Roundup (16 December 2025): The Latest Railway and Train Travel News
This roundup brings you the latest railway and train travel news from Europe and beyond.
From major timetable changes and infrastructure projects to new train services and industry developments, this roundup highlights the stories shaping rail travel today.
** Direct ETS trains to connect Kuala Lumpur with Johor Bahru **
Following the electrification of the entire railway line from Kuala Lumpur south to Johor Bahru, there will now be direct ETS train services between the two Malaysian cities.
Previously, travellers from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru had to change at Gemas from an electric train to a diesel train.
In the near future, direct services along the entire north-south railway line, linking Johor Bahru with Butterworth (for the ferry to George Town on Penang Island) and the Malaysian–Thai border station at Padang Besar, will also be introduced.
** Turkey and Armenia in talks to reopen railway link **
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Turkey has begun talks with the Armenian government on reopening the disused railway line between Kars and Gyumri.
No trains have been running on this railway line since 1993, when Turkey closed its land borders with Armenia following the first Karabakh War.
With Armenia and Azerbaijan having signed a peace agreement last summer, after the Azerbaijanis retook control of Nagorno-Karabakh following the Second Karabakh War in 2020, Armenia and Turkey are now looking to normalise ties.
** GoVolta to launch trains linking Amsterdam to Berlin, Hamburg **
Dutch company GoVolta will launch direct trains between Amsterdam and Berlin, as well as between Amsterdam and Hamburg.
Services to Berlin will begin on 19 March 2026, with the Hamburg route starting the following day.
GoVolta will use second-hand coaches purchased from the Belgian Railways – including a dining car – with Keolis supplying the drivers and conductors to operate the trains.
AndyB says: “This is an interesting addition to rail services in Europe, especially the direct train between Amsterdam and Hamburg, a route that currently still requires a change at Osnabrück.”
** China introduces high-speed freight service **
A new non-stop high-speed freight service has started between Wuhan and Guangzhou in south-eastern China.
This freight service will use standard passenger EMUs, which are used to transport packages, electronics, pharmaceutics, and other essential items.
Packages and other goods are carried in special postal bags, which are placed on passenger seats fitted with a protective cover.
The 984-kilometre route from Hankou station in Wuhan to Baiyun station in Guangzhou takes about 4 hours 30 minutes by high-speed train.
AndyB says: “I wonder if the same could be done in Europe!”
** Temporary closure of the Gotthard Base Tunnel **
From the evening of 11 January 2026 until the early morning of 24 January 2026, engineering work in the Gotthard Base Tunnel will result in around 95 percent of services being diverted via the classic Gotthard railway line through Göschenen.
The temporary closure of the Gotthard Base Tunnel will have the greatest impact on InterCity services between Zurich, Bellinzona, and Lugano, as well as on some onward trains to Italy.
While this allows travellers to enjoy the magnificent views along this scenic route, they should also allow for an additional journey time of around one hour compared with services using the Base Tunnel.
** Belgium expanding domestic train services **
SNCB/NMBS, the Belgian national railway company, has introduced additional train services across the country.
This includes more frequent InterCity services on certain routes, such as between Antwerp and Leuven, Brussels and Leuven, and Brussels and Liège.
AndyB says: “I’m particularly pleased to see enhanced weekend services.
“The reduced weekend timetable was once one of the main issues I highlighted in my Substack on train travel in Belgium.”
** RegioJet to start Prague-Warsaw service **
Private rail operator RegioJet has launched a Prague–Warsaw train service.
This new international RegioJet train will compete with the two daily EuroCity trains on the Prague–Warsaw route operated by České dráhy, the Czech national railway company, in partnership with PKP, the Polish state operator.
RegioJet, a Czech company, has already launched domestic train services in Poland, connecting major cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdansk.