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
RailFreight Market Survey: 2023 was not great, will 2024 be better?
railfreight market surveyRailFreight.com recently conducted its first end-of-year market survey, with dozens of industry players responding and providing their perspectives on how the sector did in 2023 and what to expect in 2024. When it comes to...Read more
Ukrainian 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
LTG Cargo suspends luxury cars re-export amid fear of sanction violation
Lithuania’s national rail freight company LTG Cargo will stop re-exporting luxury cars to third countries from 1 December. From now until then, these services will be subject to enhanced checks. The decision was taken among...Read more
Russia is building a railway to Crimea through Ukraine
Russia is building a railway that will connect Rostov-on-Don, near the Ukrainian border, with the Crimea region, which the country annexed to its territory in 2014. The line is expected to pass through some of...Read more
Operail’s volumes drop again in the first half of the year
The Estonian national rail freight company Operail has transported 1,1 million tons of goods during the first half of 2023. This is the second consecutive year the company has lost significant volumes in the first...Read more
France to loan Ukraine over 37 million euros to rebuild railways
The French government will loan 37,6 million euros to Ukraine for the supply of rail tracks to rebuild the country’s infrastructure, significantly damaged since the Russian invasion. This, according to Ukrainian Railways (UZ), is the...Read more
Ukraine wants to cooperate with Spain to integrate on EU rail network
One of the main issues with rail freight between Ukraine and the rest of Europe is the difference in gauge. A similar issue occurs on the other side of the continent, with Spain and Portugal...Read more
Poland-Belarus border closes for trucks, trains keep running
From Thursday 1 June, cargo that originates from Russia or Belarus will no longer be able to cross the border between Poland and Belarus by truck. For rail freight, the border remains open. It is...Read more
Ukrainian Railways secure power supply in key rail routes with US help
Ukrainian Railways has a new mechanism to ensure that freight and passenger routes will be supplied with electricity and running at all times. 105 diesel generators will be established in key locations within the Ukrainian...Read more
Another freight train derails in Russia due to anti-war attack
Another explosion on the railway in the Bryansk region in Russia on the evening of 2 May led to a freight train derailing near the border with Ukraine. The initiative led to the derailment of...Read more
RZD freight train derailed and in flames after anti-war group attack
A freight train derailed in the Bryansk region of Russia, near the border with Ukraine, after an explosive device was detonated. Despite accusation moved against Ukrainians, the act, which did not cause any casualties, was...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
Latvian Transport Ministry: ‘Future is bleak, but Baltic cooperation is stronger’
INTERVIEWThe transport sector in the Baltic States is currently in a delicate position since the area constitutes the EU border with Russia and Belarus. In an interview with RailFreight.com, the Latvian Ministry of Transport underlined...Read more
DB charging customers to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine
Sending humanitarian aid from Germany to Ukraine via rail with Deutsche Bahn (DB) is no longer free of charge as of 1 January 2023. In other words, anyone who wants to send aid to Ukraine...Read more
White House confirms North Korea-Russia ammunition transport by rail
A couple of months after the first assumption that North Korea transports ammunition via rail to Russia, the White House National Security Council confirmed even the most sceptical. According to John Kirby, NSC coordinator for...Read more
Latvia and Lithuania pledge for collective effort on Russian rail ban
The ministers of transport from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania met for the first time in four years to discuss the ban on the transit of Russian and Belarussian goods on 23 January. Estonia, via its...Read more
Russian armoured trains deployed on border with Ukraine
In times of war, everything changes, including the role of trains. We see that in Ukraine, where trains are now one of the most important evacuation means. But we also see how freight trains are...Read more
Russian Railways loses around 10 per cent of cargo since the war
Russian Railways has lost a rough 10 per cent of its cargo volumes since the start of the war. The volume of cargo transportation on the Russian railway network collapsed by 125 million tons, Oleg...Read more