Private sector surges Private operators gain ground on German market, sector overall loses to trucks

Private operators in Germany have expanded their share of the rail freight market. In 2023, they walked away with 61 per cent of the total…
end of an era Britain’s energy milestone is a landmark for rail freight

In the UK, the home fires are no longer burning. It really is the end of coal. Although rail delivered the last load on 28…
Voting tomorrow Trade union EVG to vote against DB Schenker sale

The Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bahn (DB) is set to meet tomorrow, 2 October, to vote on the sale of its logistics arm DB Schenker…
Sale of the century Deutsche Bahn: ‘DB Schenker sale to CVC would have been illegal’

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is legally obliged to sell DB Schenker to DSV. A decision in favour of contender CVC would have constituted illegal aid, DB…
Trade imbalance Russia drowning in Chinese containers, but rates may grow by 10 per cent

Shortages plague many parts of the Russian rail network, but no such issues exist when it comes to containers. As China exports much more to…
no funds for rail Italy to use ETS carbon credit funds to boost sea-road intermodality

One of the main topics concerning freight transport in Italy has been the deployment of funds coming from the Emission Trading System. Despite pleas from…
Memorandum of cooperation Ukraine and Hungary to work on boosting transport volumes into the EU

Ukraine foresees a growth in EU-bound rail freight traffic in the coming years. In order to streamline a part of its organisation, Ukrainian Railways’ (UZ)…
Trial run China has successfully tested a new driverless freight train

Unmanned trains are not a new thing in Chinese urban rail, but in rail freight they are a novelty. China wants to use the new…
Pau-Canfranc railway Spain proposes alternative to reopen the Somport Tunnel through the Pyrenees

Spain wants to invest around 93 million euros to reopen the Somport Tunnel, a railway tunnel connecting the country with France across the Pyrenees, part…

Business

strikes on the horizon? French labour unions get ready to go on strike over Fret SNCF discontinuity

Four labour unions at France’s State railway continues to call for a moratorium on the discontinuity of Fret SNCF and have brandished the threat of…
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…
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In Depth

rolling stock repurposing UK electric shunter completes field trials

Developers Positive Traction have successfully completed trials with their prototype electric shunter, rebuilt from a successful diesel design dating back to the 1930s. Their first-of-a-kind…
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…
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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

Public versus private Dutch government and rail freight sector do not see eye to eye on DAC

The Dutch state secretary for infrastructure, Chris Jansen, recently attended a Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) demonstration with his German counterpart. Jansen sees potential in the…
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.…
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Technology

Public versus private Dutch government and rail freight sector do not see eye to eye on DAC

The Dutch state secretary for infrastructure, Chris Jansen, recently attended a Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) demonstration with his German counterpart. Jansen sees potential in the…
rolling stock repurposing UK electric shunter completes field trials

Developers Positive Traction have successfully completed trials with their prototype electric shunter, rebuilt from a successful diesel design dating back to the 1930s. Their first-of-a-kind…
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…
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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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