Interview Schavemaker sets its sights on Poland service expansion: “It’s a proven solution”

Dutch company Schavemaker Logistics is aiming for an expansion of its Netherlands – Poland rail service. After boosting the route’s frequency to five weekly round-trips…
infrastructure upgraded BLS completes Lötschberg Summit Tunnel modernisation

The modernisation of the Lötschberg Summit Tunnel is finally completed after six years of work, BLS said. “The tunnel can now be used continuously on…
new terminal coming soon Open Modal in exclusive negotiations with SNCF Réseau to acquire rail terminal

French company Open Modal, is understood to be in exclusive negotiations with SNCF Réseau to acquire and modernise the existing road-rail combined transport terminal located…
Compromise proposal Hungarian EU Council presidency puts forward new combined transport definition

The Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union has proposed a new definition of combined transport. There is a lot of disagreement about…
new terminal Medway inaugurates new terminal on Spain-Portugal border

MSC’s rail freight arm Medway started operating a new terminal in Badajoz, located on the Spanish border with Portugal. “This terminal allows the operation of…
no time to lose ‘Lobby the government now’ says GB’s Rail Freight Group

The Rail Freight Group, Britain’s representative body for the sector, says it’s time to renew the concerted lobby of elected representatives in support of growth.…
Debt or infrastructure? German industry disagrees on how DB Schenker billions should be spent

The sale of DB Schenker has made headlines, and the two-year long sale saga has now come to an end. However, disagreements on the aftermath…
Fourth port in Poland Polish Police port upholds rail freight

One would not normally expect the police to boost rail freight, and that is not the case here either. It is its namesake, the Polish…
sounding the alarm Fermerci proposes 10 measures to save Italian sector from ‘disastrous crisis’

Between extreme weather, infrastructure closures and subsidies being cut, the Italian rail freight sector is running the risk of entering a disastrous crisis. The sector…

Business

Privatisation Operail goes private with real estate company Tiigi Keskus

There is a purchase and sale agreement for Estonian national rail operator Operail. It is Tiigi Keskus, an Estonian real estate company that also owns…
optimistic predictions German Ministry predicts significant rail freight growth by 2040

The German Ministry of Transport presented its rail traffic forecast for 2040, showing significant optimism especially when it comes to freight. Concerning total tonnes transported,…
disappointment for rail lobby UK: A massive budget but taxing for trains

The UK Budget, delivered today (30 October), was a series of firsts. It was the first by the new government, elected just over three months…
Restructuring No cash for severance payments at PKP Cargo

Amid a financial crisis at the company, Polish national rail freight operator PKP Cargo found itself forced to lay off thousands of its employees to…
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In Depth

Delay or no delay? Fehmarnbelt tunnel’s rail freight traffic could be delayed until a decade from now

The Fehmarnbelt tunnel is supposed to provide a shortcut to rail freight traffic, alongside road traffic, from Germany into Scandinavia. The grand opening of the…
optimistic predictions Survey of French shippers highlights strong growth potential of rail freight

A major study of the development of rail freight in the industrial and agricultural sectors in France has concluded that there is the potential for…
Establishment of Carpatica Feroviar Romania’s controversial plan to save state rail freight

CFR Marfă, Romania’s state-owned rail freight operator, will soon be liquidated following bankruptcy. In its place will now come a new state-owned operator by the…
big changes ahead? ‘Block train and single wagonload businesses in Switzerland need to be separate’

Rail freight in Switzerland is currently undergoing a total revision of the Freight Transport Act, which was recently adopted by the country’s Council of States.…
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Asia-Europe

Locomotives left lingering Russian Railways: ‘We are using our capabilities in overheat mode’

Problems on the Russian railway network seem to be persistent and worsening. Reportedly, there are more and more locomotives being left unused, all the while…
American rail business in Kazakhstan Wabtec’s rolling stock business in Kazakhstan goes beyond 400 million dollar deal

