Passenger Rail Weekly Review: July 27–August 2, 2026

INTERNATIONAL: This concise weekly review presents a selection of passenger rail news published from July 27 to August 2, 2026: new trains, station access, network upgrades and international services.

Rolling Stock and Fleet Renewal

Taiwan’s N700ST Fleet Enters the Delivery Phase

Taiwan’s high-speed fleet renewal moved from manufacturing to delivery when the first 12-car N700ST set left Hitachi’s Kasado Works. It is the first of 12 trainsets, totalling 144 cars, intended to lift peak-period capacity by about 25%. Each set is designed for 300 km/h commercial operation, with all 12 scheduled to enter commercial service by the end of 2028.

VIA Rail Secures Investment for Hybrid Traction

Canada committed CA$1.95 billion to 45 Stadler battery-diesel locomotives and a new Montreal assembly and maintenance facility. Up to 36 locomotives are planned for final assembly in Canada, while the fleet will be backed by a 20-year technical support and spare-parts agreement. The July announcement did not set a delivery or passenger-service date, leaving the replacement timetable for VIA Rail’s older long-distance traction open.

G Class Rollout Starts on Melbourne Route 59

Melbourne placed its first G Class tram into passenger service on Route 59, beginning a 100-vehicle rollout under an A$1.85 billion fleet and infrastructure programme. Each 25-metre low-floor tram can carry up to 150 passengers, around twice the capacity of the Z and A Class models it will replace. Further deployment is planned across Routes 57, 82, 12, 48 and 58 as deliveries and training progress.

Domestic EMUs Take Over Edirne–Istanbul Services

Turkiye deployed domestically produced EMUs on the Uzunköprü–Halkalı corridor on July 22, replacing the locomotive-hauled regional formation used for almost two decades. Each five-car train carries 322 seated passengers and two wheelchair users, with a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h. The deployment is the fleet’s first regular use beyond the Adapazarı–Gebze route.

Korail Programme Clears Pre-Feasibility Review

Korail’s next high-speed fleet programme passed government pre-feasibility review, covering 49 16-car EMU-320 trainsets worth about 5 trillion won. The initial order for 28 sets is expected in 2027, with deliveries from 2032. The new trains are planned to offer about 1,000 seats and 320 km/h operation, replacing 46 KTX-I sets with 955 seats and a 300 km/h limit.

Stations, Corridors and Service Changes

Park Avenue Structural Work Ends Ahead of Plan

New York’s Park Avenue Viaduct reached structural completion 60 months early and $195 million below its original budget while Metro-North services continued to run. The $765 million programme replaced or rehabilitated 196 bridge structures and more than 12,600 feet of rail. Non-structural work remains under way through September 2027 on a route carrying about 750 trains and 260,000 passengers each day.

Cambridge South Posts an Early Ridership Milestone

Cambridge South recorded more than 110,000 journeys in its first month, providing an early usage measure for the £250 million station serving the Biomedical Campus. The station offers up to nine trains an hour towards central Cambridge and direct links including London, Birmingham and Stansted Airport. The Department for Transport expects annual demand of around 1.8 million passengers.

Okehampton Gains a Second Dartmoor Line Station

Okehampton Interchange opened on August 1 as a second Dartmoor Line access point, around 2.2 km east of the town’s existing station. The £18 million facility has a 100-metre step-free platform, about 200 parking spaces, cycle storage and a covered bus interchange. Hourly trains call at both Okehampton stations, so the new stop adds access without replacing the town-centre station.

Passenger Trains Return to the Dombóvár–Komló Corridor

Passenger trains returned to the Dombóvár–Komló corridor on August 1 after a three-year suspension. Single-car Bz diesel units now run to a broadly two-hour pattern outside the peaks, completing the trip in 42 minutes—eight minutes faster than the replacement bus. Reopening preparations included ballast cleaning and alignment across more than 18 km, plus repairs to roughly 6,500 sleeper fastening points.

Eurostar Schedules Direct Outbound Trains to Antwerp

Eurostar will add four daily direct London-to-Antwerp departures from December 14, cutting the scheduled journey to 2 hours 41 minutes and eliminating the Brussels transfer for outbound passengers. The new trip is 34 minutes quicker than the current itinerary. Direct return trains are not planned because Antwerpen-Centraal lacks the UK border and customs facilities required for departures to London.