‘Belgium should reduce cost of rail to push modal shift’
Representatives of the Belgian rail freight industry have asked their government to reduce the costs of train paths and transshipment, in order to boost rail freight traffic. Driving a train through Belgium should be as...Read more
‘Rail transport is still a passive profit-taker’
Sebastian Jürgens, manager of the port of Lübeck since 2014, explained what he believes must be done to realise a modal shift. He is an expert in goods transport by rail. Previously, he led intermodal...Read more
Before modal shift, mental shift needed in rail
The environmental arguments for rail as a transport mode are not enough to push for a modal shift. The positive impact of rail is 25 per cent more than road, and rail creates more jobs...Read more
ERFA: ‘In fact, all railways are tollgates’
In the rail freight sector, operators pay for every train kilometre. In principle, this makes all railways tollgates, while only 20 per cent of European highways and main roads require toll. A new balance must...Read more
Port of Antwerp modal shift scheme invests heavily in rail
Rail projects are central to a 1.4 million Euros modal shift programme at the Port of Antwerp. The port is investing in sustainable initiatives over the next three years aimed at making freight traffic movement...Read more
Lineas boosts international prospects with double appointment
Lineas, Belgium’s largest rail cargo operator, says the recruitment of two new experienced rail freight industry professionals will help stimulate the company’s European and wider international operations. Jan Elfenhorst and Gijsbert Spirinckx together bring more than...Read more
Belgian ‘beer train’ will save 5,000 annual lorry road miles
An innovative Belgian ‘beer train’ has made its first delivery from brewery to supplier, and its new thrice-weekly service is set to take some 5,000 lorries off the roads every year, thanks to a new...Read more
Adaptable Carriage concept swaps passenger seats for freight space
A pioneering design which enables train operators to stow away passenger seats to make way for cargo space has been developed and is available for trials. Designed by by UK-based 42 Technology, the ‘Adaptable Carriage’...Read more
Rail freight investment could ‘dramatically cut’ road congestion
Sending more goods by rail could dramatically reduce road congestion on some of the UK’s busiest trunk roads, according to a new report. The Campaign for Better Transport believes that upgrading existing rail lines which...Read more
Safe as wooden houses for Rail Cargo Group
The Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is launching a new rail freight service transporting timber panels used to make wooden houses between Austria, Sweden and Norway. The agreement with Stora Enso, one of Scandinavia’s biggest renewable...Read more
EU rail freight test portal now live
The pilot version of a ‘one-stop-shop’ European web portal detailing rail freight service facilities across the continent can now be accessed online. The railfreightlocations.eu site is a European Union initiative involving a group of rail...Read more
Antwerp pushes for improved east European rail links
The Port of Antwerp Authority has appointed a new representative to help strengthen its rail freight links with the eastern European market. One of Martin Hubenak’s key functions will be developing rail relationships with the...Read more
RailTech Europe to showcase freight innovation
Three exciting freight innovations will go under the spotlight at the forthcoming RailTech Europe 2017. They are all vying for the Rail Cargo Innovation Award, just one of the many highlights at the high-level conference...Read more
ERFA President Lindsay Durham puts focus on market share ‘prize’
The European Rail Freight Association’s (ERFA) new President, Lindsay Durham, says there is a need to focus on the ‘prize’ of increasing rail’s market share and the benefits to society and the wider economy this...Read more
Two keys to modal shift: Collaboration & Competition
European rail freight policymakers must help ensure that national rail infrastructure managers work much more closely together to alleviate bottlenecks at borders, and thus pave the way for a much-increased sustainable modal shift from road...Read more
A direct line to London’s future
The iconic London skyline gives joy to millions – and it will soon be giving another major boost to the rail freight sector. A new deal between DB Cargo and the Day Group sees the...Read more