Switzerland and Italy to fund upgrade of key Rhine-Alpine section

The Italian infrastructure manager Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) launched a tender for 117 million euros, co-financed by Switzerland, to boost intermodality in northeastern Italy. More specifically, the railway between Arona and Verbania, along the southeastern shore of Lake Maggiore, will be modified to handle freight trains with a 4-metre profile (P400). The initiative entails lowering […]

GDL strike confirmed as valid, what will it mean for rail freight?

The transport sector in Germany is currently facing disruptions as locomotive drivers affiliated with the GDL union are on strike between 9-12 January. Deutsche Bahn (DB) has appealed against this decision without any luck, as the Hessian State Labour Court confirmed that the union’s actions are not prohibited. RailFreight.com reached out to various companies in […]

Russian grain imports and transit should be banned, says Latvian minister

Latvian Minister of Transport Kaspars Briškens wants to ban all imports and transit of Russian grain due to the possibility that imports include grain stolen from Ukraine. A total ban could have significant economic consequences for the Latvian rail sector, with losses of up to 40 million euros. In an interview with public broadcaster Latvijas […]

British legislation railblocks international rail freight market

Whatever ambitions are harboured by the sector, the UK’s eagerness for international rail freight faces formidable challenges. Tapping into the export and import market is a hurdle race, with the bar seemingly rising higher at every step. The obstacles are largely attributed to intricate legislation. The years since leaving the EU have not made life […]