Karel Novak

Karel Novak
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Karel has more than 25 years of experience in news and press media. For many years he was Editor in Chief of Newsroom of Czech National TV Broadcast. As Head of Strategy, Karel is responsible for overal coordination of newsroom team and general content of Railmarket News.
Ivan Bednárik set to become Czech transport minister
Business

Ivan Bednárik set to become Czech transport minister

Ivan Bednárik, a senior rail executive with experience across freight, passenger and infrastructure management, is expected to become the next Czech transport minister. His career spans leadership roles at ČD Cargo, České dráhy and Slovakia’s infrastructure manager ŽSR.

December 15, 2025 · 3 min read
Mount Rigi orders four rack railcars
Rolling Stock

Mount Rigi orders four rack railcars

Stadler has signed a contract with Mount Rigi Railways for four additional rack-and-pinion trains. The order extends the modern fleet to the Goldau–Rigi Kulm line, following earlier deliveries on the Vitznau route.

December 14, 2025 · 2 min read
Austria: ÖBB, Post expand locker network
Business

Austria: ÖBB, Post expand locker network

ÖBB and Austrian Post are launching a programme to install roughly fifty 24/7 parcel lockers at railway stations across Austria. The rollout includes the first off-grid lockers powered by roof-mounted photovoltaic modules.

December 10, 2025 · 2 min read
DB and Eurostar plan direct London–Germany
Passenger Rail

DB and Eurostar plan direct London–Germany

Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Eurostar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore a direct high-speed service between London and major German cities such as Cologne and Frankfurt, with operations targeted for the early 2030s.

December 9, 2025 · 2 min read
ČD expand night network to Ukraine border
Passenger Rail

ČD expand night network to Ukraine border

České dráhy (ČD), the Czech national railway carrier, will introduce a new night service from Prague to Przemyśl from 14 December. The route offers direct access to southeastern Poland and coordinated onward connections to Ukraine.

December 6, 2025 · 2 min read
DB InfraGO cuts board to six divisions
Business

DB InfraGO cuts board to six divisions

The supervisory board of DB InfraGO has approved a major restructuring of the organisation from 1 January 2026, reducing the number of board divisions from eight to six. Several new executives have been appointed to lead key infrastructure and station-related portfolios.

December 4, 2025 · 2 min read
Wabtec buys Frauscher for €675 million
Business

Wabtec buys Frauscher for €675 million

Wabtec has finalized its acquisition of Frauscher Sensor Technology Group, expanding its footprint in train detection and signalling. The Austrian-based company will join Wabtec’s Digital Intelligence division.

December 3, 2025 · 2 min read
SCI: Freight slump hits rolling-stock maintenance
Insights

SCI: Freight slump hits rolling-stock maintenance

A new SCI Verkehr study shows that Europe’s freight-rail crisis has reached the rolling-stock maintenance sector. While the global MRO market continues to grow, European workshops serving locomotives and freight wagons face structural pressure.

December 3, 2025 · 2 min read
RCG adds new Tuzla–Rijeka and Budapest links
Freight Rail

RCG adds new Tuzla–Rijeka and Budapest links

ÖBB Rail Cargo Group has added two new TransFER connections, linking Tuzla with the port of Rijeka and launching a new non-stop route between Budapest and Curtici. Both services strengthen end-to-end transport chains in Central and South-Eastern Europe.

December 3, 2025 · 2 min read
Future Czech PM's company buys Rotterdam ammonia terminal
Business

Future Czech PM's company buys Rotterdam ammonia terminal

Agrofert company, owned by likely future Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš, is acquiring OCI Ammonia Holding B.V. for €290 million. The deal includes Rotterdam’s ammonia import and storage terminal and a Europe-wide distribution platform.

December 1, 2025 · 2 min read
Nymwag completes Indian factory
Freight Rail

Nymwag completes Indian factory

Nymwag has completed construction of a new freight-wagon plant in Kolkata, developed through a joint venture with Texmaco. Trial production starts in November 2025.

