Russia is getting a new set of rules determining priority on the rail network from September onwards. Freight is forced to yield to all other types of rail transportation. It remains at the bottom of the priority list, even as crucial trade infrastructure is already at maximum capacity. The new priority system in Russia does…
Category: Rail freight
Kazakh minister beats back: tariff hikes justified
Kazakhstan is in the wake of a series of tariff hikes on the Kazakh rail network. Businesses and parliamentarians have protested the frequent price increases, and the government cancelled an earlier planned hike. Now, the Kazakh transport minister is beating back: the Kazakh network is cheap and the hikes are justified. “We need to point…
Ukrainian Railways grows early-year freight transportation by 30 per cent
Ukrainian Railways (UZ) has achieved year-on-year success by growing its freight transportation by 30 per cent. The growth concerns freight volumes in the period of January to May. At 57 per cent, export volumes grew even more. The total transported volume of freight in the first five months of 2024 amounted to 75,4 million tonnes.…
Ulysse Fret: Is France on the right track to drive rail freight growth?
Never before has France invested as much money in the development of rail freight as it is doing now. Senior executives at rail network manager SNCF Réseau point out a potentially game-changing, multi-year, multi-billion investment programme named Ulysse Fret. In an interview with Railfreight.com, Laurent Marseille, who heads the programme and Paul Mazataud, SNCF Réseau’s…
How July’s elections shape the future of UK’s rail
A UK General Election has been called for 4 July. Most observers were taken by surprise when a rain-soaked prime minister, Sunak, told the waiting press that he had asked The King to dissolve parliament. The campaigning began immediately. Politicians have been eager to make the railways a vote winner. However, the main parties have…
Sweden upgrades Iron Ore Line, possibly raises TACs for funding
Sweden’s traffic administration intends to advance several rail infrastructure projects along the country’s northern Iron Ore Line, which is crucial for mines in the area. Moreover, Sweden is considering raising track access charges to fund a partial double track between Boden and Luleå. Sweden’s northern rail infrastructure is vital for some of Europe’s largest mining…
‘TACs in Poland should be reduced by 50 per cent in the next five years’
The Polish Federation of Independent Rail Operators (ZNPK) asked the country’s Ministry of Infrastructure for a gradual reduction of Track Access Charges over the next five years. The final goal would be to have them reduced by 50 per cent to increase the competitiveness of rail freight. According to ZNPK’s head Michał Litwin, the Polish…
‘TACs in Poland should be reduced by 50 per cent in the next five years’
The Polish Federation of Independent Rail Operators (ZNPK) asked the country’s Ministry of Infrastructure for a gradual reduction of Track Access Charges over the next five years. The final goal would be to have them reduced by 50 per cent to increase the competitiveness of rail freight. According to ZNPK’s head Michał Litwin, the Polish…
Kazakh Xi’an terminal boosts Middle Corridor traffic by 70%
The Kazakh rail terminal in Xi’an, China, has boosted freight traffic on the Middle Corridor by 70 per cent. The terminal opened for operations in February 2024 and has since then significantly affected freight volumes heading west. According to the organisation Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, the Kazakh rail terminal in Chinese Xi’an has significantly boosted…
German states call for compensation to rail freight amid renovations
The upcoming German rail renovations could cause a reverse modal shift. Expected disruptions and additional expenses will likely reduce the competitiveness of rail and make road transportation more attractive. German states have taken note and are appealing for proper compensation for the rail freight sector. Germany is planning large-scale renovation works on its rail network,…