Combined transport: moving ahead or backwards?
The legislative piece that assures a harmonised intermodal regulatory framework in Europe is under fire. Although the main aim of opening up this legislation for discussion was to broaden the support for intermodal transport, it...Read more
Intermodal wagon could overtake conventional rail freight unit
Intermodal transport is the optimal interconnector between the modalities for a wide range of cargo types that travel exclusively on road today, said the International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR). The organisation made these...Read moreCombined transport sector rises rapidly, but with aging fleet
The European combined transport fleet is aging and in ten years from now, will need to be upgraded. However, with the technical specifications of the wagons today, this will be a challenge. This is one...Read more
China expects 30 per cent rise of rail freight volumes by 2020
Chinese rail freight trains carried 4.02 billion tonnes of goods in 2018. Volumes grew by 9.1 per cent compared to the previous year. By 2020, China Railway plans to increase this figure up to 4.79...Read more‘Who will be filling the freight trains that Europe wants to have?’
European legislators will begin their trialogue negotiations in the next days to come to a common agreement regarding the amendment of the 27-year-old Combined Transport Directive. These amendments should ensure more harmonised rules for combined...Read more
Russian Railways launches first regular Ro-La train
Federal Freight, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, has launched its first regular Ro-La service. The piggyback train runs once per week on the Novosibirsk-Moscow-Novosibirsk route. Now, the company is exploring opportunities for increasing the frequency...Read more
Harmonisation of combined transport rules in jeopardy
The amendments to the Combined Transport Directive may not be enacted, as the proposal currently on the table is less encouraging to combined transport than existing legislation. Rather than forming harmonised rules, it enables member...Read more
Russian Railways patents new piggyback flatcar
Russian Railways (RZD) is testing new piggyback depressed floor flatcars, expected to run on rails in 2019. Joint-stock company Federal Freight, subsidiary of the Russian railway company and Uralvagonzavod, a Russian manufacturer have obtained the...Read more
‘Do not allow for 44-tonne gross vehicle weight on German roads’
German associations have proposed to allow for 44-tonne gross vehicle weight on all German roads that are ‘the road leg of combined transport chains’. This is objected by lobby organisation UIRR. The permitted weight on...Read more
Romania gambles on Ro-La trains to neighbouring countries
Romanian freight railway company CFR Marfa has intensified its Ro-La transportation activities. The carrier launched two trains for truck transportation this year and intends to continue these initiatives. It has invited neighbouring countries to cooperate.Read more
European Parliament votes on Combined Transport Directive
The Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) of the European Parliament has adopted the amendment of the Combined Transport Directive. Specifications regarding the road leg, as well as other points have been altered. The EU legislation...Read more
Next step towards adopting new Combined Transport Directive
A next step towards an amended Combined Transport Directive was made with the adoption of the progress report by the Transport Ministers of EU Member States. However, the ambitioned deadline for a partial compromise in...Read more