The COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted economies around the world as it has forced people’s daily lives to a grinding halt. The coronavirus outbreak is reasonably expected to have lasting impacts on our individual behaviour and lifestyle, particularly on the way we work, consume and travel. In regard to the latter, transport and mobility are at the epicentre of the immediate and long-term challenges posed by the global health crisis. From urban traffic to international trade flow, bustling movement has given way to hushed calm. Many countries have closed their borders and imposed curfews – resulting in sharp reductions in transport demand at both the local and continental level.

The UK’s High Speed 2 (HS2) has commenced the search for a specialist contractor to deliver the signalling and control systems that will help in the operation of the rail service.

Alstom first announced on 17 February 2020 that it intended to acquire Bombardier Transportation and had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bombardier Inc. and Caisse de dépôt du Québec to that effect.

The first test run with the top speed of 275km/h took place in the Ceneri Base Tunnel on the night of 30 April–1 May.

HS2 has launched its search for specialist contractors to deliver the project’s 280km high-speed railway track.

InnoTrans 2020, which was due to take place in September this year, had to be postponed because of restrictions on large gatherings as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

GWR, Bombardier, DB Cargo, the DfT, Heathrow Airport and Porterbrook worked together to test the European Train Control System (ETCS) on the Class 387 electric multiple units on the mainline between Reading and Heathrow.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the fact that the Berlin Senate issued a decree on 21 April 2020 banning events with more than 5,000 people until 24 October 2020, InnoTrans 2020, which was due to take place in September, has been postponed.

The US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has launched a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.

Following the German government’s decision that all large-scale events in the country are forbidden from taking place until at least 31 August, what does this mean for InnoTrans 2020?