Alstom

Virgin revealed a mock-up of its cross-Channel train, saying interiors and onboard services will draw on its airline, cruise and hotel brands. The group has ordered 12 trains from Alstom and aims to launch London-to-continent services in 2030, positioning itself as the first competitor to Eurostar in the Channel tunnel market. Track access in the UK is secured until at least 2040 and Virgin will maintain the fleet at Temple Mills depot, with plans to integrate rail services with Virgin Atlantic routes. The move faces competition from other entrants such as Trenitalia, which is also expanding cross-Channel high-speed services. » Plus sur theguardian.com

The delivery of the 34 new double-deck regional trains for the Expresskreuz Bremen–Lower Saxony has been delayed for the seventh time; deliveries are now due to begin in 2028. Alstom cites material shortages and unforeseen challenges in the production and approval process as reasons. DB Regio has been tasked with preparing a replacement plan, and LNVG says it will aim to avoid timetable cancellations despite the delays. » Plus sur finanzen.net

Alstom converted an S‑Bahn of class 423 for Remote Train Operation (RTO) and in demo runs between Hennigsdorf and Berlin showed how a driver can operate trains remotely from a control console. The solution currently uses public 5G networks, is designed for depot speeds up to 30 km/h and is expected to make personnel organization about 25% more efficient. Technical limitations remain (safety driver on board, limited bandwidth for video transmission) and the FRMCS/GSM‑R successor is not yet standardized. » Plus sur heise.de