Civil unrest in Hong Kong has had a sizable impact on the railways, with metro stations owned by Mass Transit Railway (MTR) bearing much of the brunt. We ask how recent protests and the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak have affected MTR's operations.

We also discover current obstacles to the Bi-Oceanic Railway Integration Corridor project set to link Peru and Brazil, and highlight DHL’s contribution to the New Silk Road project with its new fast rail freight service between China and Germany.

Also in this issue, we find out how UAVs can assist with infrastructure monitoring operations; discuss how the EU could help boost the number of female employees across European railways; and speak to a ‘rail pastor’ about his experiences assisting vulnerable people on platforms across the UK.

Joe Baker, editor