A few EU Member States showed some dissatisfaction with the recent developments regarding the Greening Freight Package. Germany, France, Austria and the Netherlands were not happy with the definition of Combined Transport. Moreover, Sweden does not seem to satisfied with the Capacity Management Regulation as it abstained from voting on Council proposal during the EU…
Author: Marco Raimondi
Spanish region gets billions of euros for Atlantic Corridor development
The Spanish Ministry of Transport will invest 2.8 billion euros for the development of the TEN-T Atlantic Corridor in the Asturias region. The vast majority will be allocated to the railways. Of the 2.8 billion euros allocated for Asturias, 2.42 will be dedicated to railway projects. The remaining funds will be split between road infrastructure…
Will Switzerland fund the upgrade of the railway on the Rhine’s left bank?
The Swiss Federal Council proposed three measures to boost the modal shift from road to rail across the Alps. The main measure is the financing for the adaptation to the 4-metre profile of the railway between Basel, Strasbourg and Metz to create a viable alternative route on the left bank of the Rhine River. However,…
The Capacity Management Regulation might be approved next week
The European Council might approve the Capacity Management Directive of the Greening Freight Package (GFP) next week. However, in its current state, the Directive might be more detrimental than beneficial for the rail freight sector. The EU Council is expected to finalise a General Approach agreement for the Capacity Management Directive before the Transport Council…
Italy to start DAC tests, industry remains highly sceptical
The Italian Agency for the Safety of Railways and Road and Motorway Infrastructures (ANSFISA) recently announced that tests for the Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) will soon commence in the country. However, many industry representatives pointed out that this is not necessarily the initiative Italy needs. It is also not clear how Italy will carry out…
Finland to study European gauge connection to Sweden
Finland wants to study the possibility of creating a European gauge (1435 mm) connection to Sweden to facilitate trade and military mobility with the rest of the European Union. The first option would be to create a 1435 mm railway line connecting Oulu, to Haparanda, on the border with Sweden, where goods have to be…
‘Road transport will keep dominating in Austria and Europe’
A study from the Institute of Transport Economics and Logistics at the University of Vienna of Economics and Business showed quite pessimistic results for the future of Austrian and European rail freight. “Road will remain the dominant mode of transport”, while rail freight will keep losing ground over the next couple of decades, making the…
Helrom to launch new Germany-Austria service
Helrom, a German company specialised in the rail transport of non-cranable semi-trailers, will launch a new service connecting Braunschweig, in northern Germany, with Vienna. The first trains will depart on 24 June with one daily departure. This is not Herlom’s first connection to the Austrian capital. In 2020, the company launched a connection between the…
Contship to boost rail freight in La Spezia with terminal expansion
Italian intermodal company Contship started the procedures to expand the Ravano container terminal at the port of La Spezia, on the Italian northwestern coast. With this terminal, the company said it aims to increase its TEU capacity from 1,4 to 2 million. Rail is expected to play a key role, as mentioned by Contiship’s CEO…
PKP Cargo bets its future on frail foundations
The Polish state-owned rail freight operator PKP Cargo is struggling, as are many of its counterparts across Europe. Rumours surfaced about a possible bankruptcy for PKP Cargo and RailFreight.com went straight to the source to better understand what is happening. The company confirmed that the situation is bleak, and most of its hopes heavily rely…