Jean-Pierre Farandou, the current chief of the French railway holding SNCF, will step down on 13 May. However, he will maintain his position until a successor is named, which will be after the Paris Olympic Games coming this summer. Farandou has been under the spotlight over the past couple of days after France’s Finance and…
Category: Rail freight
New Italy-Serbia service for the sake of intermodality
A new intermodal rail freight service connecting the Cervignano Intermodal Terminal, near Trieste, and the Pančevo Dry Port Terminal, near Belgrade, will start operations on 11 May. The service can be seen as the evolution of a block train service which was running between the terminal in Italy and the Indija terminal in Serbia. A…
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…
GBRf Locomotive named after reluctant hero signalman
The UK avoided a freight disaster forty years ago, thanks to a brilliant, but modest signalman. Commemoration has been made for the quick thinking and potentially life saving actions of Willie Taylor. On the fortieth anniversary of his actions, Carlisle Signalman Willie Taylor has been honoured with a locomotive named in his memory at Carlisle…
Ukrainian Railways grows exports by 48,8%
Ukrainian Railways (UZ) has exported 30,4 million tonnes of goods between January and April 2024. This is 48,8 per cent more than during the same period last year. PKP LHS, operating between Poland and Ukraine, shows a similar trend. “In 2024, one of our priorities is to increase the volume of cargo transportation, in particular…
German rail companies start lawsuit after planned 16,2% TAC increase
Eleven German rail companies are going to court over an approved 16,2 per cent track-access charge (TAC) increase. The new TAC rate would go into force from mid-December, but the eleven companies are now aiming to prevent that from happening. The approved 16,2 per cent TAC increase would be a bigger jump than all increases…
London Chessington South ghost platform brought to life by DCRail
In southwest London, there is an adventure to be had at Chessington. It’s not the theme park of the same name. This adventure does not require you to step off the quaint South station. All you need to do is wait and, if the time is right, a train will call at the never used…
What spurs the international effort to bridge Afghanistan via rail?
Countries in Afghanistan’s vicinity have grown an interest in developing its rail infrastructure. More and more projects are being launched, or are at the very least being considered, that would elevate the country to an international “rail bridge” to the Indian Ocean. What are these projects, and what motivates these countries? As the desert dust…
What spurs the international effort to bridge Afghanistan via rail?
Countries in Afghanistan’s vicinity have grown an interest in developing its rail infrastructure. More and more projects are being launched, or are at the very least being considered, that would elevate the country to an international “rail bridge” to the Indian Ocean. What are these projects, and what motivates these countries? As the desert dust…
Russia approves 3,7 trillion ruble Far East rail modernisation
Russia has approved further modernisation works of railway infrastructure in its Far Eastern region. On the 50-year anniversary of the so-called Baikal-Amur line (BAM), the country confirmed that it will be spending 3,7 trillion rubles to boost throughput capacity to 270 million tonnes by 2032. The approved investments are part of the third stage of…