Russia building bizarre 30 kilometre train fortification in Ukraine
Russia is building a bizarre train fortification in Ukraine. The fortification consists of over 2,000 freight wagons and stretches over 30 kilometres. The train, possibly aimed at stopping future Ukrainian assaults, is dubbed the ‘tsar...Read more
Estonian Railways’ losses expected to worsen in the coming years
The losses of Estonian Railways are expected to continue and worsen in the coming years. Earlier, Estonia reported a decline of 43 per cent in freight volumes following sanctions on Russian goods.Read more
Is INSTC’s Rasht-Astara line on track for another setback?
It is probably the most critical railway section of the International North-South Corridor (INSTC), and its construction has been planned for a few years, with several ups and downs along the way. The Rasht-Astara railway...Read more
Russia grants Belarus 40% rail freight discount
Russia is granting Belarus a discount of up to 40 per cent on rail freight transportation, according to the Belarusian ministry of transport. The two allies have agreed on a discount that applies to the...Read more
Sanctions cause locomotive shortage in Russia
Russian Railways (RZD) is facing a shortage of locomotives. The shortage is reportedly caused by a lack of importable spare parts due to Western sanctions. The situation has become particularly problematic in the fourth quarter...Read more
LTG Cargo sees freight volumes defy expectations amid sanction struggles
Lithuanian rail freight operator LTG Cargo transported 27.2 million tonnes of freight in 2023. Total volumes exceeded expectations by 2.5 million tonnes. In the difficult business environment following sanctions on neighbouring Russia and Belarus, LTG...Read more
Russia fears rail blockade and builds rail ferries for Kaliningrad
Fear of a rail blockade is leading Russia to build three additional rail ferries for its Kaliningrad exclave. The country’s westernmost region is surrounded by EU and NATO member states which control all railways into...Read more
Ukraine wants to ban Russian rolling stock imports for 50 years
The Ukrainian government asked the National Security and Defense Council to introduce a bundle of sanctions against Russia for the next 50 years. Among other initiatives, there is the proposal for a five-decade ban on...Read more
‘Forget the IMEC, focus on the INSTC,’ says India
Instability caused by the ongoing war in Gaza and Houthi attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea has put the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) on hold until further notice. India seems to be reassessing its...Read more
Huge investments in Russian Far East rail are no break with the past
Russia is planning to invest record-breaking amounts in its Far East railway infrastructure. Unprecedented investments in the East in the coming years might be interpreted as a break with the past and a move away...Read more
Kazakhstan registers rail freight growth in all directions
Kazakh rail freight volumes in the directions of China and Uzbekistan reached significantly higher levels throughout 2023 as compared to 2022. Moreover, rail freight in the direction of Russia grew by 3,2 per cent. The...Read more
Russian grain imports and transit should be banned, says Latvian minister
Latvian Minister of Transport Kaspars Briškens wants to ban all imports and transit of Russian grain due to the possibility that imports include grain stolen from Ukraine. A total ban could have significant economic consequences...Read more
Russian Railways reports rail freight stagnation in 2023
Russian Railways have observed a slight decrease in the total volume of transported cargo throughout 2023. The total volume amounted to 1,232 billion tonnes, 0,2 per cent less than the previous year. December saw a...Read more
RZD sets ambitious growth plans for 2024
forecastRZD expects cargo loading to increase by 1,7 per cent to 1,147 million tonnes in 2024, with the planned growth expected for almost all cargo categories except grain. According to the company’s recently published draft...Read more
Construction of key INSTC rail section in Iran begins in early 2024
rasht-astara railwayThe Rasht-Astara railway line is a key missing link along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which aims to connect Russia and India. According to Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, construction of this...Read more
How far is the INSTC in reaching its volume targets?
Cargo transit via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) has already exceeded 10 million tons this year. The Iranian Deputy Minister of Transport and Urban Development, Shahriyar Afandizadeh, shared the information. With this figure in...Read moreUkrainian SBU allegedly launches multiple attacks on Russian rail
During an operation deep in Russian territory, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) detonated explosives, which impacted freight trains and parts of railway infrastructure at three different points. All three attacks occurred on the eastern part...Read more
Rail freight in China-Russia Far East borders grows thanks to new bridge
Rail freight volumes moved between China and Russia through the Far East increased by 22 per cent in the first ten months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, as Russian Railways (RZD)...Read more
Finland closes all border crossings to Russia but one to be used for rail
The Finnish government has decided to shut down all its eastern border crossings adjacent to Russia. The decision’s implementation starts today, Wednesday, 29 November. Only one gateway will be left open between the two countries:...Read more