December 1, 2025 · 2 min read
Polish Zabrze gets €27.5m intermodal terminal
Infrastructure

Polish Zabrze gets €27.5m intermodal terminal

Zabrze will gain a modern intermodal terminal. CLIP Terminals has signed a contract with the TorKol consortium (the lead contractor), Poleko Budownictwo and GFS Engineering to implement the project at a cost of €27.5 million.

November 27, 2025 · 2 min read
Czech police probe railway contracts
Infrastructure

Czech police probe railway contracts

Czech police investigators (NCOZ) carried out searches at the headquarters of Správa železnic, the Czech state-owned manager of national and regional rail infrastructure. According to Odkryto.cz, the case concerns large railway construction contracts.

November 25, 2025 · 2 min read
PKP Cargo keeps 19% intermodal share
Freight Rail

PKP Cargo keeps 19% intermodal share

PKP Cargo has confirmed its strong position in Poland’s intermodal market, reaching 19.1% by mass and 18.6% by transport performance in H1 2025. The results come during the company’s restructuring process.

November 25, 2025 · 2 min read
MBC orders two hybrid metre-gauge locos
Rolling Stock

MBC orders two hybrid metre-gauge locos

MBC has ordered two additional hybrid metre-gauge locomotives from Stadler for future freight operations on the Bière–Apples–Morges line. The new units are scheduled for delivery in late 2028.

November 25, 2025 · 2 min read
Sector warns: Save Combined Transport
Freight Rail

Sector warns: Save Combined Transport

Leading companies and associations have launched the 'Save Combined Transport' initiative, warning that current rail network disruptions in Germany risk pushing freight back onto the roads. The sector calls for stable conditions, workable diversion routes and fair pricing.

November 24, 2025 · 2 min read
Signalling deal for Madrid–Extremadura HSL
Technology & Innovation

Signalling deal for Madrid–Extremadura HSL

The Hitachi Rail–Sistem consortium has secured a €126.5 million contract to install signalling and traffic management systems on the Talayuela–Plasencia section of the Madrid–Extremadura High-Speed Line. The deal also includes four years of maintenance.

November 24, 2025 · 1 min read
Pioneer DAC project launched
Technology & Innovation

Pioneer DAC project launched

Ten European partners have launched the Pioneer DAC Train (PioDAC) project in Copenhagen, setting up the first large-scale commercial testing of the Digital Automatic Coupler. VERS will manage installation and maintenance monitoring.

November 24, 2025 · 2 min read
Poland probes sabotage on major rail route
Infrastructure

Poland probes sabotage on major rail route

An explosion destroyed part of the Warsaw–Lublin railway line on Sunday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed. Authorities are treating the incident as sabotage, according to reports from Novinky.cz and Reuters.

November 17, 2025 · 2 min read
Siemens and SBB sign major signalling deal
Business

Siemens and SBB sign major signalling deal

Siemens Mobility and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) have signed a framework agreement for the large-scale digitalisation of signalling systems across Switzerland, paving the way for more efficient and resilient rail operations.

November 17, 2025 · 2 min read
Arlanda Express selects SISCOG for operations
Business

Arlanda Express selects SISCOG for operations

A-Train AB, the company operating Sweden’s Arlanda Express service, has selected SISCOG’s integrated planning software to streamline train and staff operations on the Stockholm–Arlanda Airport route.

November 8, 2025 · 2 min read
UIRR warns as EU scraps CT Directive plan
Freight Rail

UIRR warns as EU scraps CT Directive plan

The European Commission intends to withdraw its proposed amendment to the Combined Transport Directive, triggering criticism from UIRR and raising questions about the future of EU intermodal policy.

October 23, 2025 · 2 min read
Hitachi Rail backs key Bulgaria corridor
Infrastructure

Hitachi Rail backs key Bulgaria corridor

Hitachi Rail will provide technical support for the maintenance of signalling systems on the Sofia–Plovdiv–Svilengrad corridor, reinforcing one of Bulgaria’s most strategic rail routes.

October 23, 2025 · 2 min read