Low risk opportunity to electrify almost all UK rail freight
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport says that there is hardly any risk in making a step-change for British rail freight. The professional association says changing the UK from a predominantly diesel-powered rail freight...Read more
UK government should bet on low-carbon electrified rail freight
The UK government must invest in low-carbon fuels for rail, or will fail in its ambitions for net-zero, warns a new report drawn up by the UK Transport Committee. According to the advisory body, the...Read more
More multi-system electric locomotives to be spotted on this border
Since 5 February, freight trains hauled by multi-system electric locomotives can cross the border between Germany and the Netherlands at yet another point. The border crossing Haanrade – Herzogenrath was upgraded with the German security...Read more
Record for Ukrainian Railways: 470 km of new railway in 2022
In 2022, Ukrainian Railways reconstructed and overhauled 470 kilometres of railway track, and electrified another 82 kilometres, a record for the Ukrainian infrastructure manager. Connections to neighbouring European countries played a key role in its...Read more
Freight will benefit from Midland Main Line upgrade
The British infrastructure agency, Network Rail, is engaged with upgrading the Midland Main Line between London and the cities of Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Sheffield. The work will enhance capacity on the route and eventually...Read more
‘Electrification Germany not fast enough, virtually nothing happened’
The electrification of the rail network in Germany is progressing slowly, while a clear target of 75 percent by 2030 is set. “Virtually nothing has happened in Germany since 2019. Just 61 percent of the...Read more
Aberdeen rail freight could benefit from infrastructure works
It may be styled as Europe’s oil exploration capital and Scotland’s third city by population, but Aberdeen registers lowly on the scale of rail freight activity. However, a programme of works by Network Rail could...Read more
What does the East Coast digitisation mean for UK freight
The announcement that the East Coast Main Line will benefit from a significant digital upgrading has caught the imagination of the rail industry at large. There is a genuine belief that the twenty-first-century signalling system...Read more
The scope of Scotland’s electrification programme
Just before the Jubilee celebrations, the Scottish government in Edinburgh somewhat failed to grab the limelight by announcing a programme of works hailed as the first phase of a rail decarbonisation scheme. The programme concentrates...Read more
Zero-carbon and door-to-door is already happening today
Zero-carbon door-to-door transport is already possible today. The secret lies in combined transport, using rail and, only for short distances, trucking. What is needed? CO2-free power generation, full electrification of rail transport, electrical terminal handling...Read more
Simpson sees bi-mode locomotives as the start of a UK revolution
Regardless of fuel supply, full line speed freight is the dawn of a new era for British Rail freight. Maggie Simpson, the director general of the Rail Freight Group, has welcomed the recently announced arrival...Read more
UK specialists: ‘Growth in rail freight starts with the infrastructure’
Rail freight has rebounded strongly from the pandemic, backed by underlying growth. That is the message from a panel of industry experts debating the sector’s future at a recent round-table in Edinburgh. Rail insiders, industry...Read more
Railway electrification step towards reducing European oil dependency
The discussion on European energy policy is again gaining traction. Transport associations are voicing how rail can be a gamechanger, reducing Europe’s dependence on oil suppliers and fossil fuels.Read more
UK first rail freight electrification trial boosts industry net zero ambitions
The UK’s first retractable electrification system for rail freight has taken the wires to the loading bay. The industry has led the way in meeting the net-zero ambitions set out by government legislation. A public...Read more
Latvian Railways investments leave rail freight out of the picture
Latvian Railways have released a long-term development strategy making clear that rail will be the backbone of the country’s transport sector. The Baltic country’s approach includes several projects; however, it does not leave much space...Read more
Rail freight Canada goes electric
North America, where diesel rules supreme, is about to see a shift in freight haulage hierarchy. One trans-continental carrier is about to break ranks, with a plan to ditch the diesel and bank on batteries....Read more
Fuel crisis: are high electricity prices a problem for rail freight?
The energy and fuel crisis is currently hitting Europe hard. In the rail freight sector, increased electricity prices gave space even to rumours that companies would stop using electric locomotives. How does this situation affect...Read more
Railway decarbonisation just the ticket for G7
The UK can show international leadership by taking decisions on railway decarbonisation this year. That is the message to G7 leaders from the Railway Industry Association, the body representing the supply chain in the UK....Read more
Bigger trains and more capacities on the Rhine-Alpine route for modal shift
Improving rail freight traffic conditions through the Rhine-Alpine corridor is critical in succeeding the modal shift in Europe. Using longer, higher and heavier freight trains on the route is one way to do it. Additionally,...Read more