‘Weights and Dimensions Directive ensures intermodal compatibility’
File: Greening Freight Package With the EU Commission’s proposal for the revision of the Combined Transport Directive (CTD), the Greening Freight Transport Package (GFTP) is now complete and ready to undergo the needed procedures before becoming official. The GFTP...Read more
Modalis: ‘Locomotives scarce for operators taking over Fret SNCF’
INTERVIEWThe potential repercussions from the ‘economic discontinuity’ plan for Fret SNCF and the prospect of market recovery after what has been a forgettable 2023 are pressing topics in the French rail freight market. In an...Read more
CT Directive revision: ‘Not a panacea, but work in progress’
File: Greening Freight Package The EU Commission has unveiled its combined transport Directive revision proposal, closing the cycle it opened in July when publishing the proposals of the Greening Freight Transport Package (GFTP). The sentiment following the announcement is...Read moreCombined Transport: some notes in view of the Directive’s revision
File: Greening Freight Package EU legislators are moving closer to publishing the revised Combined Transport Directive (CTD). It is a matter of a few days before it becomes public, and the industry awaits to see what changes it could...Read more
Romania to double Ukrainian grain transit capacity by the end of 2023
The Romanian and Ukrainian prime ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding a few days ago, targeting the doubling of transit capacity for Ukrainian grain using Romanian rail and port infrastructure. According to the two state...Read more
Doubling rail freight’s market share is about meeting basic requirements
ANALYSISOne of Europe’s fundamental objectives regarding transport decarbonisation is to double rail freight’s market share by 2050. The target has been questioned by many, like the European Court of Auditors, but the industry still believes...Read more
A closer look into the EU inquiry on Chinese BEV subsidies
ANALYSISThe European Commission has launched an investigation into the import subsidies that the Chinese government applies to battery electric vehicles (BEV). Subsidisation across the whole BEV value chain in China, including transport, could distort competition...Read more
Romanian farmers want new ban on Ukrainian imports, EU responds with funds
Romanian farmers appear discontent with the status of Ukrainian products imported to their country. They have sent an official letter to the EU Commission head, Ursula von der Leyen, demanding the reintroduction of an import...Read more
‘Taking over Fret SNCF’s contracts is challenging for private operators’
The process of private operators taking over contracts and services given up by Fret SNCF as part of its economic rehabilitation is not all laughs and smiles. It is a challenging situation where companies are...Read more
A question to the Commission about the Greening Freight Package
File: Greening Freight Package Concerns about the EU Commission’s Greening Freight Transport Package (GFTP) approach are intensifying. The initial optimism of July is now transforming into increasing scepticism and fear about what is expected from the legislative proposals and...Read more
New call for CEF investments now available for Ukraine and Moldova
A new round of calls for the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme just opened. The call aims to support future infrastructure projects on railways, intermodal terminals and inland shipping, among other things, with seven...Read more
Fret SNCF forced to give up several routes to endorse fair competition
Fret SNCF, the rail freight subsidiary of state-owned French railway company SNCF, sustained another blow that makes its economic and operational future challenging, to say the least. The company will have to give up operations...Read more
Greek rail damage costs rise to 160 million euros, repairs to last a year
The initial assessment concerning the damages on the Greek railway network after the floods belongs to the past. A new assessment draws an even gloomier picture: repair costs skyrocket from an estimated 50 million euros...Read more
Capacity management: The pros and cons of the Commission’s proposals
File: Greening Freight Package The EU Commission’s proposal for the Regulation on the use of Railway Infrastructure Capacity, as part of the Greening Freight Package, is probably one of the most positive developments the rail sector could expect from...Read more
Ukrainian grain exports drop while Commissioner backs import ban
Grain exports via rail have slowed down significantly in Ukraine during August. Ukrainian Railways reported that exported grain volumes dropped by 45.3 per cent in the last summer month compared to the previous year. At...Read moreEU allocates funds meant for Russia-Belarus to Ukraine and Moldova
A considerable amount of EU funds previously destined for Russia and Belarus will now be allocated to Ukraine and Moldova, decided the EU Commission. Specifically, 135 million euros from the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation...Read more
Ukrainian Railways launch new westbound services, while EU scrambles to fund grain exports
The EU is under pressure since funds to support Ukrainian grain exports via rail seem scarce. Attacks on Ukrainian Danube ports make the situation very complex and put more pressure on the rail to undertake...Read more
EU to fund rail siding construction for ‘any willing company’ in Czechia
The Commission approved a railway siding building, upgrade and reconstruction funding scheme for Czechia. The scheme is worth 74 million euros and will run until 2027. The EU institution said the funding will be available...Read more
EU Sanctions impact China-Russia volume, but indirectly
Rail freight traffic between China and Russia will be impacted by the new list of EU sanctions, be it indirectly. This is what industry professionals told RailFreight.com. New sanctions were announced by the EU Commission...Read more