


CEE importers will benefit from Silk Road trains in coming peak season
For some European importers, Christmas goods must be ordered before September if they are to be shipped via rail. Time is ticking, says Michaela Kralovicova, CEO of Infinity Forwarding in Slovakia, who believes that small-scale...Read more
Samskip aims for more multimodal development in Czechia and Slovakia
The next stop for Samskip is the market of Czechia and Slovakia. The logistics company opened an office in Prague to extend its multimodal network in the CEE region and attract more shippers.Read more
Commission: temporary restrictions on Ukrainian products due to logistical bottlenecks
The EU Commission decided to temporarily restrict the import of four Ukrainian agricultural products in Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. The restrictions concern wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed, and they aim to “alleviate...Read more
European Commission strikes deal for Ukrainian grain imports
The European Commission (EC) reached an agreement with Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia regarding the import of Ukrainian agri-food products, much of which happens on the rail. As EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis stated,...Read more
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
METRANS expands terminal network along Hungary-Serbia corridor
METRANS has finalised the acquisition of a 51 per cent stake in Croatian railway company Adria Rail. Moreover, the German company is building two new terminals in southern Hungary, exploring more opportunities in fast-growing Southeastern...Read more
Metrans expands its network in Poland and Turkey
Metrans has launched new rail freight services that will expand its network from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. The services will respectively connect Turkey with Slovakia and Poland with the Czech Republic. The...Read more
METRANS launches direct connection between Slovakia and Turkey
Rail freight in Southeastern Europe is about to acquire a new service starting on 3 September. METRANS will launch a direct link between its terminal in Dunajska Streda, Slovakia and the Halkali terminal outside Istanbul...Read more
EU invests billions in infrastructure projects-rail gets fair share of the pie
The EU Commission has selected 135 transport infrastructure projects eligible for EU grants. Brussels will allocate 5,4 billion euros to them through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), targeting the development of the TEN-T network and...Read more
Austrians officially pull out of Kosice-Vienna broad gauge project
The Austrian railway company ÖBB has officially withdrawn from the joint venture responsible for the broad gauge extension from Kosice to Vienna. It has offered its shares for sale to its Russian, Ukrainian and Slovakian...Read more
METRANS sends first eastbound train from Slovakia to China
METRANS launched the first eastbound train from the Dunajská Streda terminal in Slovakia towards Xi’an in China. The train was organised in cooperation with GEFCO for Budiš, a Slovak mineral spring brand, to transport pure...Read more
Trains through Ukraine halted for construction works
Transit traffic through Ukraine has come to a halt due to construction works. Traffic through Ukraine to the Polish border has already been stopped with an official restriction convention, starting on 30 November. Starting 6...Read more
GEFCO’s first carbon-neutral train is more than you think
GEFCO launched its first carbon-neutral Europe-China train. It departed on 15 November from Dunjaska Strada in Slovakia, and its destination is Xi’an in China. It does not operate with fossil-free fuel, so how can it...Read more
Slovakian terminal on Ukraine border lies idle: ‘we have plenty of space’
The terminal of Dobra on the border of Slovakia and Ukraine has a lot to offer, but only a few trains actually run through the border crossing. That is a pity, because there is no...Read more
Is the Kosice-Vienna line cancelled for good?
The extension of the broad gauge line (1,520 mm) between the Slovakian city of Kosice and Vienna has been on the planning table since 2008. Yet, fourteen years later, and following multiple declarations of intent...Read more
Xi’an-Dunajska Streda train soon to be on the timetables
There is good news for the Central and Eastern European region. The Xi’an-Dobra- Dunajska Streda train will be a regular service in the timetables from 4 September 2020. Every Friday a train will depart in...Read more
Big merger on Polish rail freight market
Poland’s rail freight market is on the verge of a big merger. Two major operators Lotos Kolej and Orlen KolTrans will be amalgamated into one entity. The combined operator will be a strong player in...Read more
Nexxiot delivers digital monitoring package to Cargo Wagon fleet
Nexxiot, the Zurich-based digital technology specialist, has struck a deal with Cargo Wagon, the Slovakian leasing company. The deal will see the Cargo Wagon fleet of goods wagons fitted with the Swiss company’s Globehopper branded...Read more
From Netherlands to Hungary: further expansion of VTG’s logistics
Hamburg-based wagon hire and rail logistics company VTG has acquired a new asset in Slovakia. It added Carbo Rail, a medium-sized rail freight operator, to its geography of business. The deal allows the German company...Read more