České dráhy changes chief before the vote
CZECHIA: Michal Krapinec leaves as chief executive of state-owned operator České dráhy on 31 August. Transport ministry director Lenka Hamplová takes over on 1 September.
Prague’s city council and the Central Bohemian regional assembly still have to approve the CZK 165.17bn (EUR 6.86bn) contract the operator won. The assembly votes on 7 September.
The Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) is separately reviewing the operator’s order for the EMU 400 trains meant to run the service.
Full story: České dráhy gets new chief days before contract vote
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Won the service. Bought the risk.
State-owned České dráhy beat private challenger RegioJet by CZK 18.5bn (EUR 770m) for thirty years of suburban rail in Prague and Central Bohemia.
The winner must now buy at least 66 new trains to run the service, and two cases sit with the competition authority: a challenge to the train order and a complaint against the 30-year term itself.
A contract of that length settles a market for a generation. It also decides who pays for the trains, and in this tender the answer is the operator.
Full story: The price of winning thirty years in Prague
A regulator’s deadline for Leo Express
CZECHIA: Rail authority Drážní úřad has found deficiencies at open-access operator Leo Express after a series of state supervisions and required supplementary documentation by a deadline that runs out in the week beginning 31 August.
The operator has meanwhile postponed the return of its Talgo fleet again, to 7 September — no set has carried passengers since 31 July.
The supervisions covered Leo Express in its three roles as railway undertaking, vehicle keeper and entity in charge of maintenance.
Full story: Regulator sets Leo Express deadline over Talgo deficiencies
SBB Cargo breaks even — and is merged away
SWITZERLAND: SBB’s freight business closed the first half of 2026 with a CHF 2m (EUR 2.1m) result, which SBB calls its first balanced result in many years.
SBB Cargo AG will be merged into SBB AG on 1 January 2027, ending its status as a separate company. From January the business will be run as a freight division of the parent.
The freight result improved by CHF 49m (EUR 52.2m) against the first half of 2025. The federal government requires freight to be self-financing by 2033.
Full story: SBB Cargo breaks even and is folded back into SBB
Spain moves to make rail freight subsidies permanent
SPAIN: The transport ministry has opened public consultation, running to 21 September, on a draft order for a permanent rail freight subsidy scheme.
The scheme replaces the EU-funded eco-incentive and absorbs the existing compensation for capacity restrictions caused by infrastructure works. The ministry has not stated the amount.
Railpool workshop arm signs 20-year lease at Gothenburg depot
SWEDEN: Jernhusen has signed a 20-year lease with Railpool subsidiary NTT for a new wheel-lathe shop at Fjällbo depot in Gothenburg.
Electrification of the depot area, which has had no overhead wires for 15 to 20 years, is part of the same project, with the shop and the wires due in the second quarter of 2028.
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