Martin Koubek crowned RailFreight Ambassador 2023
European Silk Road Summit 2023We have been in search of the next RailFreight Ambassador, and today, at the European Silk Road Summit 2023 in Budapest, the winner was finally announced. We are proud to crown Martin Koubek, Director Silk...Read more
‘Trans-Alpine rail needs more support to get through closures’
The impairment of two major Alpine passages, the Frejus and Gotthard Base Tunnels, has already caused enough trouble to operators, especially from Italy. With the estimated losses from the closure being extremely high, it is...Read more
Pajares Bypass in northwestern Spain is finally open
The Pajares Bypass, connecting La Robla with La Pola in northwestern Spain, is finally open. The new infrastructure stretches along one of the country’s busiest rail freight lines on the TEN-T Atlantic Corridor. Volumes are...Read more
France’s Combronde expands combi hub network
French multimodal logistics company Combronde has expanded its network of combined road-rail hubs with a new facility near Clermont Ferrand, in central France, where it has its headquarters. Located in proximity to the A89 motorway...Read more
TRIG funding triggers 3Squared’s freight PathPlanner project
Railway technology specialists 3Squared, headquartered in Sheffield, have put to good use their award from the UK Government-backed Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) programme. The recently concluded round of applications, which closed last week,...Read more
German Cartel Office also roots for DB’s split into two companies
The argument that Deutsche Bahn should be split into two separate companies–one for infrastructure and one for operations is gaining more support. The Federal Cartel Office, Germany’s national competition regulatory agency, also favours the idea...Read more
‘Common vision is necessary to implement Capacity Regulation’
The Regulation on the Use of Railway Infrastructure Capacity, part of the Greening Freight Package (GFP), remains one of the hottest topics in the European rail freight sector. One of the main issues seems to...Read more
Finland closes all border crossings to Russia but one to be used for rail
The Finnish government has decided to shut down all its eastern border crossings adjacent to Russia. The decision’s implementation starts today, Wednesday, 29 November. Only one gateway will be left open between the two countries:...Read more
Maritime goes shopping for Tesco trains
They have been collaborating for thirteen years, but they have finally come out and made it public. In a move they have both called ‘strategic’, Maritime Transport has officially taken over the rail operations on...Read more
New timetable increases Gotthard Tunnel’s freight capacity on weekdays
SBB will implement timetable changes on 10 December that will affect operations through the impaired Gotthard Base Tunnel. The Swiss national railway company will increase capacity for passenger trains during the weekend. However, it will...Read more
FS Group in the clear following Commission’s investigation
The European Commission (EC) concluded its investigation into the Italian railway holding Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) concerning a possible infringement of State Aid rules between 2000 and 2014. Most of the measures analysed were in...Read more
‘The Middle Corridor can fulfil different but equally valuable roles’
European Silk Road Summit 2023“Here is an idea. Why not make the Middle Corridor a humanitarian corridor to transport essential goods such as food, energy, health (medical, pharmaceuticals etc)? These goods are always and critically needed, and the Middle...Read more
Opening of Algeciras-Zaragoza rolling highway postponed indefinitely
The opening of the new standard gauge rolling highway between Algeciras and Zaragoza, which was expected by the end of 2024, is being postponed indefinitely. The main causes behind this, according to the commissioner for...Read more
England’s Midland Main Line given all clear after landslip scare
A call to Network Rail’s response unit on the afternoon of Monday, 27 November, sounded the alarm for the Midland Main Line. A passing express driver vigilantly notified the infrastructure manager of an unexpected movement...Read more
Strike agenda: Chances are France will avoid impact during holidays
Strikes are the talk of the town, or better of the continent, again. France has been affected by them significantly during 2023. The country and its railway sector will probably avoid another major impact during...Read more
US Agency to develop key Ukrainian freight line to Poland
The United States is getting involved in integrating Ukraine into European railways. According to Ukrainian Railways (UZ), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will help develop the line connecting Lviv to Mostyska, on...Read more