The upcoming German rail renovations could cause a reverse modal shift. Expected disruptions and additional expenses will likely reduce the competitiveness of rail and make road transportation more attractive. German states have taken note and are appealing for proper compensation for the rail freight sector. Germany is planning large-scale renovation works on its rail network,…
Category: Business
Belgian regions and banks to provide 46 million euros to save Lineas
The Belgian regions of Flanders and Wallonia are joining forces in an effort to keep Lineas, the main rail freight operator in the country, alive. The two regions, with a couple of Belgian banks, will provide a total of 46 million euros to keep the company financially afloat. Lineas has been struggling financially, mostly due…
Rail Cargo Group acquires Captrain Netherlands
ÖBB subsidiary Rail Cargo Group (RCG) has acquired Captrain Netherlands. RCG and Captrain closed the deal on 31 May. With the acquisition, RCG is continuing its course of international expansion. RCG announced the acquisition of Captrain Netherlands on Friday 31 May. Captrain Netherlands has 61 employees and had a turnover of 12,2 million euros in…
Deutsche Bahn selects four finalists for DB Schenker sale
Deutsche Bahn (DB) has chosen the four finalists for the sale of DB Schenker. The last contenders are Danish shipping giants Maersk and DSV, the Saudi national shipping carrier Bahri and a partnership between investments funds CVC Capital Partners, Carlyle Group and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. This means that MSC is no longer in…
Deutsche Bahn selects four finalists for DB Schenker sale
Deutsche Bahn (DB) has chosen the four finalists for the sale of DB Schenker. The last contenders are Danish shipping giants Maersk and DSV, the Saudi national shipping carrier Bahri and a partnership between investments funds CVC Capital Partners, Carlyle Group and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. This means that MSC is no longer in…
TAC increases across Europe might kill rail freight operators
Track Access Charges (TACs) are on the rise in many European countries. For many rail freight operators this is a massive burden that could threaten their very existence, as their Ability-to-pay is basically null. RailFreight.com had a chat with Andrea Giuricin, transport economist at the University of Milan Bicocca, to better understand this trend and…
German rail renovations to cost Austrian industry 250 million euros
Austrian industries are set to lose 250 million euros over the planned German rail renovations. The neglected German rail network is crucial for Austrian industrial transportation. The upcoming disruptions and lack of bypasses are a major thorn in the eye of the sector. Germany is about to renovate large parts of its rail network in…
Swedish rail investments “urgent” for industry to flourish
Investments in Swedish rail are a necessity for the country’s industry to flourish. One in four of Sweden’s industrial companies is seriously affected by disruptions, stoppages, or a lack of rail capacity. In the long term, this could hinder the sector’s competitiveness. A quarter of all industrial companies in Sweden are seriously affected by disruptions,…
China-Europe: railways are congested and container rates are spiking
China-Europe trade corridors are currently facing some significant issues concerning container rates as well as congestion along the railways. Concerning rail freight, congestion concerns the Alashankou and Khorgos border crossings between China and Kazakhstan. Moreover, some issues are starting to surface at the Małaszewicze border crossing in Poland. Rail congestion is having a serious impact…
PKP Cargo eyes “untapped” semi-trailer market for business revival
Polish state-owned rail freight operator PKP Cargo is looking for ways out of its dire financial situation. The company’s new management took the drastic step of suspending nearly a third of its workforce to save money. Now, its strategy director says that the company is looking to semi-trailer transportation for new business opportunities. PKP Cargo…