Frecciarossa testing begins in Germany and Austria
Trenitalia has begun test running its Frecciarossa high-speed trains in Germany and Austria, ahead of the planned launch of services between Italy and München in summer 2027.
The tests form part of the international homologation process being carried out in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB. Specially equipped Frecciarossa trains are currently being tested on the Berlin–München–Kufstein route in Germany, as well as between Kufstein and the Brenner Pass and between Salzburg and Wien in Austria.
The initial commercial service will comprise four connections between Milano and München and between Roma and München. The Milano–München journey is expected to take around six and a half hours, with calls at Brescia, Verona, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano and Innsbruck. Roma–München services will take around eight and a half hours, calling at Firenze, Bologna, Verona, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano and Innsbruck.
The opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel is expected to reduce journey times by around an hour.
The international project requires the trains to operate with different power supply and signalling systems, with Trenitalia and Deutsche Bahn sharing technical expertise to support the approval process. German and Austrian driving staff are also receiving training.
A further expansion is planned for December 2028, when the international Frecciarossa network is intended to include ten connections between Italy and Germany, with services extended to Napoli and Berlin.
The Frecciarossa already operates internationally to France and Spain, while the new services will mark its entry into Germany and Austria.
Nightjet tickets for 2027 now on sale
ÖBB has opened advance sales for Nightjet services in the 2027 timetable, with tickets now available up to 360 days before travel. The new booking window gives passengers considerably more time to plan journeys than the standard 180-day advance sales period for other ÖBB tickets.
Timetable information for Nightjet services is already included in ÖBB's SCOTTY journey planner, although ÖBB warns that planning for the timetable year beginning December 13 is not yet complete. Services may therefore be changed, cancelled or added, while departure and arrival times may still be revised.
Early bookers can also access Sparschiene fares. Examples include Vienna–Amsterdam and Innsbruck–Amsterdam from €34.90 in a seated carriage, while couchette berths and Mini Cabins start at €54.90. Sleeping-car accommodation is available from €89.90.
The 360-day booking window currently applies only to ÖBB Nightjet services; advance sales for other ÖBB tickets will continue to open up to 180 days ahead, with regular sales for the 2027 timetable beginning in autumn 2026.
TrainTracker24 launches European passenger train tracking map
A new free website, TrainTracker24, allows users to follow passenger trains on a live map, with information about routes, delays and disruptions.
Launched at the end of August, the service initially covers France, Spain and Belgium, together with a selection of international services operated by Eurostar, Renfe, DB and Trenitalia.
TrainTracker24 does not rely on a single positioning system. Instead, it combines timetable information with operational data and other publicly available datasets to estimate where trains are. In France, for example, it uses data published by SNCF and SNCF Réseau. The position shown on the map is recalculated roughly every 15 seconds, taking account of delays, stops and changes to the train's running.
The information available varies between countries, with the developers saying that GPS data is available for some services in Spain.
As well as showing individual trains on a map, the site provides information about delays and disruptions, along with statistics on rail traffic and infrastructure.
TrainTracker24 plans to expand its coverage, although comprehensive live tracking remains difficult because railway operational data is not standardised across Europe.
Poland’s Grandma returns to service
Poland’s oldest electric multiple unit still carrying passengers is returning to service after repairs. Train EN57-038, nicknamed Babcia (‘Grandma’), was built by Pafawag in Wrocław in May 1963. Now operated by Koleje Mazowieckie, it will return to passenger service on the short Tłuszcz–Mostówka route, north-east of Warszawa.
The unit originally worked in southern Poland, including services around Kraków, Tarnów, Nowy Sącz and Sucha Beskidzka, before moving to Mazovia in 2003.
EN57-038 has naturally received several overhauls during its long career. The latest work included repairs and upgrades to its CCTV and toilet systems, with the latter now operating as a closed system rather than discharging onto the track. The train also retains the yellow and blue livery restored in 2022.
The type EN57 was produced in large numbers by Pafawag between 1961 and 1993, with 1,429 units built. Many remain in service, but EN57-038 is the oldest still operating in passenger service.
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