Europe’s mining giant scrapes for options to secure more rail capacity

LKAB, the largest mining company in Sweden (and Europe), relies heavily on rail freight transport along the Iron Ore Line, which connects the Swedish port of Luleå to the Norwegian port of Narvik. However, the company is in dire need of additional capacity, and it is now considering the option of purchasing buses to remove…

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…

Intelligence agencies warn of Russian plans to sabotage EU rails

European intelligence agencies are warning that Russia is on course for more acts of sabotage in the EU. Among a wide range of possible targets is also rail infrastructure. Earlier derailments in Sweden may have been such acts of sabotage. Intelligence officials believe that Russia has stepped up its preparations for bombings, arson and infrastructure…

Onrail to take over Oslo-Narvik route, gains DB Schenker as customer

Norwegian rail operator Onrail will take over the Oslo-Narvik freight route. The company will now gain DB Schenker as a customer. Other companies did not manage to propose financially attractive enough deals to the German logistics company. At the moment, the freight route from Oslo to the northern Norwegian port town of Narvik is being…

DB Cargo Scandinavia completes freight pilot to Danish port of Hirtshals

DB Cargo Scandinavia completed a freight train test to the northern Danish Port of Hirtshals on 2 May. The rail operator ran the test to demonstrate the feasibility of an intermodal freight route between continental Europe and Norway. As part of the “Green Jutland Corridor”, a green logistics project that aims to connect Norway, Sweden…

Short-term TAC hikes put transport contracts under strain

In a bid to combat the crippling impact of skyrocketing track access charges, European rail operators are calling for urgent short-term support measures. The clarion call comes amidst a flurry of criticism following Germany’s recent hefty price hike program, among others. Apart from Germany, which will increase TACs by 16 per cent, Sweden and Portugal…

Short-term TAC hikes put transport contracts under strain

In a bid to combat the crippling impact of skyrocketing track access charges, European rail operators are calling for urgent short-term support measures. The clarion call comes amidst a flurry of criticism following Germany’s recent hefty price hike program, among others. Apart from Germany, which will increase TACs by 16 per cent, Sweden and Portugal…

Lack of capacity along Iron Ore Line puts hundreds of LKAB jobs at risk

LKAB, the largest iron ore producer in Europe, said that some of its facilities might close unless capacity along the Iron Ore Line, or Malmbanan, doesn’t improve significantly. “LKAB is reviewing closure in either Kiruna or Svappavaara based on what would mean the least damage to the company”, they said. Because of capacity issues, LKAB…