mariyung on the line left Lithgow at 6.24 am Monday. The Blue Mountains Line needed a program of modifications to widen tunnels and expand train platforms to accommodate the Mariyung. The Mariyung fleet will gradually replace the V-Sets that have served the Blue Mountains Line since the 1970s.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
Singapore’s Circle Line MRT will finally achieve a full loop with the opening of three new stations—Keppel (CC30), Cantonment (CC31), and Prince Edward Road (CC32)—slated for the first half of 2026. These stations will fill the current gap between Harbour Front and Marina Bay, improving connectivity for commuters in the city’s southern districts. Keppel MRT station will feature Singapore’s first underground bicycle park with accessible ramps, promoting car-lite travel. Cantonment MRT station, integrated with the conserved Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
Source: Southeast Asia Infrastructure
13 October 2025. Thailand. Thailand fast-tracks key rail projects
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced accelerated implementation of key rail projects following directives from Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. The Quick Win initiatives focus on expediting public service launches for the Lopburi–Pak Nam Pho and Map Kabao–Chira Junction double-track lines, as well as the Thai–China High-Speed Rail contract 4-3. Approved project tenders, including Red Line commuter rail extensions, are being fast-tracked, alongside new project approvals such as the second phase of the southern double-track line from Chumphon–Surat Thani–Hat Yai–Songkhla.
Source: Southeast Asia Infrastructure
13 October 2025. United Kingdom. HS2 celebrates final Birmingham tunnel breakthrough
An enormous machine being used to dig HS2’s Birmingham approach tunnels broke through today, marking the completion of major tunnel excavation between London’s Old Oak Common and the West Midlands. The 125-metre-long tunnel boring machine – named Elizabeth after the 19th-century philanthropist Elizabeth Cadbury – was launched near the Warwickshire village of Water Orton in March 2024. It arrived at Washwood Heath this morning. Two identical machines were used to dig the 3.5-mile-long Bromford tunnel that will carry high-speed trains.
Source: Rail UK
DB ESG has, in collaboration with DB Systemtechnik (DB ST), been appointed to provide Quality Assurance services to Transport for London (TfL) for its new Piccadilly line trains. The company will provide independent quality assurances during the design, building, and testing phases of the new fleet of 94 Siemens Mobility trains. The new fleet will form part of TfL’s Piccadilly Line Upgrade programme. DB ESG is also set to conduct a number of surveillance activities throughout the entire manufacturing process.
Source: Railway News
13 October 2025. Costa Rica. Costa Rica gets $250m EIB loan for electric rail project
INCOFER, Costa Rica's national railway authority, will oversee the project's implementation. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a $250m loan to Costa Rica to finance the development of the country’s first electric train system. The loan, provided through EIB Global, marks EIB’s initial lending operation in Costa Rica and the first in over a decade. It also represents the first time the EIB has partnered with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration and the Green Climate Fund on a project in Costa Rica.
Source: Railway Technology
13 October 2025. India. ADB financing backs Indore metro’s inclusive urban mobility aims
The Asian Development Bank has approved a US$190m loan to support the development of an 8·6 km underground section of the Indore metro project. This seven-station section is scheduled to open by January 2030 to link congested areas of the city with the airport. A multimodal integration study will be conducted to optimise connectivity between the metro and rail, and bus services. There will be internship and training programmes to build capacity among women in the transport sector.
Source: Railway Gazette International
