Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary ban import of Ukrainian food products
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is causing tensions between Kyiv and some of the neighbouring European countries. Slovakia, Poland and Hungary have all introduced a ban on the import of various agricultural products generated in...Read more
Polish rail association ‘strongly opposed’ to EU’s DAC implementation plan
InterviewThe EU’s plan to implement Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) on the entire freight fleet running in the Union is receiving criticism concerning insufficient testing and financial issues. The Federation of Independent Rail Operators (ZNPK), a...Read more
CFL gets European funds to upgrade Bettembourg-Dudelange terminal
Luxembourger intermodal company CFL secured 2,3 million euros from the European Commission (EC) to partly fund the upgrade of their Bettembourg-Dudelange terminal. The total cost of the project is 7,7 million euros.Read more
Rail should be included in Commission’s Green Deal Industrial Plan, says CER
The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) is asking for the inclusion of the rail industry in the Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age (GDIP), the EU’s new plan to reach...Read more
Switzerland: running trains in the EU might become an issue
Running trains in the European Union might become problematic for Switzerland. The authorisation procedure that allowed Swiss companies to run trains in all EU member states will in fact expire at the end of 2023...Read more
Everyone wants to reap the fruits of INSTC
ANALYSISWhat started as a far-fetched but relatively promising route and developed into Russia’s main diversification corridor is now becoming a hot trend everyone wishes to join. It’s all about the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)...Read more
Standard gauge in all of EU, plans need to be ready by 2025-2026
Every state member of the European Union will need to have a transformation plan to adopt the 1435 mm railway gauge by 2025-2026. This was the outcome of a meeting involving the ministers of transport...Read more
Spanish rail freight association demands state support for energy prices
The Association of Owners and Operators of Wagons of Spain (Faprove) asked for Spanish rail freight companies to be included as beneficiaries of the financing from the cap on energy prices. The association did so...Read more
Do EU transport ministers hear the railway sector’s pleas?
The informal meeting of the Eu transport ministers on Friday, 21 October, could produce some palpable energy measures for the railway sector. The energy, and specifically, electricity crisis plaguing rail freight and passenger transport currently...Read more
CER throws the ball to von der Leyen’s court: “time for concrete energy measures”
After public requests, the European railway sector directly requested Brussels to take action against the electricity and energy crisis. With an open letter to the president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, CER...Read more
EBRD gives 100 million euros lifeline to Ukrainian Railways
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will grant an additional 98,8 million euros to the Ukrainian Railways in an attempt to resolve urgent liquidity issues and ensure the seamless continuation of cargo and passenger...Read more
China’s BRI takes over the world: is Europe ready to respond?
ANALYSISChina seems to be overtaking Europe in global infrastructure investments, with EU leaders alarmed about the possible consequences. How does China benefit from expanding the Silk Road to other continents, and what could be Europe’s...Read more
Lithuania imposes more traffic restrictions on Kaliningrad despite second thoughts
The Lithuanian customs have imposed a ban on the transit of Russian cement, alcohol and other products on their way to Kaliningrad by rail. The restrictions came into force on Sunday, 10 July, after a...Read more
EU could reverse Kaliningrad rail cut-off, fearing escalation with Russia
The European Union could reconsider the implementation of sanctions on cargo transit to Kaliningrad. After the initial decision to ban the transit of some products through Lithuanian territory, followed by Moscow’s threat to retaliate, the...Read more
‘ERTMS deployment is stuck in a vicious circle’
The on-board rollout of ETCS is behind schedule because operators have little incentive to invest in the system when they can still run on class-B systems, says Marcin Wojcik, Policy Officer at the European Commission...Read more
Military mobility in action: LTG loads tanks on trains for the first time
Lithuanian Railways had a first-hand experience of military rail freight a couple of days ago. US troops loaded their military equipment in the Palemonas loading facility in Vilnius for the first time. “It was a...Read more
TEN-T revision is on the right track for intermodal transport
The ongoing TEN-T regulation amendment seems to be on the right track to support the growth of intermodal and combined transport. “The infrastructure parameters for longer trains, the provision of sufficient track capacity for them...Read more
These Russian banks are excluded from SWIFT
The EU has extended sanctions on Russian banks. Since 2 March, it has excluded seven Russian banks from the SWIFT system. “This practically means that these banks will barely have access to international markets”, explains...Read more
EU imposes sanctions on Russia, what do they mean for rail freight?
The EU has officially adopted sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. The European Council decided to enforce “massive and severe consequences” for Russia that can be summarised in five main pillars: financial sector,...Read more