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
Xi Jinping: China ready to advance trade relations with the EU
China’s president Xi Jinping is willing to work closely with the EU and embrace their agreements. In a communication with France’s president Emmanuel Macron last week, he stressed that France’s EU presidency could leverage the...Read more
EU still lags in implementing major infrastructure projects
A comparative review conducted by the European Court of Auditors identified that the EU policies are still quite weak when it comes to implementing infrastructure projects. Even though the EU does not face strategy definition...Read more
UIRR: yes to rail freight support, no to neglecting combined transport
Transport Ministers from Fifteen different EU Member States signed and adopted a Joint Position Paper on 31 March. The Joint Paper calls out the EU Commission to launch an initiative for the support of rail...Read more
Will EU transit via Russia become possible in 2020?
Five months after lifting the ban on the transit of EU fresh products to third countries via Russia, transportation of this freight is still not possible. To change this, Russia should create clarity about the...Read more
Russia forms new rules for electronic seals transit goods
The government of Russia will develop the requirements for electronic seals to be used for transit goods from the EU to China. The new legislation should be composed by the end of July. The use of...Read moreLifted Russian ban on transit traffic: big advantage with many questions
Russia has lifted the ban on the transit of EU fresh products. What impact will the decision have on the European logistics industry? Which products are allowed for transportation via Russia? What requirements should the...Read more
PKP Cargo wants to become EU leader on New Silk Road
PKP Cargo, the largest Polish rail freight company, wants to become the European champion of rail freight transportation on the New Silk Road. Such an ambitious goal was documented in the Strategy of PKP Cargo...Read more
Changes to UK track access charges system ‘could harm rail’s competitiveness’
Potential changes to how track access charges in the UK are calculated could present a threat to rail’s competitiveness. Rail economics expert Professor Chris Nash will deliver this stark warning when he speaks at the...Read moreEU/US alliance: ‘intermodal transport vital for competition’
A concerted effort to promote intermodality is key to increasing competitiveness and cutting carbon emissions, says a new transatlantic rail and road alliance. The International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR) joined forces with its stateside...Read more
EU’s Violeta Bulc launches ‘Year of Multimodality’
EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc is leading a campaign for 2018 to be the ‘Year of Multimodality’. The European Commission is planning policy initiatives and events to promote the benefits of multimodal transport. The European Commission says...Read more
Public tender for Portugal-Spain rail freight works
The Portugese government will in March launch the civil works public tender for the rail freight corridor between Sines and Setubal ports and the Spanish border. This project has three key strands: the rail track between...Read more
Freight innovators could share in new Shift2Rail funding
The European Union-backed Shift2Rail project is inviting the most innovative rail freight proposals to share in a new finance package worth more than 155 million Euros. Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (S2R JU) has announced its latest Call...Read more
Rail freight 2017 & ahead – by ERFA’s Julia Lamb
To say it’s been a challenging year for the rail freight sector, not least in Europe, is an understatement. While the immediate effects of the Rastatt landslip in August were nothing short of an operational...Read more