Besides the recently announced 400 million dollar deal with Kazakh Railways (KTZ), American rail technology company Wabtec is delivering more rolling stock to the rail…
Major investment from Abu Dhabi Ports Kazakh Kuryk port to get various new terminals

The Kazakh Port of Kuryk, on the Caspian Sea coast, will get three new terminals. They are supposed to be ready by 2027, and Abu…
Locomotives from Wabtec KTZ to get locomotives worth 400 million dollars from Wabtec

Wabtec, an American rail technology company, will deliver locomotives to Kazakh Railways (KTZ) valued at 405 million dollars. KTZ is currently renewing its locomotive fleet,…
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Intermodal

balkan connections RCG launches another service through Serbian subsidiary

Austrian rail freight operator Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is launching a new service through its recently established Serbian subsidiary. The service will connect Serbia’s capital…
rail-port synergies Spain launches two feasibility studies to boost rail freight in A Coruña port

The Spanish ministry of transport began two feasibility studies concerning the port of A Coruña, in the northwest of the country. One of the studies…
boosting combined transport France’s master plan for combined transport highlights need for more terminals

France has published a “national master plan” for combined transport. Drawn up by the State Directorate-General for Infrastructure, Transport and Mobility (DGITM), in close collaboration…
modal shift tests Volkswagen to start EcoDuo-rail intermodal pilot between Germany and Spain

A new intermodal pilot project to move Volkswagen products between Germany and Spain will start in 2025. The initiative, led by the German Association of…
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Policy

file: greening freight package European associations ask for more concreteness over Greening Freight Package

The Greening Freight Package remains a significant initiative for the European Union. One of its pillars, the Combined Transport Directive, is however once again in…
rail revolution? MPs in France push to connect all logistics sites to the railways

A French Parliamentary bill aimed at developing rail freight has been tabled by a group of MPs which, if passed into law, would oblige all…
subsidy dilemma Italy opens application for this year’s subsidies, but still hasn’t paid last year’s

The Italian Ministry of Transport has opened applications for the 2024/25 Ferrobonus incentive, one of the main measures to support the country’s rail freight sector.…
bye bye billions? Is the French 100-billion-plan for rail in jeopardy?

A French State programme to invest 100 billion euros in rail transport up until 2040 could hit the buffers as a consequence of State budgetary…
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Technology

New technology Öresund bridge gets rail maintenance-reducing pilot

The Öresund bridge between Denmark and Sweden is the site of a pilot project that is supposed to reduce maintenance on the rail tracks. With…
Two containers on a single wagon Kazakhstan tests double-stack container load

Kazakh Railways (KTZ) has tested a service with a double-stack container load. Its freight subsidiary KTZ Express cooperated with wagon manufacturer Ziksto (ЗИКСТО) to make…
memorandum of understanding Nevomo continues international expansion with Etihad Rail partnership

Nevomo, a tech company developing magnetic levitation concepts for rail freight, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Etihad Rail. The Poland-based company will explore the…
digitalisation Azerbaijan Railways boosts safety and digitalisation of local railway system

Within this framework, on 4 October, an executive of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) attended the 5th Eurasian Forum on Transport Safety and Digitalization, held in Almaty…
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Infrastructure

rail-port synergies Slovenian Parliament gives final approval for Divača-Koper doubling

The Slovenian Parliament officially approved the project to double the Divača-Koper railway line. Construction works for the second track leading into the country’s largest port…
rail at a standstill Valencia remains logistically isolated due to extreme weather conditions

The east of Spain is currently experiencing extreme weather conditions, especially in the area of Valencia. The events have already claimed dozens of lives, caused…
Rail overhaul ‘Freight to be primary beneficiary of 6 billion euros in Croatian investments’

Croatia is planning to invest a record 6 billion euros in its railway infrastructure during the coming decade. Its infrastructure manager, HŽ Infrastruktura, says that…
new terminal coming soon Bow bells ring for east London rail hub

The London Olympics of 2012 is still developing, and rail freight is the last medal winner. The UK infrastructure agency Network Rail has been given…
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