Belarus halts high-speed trains after technical faults disrupt key routes

Belarusian Railway has announced an unscheduled inspection of its Stadler EPM-series trains, causing temporary service disruptions. The move follows reports of technical faults in key components, including bogies, brakes and electrical systems. Two major routes will be affected later this month as repairs take place.

The issues were first flagged on 20 February 2026, prompting the railway operator to ground the high-speed units for checks. As a result, services on route No. 733 (Minsk–Brest) and No. 734 (Brest–Minsk) will halt on 22 and 23 February. Tickets for these journeys will no longer be sold through Belarusian Railway's booking systems or ticket offices during the suspension.

While the Stadler trains undergo inspection, older locomotive-hauled carriages will step in to cover the routes. The temporary switch aims to keep passengers moving while engineers address the reported defects in the bogie assemblies, braking systems and electrical fittings.

The suspension comes after technical concerns were raised about the EPM-series fleet. Passengers travelling between Minsk and Brest on the affected dates will now board replacement carriages instead. Belarusian Railway has not yet confirmed how long the inspections will take or when normal service will resume.