The Eastern Ligurian Sea Port Authority, which manages the port of La Spezia, will get nine million euros from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The funds will be deployed in the development of the new La Spezia Marittima rail terminal, which should start in February 2024. The initiative to upgrade the La Spezia Marittima terminal […]
Author: Marco Raimondi
GDL sends proposal to DB to end strike and resume negotiations
After launching a seven-day strike that might paralyze the transport sector in Germany, trade union GDL drafted a proposal for Deutsche Bahn (DB). If accepted, the union said it “will result in the suspension of strikes and the resumption of collective bargaining”. The union just rejected the third offer brought forward by DB, claiming that […]
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 the imports of Russian rail rolling stock in Ukraine. Other than the ban on rolling stock imports, the Ukrainian government […]
Bottlenecks on Rhine-Alpine Corridor to remain at least until 2030
The 2020s will be a stagnant decade for the Rhine-Alpine Rail Freight Corridor (RFC), which runs from Genoa, in Italy, to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Various bottlenecks along the corridor are expected to remain at the very least until 2030, according to the Corridor Information Document recently published by the body managing the corridor. The […]
Tender for integrating standard gauge at port of Valencia is out
The Valencia Port Authority has put out a tender for the expansion of the port’s rail infrastructure. The project entails the replacement of the current single-track connecting the Poniente and Levante docks with a three-track mixed-gauge railway. Once the project is completed the Levante Railway Terminal will be able to handle 750-metre freight trains on […]
Another strike to start tomorrow in Germany, this time for a whole week
Deutsche Bahn’s (DB) employees affiliated with the German Train Drivers’ trade union (GDL) are about to go on strike until Monday, 29 January at 6 pm. DB Cargo’s workers will start on Tuesday 23 January at 6 pm, while for infrastructure workers the initiative will begin on Wednesday 24 January at 2 am, as GDL […]
2024 brings new Italy-Benelux rail freight connections
Freight convoys running between Italy and the Benelux region are increasing with the beginning of 2024. GTS Rail has increased its Bologna-Zeebrugge frequency from four to six weekly trains. Moreover, starting in February, Contship will upgrade from three to five weekly convoys between Milan and Rotterdam. Contship will implement this frequency increase as of 5 […]
Ermewa gets 17.3 million euros from Spain to finance 200 wagons
Rail rolling stock leasing company Ermewa will deploy 200 new wagons in Spain in 2024. Its Spanish subsidiary, Ermewa Ibérica, received a grant of 17,3 million euros from the Spanish Ministry of Transport to finance this project. The wagons will be of two types: 150 Shimmns and 50 pocket wagons. The wagons will be initially […]
Privatisation of Ferrovie dello Stato: ‘RFI is the prime piece’
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently confirmed that the government is ready for the privatisation of the national railway holding Ferrovie dello Stato (FS Group). RailFreight.com had a chat with Dr. Andrea Giuricin, transport economist at the Milan-Bicocca Univesity, who pointed out that the most desirable asset of the group is infrastructure manager Rete Ferroviaria […]
Spanish government greenlights establishment of Train Port Barcelona
The Spanish government approved the creation of Train Port Barcelona, a new entity that will be in charge of the development and management of the railway logistics node in the Catalan capital. The new company will see the participation of the Barcelona port authority and Spain’s infrastructure manager Adif, which will co-own 50 per cent […]