‘Going back to pre-war levels might hinder quality of services’

One of the main points raised at the RailFreight Summit ‘24 is that going back to pre-war rail freight volumes between China and Europe across Russia might not be in the general interests of the industry. DB Cargo Eurasia managing director Tabea Klang highlighted that going back to those levels might hinder the current quality…

DB Cargo France: ‘traffic decline balanced out by SNCF’s routes pickup’

In an interview with Railfreight.com, Alexandre Gallo, President and CEO of DB Cargo France and President of the Association Française du Rail (AFRA), comments on market trends and the outlook for the remainder of the year and beyond while responding to shippers’ current perception of the industry. How did rail freight markets play out in…

LTG Cargo and Skinest Baltija to start legal battle over cancelled contract

LTG Cargo and Skinest Baltija will head into a legal battle over the cancellation of a supply contract between the two parties. Earlier, LTG Cargo claimed that Skinest Baltija had breached the contract on various occasions. The company then added Skinest Baltija to a list of ‘unreliable suppliers’. Skinest Baltija disputes LTG Cargo’s claims and…

Finnish cargo critical to making Rail Baltica relevant for logistics

Rail Baltica is probably one of Europe’s most anticipated railway projects, and rail freight is set to benefit significantly from its development. However, no matter its potential, the project could also end up becoming irrelevant for logistics. According to Oli Pohjanvirta, CEO of Nurminen Logistics, attracting Finnish volumes will be key in determining the project’s…

Deutsche Bahn does not rule out DB Cargo sale

Deutsche Bahn (DB) does not rule out the sale of its freight subsidiary DB Cargo. Looming EU sanctions over excessive state support are forcing DB to find an escape route. A partial sale of financially underperforming DB Cargo might be on the table. According to Handelsblatt, DB does not rule out a sale of its…

Scotland’s Russell Group acquires Freightliner Coatbridge

Glasgow-headquartered Russell Group, also known by variations on the founder’s name, John G. Russell, has bought over the Coatbridge Rail Terminal, currently operated by Freightliner. Insiders have been expecting the move for some time, and the acquisition has been a long-held ambition of the company. Russell Group say the move strengthens their commitment to sustainable…

Scotland’s Russell Group acquires Freightliner Coatbridge

Glasgow-headquartered Russell Group, also known by variations on the founder’s name, John G. Russell, has bought over the Coatbridge Rail Terminal, currently operated by Freightliner. Insiders have been expecting the move for some time, and the acquisition has been a long-held ambition of the company. Russell Group say the move strengthens their commitment to sustainable…

Amazon grows intermodal transport by 50% in Europe, but struggles to commit

American e-commerce giant Amazon has increased its intermodal transport in Europe by 50 per cent, with a large role for rail. This growth percentage is based on data from 2023. Spanish publication El Mercantil writes that 25 per cent of all goods travel via intermodal transport from Amazon’s hub in Zaragoza. The company uses that…

METRANS launches new connection to Ukraine

METRANS has launched a new freight connection to Ukraine. The service will run between Poland and the Ukrainian town Mostyska. According to METRANS, the route connects its network to cities such as Kyiv and Odesa. European rail operator METRANS launched the new route during the Easter weekend. Trains will run between Dabrowa Gornicza in Poland…

SBB Cargo France has no plans to take over Fret SNCF routes

A new subsidiary of the Swiss Federal Railways, christened SBB Cargo France, was recently established to provide services along “the French route through Alsace as an alternative to the German Rhine Valley”. A spokesperson from the company specified that there are no current plans to take over services from Fret SNCF, which is undergoing a…