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,…
Category: Rail freight
Rail Baltica mainline construction takes off in Latvia
Latvia is commencing construction works on the Rail Baltica mainline. The Rail Baltica team and its international partners gathered in Riga to mark the occasion, but uncertainty remains about the final shape Rail Baltica will take. The construction of the 230-kilometre Latvian mainline will take place in stages. Initially, Rail Baltica will be working on…
Where does rail stand in the auto transport and logistics ecosystem?
Freight trains would appear to be particularly suited to the shipment of automobiles, considering their high volume capability and economic viability over long distances while emitting a good deal less CO2 than trucks. However, road remains by far the most dominant transport mode in this key industrial vertical. Railfreight.com talked to European automotive logistics players…
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…
Freight gets the message to British TV
Freightliner’s chief executive, Tim Shoveller, hosted a TV news crew aboard a long-distance intermodal service last week. The journey was the weekend lead for Channel 4 News. It brought an important message to the homes of millions of viewers. Freightliner, and their logistics partners, were making the case for more freight on rail in the…
TX Logistik launches new Göteborg – Umeå intermodal connection
TX Logistik is launching a new intermodal service in Sweden. The company will run a biweekly round trip from Göteborg to Umeå via Eskilstuna near Stockholm. At all locations, the train will make stops at intermodal terminals. The Mercitalia Logistics subsidiary offers 32 loading units per train on the biweekly round trip. Both cranable and…
Fuel, electricity and labour costs behind new KTZ cargo fee hikes
Higher fuel, electricity and labour costs are forcing Kazakh Railways’ cargo division (KTZ-GP) to increase its prices. Indebted Kazakh Railways (KTZ) is increasing its prices all across the board, to the dismay of the business community. KTZ is deeply in debt and needs higher income to cover its budget gaps. Even with a fourfold revenue…
Russia and Belarus to harmonise rail freight tariffs
Russia and Belarus will unify rail tariffs. Reportedly, the two countries are already working on the implementation of the measure. Most likely, it will lower tariffs on the Russian network. Russia and its steadfast ally Belarus are on a path of deepening integration within the framework of the so-called Union State. The two countries are…
Tajikistan looking for 7,5 billion dollars in funding for rail
Tajikistan seems to be hopping onto the bandwagon for rail infrastructure in Central Asia. The country is looking for 7,5 billion dollars (7 billion euros) in investments for its rail network. The Tajik rail infrastructure is underdeveloped yet crucial for the country’s international trade. At an economic forum in the Russian city of Kazan, the…
Middle Corridor countries discussing 50% tariff discount
The Middle Corridor is too expensive as a competitive alternative to other transport corridors that connect Europe and China. In an effort to boost the route’s attractiveness, involved countries are now discussing a fifty per cent discount on tariffs along the route. Five countries that are part of the Middle Corridor are currently taking part…