Emirates has broadened its frequent flyer programme, Skywards, to include rail travel on selected European routes. The new Skywards Rail service covers 40 operators in 12 countries, allowing members to use their Miles to purchase rail tickets through a dedicated booking tool available online or via mobile devices in five languages.

Dr Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President for Emirates Skywards, said that members are seeking more flexible ways to use their Miles, and that Skywards Rail represents another step in expanding the programme beyond air travel. Participating operators include Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, Trenitalia, RENFE, ÖBB, and several UK brands such as Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, Thameslink, Great Western Railway and ScotRail, according to railwaygazette.com.

In other supply chain news, assurance and risk management specialist DNV has reported growing business in the rail sector. On August 6, the company announced that it had won significant new business across four continents in the first half of 2026. This includes cybersecurity services for the Santiago de los Caballeros monorail in the Dominican Republic, support for Iarnród Éireann under its Professional Services Framework Agreement to strengthen safety, compliance and quality across the Irish network, and an ongoing project with Seoul Metro in South Korea to implement a Smart Operational Control Centre.

Jorge Aldegunde, Global Head of Railway Services at DNV, said that with railways facing greater cybersecurity threats and increasingly stringent safety requirements, DNV’s role as an independent assurance and advisory partner has never been more relevant. He added that the team’s activity in the first half of 2026 reflects the confidence customers place in the company’s rail expertise.

Tracsis has sold its Events Transport Planning & Management business to UK private capital investment firm Connection Capital for an enterprise value of £7.25m, to be paid in cash on completion. The company said the proceeds would be used to reduce net debt following its agreement to acquire Mistral Data Ltd from FirstGroup, announced on July 29. Tracsis CEO David Frost said the sale represents another significant step in reshaping the group towards a higher-margin, more scalable software business with a growing proportion of recurring revenue.

Daniel Zappa became Chief Executive of Swiss rail production and welding company Schlatter Group on August 1, succeeding Werner Schmidli. Roger Widmer has taken on Zappa’s previous role of Chief Sales Officer.

These developments highlight the ongoing evolution of the global railway supply industry, from loyalty programmes bridging air and rail travel to strategic divestments and leadership changes. The expansion of Skywards Rail reflects a broader trend of integrating rail into multimodal travel offerings, while DNV’s growing portfolio underscores the increasing importance of cybersecurity and safety assurance in modern rail operations.

Tracsis’s sale of its events business aligns with its strategic focus on software and recurring revenue, a move that may signal further consolidation in the sector. Meanwhile, the leadership transition at Schlatter Group brings fresh direction to a company known for its specialised production and welding solutions.

As the industry continues to adapt to new challenges and opportunities, these stories from railwaygazette.com provide a snapshot of the dynamic forces shaping rail supply chains worldwide.